Truth Magazine

By Bruce James

The New Testament teaches that the Christian is a pilgrim on his way to glory. He is seeking a better country, a heavenly one. But without any direction, the Christian knows not how to go. But God speaks through His Son in this age leading in the way that leads to life. To say that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life is the most comprehensive of all claims (John 14:6).

1. Jesus said: “I am the Way.” Hundreds of years before this the Psalmist said: “Teach me thy way, O Lord” (Ps. 27:11; 86:11). Moses told the Israelites that they must not turn to the right or the left, but must walk in the way God had commanded them (Deut. 31:29). Isaiah heard God say: “This is the way, walk in it” (Isa. 30:21). This was the promise of a way of holiness in which nothing unclean could exist, and which was so clear that not even a fool could miss it (Isa. 35:8). Disciples of Christ, Christians, as a whole were first referred as “The Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9). And the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the new and living way which Jesus opened for us to the presence of the Father (Heb. 10:19). But Jesus’ claim goes beyond any of these thoughts. Notice that Jesus did not say, “I show you the way” or “I open for you the way.” He said, “I am the way.” If someone approaches us and asks us how to get to a certain place we can tell him with specific instructions as to how to get there, or we can give him a map, or we can do the best thing by going with him to be sure he reaches his destination. In the same way, Jesus did not only show us the way, or tell us the way only but also went with us. No man can fail to find the Way as long as he is following Jesus.

2. Jesus said, “I am the Truth.” Jesus is most certainly reliable and genuine, but the truth is not simply something which is intellectual or something to be known, it is also moral, something which is also to be done. John said, “He who does what is true comes to the light” (Jn. 3:21). “If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth” (1 Jn. 1:6). We can see how much greater this truth is than intellectual truth. This truth enables man to live the good life. In fact, truth and goodness are one. To say that Jesus is the truth is to say that He is the perfect pattern of life as it should be lived.

3. Jesus said, “I am the Life.” This can be taken at least two ways. It can refer to physical life since John said of Jesus: “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn. 1:3, 4). The Word, Jesus, the pre-existent Christ brought life into the world. But even more it refers to eternal life. Jesus is the creator of life, and Jesus is the re-creator of life. He brought life in the beginning and He came to make life new. When Jesus offers eternal life it is evident that it means more than life which exists forever. For it to be a mere extension of life would be more a curse than anything else. Both quality and length enter into it. The life that Jesus brings to men is the life of God-living a life of godliness now (quality) and then being thus rewarded by being allowed to enter the gates of heaven forever (length). Remember Jesus’ words: “No one comes to the Father but by me.” Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, pp. 427-428
June 29, 1978

By Stephen P. Willis

The prophet Hosea bore a message against Israel, the northern portion of the Jewish state. They had fallen in to the sin of idolatry, which led them not only to forget their God, but also their fellow man. God based their troubles on a lack of knowledge.

God said that they had stopped giving heed to Him (v. 10), and because of that, “the people without understanding are ruined” (v. 14). I think that it is summarized well in verse six: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.”

“Listen to the word of the Lord, 0 sons of Israel, For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land” (Hos. 4:1).

This message is further taught in the summary sentence of the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7). That one must seek after the knowledge of God is evident by what the one who is blessed by the Lord does: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in his law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:2).

Most of us do not seek the knowledge of God as we should. Paul prayed that the Colossians might gain knowledge for the results that would come of it. These results are based on the fact that one has knowledge:

(1) The Christian will walk worthy before the Lord; (2) He will please the Lord in all respects; (3) He will bear fruit in every good work; (4) He will increase in knowledge (it takes knowledge to grow in knowledge); (5) The Christian will be strengthened in power; (6) He will give thanks to the Father (cf. Col. 1:9-12). Look over that list again and see how important knowledge is to the Christian.

