Truth Magazine

By Bruce James

Three times in the Revelation we find the metaphorical title Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13). A notable fact is that a title, which is the title of God, is given without hesitation to Jesus Christ. According to John, the prerogatives of God are the prerogatives of Jesus.

The title, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, is given to God in the Old Testament, Isaiah hears God say, “I, the Lord, the first and with the last, I am he.” “I am the first and I am the last” (Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12). This should help us to see that Jesus Christ is referred to in the same manner as God.

Another notable fact concerning this title Alpha and Omega, is that Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last. The phrase, “from Alpha to Omega,” denoted completeness and comprehensiveness. So, this is a pictorial way of saying that there is nothing lacking in Jesus. He is total and complete. He has all power, all wisdom, all knowledge, all holiness, and all goodness. This phrase is also a symbol of perfect continuity. Here we can gain at least one great truth about Jesus Christ. Jesus’ life, his action, and His power are continuous. Here is the symbol of the eternity of the Son. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

These words of Jesus, as recorded by John, signify both the priority and superiority of the Redeemer. Christ is the first and the last respecting the universe of God, and that includes the entire creation. He created all things by the word of His power – “without Him was not anything made” (Col. 1:16). He is the first and last in regard to the scheme of redemption. Even the angels were mere spectators. The ray of hope for the simmer can be found lowing only from the Sun of Righteousness. In this there are no co-sharers. Christ is the Alpha and Omega. His will must be obeyed. Our Lord is the First and the Last regarding His kingdom, the church. His body, purchased by His blood, His sacred army. Jesus is the Beginning and End concerning the Christian’s spiritual life. Christ is the Alpha in our calling, justification, conversion, holiness, joy, comfort and hope. He is the Omega regarding our faith, obedience, love, devotedness, and praise. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Last of all, Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega regarding the beauty and the glory of heaven. He gives admission into the holy city. He gives the crown. It is from Jesus that we have received life, and it is to Jesus that we must give life back. From Him we come, to Him we must go.

There can be no higher metaphor or title of Jesus than Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, for the title is the title of God himself. This is the language of adoration. May we with John, and like Thomas when confronted with Jesus, say, “My Lord, and my God!” (John 20:28).

Truth Magazine XXIII: 31, p. 505
August 9, 1979

By Bob Waldron

After Jesus was baptized, He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The account of the temptation of Jesus offers some of the richest lessons in scripture. In studying the temptation, many have sought to explain why Jesus did not follow Satan’s suggestions by various, sometimes ingenious, ideas. These ideas may be true, and are definitely worthy of thought. Jesus, however, knew best why He could not do the things Satan wished Him to do. We shall be guided in this study, therefore, solely by the replies Jesus Himself made.

Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days during which time ; He fasted. Both Matthew and Luke indicate that Jesus’ felt no hunger until after the forty days. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He afterward hungered” (Matt. 4:2). “And He did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, He hungered” (Luke 4:2). Hunger fell upon Jesus more as a blow than as something to which He had slowly grown accustomed. Mark indicates that Satan had been tempting Jesus already. “And He was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan” (Mark 1:12). Now Satan comes again.

“If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matt. 4:3). Now we know that Jesus had the power to change one substance into another (see John 2 where Jesus changed water to wine). We also know that several times Jesus used His power to provide food (Matt. 14; 15; John 21). Why not this time? Satan seemed to be tempting Jesus to prove His Sonship, but Jesus’ reply was not, “Satan, I do not have to prove my Sonship. Both you and I know who I am.” The temptation was more subtle than that. Jesus replied, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”‘ (Matt. 4:4). If we are to understand what Satan’s temptation was, we will do so only by understanding Jesus’ response.

When Israel was encamped in the plains of Moab, poised to invade Canaan, Moses preached to them. He said, “All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live” (Deut. 8:1-3).

If the Israelites had been asked to list their necessities, they would have said food and water. We cannot be critical of them without some self-examination. If someone were chosen at random and asked to list the necessities of life he would list: (1) food, (2) water, (3) shelter. The Israelites had to learn that God was more important to their survival than bread. They had to learn that the first necessity is to obey the words that proceed out of the mouth of Jehovah. Oh, how we today need to learn to include that necessity at the top of our list.

How, though, does this .point tie in with Jesus’ refusal to turn stones into bread? Satan was telling Jesus to use the power He had for His sole benefit. It was not the Father’s will that Jesus’ power be used in that manner. Though Jesus knew He needed food He also knew one thing He needed more – to do the Father’s will. God did not give Jesus His great power so that if He had a headache He could merely wish it away, .or if He became thirsty He could cause a glass of water to pop into His hand. He always used His power for the sake of others to produce faith in them. Thus it would have been contrary to the “word that proceeded out of the mouth of God” for Jesus to use His power for His benefit. Therefore He would not and told Satan why. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Truth Magazine XXIII: 31, pp. 504-505
August 9, 1979

By Johnie Edwards

I. Most communities have had a visit from young men calling themselves `Mormon Elders’. They teach that the Mormon Church is the only, true church. We believe that the doctrine they teach is false and needs to be exposed.

