Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Years ago, Ezekiel lamented, “But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now, and hear what the message is which comes forth from the Lord.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, but they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. And behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not practice them” (33:30-32). How frequently I have felt just like Ezekiel!

I have witnessed men and women in the audience to whom I would preach a lesson come out and shake my hand, telling me what a fine lesson I had presented, but who never did anything to live what I had just taught them. People come to worship expecting to hear a polished speaker. When the speaker is finished, they frequently go their way for another week having no intention whatsoever to step forward in obedience to the gospel which has been preached. Perhaps, we need to be reminded of what Jesus said about obedience; he said,

“Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will ®f My Father, who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name east out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I wilt declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, yon who practice lawlessness.’

“Therefore every one who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not call; for it had been founded upon the rock. And every one who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the hoods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was Its fall” (Mt. 7:21-27).

I would like to look at these verses rather carefully in this week’s editorial.

Things Which Cannot Substitute For Obedience

If there is one lesson which is forcefully taught in this saying of Jesus, it is that nothing can substitute for obedience to His words. In this passage, there are several things specifically mentioned which show that they cannot substitute for obedience. Consider these things which cannot substitute for obedience:

1. Profession of faith. Everyone of the men under consideration in this verse called Jesus, “Lord, Lord.” These men were not atheists or infidels; they were men who professed faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, that profession of faith was insufficient to save them from their sins and to grant them an entrance into that everlasting kingdom prepared by God. There are any number of people in this world today who make a profession of faith in Jesus, just as these people did, who shall not be saved simply because they have not obeyed the Lord; profession of faith will not substitute for obedience!

2. Zeal. Just as profession of faith will not substitute for obedience, neither will zeal substitute for it. The men under consideration in these verses were men who, apparently, were zealous in what they were doing. Look at all of the good works they did for the Lord; they prophesied in His name, cast out demons, and performed many miracles in His name. They were, indeed, zealous people. Frequently, however, zeal outruns faith; men begin to act without authority. When this happens, they become guilty of lawlessness, just as these had done. Zeal did not negate the fact that these men had simply not obeyed the commandments of the Lord.

3. Religion. The fact that men are religious does not substitute for obedience to the Lord Jesus. The men in these verses were quite religious; yet, they were condemned to hell despite the fact that they were religious. Men need to be reminded of the fact that Jesus did not come to make men religious; men were religious years before Jesus came to this earth. Jesus came to make men right religiously. The mere fact that a person is religious is insufficient to save him. As a matter of fact, if we studied the cases of conversion in the book of Acts, the large majority of those who were converted to the Lord were religious before they were converted. We simply must accept the fact that false religion is just as damning as no religion. Religion will not substitute for obedience!

The Will of the Father

The only thing which was sufficient to save a man was obedience to the will of the Father (v. 21). But, how does one know the will of the Father? There are some who would have us to believe that we find out the will of the Father through a better-felt-than-told experience; others tell us that one is doing the will of the Father when he is obeying his conscience. Some among us are saying that we can never be sure what the will of the Father really is (in such areas as instrumental music in worship, institutionalism, the sponsoring church, etc.). Jesus, however, did not leave us in doubt as to what the will of the Father is.

If you will notice what these verses say, you will see that Jesus associated the will of the Father with the words which He spoke. In v. 21, He said that the man who would be saved is the man “who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” Then, in v. 24, as He illustrated the truth which He was teaching, He said, “Therefore every one who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them . . . .” The will of the Father, therefore, is revealed to us through the words of Jesus and those whom He commissioned to reveal it.

We do not learn the will of the Lord through some mystical witness of the Spirit; we learn it through the revealed words of Jesus Christ as recorded for us in the Bible. We do not have to wonder what is right and wrong; we can always be assured that we are doing what pleases God when we are doing what His word says.

Lessons From The Two Builders

After Jesus had made His statement about the necessity of obedience, He illustrated it by the example of two builders. From the age of a small child, I have known and sung the song of the two builders which was taken from this illustration. Yet, there are several powerful lessons in this illustration which we need to remember.

1. Each of us is building a building. Sometimes, I think, men hear these words and decide to be neither the wise nor the foolish builder. That will not work for the simple reason that all of us are building our buildings each day of our lives. The lives which we live are the buildings which are discussed in this passage. Our day to day lives determine whether we are a wise builder. or a foolish builder. We have no choice of whether we will be a builder or not; we can only choose to be a wise builder or a foolish builder.