As a “holy priesthood” (1 Pet. 1:5, 9), we should fulfill our ministry as Levi did: “For the lips of the priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 2:7). It is no wonder that Paul called the church the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). It is also no wonder that Timothy was told to “Be diligent (or, Study, KJV) . . . .” In so doing he could “present himself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

A lack of knowledge caused the ruin of Israel. It will cause our ruin also. Do you study on a regular basis? Does your reading include the Bible and material that will prompt thinking on biblical themes? Are you prepared for your Bible classes? (Would you want your teacher to be as prepared as you?) Parents: do you train your children so that their habits include Bible study? Children: do you encourage your parents to train you to study? Do you make the most of your time (Eph. 5:16) so that “your progress may be evident to all” (cf. 1 Tim. 4:15)?

Some like to drink from the fountain of knowledge;

Others only gargle.

Do you gargle?

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, p. 427
June 29, 1978

By Robert E. Waldron

One time the Pharisees brought a woman who had been taken in adultery to Jesus and asked Him what to do about her. Should she be stoned as the law said? They were not really interested in the law, nor right and wrong, nor the woman. They were trying Jesus “that they may have whereof to accuse him” (Jn. 8:6). After a pause and further questioning Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (Jn. 8:7). The statement Jesus uttered on this occasion has often been violently and blatantly misapplied. His reply was strictly in keeping with the law which said, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shall put away the evil from the midst of thee” (Deut. 17:2-7).

The case Jesus dealt with was not simply one in which a woman had committed adultery. Jesus always dealt with the primary issue and then with the subordinate issues. Here the primary issue was the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and their incredibly intense hatred of Jesus. There were actually three issues involved in the episode: the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the demands of the Law of Moses, and the fate of the woman. When Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,” He convicted the Pharisees of their sin of hypocrisy, because not even they had the audacity and gall to step forward and say, “Well, I’m perfect. I’ll cast the first stone.” They particularly knew that in this matter they were not innocent. One by one, beginning from the eldest, the people began to walk away. When Jesus said, “Woman, where are they? Did no man condemn thee?” He satisfied the requirement of the law because, with no witnesses, the woman could not be stoned. Then Jesus dealt with the woman and her sin by saying, “Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.”

Men and women who are stubborn of heart and who desire to walk in their wicked ways very often use this statement of Jesus to reply to any who would attempt to rebuke them or to condemn their ways. Thus the drunkard, the adulterer, the liar, the homosexual, the child abuser, and a host of others will defend themselves by saying, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Jesus’ words in Mt. 7:1 are similarly used. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Let us bring the question into clear focus. Since all of us are imperfect and do sin, does any one of us have the right in God’s sight to condemn the actions of another or to rebuke another for wrongdoing?

It was the same Jesus that said, “And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican” (Mt. 18:15-17). It was Jesus who so severely condemned the Pharisees (Mt. 23). It was Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist, who condemned the adultery of Herod Antipas and Herodias (Mt. 14:1-4). When Jesus uttered the above condemnations He had the same awareness of man’s weak nature that He did when He said, “Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.” Therefore, when Jesus said this He did not mean that it is wrong ever to rebuke anyone for sin.

The writings of the apostles make the issues in this dispute very clear. Someone will usually say, “I like Jesus, but I think His apostles missed it.” It would be humorous, if it were not so deplorable, that these people do not realize that the only impression we have of Jesus is that which His apostles have left us. Matthew and John were apostles. Mark was a personal disciple of Jesus, though not an apostle. Luke was, seemingly, a later convert. Only through these men’s testimony do we have any record of Jesus’ deeds and words. The apostles who testified about Jesus, such as John, were unaware of any discrepancy between Jesus’ teaching and theirs. When people talk about liking what Jesus said but not His apostles, they are speaking from ignorance and prejudice rather than facts. Please consider the facts.

Jesus told His apostles to go out and teach or preach. He said, ‘Teach all nations.” He then said, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:20). He said, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). Earlier Jesus told His apostles, “But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you” (Jn. 14:26). The apostles went out and did as Jesus commanded. What they taught was what Jesus said to teach. If the Spirit did not guide the writers of Acts through Revelation, then He did not guide Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. One may reject Jesus and His apostles, but one cannot accept Christ and reject His apostles. The apostles were inspired by the Spirit and they spake the truth.

