Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

One of the statements on our currency is the phrase, “In God do we trust.” Unfortunately, more seem to be trusting in currency than in God. Solomon wrote,

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch (Prov. 11:28).

This proverb contrasts the one trusting in riches and the righteous (the one trusting in God) with reference to the eventual outcome of their lives.

The One Trusting in Riches

The word trust is translated from Mn; (batach), which is accurately represented by the English word “trust.” Riches is translated from 1 P (`osher). The one who trusts in riches is one who thinks that his riches can preserve him from the consequences of his sin.

We have seen how riches are sometimes used to protect men from the consequences of their sinful action. A rich drug dealer can hire the best attorneys to buy “reasonable doubt.” Hush money can keep witnesses from testifying in political scandals. Corporations can buy legislation with the right contributions to the party in power.

Others trust in money by making it the supreme purpose for their lives. Their chief aim in life is the accumulation of wealth. They don’t care who they step on or hurt in order to attain their wealth, for they believe that wealth can provide them everything in life worth having.

The wise man said that such men will fall. Fall is translated from In; (napal). The word literally means “fall” but is used figuratively to mean “go to ruin, perish” (BDB 657). Many who trust in riches experience temporal judgments that destroy them. Others who trust in riches live out their lives without experiencing a “fall.” However, in the day of death and judgment, these souls will meet the same sad eternal fate as the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. That man went to torment because his love of riches kept him from helping poor Lazarus. His trust in his riches led him to the worst fall of all.

George Lawson wrote, “They that trust in riches shall fall like the flower of the grass, or like the leaves of a tree. Their riches shall leave them; or if they should die in the midst of their wealth, they can carry nothing of their glory along with them. Their wealth cannot keep them from falling into hell, or mitigate the horrors of the infernal lake; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch” (The Book of Proverbs 219).

Paul warned the rich not to trust (eATr’Io , “to hope.. . to build hope on one, as on a foundation,” Thayer 205) in their uncertain riches (1 Tim. 6:17). One should not hope in riches because, in contrast to God, they are uncertain.

The Righteous Shall Flourish

The righteous (from ^’7′., “just, righteous,” BDB 843) are the opposite of those who trust in riches; hence, it must be those who trust in God and obey his will. The righteous man is the one who does what God commands, even when his outward senses tell him that his earthly life will be better if he disobeys God. A man like Daniel could have reasoned that his life would be more pleasant if he would eat the king’s dainties (Dan. 1). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could have reasoned that life would be better if they would bow down to the king’s image. However, they concluded that their fate was better off to die in obedience to the Lord than to live in disobedience to him. They told Nebuchadnezzar, “0 Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Dan. 3:16-18). Men of such faith and trust in God are intended by the word “righteous.”

Such men shall “flourish as a branch.” The word flourish is from fl , “bud, sprout, shoot” (BDB 827). The word branch is translated from i 1 l%y, “leaf, leafage” (BDB 750).

The figure of the branch flourishing may include the concept that the righteous may experiences afflictions, like the loss of foliage a branch has in the fall. However, when the spring comes, the branches bud out again and issue its foliage. “A branch may during winter appear withered, but it drops not from the stock, and in the spring it revives and grows. So the righteous man, though he meets seasons of affliction, shall revive and flourish. He is in grafted into the true Vine, and partaking of his vital influence, shall abound in the fruits of comfort and righteousness” (Lawson 219).

Sometimes when one is going through the afflictions and distresses of life, he is tempted to think that serving the Lord will not profit and benefit him. One must hold on to the promises of God to sustain him through such times. God has promised that serving him will pay more than any other course of life.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him (Ps. 92:12-15).

One who believes God who cannot lie (Tit. 1:2) will have faith to sustain him through the hard times, knowing that those who are righteous truly shall prosper.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 11 p. 2
June 5, 1997

By Harold Fite

While teaching a “Home-Bible Class” the man of the house came into the room. I invited him to take part in the study. He declined by saying, “I love God and he loves me. That’s all that matters.”