2. Each person’s building shall be tested. This illustration certainly teaches us that each person’s building will be tested. The same rains, floods, and wind beat upon each house to test it. Sometimes we are tested in this life to see what kind of building we have been erecting. I have seen men who spent all of their lives accumulating their fortune and then want to exchange it all for an opportunity to rear their children again. They built their houses on sand. I have seen mothers who left their children with the babysitter in order to have some of the luxuries of this life, cry rivers of tears as they witnessed their children doing things which were sinful. The crises of this life sometime expose the fact that the life which we are living is resting on sinking sand.

Despite the fact that some of us are tested in this life, all of us will be tested on the day of judgment. Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). These verses depict men standing before Jesus Christ to be judged. Hence, all of us shall be tested to see whether or not we have been obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The difference in men will be their obedience or disobedience to the will of God. The wise man and the foolish man endured the same winds, rains and flood; one had built a house which endured the storm and the other had not. The difference was that one had built his house on the sand and the other had built on the rock. The sand on which so many are building today include such attitudes toward life as the accumulation of this world’s goods and hedonism (satisfaction of the desires if the flesh). Those who build on the sand shall not endure. The rock, on the other hand, is obedience to the will of God. The man who obeys the will of God has built his life upon a solid rock, a rock which shall be firm support in the times of trial and testing.

Conclusion

This week, I saw television reports of flooding in Eastern Kentucky and in West Virginia. Among the things which were shown in the news cast was a house which was washed away by the fast-flowing waters of a high river. Is this what lies ahead for the house which you are building? When your building is tested by the Lord will it endure? It will only if you obey the Lord. There is no substitute for obedience!

Truth Magazine XXI: 33, pp. 515-517
August 25, 1977

By Luther Blackmon

The claim is made by the Catholic Church that they have given the Bible to the world. From an issue of Our Sunday Visitor, a Roman Catholic paper, we quote the following:

“The Protestants cannot be sure that the Bible contains the word of God, pure and unadulterated, while we Catholics can. You depend upon us for the Bible you possess. The New Testament writings were not gathered and declared to be infallible until the 4th century. Moreover these witnesses were all Catholics, and they accepted the scriptures as divinely inspired because their church declared them to be so. How then can the Protestants hold as an infallible truth that writings known as the Sacred Scriptures are inspired, when for their reliability you have the Catholic Church’s word alone.”

The unwavering loyalty of the Catholic people to their Church, and their faith in her infallibility, blinds them to her faults and blunders. They are nurtured from childhood, on the idea that the Catholic Church is infallible; that she alone teaches the truth and that they must not read or listen to anything that teaches differently. It never occurs to the average Catholic to challenge or even investigate the boastful claims of this institution. If they could be persuaded to investigate, they would not be Catholics, and that is why their Church has forbidden her members to read what she is pleased to call “heretical” writings. That means anything written by Protestants or other which have not been through the Catholic screen.

In the above quotation from Our Sunday Visitor, there are two statements that are misleading and untrue. Consider for instance the declaration that the books of the New Testament were “gathered and declared to be infallible” by the Catholic Church in the fourth century. In her anxiety to turn people away from the authority of the “church” they have made a very obvious blunder. When Catholics, Protestants, or Christians say that a book of the New Testament is inspired, they mean that when it was written (being written), the Holy Spirit guided the writer. Now if the books of the New Testament were inspired when they were in the process of being written, how could a council some hundreds of years later “declare” and “decree” that they are inspired? (The Catholic church says that they were declared to be inspired at the Council of Hippo in 390 A.D.) That is the same thing as if some council had met in 390 A.D. and declared that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. If He was born of a virgin, no decree of a council years later could make it any truer: and if He was not born of a virgin, all the councils on earth declaring and decreeing could not make it so.

Be it remembered that printing with movable type was not invented until the fifteenth century. Prior to that time the Bible, as well as all other books were written in manuscript form by hand. We do not have any of the original manuscripts, but we do have authentic copies. One of the oldest of the manuscripts is the Codex Sinaiticus, which dates back to the middle of the fourth century, or about 350 A.D. It contains all the Bible except for small portions of the Old Testament, and it has never been in Catholic hands. This manuscript was made years before the Council of Hippo convened-the council which Catholics declare “gathered and declared to be infallible” all the books of the New Testament.