No apostle stressed the need for love, forbearance and forgiveness more than Paul, but it was also Paul who said to the Corinthian brethren, “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor. 5:13). Consider the implication of Paul’s statement, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Cor. 5:6). In the context, the lump would be the church at Corinth. The church at Corinth was, however, composed of imperfect people. Yet there was one among the rest who was a danger. His example would be a leaven of bad influence. Therefore he had to be purged out. There is a difference between sinning occasionally through human weakness, repenting, calling upon God for forgiveness and, on the other hand, wallowing in sin. Also it seems that there are some sins which are more flagrant than others. In addition the nature of some sins is such that they have a more pernicious influence on others. Through all facts and all arguments one thing stands out clearly. Paul told a church of imperfect people to put away a wicked man from among themselves.

The brethren at Thessalonica were told to withdraw themselves from every brother that walked disorderly (2 Th. 3:6). To walk disorderly means to walk out of step with others who are marching. The passage clearly implies that there are those who, though not perfect, nevertheless do walk in order. Then there are those who walk “disorderly”. Those imperfect people who are walking orderly are commanded to withdraw from anyone who walks disorderly. Paul told the saints at Ephesus to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). He told Timothy, “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. . .” (2 Tim. 4:2, 3). One wonders if Paul imagined that those who would not endure sound doctrine would wrest statements of Jesus to attempt to silence the rebukes and reproof that His word says must be given.

Condemned is hypocritical judging. It is not required that one have a perfect record before he has the right to reprove and rebuke. The commands we have studied were given to flesh and blood people who were imperfect. Yet they were clearly told to condemn, to reprove and rebuke. If one condemns another when he himself is not even trying to do right or when he is doing something much worse than the one whom he is condemning, he is guilty of the judging the Lord condemned. When we must rebuke or reprove, let us look to ourselves, lest we also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). Let us beware of Satan’s influence when we ourselves are rebuked, lest we give him an opportunity to close our eyes to the truth by causing us to resent the reproof.

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, pp. 425-426
June 29, 1978

By Edmund H. Lopes

My name is Edmund H. Lopes better known as number 15286 by the state of Illinois. I am incarcerated in a state prison for two serious crimes. I have been incarcerated since 1970 and I come up to the parole board sometime in 1980 or early 1981. I became a member of the body of Christ in May of 1976 when Al Diestelkamp baptized me in our prison hospital whirlpool. How difficult it is for a man to have his soul salvation here in these man-made hells throughout our so-called free country.

We have what I term state-bought ministers. In other words the men we have as so-called ministers of God in here draw their paychecks from the state (except the Catholic minister who is paid by his archdiocese). These ministers who are paid by the state are dictated to by the state as to what they can teach and preach. It is a standing rule that ministers hired by the state are told to comfort the men but don’t get involved with them personally. Is that hypocrisy?

The chaplains do conduct a worship service of sorts. That is, they get up in the pulpit and give a short sermon on something that will not upset the men too much. Such as, “God loves you and if you accept Him as your Savior you are saved, period.” Yes, that’s right; “Once saved always saved” is taught in here. Oh, then there is baptism. The chaplains wonder why all this fuss over baptism. After all, baptism is only an outward sign of an inward expression. It does not mean that much. It only means we are showing we are trying to follow an example of what Christ did. It is surely not essential for our salvation. We are accused of being “cultists” because of our belief that baptism is essential for salvation.

My brethren, I make light of the subject so I won’t burst out crying in grief, because this is what is preached and taught in here. I know the truth of having been baptized for my soul salvation. I was pointed out the truths of it in God’s Word by Brother Dennis and others of the church of Christ. I tried for 2 months to get immersed for the remission of my sins. I was told by a minister who worked for the state (a very dynamic personality he was too) that he knew sprinkling for baptism was wrong according to God’s Word but we didn’t have the facilities to immerse people so sprinkling was all we could do and God would overlook this little thing. I wonder why God didn’t overlook the sin of the king in the Old Testament who went in and burned incense to God? Surely the man meant right. He said he did. But yet God said that was against His commandment and only the priests and Aaron were supposed to do that and so God destroyed the king. Oh well, maybe we have a changeable God and He is just willing to let man have his whims whenever he feels like it. Oh, you don’t think God is changeable? Well, now I read where God has a certain station in life concerning women. That is that they should be mothers and wives and not teachers of men. But our ministers here believe its all right to have women preach out of the pulpit. Even homosexuality is just something we should put up with and not make the afflicted one see his shame.

