Truth Magazine

By Earl E. Robertson

The five Lamentations of Jeremiah are composed on the fall of Jerusalem and Judah. The Chaldeans had triumphed in victory over God’s people because of their carelessness and sins. This collection of lamentations are so named because of the nature of its contents. The unutterable misery and disgrace which had befallen His chosen people are mournfully deplored in this book. The captivity and oppression, the destruction of the city, the spiritual carnage and realization of God’s visitation of judgment, produced an entreaty to Almighty God to remove their disgrace and restore them to His favors. In the midst of this nightmare the broken-hearted prophet, with tears running down his face, cried, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger” (Lam. 1:12).

This scene is often reenacted among God’s people! Ancient Israel was God’s very own; spiritual Israel is today the church of Christ – washed and bought by the blood of Christ. It is the greatest institution in the world and demands the most sacred respect. It should be loved and cherished as Christ loves it (Eph. 5). Yet, it is all too often prostituted by men who claim they love it. They turn it aside from its sacred mission and work and say, “Look what the church is doing!” What they have it doing cannot be found in the word of God. Men cause the church to engage in secular, social, and athletic efforts while the word of God guides it into spiritual and moral missions. Fifty years ago N.B. Hardeman said, “Why, the church to-day in the eyes of the populace is reduced to about a parallel with the Red Cross.” Again, he preached thirty-five years ago, “It is not the work of the church to furnish entertainment for the members.” But the absence of Scripture and the dutiful warning of men like Hardeman mean absolutely nothing to the egg-head, social-type, fun-loving elders and preachers of our day. One church recently spent one quarter million dollars for a “Wildlife Oasis” in Tennessee; another church gave Freed-Hardeman College a check for $2,500. No, there is no Bible authority for this kind of church action, but the brethren have been told “Any `good work’ which the individual, as a Christian, is obligated to support financially, the church is equally obligated to support financially.” Where are the people who want Bible for church action?

Truth Magazine XXIII: 38, p. 620
September 27, 1979

By Don R. Hastings

As one reads about the life of Joseph, he should be impressed with the number of times the Bible states, “And Jehovah was with Joseph . . .” Joseph was very prosperous and righteous; and the reason for his success is found in the fact that God was with him. What greater blessing could one enjoy than having the Lord with him? What greater blessing could we wish upon others than “The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16)? The greatest suffering Jesus felt was when He was separated from His Father for just a few hours as He hung upon the cross (Mark 15:34).

What was there about the character of Joseph which enabled him to enjoy such a close relationship with the eternal Father? What were some of the blessings Jehovah bestowed upon Joseph because of their intimate relationship? What effect did the Lord’s being with Joseph have upon his life? These are some of the questions we shall attempt to answer in these lessons.

It should be our greatest desire to have the same close relationship with the Lord that Joseph enjoyed. Nothing in this life could be more meaningful or beneficial to us. If we will become like Joseph, then we, too, can walk hand in hand with the Lord. Therefore, let us study carefully the life and character of Joseph that we may imitate him.

The Lord was with Joseph when he was a child. His father was Jacob and his mother was Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24). His mother died while giving birth to Benjamin (Gen. 35:18, 19). He had ten half brothers and one full brother.

Joseph was the victim of envy (Acts 7:9). “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children . . .” (Gen. 37:3, 4). Even small children can relate the story of Jacob making Joseph the beautiful coat. I remember vividly an incident proving this point. Our little son could not have been over three years old at the time. Visiting in another town, our family had gone after services to a restaurant with many other families from the same congregation. Waiting in line, one of the brethren picked up our little son and proceeded to make conversation with him. At the time, our little Ted had on a coat that contained a lot of striking colors. The man said, “Ted, can I have that pretty coat?” Ted, said, “No, because this is Joseph’s coat.”

Like Joseph’s situation, the history of many family troubles is traceable to jealousy springing from parental partiality. We are not to be a respecter of persons and that includes the members of our family (James 2:1).

Joseph dreamed two dreams which increased his brothers hatred for him (Gen. 37:5-11). His brothers would have killed him if Reuben had not intervened. They put him in a pit and then sold him to some Ishmaelites who were going to Egypt (Gen. 37:12-36). They took his coat and dipped it in goat’s blood and then showed it to Jacob (Gen. 37:31-33). Jacob is a good example of how we can be deceived and this deception stimulates wrong feelings (Gen. 37:34, 35).

