Truth Magazine

By Brooks Cochran

“For there is no respect of persons with God” (Rom. 2:11); “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).

Being impartial is a trait of character to be admired and desired by all. No amount of knowledge and/or ability can substitute for it. However, it is a rare quality.

The verses quoted above speak of the impartiality of God. Since all men are his creation, he must make no difference in them. I would like for us to note some ways in which God shows his impartiality toward men.

1. He has declared all under sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The sins of some of God’s most faithful servants are not hid: Abraham (Gen. 12:14-20; 20:2-13); Moses (Deut. 32:48-52); David (2 Sam. 11-12); Paul (Acts 26:9-11). They were recorded to warn us that if God did not condone their sins neither will he condone ours (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11-13).

2. God has provided a common Savior and gospel for all. Jesus is not the Savior of a particular race, class, or nation of people. He died for all (John 3:16). His gospel is universal. It is for all the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16; Col. 1:23; Jude 3). In fact, it is the only way by which men can be saved (Acts 4:12).

3. God extends the same invitation to all men. He wants all men to come to his Son. He is not willing that any man be lost; but that all should come to repentance and be saved. No one who responds will be rejected (Matt. 11:28; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17).

4. God requires the same conditions of pardon be met by all men if they are to be saved. Man may alter and change God’s plan of pardon; but those that obey that perverted plan will not be saved (Gal. 1:6-10). God wants men to believe in him and his word, repent of their sins, confess their faith in Christ, and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Heb.11:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:37; Rom. 10:10-17; Acts 22:16). If a person will comply with these terms of pardon he will be saved. If not, he will remain lost.

5. God has given one standard to be followed. Men have various standards which they follow in religion (The Koran, Book of Mormon, various church disciplines, manuals, catechisms, etc.). But there is only one which is from God. It is the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:3; John 12:48). All others are the writings of men. They are not our standard in religion. They will lead men away from God and to eternal destruction.

6. God has provided one church for all. Often we read or hear the phrase: “Attend the church of your choice.” In one sense, man does not have a choice if he wants to be right with God. For there is only one church (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18; Eph, 4:4). It is true that there are hundreds of churches, religious and/or social organizations in existence today. But that does not mean that God approves of such. In fact, quite the contrary, religious division is condemned in the Bible (1 Cor. 1:10-17; John 17:20; Matt. 15:13).

7. God will judge all as individuals and upon their own life. We will not be judged as nations, or a class, or as a congregation, but as individual people accountable to God (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:5, 7-9; Rev. 20:12). Lest any think that they are so special that God will over-look some of their sins, let me put this question to you: If God did not “spare his own Son” from the cross, what gives you the idea that he will spare you from hell (Rom. 8:32)?

Let us be thankful that we serve a God who is no re-specter of persons. Men do show respect and are unfair to one another. But God is not that way.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 19, p. 15
October 5, 1995

By Larry Ray Hafley

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Jacob, his father, and Joseph, of course, suffered much agony of spirit.

However, has it ever occurred to you how much his brothers suffered? We feel little or no sympathy for them. If ever any men deserved to suffer for their cold, calloused cruelty, these men did. And suffer they did! Before Joseph was finally revealed to them in Egypt, they said, “We are very guilty concerning our brother (Joseph,  LRH), in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us” (Gen. 42:21). And, so, they argued among themselves, and revealed that they had been tormented by their dear, but despised, brother’s pleadings for help.

Though Scripture does not tell us, who can believe that the brothers were not touched by the heartache of their father, as they saw him mourn day after day, for many years, over Joseph’s “death”? Later, after Joseph’s restoration, the guilt of their betrayal again struck home when Jacob died. They feared that Joseph would hate them, and that he would take out his vengeance upon them (Gen. 50:15-21). Their sin, though long since forgiven, still carried its bitter sting of anguish, grief, and pain.

It is the way of sin. In some form or another, we all bear the anguish of Joseph’s brothers. We bear the haunting specter of our sins. After surgery, the healing begins, but the scar remains forever. After forgiveness, the healing is complete, but the ugly scars, the effects, of our sins may remain to cause us anguish in the night and shame in the light. Let us, therefore, resolve, as much as lieth in us and in him, to “go, and sin no more,” lest we, too, become consumed by the anguish of Joseph’s brothers (Jn. 8:11).

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 20, p. 8
October 19, 1995

By Ron Halbrook

“Celebrate America, sponsored by First Assembly of God Church” of Brazoria, Texas included “$10,000 worth of fireworks, a 50-foot United States flag, and a replica of the Liberty Bell . . . drama presentations including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and an illustrated sermon . . . A moonwalk, antique car show and volleyball … Homemade apple pie, snowcones, sodas, and hot dogs . . . at 25″” (Brazoria County News, [29 June 1995], p. 1). Is this the work of the church?

Who decides what the work of the church is? God does because he created the church. God the Father planned it “according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11). Jesus Christ as the Son of God died to purchase the church “with his own blood” and he is “head over all things to the church” (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:22). The Spirit of God revealed God’s perfect plan for the church in Scripture, the pattern or “form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13; 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 2:13). God tells us what the work of the church is in the Bible.