This person was not a Christian and did not pretend to follow the principles of Christ in his life. He relied on a faulty concept of love for his salvation. A common conception of God’s love is that “He accepts me, saves me, because he loves me. His love demands that he accept me.”

If God saved all whom he loves, no one would be lost. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God has never acted in love, however, at the expense of truth. He does not love so as to pass over sin. His actions, whether punitive or rewarding, are always consistent with love.

The Lord loves the righteous and unrighteous. He loves the murderer, thief, adulterer, and the homosexual, but just because they come under the canopy of God’s love doesn’t mean that God is pleased with them and will save them.

God saves those who love him! Who are they? Those who “keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Contrariwise, “He that loveth me not keepeth not my word” (John 14:23, 24).

The world makes a distinction between love and obedience  believing that love will take care of sin. Love is essential to salvation, but no more than faith. “Love” and “faith” involve obedience: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6).

Love expresses itself in action: “For God so loved . . .that he gave” (John 3:16). As God expressed his love for mankind by sending his Son to die for us, our love for God will express it-self in obedience to his will. Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” Then he called on Peter to prove it: “Feed my Iambs” (John 21:15).

To love God is to love him with all our faculties and power, to fix our affections supremely on him; to be willing to give up all we hold dear, to give our life to him and subject our will to his (Luke 10:27). We are to love him with all the faculties of soul and body and to toil and labor for his glory.

“I love God” is not some old theoretic platitude. Nor is it a magic formula for salvation. There is a lot more to it than “Honk if you love Jesus.” God’s love will not suffice for man’s disobedience. One can’t love sin away. “All the souls in hell will not be there because they were unloved by God, but because God was unloved by them.”

God loves everyone, but will only save those who love him, said love expressed by doing his will (1 John 5:3).

Guardian of Truth XLI: 11 p. 
June 5, 1997

By Randy Reynolds

The most recent part of the Bible was written almost 1900 years ago. Of course I am talking about the New Testament. In the almost 2000 years since the time of Jesus Christ, the Bible has been preserved, copied, and translated into many languages and distributed in every part of the world

One Book Containing

Many Books

The Bible is not just one book, it is a collection of 66 books, written by about 40 men. Its authors included kings, statesmen, fishermen, seers, a physician, a tax collector, a farmer, a general, and a tent-maker to name a few. Some of the writers were educated men while others were not. The Bible was written over a span of time that covered about 1600 years, with a cast of 2,930 characters in 1,551 places. The Bible was written and composed by men from totally different back-grounds, cultures, and time periods. One writer called it “the strangest publishing project of all time” (Terry Hall, “How We Got Our Old Testament,” Moody Monthly Journal 1987, 32).

The Bible is a book that consists of history, drama, narratives (stories), sermons, orations (speeches), memoirs (personal history), prayers and letters. It claims to foretell the future while promising eternal life those who follow and obey it. The Bible claims to provide the only way to true happiness, explains the why of human suffering, and teaches its readers the only true purpose of life here on earth. The Bible shows men and weaknesses, problems, and fears, while at the same time making dramatic changes in their life, including habits, morals, and desires. Most certainly the Bible is one very unique book.

The Book of Influence

I am not aware of any book in the history of man that has ever influenced so many people from all over the world so profoundly. Few books have been as popular or as important to so many people from so many different walks of life. For literally hundreds of years the Bible has spoken to the hearts of all people from every culture. People have in the past and continue today to use the great teachings of the Bible to enhance their social development. The Bible’s di-vine instruction on such things as psychology, mercy, love, kindness, justice, and ethics continue to be the standard for just about every culture, even if they don’t believe it came about through inspiration. Even some of the greatest motivational courses in well known universities throughout the world have based their teachings on this great book called the Bible.