II. This material contains brief rejoinders to Mormon doctrine and would be good to give Mormons in exchange for their study with you.

Discussion:

Continuous Revelation

The Mormon Church was established and exists today mainly because of their belief in continuous revelation. If men believed all the truth from God is contained in the Bible, then the Book of Mormon, as well as other modern revelations, would have to be rejected as being from God. One of the early Mormon `apostles’ expressed it best:

If it could be proved from scripture that God had revealed all that He ever intended to reveal, then a professed revelation would not require investigation; for it would be known at once, that everything of the kind was an imposition. It would be folly in the extreme to inquire whether a professed new revelation were true or false; for if God had declared in His word that no more was to be given, all writings or books purporting to be a new revelation could not be otherwise than false” (Orson Pratt’s Works, p. 70). (D. & C. 124:129 – Pratt an apostle)

(1) The Mormons teach that the Bible is not complete. If they thought the Bible was complete they would not have such books as the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. The Book of Mormon teaches that a person is a fool if he believes that the Bible is complete. “Thou fool, that shall say; `A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible . . . (2 Nephi. 29:6). Again, “Wherefore because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words: neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written” (2 Nephi 29:10). Ask the Mormons to give you one thing essential to salvation which is not contained in the New Testament.

(2)The Bible claims to be inspired and complete:

A. Jesus promised to give alt truth to the apostles (Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13).

B. Paul said that he had declared all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

C. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21).

D. We have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).

E. The faith, which is the gospel of Christ, was once delivered (Jude 3). Once a thing has been delivered, it does not need to be re-delivered. The faith was once for all delivered and that, long before Joseph Smith came along.

F. New Testament writings had already become a formulated body of doctrine delivered orally in the days of the Apostles. The New Testament writings were not introducing new truths, but simply bringing to the people’s remembrance what they had already been taught (2 Pet. 1:12-15; 1 Cor. 15:1-6; 1 Jn. 1:1-4; Rom. 6:17; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Jn. 2:21-17).

G. Because the Scriptures are complete, there is a need to guard against change, addition, subtraction or going beyond them (Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9; Rev. 22:18-19).

H. God promised that His revelation of Truth would not be corrupted or lost (Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:23, 25).

I. The criterion given for recognizing true prophets and teaching is that one accept that which had already been given as being true (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Jn. 2:21-27).

Since the apostles of Christ were never promised the Book of Mormon, never received the Book of Mormon, and never delivered the Book of Mormon, we must conclude that the Book of Mormon is not from God. It is the product of man’s own thinking.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 31, pp. 503-504
August 9, 1979

By Donnie V. Rader

In writing to the Christians at Philipi, Paul urged them to “Be careful for nothing” (Phil. 4:6, KJV). Other versions render that phrase as follows: “In nothing tire anxious” (American Standard Version); “Have no anxiety about anything” (Revised Standard Version). Today’s English Version translates it, “Don’t worry about anything” and Phillips Modern Version, “Don’t worry about anything whatever.” The New International Version says; “Do not be anxious about anything.”

The word translated “be careful” (Merimanao) means “to be anxious; to be troubled with cares . . .” (Thayer p. 400). It is also translated “take thought” in Matt. 6:25-34. So Paul is talking about worrying, not forethought, but anxious thought.

The apostle here is not forbidding a thought-out life. Rather, in other passages he emphasized this (Gal. 6:7-9; 2 Cor. 6:2). Neither is Paul urging us to be a happy-go-lucky people. He was far from being one that made a joke of life. The seriousness with which he looked on life is seen in his statement to Timothy, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Furthermore, we are not being told to be unconcerned about ourselves and others. Paul told the Ephesians that they would naturally be concerned about themselves (Eph. 5:28-29). Also, Jesus set forth the principle of being concerned for others in the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37; cf. Phil. 2:4). And neither are these words of inspiration prohibiting one being upset at times. Christ Himself wept when He beheld the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Paul also said, “Be ye angry, and sin not . . .” (Eph. 4:26).

But what is Paul saying? He is warning Christians against a fretful and feverish attitude toward life. Do not engage in anxious thought; do not worry is simply what the apostle is saying.