My dear brethren, I could go on and on about the falseness of this place but I tried to show you the devil’s work that goes on in this place. What do we do about it? Is it our concern? I’m afraid brethren these are questions you must seek to answer within yourselves.

It took me two months after I was totally convicted of my need for baptism to finally get immersed for the remission of my sins. During that period, or any period before that, had this vessel of human clay died, I would have gone to hell. My brothers and sisters, that very thought terrifies me when I think of how close I had come to hell’s doors had not God been merciful enough to extend the time to me. I pleaded. I begged to be baptized. I asked every official in here from the wardens to ministers to state officials and to the Head Chaplain in Springfield. I was given one excuse after another. “We are looking into it.” “God knows you mean well but He is teaching you patience.” “We don’t have the facilities.” I even went over to our prison hospital and asked if it would be alright to use their whirlpool to get baptized and the hospital officials said, “Why certainly: anytime you want to use it you can.” I told the administrators of this and how some Jehovah’s Witnesses had been immersed in the hospital whirlpool. Well the chaplain didn’t think that it was appropriate for a man to get baptized in a whirlpool or bath tub. “After all, what would God think?” I know what God was thinking for He desired that I obey His commandments and one of them was “repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins.”

But anyway, these officials knew I wasn’t going to keep my mouth shut about this. The administrators here figured I was undermining the church work here and I was becoming a problem and so they knew they better get me out of population. Now since being here and having Christ in my life I never showed disrespect to any man or woman. So the officials here gave me what is called a bogus disciplinary ticket accusing me of something I did not do. But they decided if they put me in segregation and let me stay there awhile then this issue would blow over and that would be the end to all this baptism nonsense and seeking the Truth of Jesus. Well, they didn’t count on Jesus.

Our wonderful brethren here heard about my plight. The matter became bigger than the administrators here could handle. After five days in segregation I was brought out and interviewed by another hearing of officials. The security warden, who is now the head warden, was there along with a senior captain and the head of clinical services. The security warden called everyone of his staff who had anything to do with my being placed in “seg.” He questioned them all thoroughly and when he couldn’t find any justification for the ticket he asked me to leave the room and then he verbally thrashed out the major who had written the ticket. After having found no fault in me the warden dismissed all charges against me and restored my privileges. After the meeting was over I asked for a copy of my ticket but the senior captain quickly reached over and tore up both copies of the ticket stating, “there was no ticket issued.”

There are many other things to be told but the issue now is a lawsuit in the federal courts against the state of Illinois. We are trying to get a separation of the church and state based on the First Ammendment to the Constitution. I have not been able to partake of the Lord’s Supper since coming into the body of Christ. To have a Bible study I must sit in the visiting room with Dennis or another minister of the church of Christ. My brethren, please do not misunderstand me. I do not appeal for myself only. There are others in here who would love to hear and learn the truths of the Gospel. “But how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed` and how shall they believe on Him whom they have heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” We need God’s truths to be brought into these prisons. We have many rich harvest fields here and the fruits are ready for picking but we lose them because we neglect them and they are rotting and spoiling. My brethren, we are going to be held accountable for these things.

I beseech you, my brethren, if you can help us please do all you can in Christ’s Name and for His glory. I will be eternally grateful. I know the sinful past I have. I also know “whosoever is in Christ is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things become new.” Yes, I know the mercy God has extended to me. I only wish to try and help extend that godly love to others. “For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office; So we being many are one body in Christ and everyone members one of another.”

Truth Magazine XXII: 26, pp. 424-425
June 29, 1978