The Bible is a Book about Real People

The Bible is a record of God’s message to men, women and children. The Bible is God speaking to mankind in every generation that man has ever existed. Whatever our situation or problem, we find the principles to guide our lives in the pages of the Bible. It is important to remember that the people that we read of and about in the Bible were real people, just like us. Even though they may have worn sandals and robes instead of jeans and gym shoes, they were not make-believe characters in a story book. Because they were real people, just like us, we can find help for our lives as we see what God said to them in their day. If you would read the Bible, then you would know that God can be trusted and that he will keep his word. Thus, one can live with the hope of God’s promises which he reads of in the Bible as being promises that will be kept.

The Bible is an Inspired Book

Before we begin to think of the Bible as just another book written by man, we need to look further. Even though the Bible was written by man in that man moved the pen to write, we must understand that the words that they wrote were not their own. The Bible claims to be stamped with the impress of God’s inspiration. In other words, the men who wrote the Bible were guided by God. Consider the claim, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11-12). “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:27). “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (1 Pet. 1:20-21).

One Bible researcher counted more than 3,800 times when the writers of the Bible used some variant of the formula, “The Word of the Lord came to me, saying. . .” Some examples of this are found in Ezekiel 6:1, “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying. . .” The prophet Amos often times repeats, “Thus says the Lord. . .” (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6, 11; 3:1, 8, 11, etc.). The prophet Zechariah can also be found repeating many times over, “Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying. . .” (Zech. 7:8). Several books begin with the introductory statement: “The word of the Lord that came to…”

Not only is this the way of those known as the prophets of God, much of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament, written by the prophet and law giver Moses) is actually presented as the actual, spoken word of God. Time and time again this phrase is used, “And the Lord spoke to Moses saying. . .” In Exodus 33:11 we read, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” John in the Revelation letter said that the visions and words he recorded in the book of Revelation came from God, not himself (cf. Rev. 1:1).

These few Bible passages should be enough to convince us that the Bible is the only book of its kind. The Bible is God’s book! It is God’s revelation to man! Not only did God’s Spirit inspire the writers of the sixty-six books that comprise the Bible, but God also superintended the trans-mission of these writings and their collection. It is a book that reveals who God is and how man can know him. The Bible reveals how God demands to be worshiped and what man must do in order to be pleasing in his sight. When people reject the Bible and its inspired teachings they have in essence rejected God! May I humbly suggest to you, my dear friends, that rejecting God is the most serious mistake, even the very worst mistake that one could ever possibly make!

Some of the more recent Gallup polls that have been taken suggest that belief in the Bible as the inerrant, infallible, God-breathed word is on the decline. A more recent survey suggests that only about one-third hold to such a belief whereas in 1963 about two-thirds held to this belief. But, regardless of what belief others may hold to, you and I are faced with the most awesome book that has ever influenced human society: a book that has now been preserved for literally thousands of years. A book that has and continues to straddle incredibly diverse cultures, beliefs, and teachings; a book that has caused notable men throughout the centuries to exclaim, “When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the word of God” (Woodrow Wilson [1856-1924], 28th President of the United States).

Bible Study Is Important!

The only question that remains is, what will I do with the Bible? Will I read and study it carefully making it a part of my life every day? Will I, as the inspired writer Jude pro-claimed, have the dedication and willingness to contend earnestly for its truths (cf. Jude 3)? Or will my Bible reading and Bible study succumb to the daily pressures that beg for more and more of my time? Or will I take the easier road of compromise, allowing those precious truths to be pressed into the background for a more positive, socially acceptable teaching and doctrine?

May our God help each one of us to be like David and make God’s inspired word the meditation of our hearts and the light for our paths so that we may walk in the way of the Lord, according to his inspired word. May we have the strength and the courage to stand firmly for the truth, even if we must stand alone.

