Truth Magazine

By Justin Atkins  

J.W. McGarvey states, in the introduction of his New Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, that the “Acts of the Apostles is a much neglected book . . . and, although it is not now so much neglected as formerly, it still needs to be brought more prominently before the attention of this age.” Times haven’t changed! McGarvey’s words ring loud and clear as we look at the religious division that characterizes our modern age. How sad it is to know that many are neglecting the answers found in the book of Acts. 

It is with this confidence in mind that genuine biblical conversion is to be found in the book of Acts. In the first chapter, Luke records that Jesus, “presented himself alive, after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Here we find that after the third day of his death, Jesus arose from the grave, speaking of “things concerning the kingdom.” Surely this included the authority of Jesus and his right to rule over men, how one enters this kingdom and the means by which they can be strong members of the kingdom. 

What a blessing to know that Christ told the apostles about “things con- cerning the kingdom” because in the second chapter, we find souls being taught the saving message that made them a part of that kingdom. 

Jesus told the apostles that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8). Notice that verse 5 says that the apostles would receive the Holy Spirit, and here again in verse 8 the apostles would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Although this article does not directly deal with the subject of the Holy Spirit and miraculous works, it is clear truth that the apostles received the Holy Spirit according to Jesus’ teaching. Having said this, look at the awesome events of Acts 2! 

Some of us might say, “The most amazing thing in Acts 2 is how the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and allowed them to speak in multiple languages so that all the people could understand them.” I would agree that this is pretty amazing. It is the fulfillment of what the prophet Joel had spo- ken many years before, and Peter tells us that this is so (vv. 14-21). Others might say, “The most amazing thing about Acts 2 is the boldness of Peter and the apostles to stand up in this great gathering and speak the word of God without fear.” No doubt about it, this was a great display of courage and genuine zeal for Christ. We can learn from this example and speak the whole counsel of God without regard to threats from those who do not love the truth. There may yet be another who says, “The most amazing thing in Acts 2 is how the prophecies come together to show that the Old Testament bears witness to Jesus as the Christ.” Again, I can find no fault with this statement. Peter uses no less than four Old Testament passages to show that the coming of the Holy Spirit is according to the promise of God, and Jesus is the descendant of David who reigns upon the eternal throne (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Pss. 16:8-11; 110:1; 132:11-12; Joel 2:28-32).  

However, the most amazing thing that happens in Acts 2 is found in vv. 37-41. It would not matter that the apostles received the Holy Spirit if no one believed in the works that they did through him. It would not matter that Peter and the eleven stood boldly if there was no audience to hear them. It would not matter that the prophecies concerning Christ came together so concisely if no one was convicted by the power of them. I am confident that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is pained no more than when helpless, sinful man turns his back upon the gift of eternal life. 

Did some amazing things happen in Acts 2? Yes. Did some amazing things happen that led to something even more amazing in the end? Yes. What we find in Acts 2:37-41 is the dynamic process of a heart turning to the Lord, responding to the sacrifice of Christ. Notice that these people were “pierced to the heart” (v. 37) and in accordance with that penitent attitude, they asked the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Isn’t that beautiful?! Isn’t that what makes your heart sing? But we are not done. The preacher doesn’t pat them on the back and say, “You are all right now. Go away believing in Christ.” Peter told them what he was taught by the One who spoke of “things con- cerning the kingdom.” Peter preached the death, burial, and 

resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that sermon includes telling men and women how to be saved. What a simple command, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 38). One almost gets the feeling that the people hesitated because in v. 40 Peter was “exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’” Finally, these precious souls expressed their faith in God by being baptized into Christ, “and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (v. 41). 

I am convinced, friend, that God planned to save men and women long before we came upon the scene (Rom.11:30-32), and should we ever lose sight of what really happened in Acts 2, then we have lost sight of the plan of God. Jesus Christ said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). This is what it is all about. God worked all the promises to the patriarchs, the prophecies of the Old Testament, the events of the Jews in Israel, and the suffering death of Jesus Christ to culminate in the events of Acts 2:37-41. What does all of this say about God’s love for mankind? What do you think this means in terms of my responsibility in teaching the lost about the great love of God? 

I am afraid, good friend, that we have missed the message of Acts 2 and the New Testament teaching on conversion. I am afraid that we are all caught up in offering mint, dill, and cummin as sacrifices to the Lord while we are neglect- ing the weightier matters of the law (Matt. 23:23). It is my prayer that we learn how to purge our hearts of the dross that keeps us back from enthusiastic service for Christ. We must pray that in God’s merciful heart, we are given the time and strength to meet the true challenge of converting the lost.

