Truth Magazine

By Bruce James

Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom when the disciples of John the baptizer came to Him with a problem. It was their practice to fast and they wanted to know why Jesus and His disciples did not do so. Jesus’ answer was that the wedding guests could not fast so long . as the bridegroom was with them. But the days would come when the bridegroom would be taken away, and then they would fast (Matt. 9:14,15; Mk. 2:18-20; Lk. 5:33-35). This relationship of Jesus to His disciples is presented throughout the New Testament. Paul speaks of his aim for the church at Corinth; “I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband” (2 Cor. 11:2). In Eph. 5:22,23, Paul compared the marriage relationship to the relationship which must exist between Christ and the church.

This idea of the bride and the bridegroom is not foreign to the Old Testament. In fact, the idea of Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as the bride is typified in God’s relationship to physical Israel. Jeremiah, hearing the words of God to His people, wrote; “Return, O faithless children, for I am your master (husband)” (Jer. 3:14). Isaiah said, “Your Maker is your husband; the Lord of Hosts is his name” (Isa. 54:5). This is why the nation of Israel may be said to go a-whoring after strange gods (Ex. 34:15) Deut. 31:16; Judges 2:17; 8:27,33). When Israel was disobedient and unfaithful, when she flirted with the worship of other gods, and when she gave her love and loyalty to the false gods, she was guilty of infidelity to the marriage bond which existed between her and Jehovah and which never ought to be broken. It was an act of adultery!

Closely associated to this relationship of God to Israel as a husband to a wife is the idea of the many times God refers- to Himself as “a jealous God” (Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:25; 5:9; 6:15). This may be offensive to many people today, but it is in reality a lovely expression. The picture is that of God as the passionate lover of the souls of men. This kind of love between husband and wife is always exclusive. You cannot be in love with two people at the same time; no lover can bear to share his loved one with someone else. God must have the complete devotion of the hearts of the men He loves so much.

When we thinly of Jesus as the bridegroom and of God as the lover of the souls of men, it helps us to understand tlp whole relationship between God and man. In this relationship between husband and wife there are certain essential elements that are necessary:

1. There can be no such relationship without fidelity. God and Jesus will always be faithful to us, and we must always make this our endeavor. The one who commits spiritual adultery not only breaks God’s law but also breaks God’s heart.

2. There can be no such relationship without intimacy. There should be a oneness between us and Jesus such as exists between husband and wife in a perfect marriage.

3. There can be no such relationship without perfect trust. We must trust the love of Jesus as we trust the love of our nearest and dearest. We must be as sure of Jesus as we are sure of those whose loyalty we would never doubt.

Jesus became the bridegroom of His church as the gift of the Father and as a voluntary act and choice. He loved the church so much he gave Himself up for it that He might redeem it and purchase it by the shedding of His blood. In order for Jesus to become the bridegroom of the church it was necessary for Him to become like the bride in nature. Therefore, He took the form of humanity. But even more important, Jesus had to remove all difficulties to the union. These difficulties are summed up in one word: sin! This is what prevented Jesus from becoming the bridegroom. This is the reason Jesus died on the cross. Think about how great the cost of the union to Jesus! “And thus it was written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer . . . .”

Dear reader, Jesus is the kind of bridegroom the church would want to have for its own. He is the Son of the Most High God, of matchless beauty-the rose of Sharon, of boundless riches-“The Father loveth the son, and hath given all things into his hands” of perfect goodness, and of incomparable faithfulness. This is the character of Christ as the bridegroom of his church. Let us consider this relationship we have to Jesus and walk worthily before Him. Let those who are not members of the church, the bride of Christ, accept the invitation of our Lord in obedience to the gospel. Let those who have committed spiritual adultery, those who have erred from the faith, return to their “first husband.” Remember, that while here on earth it is for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse!

Truth Magazine XXII: 27, p. 438
July 13, 1978

By Kelton Whale

A wealthy man who was high bidder for a slave said to him, “I have paid $300.00 for you in order to set you free. You have been redeemed.” The grateful slave fell at the feet of his redeemer and declared, “I will serve you faithfully the rest of my life.” This story vividly portrays what redemption from the slavery of sin should mean to a redeemed child of God.