Consider some of the versions of the Bible. A manuscript is a copy of the Bible made in the same language; a version is the translation of the Bible from one language to another. The Bible has been translated into almost every known language. Homer’s Illiad was translated into 20 languages; Shakespeare’s plays into 33; Pilgrims’ Progress into 111. But the complete Bible has been translated into 136 languages and portions of it into well over one thousand languages and dialects.

Let this fact be placed alongside the Catholic claim that the Council of Hippo in 390. A.D. “gathered” the books of the New Testament and declared them to be infallible.

Note: The Syriac Version was translated from the original language into six dialects of the Syriac in the second century-a full two hundred years before the Catholics claim that they gathered the books together. How could the books have been gathered together for the first time in 390 A.D. when tile Syriac Version had already been in circulation for more than 200 years?

The Old Latin Version was translated from the Greek into Latin at the close of the second century. The Coptic Version was translated from the Greek into the Egyptian at the close of the second century. These and many other translations of the Bible, as we have it today, were made and in wide circulation centuries before the Catholic Church says she gathered the books.

Do not be misled by the advertising of the Knights of Columbus. The world is in no sense dependent on Catholicism for her Bible. The Bible was in existence, widely circulated, and recognized as the inspired word of God for many centuries before the Catholic Church even existed.

Truth Magazine XXI: 33, p. 514
August 25, 1977

By Dennis C. Abernathy

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This passage of scripture has been, and is, misused by not a few in our religious world. When one dares to speak out on sin, or to examine some false doctrine, the old worn out cry comes forth: “Judge not that ye be not judged.”

Many are not willing, are not able, or do not have the conviction, to try and defend what they claim to believe in religion, so this is the easy way out. But I ask; is this honorable? Can we not face God’s Word, the truth, without manufacturing a way out by misapplication of His Word? God forbid!

“Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24). Does the Bible contradict itself when it says in one passage to “judge not” and in another passage to “judge?” Certainly not! “Let God be true, but every man a liar. . .” (Rom. 3:4). One passage simply speaks of righteous judgment, and the other of unrighteous judgment. One is right and permitted, the other is wrong and forbidden.

Many have the idea that if you do not agree with them on a certain Bible question, that you should not say anything, lest you judge them. Think about it for just a moment. That would make everyone right (in their own eyes) and there would be no such thing as a false teacher (and if there was, you could not expose their false teaching).

For example, let us look at this question in the following way. Some feel it is right to teach “salvation by faith only”; but if I teach that baptism is essential to the remission of sins (and give book, chapter, and verse-Acts 2:38) and that salvation is not by faith only (and give book, chapter, and verse — Jas. 2:24) I am guilty of judging! To some, it is fine to teach the use of instruments of music in the worship of the New Testament church; but if I teach that such is forbidden by God’s Word (giving book, chapter, and verse — Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 2 Jn. 9; Rev. 22:18-19) I am guilty of judging! Who can believe it? How inconsistent can one be!

The Lord forbids “fault-finding” and “self-righteous” judgment such as the hypocrite, with the beam in his eye, wanting to remove the mote from his brother’s eye (Matt. 7:3-5). The beam (log or pole) should first be removed, then he can be in a position to try and help remove the mote (speck) from his brother’s eye, and that “in the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:1).

Neither are we to judge the heart or impugn the motives of another. We are to have the proper attitude and the facts, or evidence, in hand in order to judge righteously. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Cor. 2:11). “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart. . .” (1 Cor. 4:5).

The word of God is the standard that will judge you and me. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).

Many feel that we are judging them when we speak out against their beliefs and practices. They would have us manifest the attitude of “You let us alone and we’ll let you alone.” The day I, or any other gospel preacher does that, is the day that I cease to be worthy of being called a gospel preacher! “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Now if you should fit that description (God forbid!) I for one, do not intend to scratch your itching ears! If I know my own heart, I am concerned about saving my own soul and the souls of others, and that can only be done by teaching the truth! “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). “Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). My dear reader, when this is done, and that is judging in the wrong (according to you) then SO BE IT!

Truth Magazine XXI: 32, p. 509
August 18, 1977

By Larry Hafley

Under the above caption, L.D. Perdue, a Baptist, wrote in the Northwest Baptist News as follows:

“One of the most distressing things that happens in one’s ministry is seeing churches that were once faithful to the cause depart the faith. This is usually because of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who take over the leadership of these churches. The First Missionary Baptist Church of Brentwood, California, under the leadership of Ron Cowger, is rapidly departing the faith. The church in Oakley and also the church in Antioch, California, will no longer grant or receive letters of fellowship from this church. Ron Cowger has led this church to receive alien immersion and practice pulpit affiliation, all in the name of progress. I say he is leading the church to commit spiritual adultery, which is even worse than physical adultery.