Joseph was an obedient child (Gen. 37:13; Eph. 6:1). There is a great lesson in this for children to learn. If God is to be with them, they must be obedient to their parents.

To be placed in a pit and then sold as a slave and to be removed from his beloved father, must have hurt Joseph tremendously. But, he did not become bitter and full of hatred toward mankind. He did succeed to some extent to remove his family from his mind (Gen. 41:51). When we have suffered an injustice, we should not harbor it within our heart and permit it to poison us with anger (Eph. 4:31, 32).

The Lord was with Joseph when he was a slave in Egypt. He was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard (Gen. 39:1). Joseph was such a good, faithful, and wise slave, that Potiphar placed all his possessions in the hands of Joseph (Gen. 39:2-6). “And his master saw that Jehovah was with him . . . .” Do you so conduct yourself so that others can see that the Lord is with you? What kind of employee are you (Eph. 6:5-8)?

Potiphar’s wife tried to get Joseph to commit fornication. Most young, single men would have given in and sinned (Prov. 7:21-27; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10). Joseph’s answer is recorded in Genesis 39:9, “. . . how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Pleasing the Lord meant more to Joseph than satisfying his own fleshly lusts. No wonder the Lord was with him! If we would be more conscious of the presence and feelings of God, then we would not be so prone to sin! We ought to look at the action Joseph took to escape temptation and flee the same way he did (Gen. 39:12; 2 Tim. 2:22).

Because she failed to seduce Joseph, Potiphar’s wife lied about him and he was thrown in prison (Gen. 39:13-20). When you try to live righteously, those that are evil will lie about you (1 Pet. 3:16). Do not let this discourage you, however (Mt. 5:11, 12).

Sometimes people are heard to say, “Where was God when my baby died, or my husband was in an accident, or our house caught on fire?” Let me ask you, “Where was God when Joseph was cast in a pit, sold as a slave, put in prison, etc.?” He was right there with Joseph! Joseph never accused God of forsaking him. We should not believe that if God is with us we will not suffer any hardships. He is not going to build a hedge about us to keep us from all harm. But, if the Lord is with us we can turn to Him and receive support, help and grace in our time of need, just as Joseph did (1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 4:16). God’s love will sustain us and carry us through every trial and give us a home with Him if we will be faithful and true to Him as His servant Joseph! Let us prove we are His humble servants by submitting to His will in all things.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 38, p. 619
September 27, 1979

By Ron Halbrook

Apology should never be made for error of any kind. Rather, truth should be searched out, embraced, obeyed, and taught posthaste! Error should be left to its own fate and truth defended at all costs. To continue practicing sin without remorse or repentance is to separate oneself from God and His grace (Isa. 59:1-2; 1 Jn. 3:9). Every kind of error that causes us to violate God’s law condemns. That necessarily follows. Christ came to set us free from condemnation (separation from God); He alone gives the truth which sets men free from the error and sin which condemn (Jn. 8:32). “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17).

But it is a valid question whether all wrong views condemn. It is certain that a man’s thinking his error does not condemn will not save him from condemnation (Isa. 5:20-21; 8:20; Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23). One who loves sinful error more than truth will enjoy his ignorant bliss by the power of “strong delusion” unto condemnation “that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thess. 2:10-12). So the question is not whether a man’s apparent “piety” in sinful error can keep him from condemnation. The question is whether every wrong view causes a man to sin, for sin alone separates man from God.

Though we can never recognize any inherent religious authority in men, we can recognize that some man has said a thing better than we can. J.W. McGarvey states the truth on this present question better than I can in his sermon on “Believing A Lie” (Sermons, pp. 315-339). After telling the story of the young prophet from Judah who was destroyed because of believing a lie (1 Kgs. 13), McGarvey said,

You can now see very plainly that this incident happened for a type, as Paul said of many other Old Testament incidents, and that it was written for our admonition. It was written to warn us against the belief of a lie. The fate of the young prophet cries out like the blast of a trumpet to startle us from our fancied security, and makes us look around to see if we, too, are in any such peril. Perhaps you are ready to say that the sin of the old prophet in this case was greater than that of the young one; and you think it strange that the less guilty was the one who perished. Well, there was an abundance of texts and incidents to show the sin of lying, and the vile consequences which must follow it; and nobody, either then or now, needed any particular instruction about the sin of the old prophet; but the world needed a lesson on the subject of believing a lie; so the young prophet was slain to teach this lesson, while the old man was left to God’s ordinary method of dealing with liars . . . .