In Tit. 2:14, we read that Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” This verse points out beautifully the obligation of the redeemed, and should inspire each of us to sing truthfully and with genuine joy, “I want to be a worker for the Lord.”

The greatest need of Americans and the world today is to be made to realize that they are in. bondage to sin (1 John 5:19). Our own America has become a vast moral disaster area. The greatest opportunity in the world today is that of making known by the church God’s wonderful plan of salvation from sin. So, the best thing the church can do today is stop trying to “improve” on God’s plan and “get in” on it. We do not need “better plans on file,” we need “better Christians on fire.”

We are living in a shallow society where “country club Christianity” makes it extremely difficult to establish (even sometimes, renew) true faith, worship and godly living. It appears that the devil is no longer persecuting Christianity in America, he is “professing” it. He is not fighting us, he is j6ining us in his deceitful work (2 Cor. 2:11; Revelation 20:23). This serves to magnify the obligation of the redeemed.

What can the redeemed do when almost everyone we meet claims some sort of church connection? To meet the great challenge some of our brethren have come up with the idea that if we have enough members, money, methods and means we can win the world. Massive, globe-circling campaigns and other such tactics have started a more devastating fire in the Lord’s church than Samson’s three hundred foxes started among the Philistines (Judges 15:4,5).

God does not work that way. He is in the “remnant business” and always has been. It has always been the “few” that God could depend upon to do his will. Therefore, the obligation of the redeemed becomes a personal obligation for each child of God redeemed from sin as well as a collective one for the church (Mt. 25:21, 23, 31-46).

We who are redeemed from sin have the greatest message to tell that will ever be heard by the world. Let there be kindled within our hearts a bright, new flame of sacred love for the lost, and let us tune our lips to sing of His saving grace. The gospel of Christ is still the “power of God” to save the lost (Rom. 1:16).

Truth Magazine XXII: 27, p. 437
July 13, 1978

By Mike Willis

Among the first century conversions is the record of the gospel going into Samaria during which time a magician named Simon was led to Christ. The taking of the gospel into Samaria was the first step toward the gospel breaking out of Judaism into the whole word. The conversion of Simon was therefore accompanied by several miracles. A study of this case of conversion (Acts 8:5-24) reveals to us several things which stand out as rather important. These are some of the things which Simon the sorcerer saw when he came into contact with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Difference Between Bible Miracles and Counterfeits

Simon the sorcerer had been practicing his magical arts in the city of Samaria to which Philip came. The people were following him saying, “This man is the great power of God.” Yet, when Philip came to his city, Simon saw the miracles which Philip performed through the power of God. When the counterfeit miracles of Simon were placed beside the real miracles of Philip, Simon and all of Samaria saw the difference between them. Seeing the contrast caused the Samaritans to forsake Simon.

I wish that some of today’s religious people could see the difference between Bible miracles and the things which modern charlatans are pawning off as miracles. Compare some of the miracles of the New Testament with the things which we see going on today. In the New Testament, people were raised from the dead, water was turned to wine, men who had been born blind were healed, people lame from their mother’s womb were restored, etc. Today, we hear of people walking better but certainly not healed. We see persons who were dying of cancer, according to their unconfirmed reports, testifying that they are healed. We never are given the evidence to confirm the reports which are circulated. We never see the diseased organs which are healed. We never see leprosy healed, broken bones mended, deteriorated muscles restored, etc. We see charlatans duping people but no Bible miracles. How I wish that more were like Simon who saw the difference between Bible miracles and counterfeits.

That the Kingdom of God Was Established

Another thing which Simon saw when Philip preached in Samaria was that the kingdom of the Lord had been established. The record states, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (8:12). The word translated “preach” is euangelizo which means “preach the good news.” What Philip preached was good news. The good news was that the kingdom which had been prophesied for centuries had now been established. Jesus was now seated on the throne of David at the right hand of God reigning over the kingdom of God which He established.

There is a large segment of religious folks who have not seen what Simon saw. They still think that the kingdom of God has not been established. Tell me what would have been “good news” about what Philip preached concerning the kingdom of God in the event that modern premillennialism is true? According to the premillennialists, God postponed establishing the kingdom for centuries when the Jews rejected Christ. What good news is there in being told that the kingdom which was supposed to be established within a few months had been postponed for nearly two thousand years? There is no good news in such a message. The good news is that the Lord’s kingdom has been established. This is what Philip preached and is in perfect harmony with the message of Jesus Christ while He was on this earth (cf. Mk. 9:1).