The Old Testament books, 39 of them, language except for a few chapters in Aramaic. The New Testament books, 27 of them, were written primarily in the common Greek language of the Roman Empire.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 11 p. 1
June 5, 1997

By Tommy Glendol McClure

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus be-holding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:17-27; cf. Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-30).

Introduction

During the personal ministry of Jesus, questions were often asked of him by his hearers, disciples, and critics. In response to the rich young ruler’s question, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, Jesus pointed out the necessity of keeping the Law and because of his love for the young man, he told him the one thing he lacked to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus instructed the young ruler to “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The text tells us that this man rejected the instructions he sought from the Good Master ”And he was sad at the saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Jesus’ Illustration

Not only did the words of Jesus have a marked impact on the young ruler, but the disciples of Jesus who had witnessed this encounter were astonished at his words as well. Jesus then began to teach the impossibility of one entering heaven who trusts in riches. In verse 23 Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” The RSV renders this verse “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Similar language is used also in verse 24. Upon the astonishment of the disciples by this saying, Jesus in verse 25 uses a proverbial statement to illustrate this impossibility by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

The Needle’s Eye

Jesus uses the literal “camel” and the “needle’s eye” (Luke 18:25) to illustrate the absolute impossibility of one entering heaven who trusts in riches. The Greek word rendered “eye” in Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 is trumalia,..used of the eye of a needle” according to Vine. (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words 404). Some have attempted to soften this saying of Jesus and water it down by saying that the needle’s eye was only referring to a small passage way or small gate. Such a notion is unfounded! Listen to comments of various commentators: Vine says in his note on the word “needle,”  “The idea of applying `the needle’s eye’ to small gates seems to be a modem one; there is no ancient trace of it. The Lord’s object in the statement is to express the human impossibility and there is no need to endeavor to soften the difficulty by taking the needle to mean anything more than the ordinary instrument.” Mackie points out (Hastings’ Bible Dictionary) that “an attempt is sometimes made to ex-plain the words as a reference to the small door, a little over two feet square, in the heavy gate of a walled city. This mars the figure without materially altering the meaning, and receives no justification from the language and traditions of Palestine.” (Ibid., 788). J. W. McGarvey and Phillip Y. Pendelton in the Fourfold Gospel comment, “The needle’s eye here is the literal needle, and the expression was a proverbial one to indicate that which is absolutely impossible. Lord George Nugent (1845-6) introduced the explanation that Jesus referred to the two gates of a city, the large one for beast of burden, and the small one for foot passengers. This smaller one is now called The Needle’s Eye, but there is no evidence whatever that it was so called in our Savior’s time. In fact we have every reason to believe that this smaller gate received its name in late years because of the efforts of those who were endeavoring to soften this saying of Jesus” (547).

These attempts to soften this and other sayings of Jesus is not surprising. What Jesus and the apostles taught as being an impossibility, many religious rebels, renegades and even some of my brethren, try to make a possibility in an effort to justify their lawlessness! The impossibility of putting that camel through the needle’s eye can be set in contrast to other impossibilities we find revealed in the Scriptures!

Other Impossibilities

It is impossible for those who have not been baptized into Christ to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:4, “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Paul said that “we are buried with him in baptism” (Rom. 6:1-6); that those who “have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Recorded in the book of Acts are those who were baptized in the name of Christ in water  on Pentecost 3000 were baptized (Acts 2:1-47), the Samaritans (8:5-12), Simon (8:13), the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40), Saul (9:1-18; 22:1-6; 26:12-18), Cornelius and his household (10:1-48; 11:1-17), Lydia and her household (16:14, I5), the Philippian jailer (16:25-40); the Corinthians (18:8). Therefore, those who have not been baptized into Christ have not put on Christ and shall not enter the kingdom of God, denominational and Baptist doctrine notwithstanding!