Shall we think, then, that every man who believes a lie in regard to God’s will shall perish? I think not. If blind man is guided by another blind man along a smooth road, here there is no ditch, I don’t think either of them will fall into a ditch. It is only when there is a ditch in the way that they will fall into it. So, if this young prophet had been told to do almost any thing else than what he was told to do, we have no reason to think it would have been fatal. If, for example, the old prophet had said, An angel sent me to tell you to get from under this tree and run for your life, and not to stop until you get home, the young man would have been scared, and would have run himself out of breath; but the lion would not have killed him. In like manner, I can imagine a man believing some lies in religion, which, though they may injure him some, and I suppose there are very few that would not, might yet fall far short of proving fatal to him. I think that the doctrine of election as taught in the old creeds is false in the extreme; but I think that many a man has believed it all his life, and then gone to heaven when he died. What, then, is the distinction? It is to be traced out by remembering that there is only one thing that can keep men out of heaven, or keep them estranged from God in this life. That one thing is sin. Nothing else does or can stand between God and any man. If the belief of a lie, then, leads a man to commit sin, it will prove fatal unless that sin shall be forgiven (emphasis added, RH). It was thus with the young prophet. The lie which he believed led him to disobey God. His disobedience was the immediate cause, while the belief of a lie was only the remote cause of his death.

McGarvey asks, “How shall we be sure that we are not believing lies; that we are not being led by blind guides?” “I answer, there is one set of men, and only one, whom we can trust implicitly. We know that they are not blind; I mean the Lord Jesus and his apostles. We have their written instructions of the way of life, and they are not so voluminous or so obscure as to be unintelligible in regard to what is sinful. We may be in doubt, as we study them, over many questions of history and of exegesis, but rarely can we be in the least suspense, if we have a willing heart, as to what is sinful. Having found this, we ought to be able, and we shall be, to prevent any man from leading us into such error as shall cause us to commit sin – sin of omission or sin of commission.”

N.B. Hardeman preached almost exactly the same sermon under the identical title, “Believing A Lie” (The Bible Searchlight, pp. 123-136). Some of his expressions and examples differ enough to make it worthwhile to notice what he said on the point we are examining. Before anyone faults him overmuch for borrowing from McGarvey, let that critic be sure he has never learned precious truths of the Bible through study with someone else and then repeated those truths in almost (if not altogether) identical terms! After telling of the young prophet, Hardeman continued,

I want to ask this just now: Is every lie that a man believes detrimental? Does damnation follow the belief of all lies? If so, my friends, we are upon exceedingly dangerous ground, for deception and delusion are abroad on every hand. I am frank to say to you, because I firmly believe it, that there are lies which a man may believe and not be condemned. I can think just here if that old prophet had told this young man sitting under the oak almost anything else, it might not have resulted in the young man’s death. Suppose the old gentleman had come to him while he was sitting under the oak and said, `Sir, a cyclone is coming, the storm is raging. This tree will be uprooted. Flee for your life, and stop not until you reach your home at last.’ O, the young man might have been scared wonderfully; he might have run until he was almost out of breath; but the chances are that he would not have met a lion on the way; and while that would have been a lie, it was not of the type the belief of which brought damnation unto the soul.

To make the matter short and without extending the lesson tonight, let me suggest to you this, which I think is in harmony with God’s word and teaching in general: Any kind of a lie on earth which would cause me to sin or to fall short of doing God’s will or to go beyond that which God demands is the type of a lie that will condemn the soul and rob it of a blissful crown.

There are certain things religiously that I can believe, which may be a lie and yet not subject me to condemnation. There are many problems and questions about matters pertaining to Christian duty and things in general about which there are conflicting beliefs. Some think the Holy Spirit in person dwells in the heart of a Christian; others think that the Spirit is in the Christian only through his teaching and his word. One or the other of these theories is a lie, but I think that the belief of either of these theories would not damn a man. Why not? Because neither would cause him to sin; neither would hinder his obedience to the will of God. There is but one thing, my friends, that will keep you and me outside of heaven’s splendid mansions, and that one thing is sin. Whatever might cause me to commit sin, either in thought or in deed, if not forgiven, will result in my condemnation rather than my salvation (emphasis added, RH).”