When Simon heard the good news of the kingdom, he desired to enter that kingdom through the new birth. He wanted to be born of water and the Spirit in order that he might become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven (cf. Jn. 3:5). Hence, he saw some other things than just that the kingdom was established; he saw

What Was Necessary For Salvation

Simon saw again what others never see. He saw what was required to be born again and become a part of the kingdom of God. As he gave heed to the things which were being spoken by Philip, he believed the divine message of God. Just as the Samaritans quit following Simon when they believed the gospel which Philip delivered to them, so also Simon would have been expected to quit practicing magic. Then, he was baptized as were the rest of the Samaritans (8:12-13). Hence, Simon saw that the divine plan of salvation involved man’s response to the gospel of Christ through belief, repentance and baptism.

A number of religious people today never learn that baptism is the proper response to the preaching of the gospel. They go through their entire life not seeing what Simon saw, namely, that a man must be baptized in order to be saved. Jesus Himself said, “He that believeth arid is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). Simon saw this and was baptized in order to have his sins washed away by the precious blood of Christ.

That The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Were Given Through The Laying on of the Apostle’s Hands

After Simon was baptized, Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem to impart the Holy Spirit to the new Christians in that area to confirm that the gospel should be preached to the Samaritans. The Apostles journeyed to Samaria to impart the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit to the people converted under the preaching of Philip.

Simon saw what many today never see. He saw that the miracles were bestowed through the laying on of the apostle’s hands. That is the reason that Peter and John had to come to Samaria. Had the gifts been able to be conveyed through prayer, there would have been no need for these apostles to come to Samaria; had the gifts been able to have been obtained through the work of Philip, one who himself possessed the gifts, there would have been no need for the apostles to come to

Samaria. But, since these gifts could not be obtained in these ways, the apostles had to journey to Samaria to convey these gifts through the laying on of their hands. “Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given” (8:18).

Those who claim to have the Holy Spirit today have not seen what Simon saw. If they did see this, they would not be claiming to have these miraculous gifts today. They would recognize that since the apostles have died that there is no one qualified to impart these gifts and, consequently, that they no longer exist. Simon saw this but many today do not.

That A Child of God Can Fall From Grace

When Simon sought to purchase the ability to transfer spiritual gifts, he saw something else which many today do not see. He saw that a child of God can fall from grace. There are many who believe that once a person is saved that he can never so sin as to be eternally lost. Simon saw differently. When he sought to purchase the gift of God with money, Peter told him that he was destined to perish with his money (8:20), his heart was not right with God (8:21), and that he was in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity (8:23). These are not descriptions of a person bound for the promised land; these are the descriptions of man doomed to hell. Simon learned that a child of God could so sin as to be eternally lost.

Furthermore, he saw that a child of God does not and other have to sin two hundred times to fall from grace. One sin of which a Christian does not repent can doom his soul to hell. Simon saw this although some of my brethren do not. The one sin which Simon, the saved Christian, committed did for his soul exactly what the sin of Adam and Eve did for their respective souls. Those who hold out hope for the man who sins, telling him that one sin will not harm his soul, need to produce the scripture which so teaches.

Simon also saw what the fallen saint must do to be restored. Peter told him to “repent and pray” that the thought of his heart might be forgiven him. The child of God who has fallen from grace needs to repent and pray to have his sins forgiven. What Peter told Simon to do harmonizes perfectly with what John revealed in 1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When Simon was told to pray to God, he was not being told to pray a prayer of thanksgiving, intercession for others, etc. He was being told to confess his sin to God and beg his forgiveness. Hence, we see that Simon saw what he had to do to be saved from the sins which a child of God commits.

Conclusion

Can you see as clearly as Simon did? If so, I hope that you will have the integrity of heart which he had which led him to be obedient to the Lord’s gospel. If you are not a Christian, do as Simon did-believe the gospel and be baptized. If you are a fallen saint, do as Simon did-repent and pray that the very thought of your heart might be forgiven you. There is no reason for a man to die and go to hell with the resources of God’s grace so available to him.