“Dewey Caves has led the Santa Cruz Church to do the same thing. As a result of this leadership, the Salinas Church and other churches have withdrawn fellowship from the Santa Cruz Church. I am told the pastor of the San Jose Church, if he had his way, would lead his church in the same paths.

“These moves are not something that have just happened overnight. They have been coming to a head for quite some time. What I can’t understand is why the Sentinel and the men in positions of leadership in California didn’t expose these situations quite some time back. Error ought to be exposed and those who are preaching error should likewise be exposed. It is high time we expose the hypercalvinists, the universalist, the New Lighters and anyone else that is going off into heresy. The Bible tells us to know them which labor among us.”

Reactions and Observations

We are not disposed to get into the midst of a Baptist fuss over Baptist faith. Frankly, it is good to hear that some are departing from the Baptist faith. The bad news is that they are not leaving in order to surrender to the New Testament system of faith. So, while we are not going to enter into the “pros and cons” of a Baptist battle, we propose to notice an item or two which the above article genders.

1) The Tone and Tenor of the Article: You will see that Mr. Perdue is not afraid to call the names of men. He is not squirmish or squeamish to identify both who and what he is talking about. Is that representative of good, Baptist manners! Horror of horrors, we have a name calling Baptist! Some of the sect of the “Campbellites” get upset when their brethren call names and label doctrines as erroneous. Now, we have the same from a Baptist. Perhaps Leroy Garrett or Carl Ketcherside will reprimand their Baptist brother for such “unloving” castigation. Maybe not, though; after all, it would not be very “loving” to condemn a man for condemning.

Another thing-even those who agree “in principle” with the fight Mr. Perdue is making, surely they cannot agree with his “censorious,” “pompous,” “dictatorial,” “highhanded” methods. Mr. Perdue may as well expect such criticism. His fellow Baptists will acknowledge their doctrinal stand with him. They will tell him they regret the “departure from faith” just as strongly as he does. “But,” they will whine, “Who is Ron Cowger? He is not influential. He is not going to lead very many astray. You are just publicizing him unduly.” Others will say they sympathize with the necessary “stand for the truth,” but they sob out their slobbers about how Perdue is out to “ruin” Cowger. “Oh, do not misunderstand,” they affirm, “We know Cowger is just as wrong as he can be, but Perdue is just out to `head up his own Missionary Baptist Church.'” Yes, brother Perdue, you are right in your fight, but cancel my subscription to the Northwest Baptist News.

2) A Case of Apostasy? Mr. Perdue has no love for Cowger’s contortions and distortions of Baptist faith. Again, the Baptist belief needs to be bent, but if it does not point back to the Bible, the bending is in vain. It does no good at all to bend a thing crooked; however, one wonders if Perdue has pondered his plight and position. Cowger and others are guilty of something “which is even worse than physical adultery,” and of “going off into heresy.” Yet, according to Baptist doctrine, they cannot be lost in hell. Even if they never repent, even if they “wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” they need not fear the judgment of God, for once one is saved, he is always saved; it is impossible for a child of God to fall from grace. That is Baptist doctrine. Will Perdue say that his brethren who “commit spiritual adultery” are going to be saved in heaven at last. He certainly will! It will not do to say they were never saved in the first place because Perdue begins his treatise with the lament that some who were “once faithful to the cause” have now commenced to “depart from faith.” Besides, they could not be “rapidly departing the faith” if they were not in it to start with.

3) It Did Not Happen “Overnight. ” Departure from the faith is a cumulative process. As Perdue notes, it does not occur “overnight.” This is a fact Christians and congregations would do well to know. Neither Rome nor roaming from the faith was built in a day. Hebrews 2:1 emphasizes this point. Catholicism had a gestation period of centuries. The Christian Church had a slow, evolutionary birth. Therefore, watch for subtle signs of slippage.

4) “All in the Name of Progress.” Perdue says these Baptist perversions were all done “in the name of progress.” It is far better to do all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17), which is the only genuine progress. Instrumental music and institutionalism have infested and infiltrated the church in the name of progress. Every error in every era appeals to the name of progress. Progress is its god; destruction is its end. Progress is not a vice, but toward what and for what is one progressing?

(Any reference in the above article to men and issues living or dead is purely and coincidentally on purpose.)

Truth Magazine XXI: 32, pp. 508-509
August 18, 1977