Our safety is in following only Christ and His apostles. “Hence, I bid you listen to no man per se, nor to accept anything from any uninspired man which you cannot turn to the book of God and read for yourself.” Hardeman suggests the young prophet should have answered the old one, “You claim to be of like profession with me. You say that an angel has come and told you to bring me back; but I have direct authority and commandment from God, and I will allow neither prophets of earth nor angels in heaven to countermand God’s order; and if the Lord wants me to come back, he must tell me himself.”

Sometimes, a wrong view immediately causes sin. For instance, one who believes he that believeth shall be saved and then can get baptized later, is hindered from entering God’s family at all. Or, a Christian who thinks that in baptism a man is “dipped, dried, and done,” and so forsakes patient continuance in well doing, condemns his soul thereby. On the other hand, sometimes it depends on what one does with a wrong view as to whether or not he will be involved in sin. If one accepts the Calvinistic idea of election, he may become consistent with what it implies and therefore not waste any time trying to convert others – he sins! Or, he may think “God has a time for me to die” and similar ideas, but not be consistent with the implications of so-called election (personal predestination). If a saint claims the personal actual indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but looks only to God’s revealed Word for faith and conduct, how can he sin so acting? But, he may begin to search his own heart for “divine light” and “divine guidance,” and be lead into sin (Jer. 10:23); or, he may compromise his attitude toward modern so-called Pentecostalism and its myriad of false teachers, seek some mystical “unity in the Spirit” with them, and begin to have fellowship with those who go beyond apostolic doctrine in their faith and practice (Acts 2:42; 2 Jn. 9-10).

Paul said in Romans 14 to receive the brother who thinks he cannot eat meat; while seeking peace with him and helping him keep his conscience clear, brethren were also to edify him. Yet, on the other hand, if such a one were to make his scrupples a matter of faith and practice, if he were to preach and teach his idea as part of the gospel, if he were to bind it on others and divide saints over it, he was to be especially noticed or singled out and avoided (Rom. 16:17-18).

As we seek one another’s edification in various issues that arise, let us remember that one thing and one thing alone separates from God: sin! When wrong views lead to compromise with sinful error, a false plea for peace and unity with error admitted to be in the realm of sin, or apology and defense of sinful error and errorists of any variety, then those views have led us into the danger zone. Every disagreement need not lead to broken fellowship, but compromise and participation with sin requires it because sin is the very thing that separates from God. Let us exercise patience wherever possible, think the best of our brethren as long as possible, and do all in our power to help each other reach heaven.

The answer to our question is, then, “No, all wrong views do not separate from God.” To borrow McGarvey’s comment on the young prophet, “His disobedience was the immediate cause, while the belief of a lie was only the remote cause of his death.” Or, as inspired men have worded it, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God,” and, “The wages of sin is death” (Isa. 59:2; Rom. 6:23).

Truth Magazine XXIII: 38, pp. 617-618
September 27, 1979

By S. Leonard Tyler

We have discussed the need for such a study as we are engaged in. I hope that interest in the all-sufficiency of God’s revealed Will, the Bible, will characterize each of us. And too, that we will recognize that the Bible is understandable and that one can be confident in its declarations. However, it seems to be a mighty heavy influence which pushes so many into false concepts and denominational thinking. May I call your attention to some of these with a warning and, I hope, reasons not only as to what these may be but that they should not over-ride God’s directions to us. If and when Christ commands man to act – regardless of what that act or deed may be, he will never offset it with something else. His commands are just as essential and just as love laden as His promises because all point to the same end -eternal salvation. That is why in discussing “Doctrines and Concepts Which Point Toward Denominationalism,” we have (1) first warned against rejecting the Bible as our standard of measurement. Now let us think together about other signs of danger.

Love

(2) When anyone claims “love” to negate the necessity of true obedience to Christ, he loses his directions. Love is essential to salvation (1 Cor. I3:3), being the first commandment (Matt. 22:37-40), but love is a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22) not a guide. Mr. W.E. Vine says:

“Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:3; 2 John 6). Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God” (New Testament Words, Vol. III, p. 21).