Truth Magazine XXII: 27, pp. 435-437
July 13, 1978

By Dale Smelser

Having reviewed the first volume of The Doorway Papers in a previous issue, the reader is referred there for introductory remarks. In the volume, Genesis and Early Man, a work in the field of anthropology, Arthur Custance critically examines the inadequacies of evolutionary theory in this area and presents available evidence more consistent with the Biblical view of man, his nature and habitation. Here is another work of a reputable scientist who believes the earth in its present order is just a few thousand years old, that God created it, and this present order was brought about in six days. The expression, “present order”, is indicative of a peculiar view of the earth’s existence that is held by Dr. Custance. More will be said about this in reviewing Volume IV: Creation or Evolution.

While this volume is the least well organized for the series and is repetitious, in itself and repeating material in other volumes, it will be appreciated for the fact that it deals with evolution as it is most effectively presented in the popular media. It studies the “ape men,” the stone age, and “primitive” fossils, especially skulls.

The work begins with some admitted oversimplification and has some theories that present problems. But as Custance notes, Neo-Darwinism is “shot through” with problems and is still respectable. And this work is such as to be scientifically respectable. For example, it contains one paper advocating great intelligence in early man, showing that intellectually he never was behind modern man. Submitting it as a student to the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, he received a grade of “A . . . . “, with the comment, “A very excellent and scholarly treatment”.

After presenting material indicting Darwinism as a faith without sufficient reason, his most fascinating material deals with the various levels of man’s culture. Evolutionary thought of course holds that these have been consecutive, beginning with the very crude and supposing that each advance was a step toward the present. It is Custance’s view that these varied cultures were contemporary; that man began as a civilized being and then degenerated. He cites much evidence, including the study of recent primitive peoples such as the Australian Aborigines. He thus shows that while primitive circumstances may exist in one place, a high level of culture may prevail elsewhere at the same time.

The primitive fossils we find hence do not necessarily represent earliest man, but degraded man; “man in the breaking, not in the making.” His information on cultural degradation is exciting and right on the mark scripturally. He also details information which suggests that diet, environment, the inbreeding of small isolated groups, and glandular function are sufficient to account for man in the various sizes and forms, and with the variantly shaped skulls, we have found. He cites some notable authorities along the way and shows that “fossil types” could actually be traced back to what man is now, that is, such types could descend from modern type men, rather than being “modern” man’s ancestors. He reports both types having lived together, some in the same time and locale. Hence their cultures overlapped. He tells of modern type skulls which are older than primitive type skulls. In my own study I have found evolutionists examining such information and then disregarding it with the comment, “It couldn’t be.” But the evidence is there. Thus our information of ancient man presents us with a “contemporaneity of cultures rather than successive” ones.

Rather than ignoring puzzling data, Custance effectively deals with such in a way more satisfying than evolutionary thought has been able to. He presents studies of intelligence and cranial capacity showing evolutionary thought to be presumptive. He takes to task the imaginative reconstructions of ancient man, showing their scientific inadequacy, as well as chiding Thomas Huxley for his “doctored” series of skeletons which are popular in textbooks.

In short, the book is a series of papers on anthropology. It presents a view of man from available evidence that harmonizes with the scriptures, offering some cultural minutiae that throw light on some scriptural episodes. If you find some of the latter more speculative than substantive, such is admitted.

Some of the included papers are a few years old and do not thus deal with some recent events, as Richard Leaky’s latest finds in Africa. But such is his material that it anticipated what nas been found; man in relatively modern form existing before the primitive “cave man” type.

One nice feature is that Custance has done a good job of minimizing “technicalese” jargon and has written in popular style. He sometimes takes time to explain technical statements in laymen’s terms. He does take for granted some familiarity with anthropology, anal one would do well to look up such terms as paleolithic, mesolithic, and neolithic. It would also help to refer to a geological time table to see the significance of the Pleistocene Epoch. But do not be afraid of this book just because you have no extensive scientific background. If you have some curiosity about “cave men” and want to answer questions of young people about them; this book will held.

Truth Magazine XXII: 27, p. 434
July 13, 1978