By Chuck Bartlett

During one of his many opportunities to preach the gospel to Roman dignitaries, while incarcerated, the apostle Paul spoke to a governor of Caesarea named Felix (Acts 24:10-25). The message obviously had some effect on this man since we are told, “Felix became frightened” (v. 25). Unfortunately, instead of desiring to know more of what he should do, he sent Paul away until a time of convenience (v. 25). Sadly, the governor never got around to obeying the gospel. 

There are reasons why people put off hearing or obeying the gospel. With Felix, it was a number of things: his desire to obtain money from Paul (v. 26), his interest in pleasing the Jews (v. 27), and his willingness to listen, but not respond (v. 25). This created a diversion for the Roman ruler that contributed to him remaining in a lost state. 

When someone is being touched by the word of God, conviction starts to surface, and a person faces an important decision — to go forward or backwards. Why? When it comes to the gospel of Christ, obligation, respon- sibility and urgency are being stressed. Paul taught all of these, yet Felix made the wrong choice. A later time of convenience does not exist when a heart is pricked to the point where the listener is “cut to the heart.” 

I realize that in many of our home Bible studies, more than one class has been set up. This is done to keep the interest alive. Yet when a person is seeking to know the truth, if he accepts it, then he ought to immediately respond, rather than put it off. It was good that Felix was afraid, but the governor should have removed that fear by complying with the doctrine of Christ, not by silencing the speaker for a time. 

Too often I hear of souls “obeying” when it is convenient. Imagine teaching the plan of salvation and hearing one utter, “I know what I need to do. Can I get baptized next Thursday morning?” Where is the conviction? This person might as well have said, “I believe I am lost and should not stay in sin, but I choose to do so for another week, okay?” 

Friend, there is no convenient season, other than the present, for you to be converted to Christ. A convicted heart says, “What must I do to be saved?” and “Here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?” If it isn’t done right away when realized, then we have a person who is just like Felix. He believes, but doesn’t believe to the point where he will put God fi rst and self last. Unless we are willing to put our hand to the plow and not look back, we are not fi t for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

The next time you are in a class and an individual wants to obey next week, tell him that you will study with him again. If he understand fully what God wants, he will obey right then, not because it is convenient, but rather because he wants to be saved now — at the accepted time (2 Cor. 6:2).

By David Dann

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2). In the above passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul is discussing true conversion. That is, the necessity of turning completely away from the world and turning entirely to
the Lord.

We live during a time when many act as though there is no absolute truth, or standard by which to judge our standing with the Lord. All of these conditions create a great need for us to examine the Scriptures in order to come to an understanding of how one is truly converted to Christ.

What is Conversion?

The dictionary simply de- fines the term “conversion” as, “a turning or change from one state to another.” Please notice that conversion is not merely a change in belief, or a change in practice; rather, it is a complete change from one state of being to another. Jesus defines true conversion in Luke 9 in the following terms: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Self- denial refers to the change of heart that is required by the Lord as a man changes his outlook on life and exchanges the desire to please himself with the desire to please God. The idea that a man must “take up his cross” shows the change that is to take place in his life, in which the old sinful practices are exchanged for a life of service to God that resembles the life of Christ. Finally, the words “follow me” give us the conversion in its complete form. The heart has been turned to the Lord, the life has been turned to the Lord, and now the entire state of the individual is turned to the Lord in a new relationship with him. Let’s examine each item in greater detail.

A Change of Heart

The term “heart” is often used in Scripture to refer to the intellect and desire of a person (see Gen. 6:5; Matt. 6:21; Acts 5:4). Therefore, a change of heart is brought about through faith, that is, through becoming convicted based upon information that is learned. A man’s faith is inspired by his response to the gospel message (Rom. 10:17). A true change of heart is much more than a mere acknowledgment that Jesus is the Son of God. In reality it is a change that destroys the love of sin and establishes the love of God in the sinner’s heart. We might say that it causes one to hate what he once loved and love what he once hated. A true change of heart produced by faith in God’s word is what caused the Jews on Pentecost to cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Certainly, there can be no conversion without a change of heart.