Paul told the Galatians that what counts with God is “faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6). Love (agape) is not the director but is a product of truth itself, “a fruit of the spirit.” Therefore, love certainly never negates God’s commandments but reaches, as it were, into the heart of “the man of faith” and commits him graciously and completely to the Lord’s will in happy but humble obedience (1 John 5:3). Love makes it a joy and pleasure to “walk by faith,” which means to have full confidence in Christ and to continue to follow His instructions (2 Cor. 5:7).

The more one loves God and Christ, the more he will delight in and seek to know, believe, follow and teach the truth (Acts 20:28-32). Love is the seasoning ingredient essential to any act of obedience to Jesus Christ; without love one cannot please God (1 Cor. 13:3; 1 John 4:8, 16-21). Love must never be forgotten but must warm the heart toward Jesus and His teaching and do that which is right both toward God and man with joy and contentment.

Human Theory on “Perfect Righteousness” of Christ

(3) When someone claims that the “perfect righteousness” of Christ stands in lieu of man’s own obedience to the Lord, he misunderstands the purpose in Christ’s coming, living, and dying. Christ’s “perfect righteousness” made man’s obedience to the gospel possible. Christ fulfilled the requirement of the law for “perfect obedience” and died to redeem (purchase) sinful man from the guilt of sin (Rom. 3:20-26; Gal. 3:13; 4:5), but this did not nullify “the obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:26). His obedience in death opens the way for our forgiveness when we obey the conditions of faith (Heb. 5:8-9).

Mr. W.E. Vine points out: “The man who trusts in Christ becomes `the righteousness of God in Him,’ (2 Cor. 5:21), i.e., becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself . . Righteousness is not said to be imputed to the believer save in the sense that faith is imputed (`reckoned’ is the better word) for righteousness.” (New Testament Words by W.E. Vine, pp. 298, 299).

When one believes and obeys from his heart Jesus’ commands, being baptized into Him (Mk. 16:16; Ga. 3:26-67), he is redeemed, forgiven, saved from past sins. Thus, he becomes a child of God, a partaker of the divine nature (Rom. 6:17-18; Eph. 1:7; Titus 2:14; 2 Pet. 1:4). Therefore, he is made righteous (being forgiven, made pure, and guiltless), enjoys every spiritual blessing in Christ and is to live a righteous life (1 John 3:7, 10; Rom. 6:19-23). This “man of faith” is to “continue in the faith” (Col. 1:23), which means to hold to Christ being “grounded and settled” in the hope of the gospel, so he will never be lead away by false teachers. He abides in the teaching of Christ. Faithfulness to Christ means being loyal and true to Christ and His word (Matt. 25:21, 23, 26, 46; 7:21, 24-27).

Extend Grace

(4) When a man extends God’s grace beyond the teaching of the Bible, he has turned to fanciful dreaming. God, by His grace, provides all things necessary for man’s salvation (John 3:16-18) and makes this known through the gospel (Rom. 1:16-18; Tit. 2:11-12; Matt. 28:19-20). He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4-6; John 1:12; Acts 10:34-35). This is the very purpose of preaching the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). These things are written so the “man of faith” might know how to “behave” in the house of God, the church (1 Tim. 3:15). And John wrote so man might not sin, but if he sins that he might know Jesus is the Advocate, “the propitiation for our sins,” and he can go to God through Jesus for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). This is being saved “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-10). Grace provides and faith graciously accepts the provisions.

Personal Experience As a Standard

(5) When a man substitutes such things as personal experiences, feelings, visions, and spiritual manifestations for proof of salvation or being right with God, he becomes his own guide. God’s word alone produces faith (Rom. 10:17) and is written for that very purpose (John 20:30-31). Man is charged to never allow any thing or anybody to come between him and the things written (1 Cor. 4:6) because God is our sufficiency (2 Cor. 3:5) and every thought must be brought “to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

Paul shows very plainly what should be self-evident: when man rejects the knowledge of God, he of necessity turns to human reasoning and wisdom – his own personal desires and lusts become his goals or gods. As Paul states concerning the Gentiles, “They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” (Rom. 1:25).

Do not pass this by with a shrug of the shoulders as if it can never happen to us. Look around you and observe. Read Romans 1 and consider, if these things are not happening! Romans 1 gives the natural consequence of rejecting God’s revealed truth both then and now.