What does the Bible say the work of the church is? God ordained a three-fold mission for the local church. 1. Evangelism. “The church of the living God” is “the pillar and ground of the truth” of the gospel, always sound-ing out “the word of the Lord” (1 Tim. 3:15-16; 1 Thess. 1:8). 2. Edification. “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Cor. 14:26). Saints assemble for spiritual growth through spiritual activities ordained by God: prayer, congregational singing, gospel teaching, and on the first day of the week observing the Lord’s supper and taking a collection for the church’s work (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). 3. Benevolence. The mission of the church includes “ministering to the saints,” i.e., meeting the needs of destitute saints.

“Celebrate America” is not gospel evangelism, not spiritual edification, and not benevolence; therefore, is not the work of the church. Such programs proclaim not the simple gospel of Christ but provide a mixture of patriotism, politics, recreation, and entertainment (with a few religious symbols thrown in). In teaching “all the counsel of God,” the Bible gives instructions for godly conduct in business, education, sexual purity, patriotism, social affairs, recreation, and every area of life. The church must preach all these principles without compromise, but God did not ordain the church to sponsor businesses, schools for secular education, social affairs, recreation, patriotic celebrations, or political campaigns. All such activities are the responsibility of individuals, homes, communities, and governments.

The home, the government, and the church have distinctive duties. God assigned procreation and child rearing to the home, not to civil government. God assigned the administration of civil and criminal justice to government, not to the home or the church. God ordained the church and not the government to provide for the observance of the Lord’s supper. The church has no more right to sponsor political and patriotic programs than the home does to conduct kangaroo courts and vigilante executions. We must learn to let the home be the home, the government be the government, and the church be the church!

The true church of Christ in the Bible proclaimed the gospel of Christ to lost sinners, calling them to the cross of Christ in faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism into Christ. The true church of Christ in the Bible maintained its divine mission without addition or subtraction. The true church of Christ follows the same Bible pattern of faith and practice today.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 20, p. 1
October 19, 1995

By W.R. Jones

School is starting earlier this year than I have ever known. Some are glad, some are sad, but like it or not young people must attend. At the beginning of school, teachers publish a list of “back to school needs.” From the first grade through college there are certain things a student must have. They differ greatly, but for that group they are needed. Please allow me to mention some “back to school needs” that are not on the teacher’s list. These needs cannot be bought with money. They are more important than any other need. Above all, they affect your happiness here and your eternal security in the world to come. Consider these thoughts.

Carry Honesty With You

Dishonesty prevails in many school rooms of our day. I plead with you, young people, don’t be a part of it. What is honesty? It means “honorable, hence, creditable, suitable.” “It is characterized by integrity and strait forwardness in conduct, thought and speech; free from fraud.” The Word of God says, “Provide things honest in the sight of men” (Rom.12:17). “Do that which is honest” (2 Cor. 13:7). “Having your conversation honest” (1 Pet. 2:12). In line with these Scriptures, the admonition I heard as a child was, “Honesty is the best policy.”

Honesty requires an honest heart and honest thinking. If you don’t have it on the inside, it won’t show on the outside. Let us ask, with whom should you be honest? First, be honest with God and his teachings. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7-8). Don’t try to fool God, you can-not!

Second, be honest with yourself. “To thine own self be true and thou canst not be false to any.”

Third, be honest with your fellow students. When you are honest with others you never meet yourself coming back. Fourth, be honest with your teachers. Promises should be kept. Assignments should be fulfilled or reasonable explanation made. Fifth, be honest with your parents. Good parents are trying to guide you in the right way and if you lie to them they are unable to help you. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Gal. 6:1). By all means, parents should be honest with their children!

Carry Moral Courage With You

Look at the definition of courage. “That quality of mind which enables one to meet danger and difficulties with firmness.” In the Hebrew (hazak), “to show oneself strong” (Num. 13:20). In the Greek (tharso) “be of good cheer, boldness, confidence.”

Moral courage means to show one-self strong against Satan’s appeals. Public schools belong to the people; both good and bad. The authorities can’t always legislate all the morals of your fellow students or those who teach you. Therefore, you must have courage! Don’t be afraid! Peer pressure may be great to lead you into sin. Don’t let them intimidate you into disaster. Have courage and in the long run you will be the better for it.

Carry Respect for Authority One thing greatly needed in our day is respect for authority. It is needed in the home, school, community and above all in the kingdom of God. Children are taught in both Old and New Testaments to respect authority (Eph. 6:1). When those in authority are trying to direct you in that which is profitable and righteous you should obey them. If they are directing you into that which is wrong then have the “courage” to say no. You must learn that authority is the tap root of decency, order, and happiness. Even if you can’t respect the life of your teacher or principal, try to respect the office. As you return to school, please take these “back to school needs” with you. They will serve you well.

Parents, you should realize the importance of secular education, but even more important, your children’s spiritual training. Both take time and effort on your part. Be sure you don’t neglect the spiritual.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 19, p. 1
October 5, 1995