It is impossible for those involved in religious error to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus denounced doing things religiously without his authority. He said in Matthew 7:21-23 , “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Jesus also identified the worship of doctrines and commandments of men as vain worship and proclaimed, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:9, 13). Religious error of any kind is iniquity in God’s sight and will prevent those involved in it from entering the kingdom of God. All things must be done by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17).

It is impossible for those living in an adulterous marriage to enter the Kingdom of God. Many have tried to soften the definite teaching of Jesus on the subject of divorce and remarriage in Matthew 19:9 where he said “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Even those who heard Jesus were shocked at this strict law of Jesus. Jesus in this en-counter with the Pharisees reaffirmed Genesis 2:24  one man for one woman for life with one exception for divorce  the innocent party is permitted to put away the guilty mate, only for the cause of fornication! Therefore when one divorces his mate for a cause other that fornication and marries another, he goes to the bed of adultery with the unlawful mate and Paul taught that the adulterer shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 13:4)!

It is impossible for the sexually immoral to enter the kingdom of God. The word “fornication” includes all sexual immorality. This word includes homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape, pedophilia, bestiality, whoredom, and adultery. This also includes the ungodly practice of “shacking up” that so many are involved in where a man and woman live together and are joined sexually without being married. Paul condemned those involved in sexual immorality as well as those involved in the list of sins in Romans 1:21-32; cf. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:15-20; and Colossians 3:5, 6.

It is impossible for the liar to enter kingdom of God. John the revelator said “…and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). The lake which burneth with fire and brimstone is far from the kingdom of heaven, it is eternal ruin!

It is impossible for those consumed with worldly pleasures to enter the kingdom of God. Paul said in Philippians 3: I8, 19, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Sadly to say, many brethren are in this condition and this truth can be applied to those brethren who more interested in stuffing the stomach rather than feeding the soul (cf. John 6:26-37).

It is impossible for the covetous person to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus in response to a request to be the divider of an inheritance said to the man who made the request “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Jesus then spake the parable of the rich fool who was not rich toward God, neither cared nor had any concern for his fellow man. He was only interested in keeping all he had and canning all he could get (Luke 12:13-30). Jesus called the man a fool! This man lost his life, favor with God, his soul and all the worldly treasures he laid up for himself. That very night his soul was required and Jesus said in verse 21, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Are those who are miserly, grudging givers or not givers at all, rich toward God? Would one of this nature be pleasing to God? All people like the rich fool, including covetous brethren, will loose their souls because of the desire of worldly pleasure and desire to satisfy the lusts of the flesh (1 John 2:15-17). Think about it!

It is impossible for the unrighteous or disobedient to enter the kingdom of God. It should be obvious to all who are honestly trying to live a godly life, that the there is no end (ad infinitum) to things that could be mentioned that will keep one from entering the kingdom of God. What about the gossiper (Pss. 16:28; 26:20; Eph. 4:31)? What about the hypocrite (Matt. 23:1-30; Luke 12:2; Jas. 3:17)? What about those negligent in their service to God (Matt. 25:1-3)? What about the rebellious (1 Sam. 15:23)? What about those who engaged in addictive practices such as smoking, drinking alcohol socially, illegal drugs, gambling, and pornography? And what about those with the wrong attitude toward the truth and preachers of it? In Galatians 5:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-19, Paul lists numerous sins that are “works of the flesh.” In answer to his own rhetorical question, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not enter the kingdom of God?”, he answered with the warning, “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9, 10).

Conclusion

Some teach and many are deceived into believing that such people will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul’s teaching says that this notion is not so! The truth is, heaven is reserved only for the obedient child of God whose faith has endured “the trial of fire” (1 Pet. 1:3-9). Let these Apostolic words sink deep into our hearts, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world” (Tit. 2:11, 12). To attempt to put the ungodly, the disobedient, the alien sinner, or an erring brother into the eternal kingdom of God (heaven), is like trying to put that camel “through the eye of the needle.” An Impossibility! “Be not deceived” my friends and brethren!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 20-22
April May 1, 1997