“Living proof” establishes only one thing – the person testifying thinks he is right and feels great about it. “Feelings” are not “standards” by which right is established. “Feelings” are manifestations of what one’s own conscience approves or disapproves. In reality, it is what one thinks is right and his feelings compliment and laud or justify him in his thoughts. The testimony upon which faith stands – the standard by which it is sustained – is the determining factor of the rightness or wrongness of the feelings (Matt. 7:23; 25:1-13; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Cor. 10:12, 18). Paul thought -and therefore felt – that he was right with God, and most sincerely wanted to be right; but, he was wrong and a persecutor of Jesus (Acts 9:4; 26:9 23:1). Thinking will not make it so, but obeying Jesus will.

Cannot Be Certain, No Absolute Knowledge

(6) When any person discredits the Bible because he cannot attain to absolute knowledge, understand God’s will perfectly, he lets go of his only source of saving faith (Rom. 5:1; 10:17; Heb. 11:6). It does not require an infallible interpreter to understand what the Bible teaches – but the Bible is God’s unalterable revelation and must be received as such (1 Thess. 2:13). It is its own best interpreter. No man, can know absolutely everything the Bible teaches perfectly, but he can know some things and treasure them by observing and teaching them. He must keep the Bible as the infallible guide and search the Scriptures daily for the answers.

I have to do that with the dictionary. I do not know all the words perfectly, but I can keep Webster handy and look them up. The honest, sincere “man of faith” will treasure God’s Word and meditate upon it both day and night as the perfect law of liberty in Christ (Psa. 19:7; James 1:25). He will never extend God’s grace, judgment, nor wrath beyond the Word of the Lord. He will seek to know the truth and abide in it as humbly and faithfully as he can and leave the rest to God (James 4:7-12).

Presumption

(7) When man presumes “a thing” to be right with God without Scriptural confirmation, he becomes his own soul’s Protector and Master. This the rich man of Luke 12 did when he spoke to his own soul. But God’s voice gave the verdict, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Is there a greater sin than presumption, just taking for granted or deciding within oneself “a thing” is right with God. How prevalent is this among people today! But how dreadful are the eternal consequences!

In the Old Testament, if a prophet presumed to speak a word in the name of God without His direction, he was to be put to death (Deut. 18:20). “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord . . . and shall be cut off” (Num. 15:30, 36). Even to the man who gathered a few sticks on the sabbath, death was the consequence. Why? “Because he hath despised the word of the Lord” (Num. 15:31). Balaam told Balak, “I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Num. 22:18; 24:13). Peter expressed it, in speaking of those who “walk after the flesh . . . presumptuous are they, self-willed . . .” (2 Pet. 2:10).

David prayed, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” (Psa. 19:13). The great sin of presumption is so alluring and flattering to one’s own will and pleasure, it is hard to resist. Staying within the bounds of the teaching of Jesus Christ is just as essential as acting at His command. We should pray as David, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psa. 19:14). If we would act upon this petition, all the “extras” tacked on to the gospel, the church, the worship, and the work, would go the way of all presumptuous thinking and additions. All such would be laid aside by the faithful. The peace, unity, good-will, fellowship, happiness, accomplishment and unity could be enjoyed by the people of the Lord.

Ignorance

(8) When one allows ignorance to cover for sin or transgression, he has lost the purpose for which the gospel of Christ is given (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-49). The gospel is given and preached to produce faith (Rom. 10:17; Acts. 8:12, 13; 18:8 Eph. 1:13, 18). The reason one is to study God’s word, is to understand what the will of the Lord is (2 Tim. 2:15). This will banish ignorance (1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; Rom. 11:25; 1 Thess. 4:13). Paul prayed for Israel, although they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness -which so many people do today. He wanted them to understand God’s way and accept it and be saved (Rom. 10:1-4, 8). John shows his reason for writing was to lead one to understand God’s will and way of life (1 John 2:1-2, 12-20).

Those transgressing God’s will in the first century although ignorant were accountable for their sins (Acts 3:17; Eph. 4:18-32; 1 Peter 1:11-16; 2:15-16). Paul was guilty before God, not withstanding he was conscience free, being ignorant (Acts 26:9; 23:1; 22:16; 1 Tim. 1:13-15). All men sin and no man is able to save himself. Therefore, God provides a way by which man can be saved through Christ (1 John 1:8-10), but man must accept or comply with God’s conditional remedy (Acts 8:20-24; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20).

