Truth Magazine

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

By Earl Robertson

The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6). There have always been enemies of these statements denying them to be true, and we today have the same class. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God . . .and one Lord Jesus Christ. . .” (1 Cor. 8:5, 6). Some accept the Bible doctrine of “one God,” but deny the same Bible that says “one body.” And the perplexing aspect of it all is they think they believe the Bible-the word of God!

Why is it so difficult for supposed Bible believers to accept the word of God which says “there is one body”? Is it not because of the fact that the Bible says the “one body” is “the church” (Eph. 1:22, 23)? People seemingly cannot accept the truth of God which- declares there is one church. They somehow think churches are like hats; just select the one you like and that will be best for you! Friends, if man had left things as God created them, there would not have been differing churches (denominations) to choose. The Lord built only one, and He called it “mine” (Matt. 16:18). Denominationalism denies the unity of the followers of Christ, though Jesus prayed for unity (John 17). Denominationalism is no part of the church established by Christ; it is to a large degree a conglomeration of the various dissidents to the authority of Jesus. Human churches rest upon human authority; hence, their very existence depends upon a rejection of what the Lord says. When one does what the Bible says, the Lord “adds” that one to the Lord’s church (.Acts 2:47). Everyone whom the Lord adds to His church have obeyed Him. The Lord never adds to two churches, but only to one. This makes for unity-the unity Jesus prayed for; the creeds of men make for human churches (denominationalism), and this is the opposite of what the Bible says! The Bible says, “There is one body. . .”

With utmost sincerity we beg you to give up whatever prejudice you might have that prevents you from fully accepting the Bible doctrine which says, “There is one body.” Life in rejection to eternal truth is really no life at all. Give up denominationalism and obey Christ today; He will then add you to His church!

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, p. 429
June 29, 1978

By Don Martin

Many who profess to be Christians seem to strive for what they believe to be the minimum service to God. They endeavor to have just enough (what is enough?) knowledge, teaching of others, love, etc., to get by. This attitude, however, is not taught or sanctioned in the New Testament. Instead, the New Testament stresses and enjoins the maximum (doing our sincere best). As Christians, we are to be spiritually ambitious.

A word which beautifully suggests spiritual ambition is the word “abound.” W. E. Vine defines the word rendered “abound” (perisseuo) as follows: “To exist in abundance” (An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, pages 17,18). Joseph Thayer wrote thus regarding perisseuo, “to be in affluence …. to be pre-eminent . . . to overflow,” (Thayer’s Lexicon, page 505). The word perisseuo is used about 39 times in the New Testament and 15 times out of the 39 it is rendered “abound.”

Abound In Faith

“Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith . . . ,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians (all emphasis throughout mine, DM). Hence, the Christians at Corinth were to abound in faith. Moreover, the scriptures are replete with teaching concerning our striving to possess this measure of faith. The besetting sin of Israel was the sin of unbelief-absence of trust and confidence in God as their provider and protector (Heb. 3:12-19). In other words, they failed to abound in faith. We must endeavor to possess faith which exists in abundance, the kind of faith which is pre-eminent and overflowing (cf. Acts 27:25).

Abound In Hope

Paul wrote, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 15:13). Our hope consists of our belief in and longing for that which we have not seen, heaven (Rom. 8:24,25; 2 Cor. 4:18-5:9). This hope is the “one hope of our calling” (Eph. 4:4). Hope, in serving as an anchor, stabilizes and keeps our soul (Heb. 6:19). Beloved, notice what Paul is teaching: not only are we to possess hope regarding heaven and the world to come, but we are to abound in this hope. Hope is to be overflowing!

Love

The scriptures also teach that we should not be satisfied with what we consider enough love to get by; but that we are to abound in love: “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment” (Phil. 1:9). Thus, we must constantly seek to develop and multiply our love for God and others (Matt. 22:37,39; 1 Thess. 3:12). As a result of cultivating our love, it can and will exist pre-eminently. By thus abounding in love, love will be the control and motivation of our lives (1 Cor. 13:1-7; Gal. 5:6).

In Teaching

Again, “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance . . .” (2 Cor. 8:7). I think it is obvious that the “utterance” of this passage has reference to, or at least involves, teaching. Abounding in teaching is consistent with “holding forth the word of life” and “earnestly contending for the faith” (Phil. 2:16; Jude 3). Overflowing in teaching reminds one of the language of Jeremiah: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, but His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (stop) (Jer. 20:9).

In Knowledge

The scriptures teach that we are to “add” knowledge, “increase” in knowledge, and “grow” in knowledge (2 Pet. 1:6; Col. 1:10; 2 Pet. 3:18). The word of God also emphasizes knowledge by showing the consequences of the absence of knowledge. Without knowledge we are blind and cannot see afar off (2 Pet. 1:5,10,11), unable to walk pleasingly to God (Col. 1:9,10), and unable to approve the things which are excellent (Phil. 1:9,10).

To accent not only the imperativeness of possessing knowledge but also of having it to a large measure Paul wrote, “Therefore, as ye abound in everything; in faith; and utterance, and KNOWLEDGE . . .” (2 Cor. 8:7). Hence, we are to strive to possess knowledge to the degree of it being in abundance and overflowing.

Virtuous Manner of Life

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus,” Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (1 Thess. 4:1). The Laodiceans had become satisfied with their spiritual progress and development (Rev. 3:16,17). Alas, many today are “neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:15). If we are not careful we will cease to increase in holiness and sanctification of life (1 Thess. 4:4-7). Paul stated that not only are we to abound in a walk that is pleasing to God but we are to “abound more and more.”

Conclusion

In addition to abounding in faith, hope, love, teaching, knowledge, and a virtuous manner of life, we also are to abound in giving (2 Cor. 8:7) and in diligence. Christian, are you striving for the maximum-are you abounding? “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, pp. 428-429
June 29, 1978