A Change of Conduct

Since mere belief in God does not constitute conver- sion (Jas. 2:19), we can conclude that a change of heart will amount to nothing if it is not followed by a change of conduct. The change of conduct that is required by the Lord is brought about through repentance. It is quite evident from the New Testament that God demands repentance (see Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19). True repentance is more than feeling sorry for the sins that we have committed. True re- pentance is a complete change in the direction of one’s life, as defined by the prophet Isaiah: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). When a man truly repents, he turns from desiring to sin, to hungering and thirsting after righteousness. There can be no conversion to the Lord without repentance.

A Change of Relationship to God

Although a change of heart and a change of conduct are required by God, we cannot acceptably follow Jesus until our relationship to God is also changed. Many in the reli- gious world today change their hearts and lives completely, only to fall short of true conversion, simply because their relationship to God remains in its same dreadful state of disrepair. In Acts 3:19 Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted,” showing us plainly that conversion is not completed upon repentance. The truth is that the change in our relationship to God is brought about through water baptism. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Scriptural baptism takes a man from a state of being outside of Christ and liter- ally brings him “into Christ.” Baptism will never change a man’s heart or conduct, but it will change his relationship to God. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark

16:16). It is plain to see that baptism is not something we do because we have been converted, it is what we must do in order to be converted (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Conclusion It is only after these three changes have taken place that the Scriptures recognize a person as having been converted to Christ. But we are involved in more than just a mental exercise in examining the what God’s word has to say on the subject of conversion. This message of true, Biblical conversion is a message that is sorely needed among the millions around us who are lost and dying in sin. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14). Will you spread the word?

By Dorris V. Rader

Two neatly dressed young men came calling at my door a few days ago. They were very polite and courteous. After giving their names, they quickly commented about a sticker near the door that gave warning to any would-be burglars. They inquired if I had considered why we have need for such warnings. That fit right in with their little speech and the head-lines on literature they intended to leave. (Incidentally, they forgot to leave their piece of literature.) They asked if I would like to see an era of peace and good will right here on this earth? At this point, I said, “Why don’t you come inside and perhaps we can talk a little better inside?”

When we were seated, I said, “Now before we begin to discuss such matters, let us try to come to some agreement as to what we will both be using as our standard of authority for determining truth.” They tried to quickly dismiss this as not a need worth mentioning. They said, “Oh, we will just use the Bible as the standard.” I suggested that I needed some assurance that this would really be the case. I suggested that my reason for pursuing that matter is because I understand that you believe that there is a “faithful and wise servant” who ministers the spiritual food to God’s people in due season. And, “I understand that you feel that Matthew 24:45-47 justifies your position.” They looked at each other a second, each seemingly waiting for the other to respond, then one of them said, “Yes, that is what the Bible teaches, so we just take the Bible on that.” They went on to indicate that anything we teach we will just accept the Bible on it.

I suggested then that I needed to be convinced on that and to know more about that “faithful and wise servant (slave) whom you feel gives you the proper food.” They both got busy trying to change the subject, but I was just as insistent that we talk about the “servant.” I pointed out that I surely needed to know who this is that the Bible is talking about. They changed the subject, and I changed it back. So, I suggested that we set an appointed time to get back together and just talk about the standard of authority which we accept in settling matters of truth. They finally said they would come back one week from that day. Really, from their action, I did not believe they would be back. At least, I was sure they would not come without bringing in a “trouble shooter” who was much older and more experienced. I’ve had this happen more than once. Sure enough, the latter is what happened.

At the exact time appointed, one of the original young men came accompanied by an older gentleman. The older man said, “I think I should tell you right up front that I am a full-time minister with over 30 years experience in this work.” I said, “That is fine, so let us get down to the discussion agreed upon. We agreed that we would discuss the standard of authority that will govern us in determining truth.” He quickly tried to dismiss this by saying, “We will just use the Bible.” I suggested that I certainly expected that he would “use” the Bible, but the is-sue is whether the Bible would be the standard for settling matters. At this point I placed on the table in front of us a flip chart with the following points.

What Will Be Our Standard

of Authority?

1. The Bible Alone.

2. The WTBTS (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society).

3. The Bible as interpreted by the WTBTS.

4. If other than the above, please explain.

They glanced over it and said, “Let’s just close this up and put it away and talk about the Bible.” I said, “No, I have no intention of putting this aside until you tell me which of these you are using as your standard of authority.”