If and when one allows ignorance to grant certain sins without guilt, he must classify sins. Or, would he say that “ignorance” will allow lying, stealing, adultery, and murder? Most times these are excluded from “ignorant allowables.” Why? Because those granting “ignorant allowances” have restricted “ignorance” to certain sins. Why? Well, you will just have to consult the author of “ignorant forgiveables.”

But, “Don’t you think that a babe in Christ is weak and ignorant?” Most times, yes. “Does God expect as much of a young Christian as an older one?” No, everything being equal. “Well then, will not God overlook the spiritual babe’s mistakes?” No, God has instructed older Christians to aid the babe in growth and overcoming evil and temptation (1 Cor. 3:1-7, 16-23; Gal. 6:1; Heb. 3:13; 5:11-16; Eph. 4:15; 5:6-12; Tit. 2; 2 Pet. 2:17-18). He, like any other Christian, must repent and comply with God’s remedy. All must give an account unto God for what he hath done and reap what he has sown – there is no respect of persons with God (2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-8; James 2:12; Rom. 2:11-16).

The Social Gospel

(9) When the gospel of Christ is turned into a social gospel, the church will become a socio-religious organization. This God did not design, Christ did not establish, and the Holy Spirit did not reveal nor does the New Testament justify. Therefore, it is no part of God’s revelation and, consequently, becomes repugnant to the simplicity of God’s Divine arrangement. Christ does not authorize His glorious church to engage in recreation, entertainment, or social activities as such.

The gospel of Christ is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). It is given to save the soul from sin and direct the saved into a life of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-23; 1 Jno. 3:7, 10; 1 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20). It tells the “man of faith” how he must “behave himself” in the house of God, the church (1 Tire. 3:15). Paul points out that “bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). The Corinthians had corrupted the Lord’s supper by feasting and banqueting. Paul asked, “What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?” (1 Cor. 11:22). They came together not to eat the Lord’s supper but to banquet. The effect will be the same today.

There is no record of the first century church entertaining, banqueting, pot-lucking or recreating as an activity of the church in the New Testament nor any instructions for the church to practice any such thing now. Then if the church practices such today, who authorizes it? It does not come from God or it could be found in the Inspired Word.

God’s Way Won’t Work

(10) When one feels that God’s way will not work because of whatever excuse is offered – he turns to man’s schemes, plans, and inventions; consequently, denominationalism is just a matter of development. The Israelites thought their ways were right and God’s were unequal. They said, “The way of the Lord is not equal.” Ezekiel plead, “O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? . . . But as for them their way is not equal . . . . I will judge you every one after his way” (Ezek. 18:25, 29; 33:17, 20).

Matthew shows that God has a way in contrast to man’s way (Matt. 7:13-14). God’s way is revealed in His word (Acts 9:2; 18:26; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; Heb. 12:22-24). The church was in God’s eternal mind to show forth the manifold wisdom of God and through it He is to receive glory “throughout all ages, world without end” by Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:10, 11, 21). This does not negate Christ; He is the head, the sustaining power and Savior (Eph. 5:23).

Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ . . . . Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Col. 2:8, 18-19). God’s Divine arrangement or way will work and, if we will accept and work by faith within its bounds, we shall receive God’s eternal blessings.

Thus, as Brother J.W. Sheperd said, “God has revealed to us the things that pertain to his church – the faith, the practice, and the promises – and with these it is my purpose to deal. Here, all is faith and assurance; beyond this, all is opinion and fruitless speculation. Concerning those in Babylon we have but one living direction. `Come forth, my people, out of her.’ To this we should give faithful heed. For to console people in the Babylon of sectarianism, and to reconcile them to their bondage, we have not divine right; but to deliver them from it is a divine obligation. Therefore, God’s church is an institution separate and distinct from the Babel of denominationalism” (The Church, The Falling Away, And The Restoration, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tenn. 1948, p. 6).

Conclusion

May God help us to humbly search the Scriptures daily to learn His truth. And when we have through (1) Precept or Command, (2) Approved Example and (3) Necessary Inference diligently and prayerfully searched the entire Book of God and ascertained the totality of God’s message as nearly as it is humanly possible, let us stay our faith. This is God’s Divine pattern for our life and salvation. This will work. It is God’s way provided by His grace and accepted by faith for man’s salvation.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 38, pp. 613-616
September 27, 1979