Jesus also taught on this important subject in Matt. 6:25-34. Here He emphasized that we ought to “Take no thought for your life.” Other versions (which are not always acceptable translations on many other texts) say, “be not anxious for your life” (ASV), and “do not worry about your life” (NIV). One example of the things we should not worry about is food (vs. 25-26). It is pointed out that fowls, which neither sow, or reap, nor gather, are fed by the heavenly Father. So why should we constantly worry about our eatables since we are obviously better than the fowls? Yet another example that Jesus gives is our raiment (vs. 28-30). We are urged to consider the lilies of the field, which neither toil nor spin, yet even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. So why should we be anxious and worry about our clothing since we are much better than the grass of the field?

The Need For This

An exhortation of this nature is needed by all. Worry is so common to man. The young and old, the rich and poor, the learned and unlearned, the saints and sinners, and the faithful and unfaithful all have worries. And it seems that we worry about everything beneath the shining stars of heaven. We worry about our money, how we are going to get it, keep it, and spend it. We worry about other’s troubles as well as our own. The thought of some calamity is constantly plaguing our mind, with 75% to 90% of these calamities never taking place. It makes us wonder if some are not setting up at night to plan out their worries for the next day.

The Folly Of Worrying

(1) It is useless. This is the very point that Jesus was making in Matt. 6:27, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” Jesus is saying that if a man does not like his height, his worrying about it will not help. Worrying is not going to make him grow. Then in the parallel account Jesus said, “If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?” (Luke 12:26). So if our worrying will not accomplish an increase in our stature, why should we think our worrying will do any good elsewhere? Worrying never lifted a single burden; it never dried a single teary it never solved a single problem. There are two classes of things we should never worry about; the things we can help, and the things we cannot help.

If there is a problem or situation that we can do something about, let us do what we can and quit worrying. For example if one were to wake up at night just freezing to death, it would be silly just to lay there and worry about it. The only sensible thing to do would be to do something about it – get more cover. And so it is with many of life’s problems. Worry does not help but action does.

Neither should we worry with the things which we can do nothing about. What good would our worrying do? We cannot do anything about growing older, the weather, death, and many other things which must simply take their course. Our worrying about our age will not make us younger. Neither will worrying change the weather, nor keep us from dying. Therefore, seeing that we cannot do anything to help and that our worrying will not relieve any burden, we ought to forget such matters and not worry about them.

Many times we find ourselves worrying about close friends, relatives or neighbors as they travel from place to place. But again this is silt,. Can we do anything to help in the matter to make their travels safer? If so let us do it and quit worrying. However if we cannot assist or do anything to better their safety, what will our worrying do? Obviously nothing, so it is just plain useless whatever the occasion may be.

(2) It is hurtful. Though this is not generally recognized by Christians, anxiety is hurtful in many ways. There is no disease that worry does not aggravate. Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famed Mayo Clinic, once said, “Worry affects the circulation – the heart, the glands, the Introduction: whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt.” Worry wears one out mentally and physically. Worry is the grime and grit that once inside the “wheel bearings” of our minds puts our steering out of control and sends us off at the next curve.

It is not only hurtful to ourselves but to others about us. Worry makes one hard to live with because they have always got a worry to share with you. Thinking of only the worst that could happen, the worry-wart will nag one half crazy.

(3) It is faithless. Worry indicates a weakness in our faith. Jesus describes one that worries by saying, “O ye of little faith” (Matt. 6:30). Do we not have faith that God will be with us and those whom we worry about? We need not become of doubtful mind and worry about what may happen, for whatever did happen it may be for our good. The apostle Paul said, “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28). Could it be, brethren, that we really do not have true faith in God?

The Cure

Anxiety is not cured by laughing it off, drinking away our problems, or finding some ideal situation. However Paul suggested in the same context the answer.

The apostle commanded that we should (1) pray. “But in everything by prayer . . . let your request be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). If we are worried about ourselves or someone else, we should pray for God’s help in the situation. Another command given is that we should Q redirect our thinking. We might illustrate this with a house that has only two windows. One window has an unbelievably beautiful view of a lawn with flowers and trees. The other has the most awful sight of garbage and trash you have ever seen. Now which window would you look out of the most? Obviously, the one with the beautiful view. So it should be in the house of life. We should spend our time thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report (Phil. 4:8). We also should (3) put our faith err God. We ought to trust him, that he will be with us. The apostle Peter tells us to put our cares upon God (1 Peter 5:7).

Conclusion

The results of our prayers, redirection of thought, and faith in God will be obvious. The peace of God will keep our hearts (Phil. 4:7). We will be better both mentally and physically, being better able to get along with others. Let us not be a Martha in Luke 10:40-41 who was troubled with cares. But we need to strive to be as Mary who chose Jesus.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 31, pp. 502-503
August 9, 1979