It was at least twenty minutes later before I forced a choice out of him, and guess what! It was not the Bible, but #3 (the Bible as interpreted by the (WTBTS). I told them that I have here before us photocopies of pages from the literature you people always leave with people. I said, “Is it good to read that literature?” They said, “Oh, yes, but do you have a lot of stuff here that our enemies have said about us?” I assured them that all I intended to read was their own literature as we discuss what our standard of authority is to be. So I read how Charles T. Russell claimed that the “servant” was a class or group, and then at later dates that it was individual and that he was that “servant.” Then, still later the WTBTS claimed that Russell never made such a claim about himself. I then read where they claimed they never had published even a biography of Russell, but I read from their literature his biography not once but a number of times. The society claimed that the teaching that Russell was that “servant” led to “creature worship,” yet they published and sold his literature in which he made that claim.

That, I pointed out, is what you claim as “the Faithful and Wise Servant.” I asked if a “faithful witness” will lie? They said, “No.” But, then they began to get ready to go. The thirty year veteran began packing his things in his briefcase and said, “I don’t intend to sit and listen to this. I won’t sit by and let the `servant’ be attacked in such a way.” He, himself, had just finished an attack on the King James Bible, claiming that it was a translation dictated by King James through one man. I said, “Now, you have answered my little chart and you have chosen #3, haven’t you?” He admitted this was the case. I said, “You were less than honest with me when you entered and said that the Bible alone would be used.” Although he intended to read some passages, he knew that he would not give a single interpretation unless it was endorsed and set forth by the society.

In the short time the “Witnesses” remained, they attacked the King James Bible and grossly misrepresented it and perhaps to a lesser degree others except the New World Translation. But he got mighty upset when I just read from photocopies of their literature published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. I pressed them about the contradictions and false claims I had read from their literature. The “veteran of thirty years” denies that there was any error or false doctrine taught in any of that literature. Yes, there were “mistakes” but certainly no error or false doctrine, for “they were sincere in what they taught.” I’m not quite sure how he could be so positive about sincerity in all those cases, but he felt that they were. It was a case he said of “new light” as time went on, but none of them could be charged with false teaching or error for they were sincere.

Somewhere in the back of my mind it seemed I had heard this plea made by some of my brethren to protect brethren who were guilty of false teaching. But they pleaded that this was not to be charged against them because they were of good character and sincere. Yes, they were wrong in what they taught, but they were not teaching error. Could this “Witness” have been reading after some of my brethren? Wonder how some brethren would respond to their claim? Is that a valid argument for my brethren, but not for the Witnesses?

Before they left they wanted to know if I was a former Jehovah’s Witness. They began to plead for sympathy talking about how they were persecuted. One of them said people would jump on them for little minor matters or mistakes in their literature. I said, “Don’t come with that martyr complex for you people have had no more persecution than others.” They wanted to know if I treated other religious groups as I had them, going into their history and attacking what they teach  say like other denominations or maybe the Hindu religion. I said, “I have not had any Hindu people coming around spreading their views, but if they do I’ll take it up and expose it just as I have yours.” At about this point they allowed that it was a good time to leave “in peace.”

For a number of years when I first began preaching, I would let the Jehovah’s Witnesses talk and then I’d answer. When I would answer their perversion of some passage, the other Witness would read another passage and take off in a different direction. I’d go after what he had misrepresented and by this time the first one would start reading or talking in still another direction. They had designed it this way, so as to be able to “hit and run.” Somewhere along the way, someone helped me to find a much better way of dealing with the JW’s. They reminded me that, after all, they don’t really use the Bible as the standard of authority. They may read from it, but back in their minds they are listening to the WTBTS believing it to be the “faithful and wise servant” giving food to the people of God. As you can see in this case, they will not hesitate to misrepresent what they really believe, especially about their standard of authority in order to slip up on the unsuspecting. So, you have to make them admit where their loyalty really is. They believe the Bible is a “sealed book” and that only by listening to the “servant” can people know the truth. Don’t be fooled by their sweet talk about just trying to get their foot in the door. By deceit, trickery, and down right lying about their real position, they are able to delude a lot of people. Once you knock them out of their little path of chosen speeches and selected topics they are totally frustrated and get really upset.

Just remember you have to force their hand on what is their real standard of authority. Don’t back away just because they say, “Oh, we’ll just take the Bible.” Press the point and you will see where their real loyalty is. Until they come to really respect the Bible as the source of final authority, you are just spinning your wheels in any kind of discussion with these people.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 24 p. 12-13
December 18, 1997