Truth Magazine

By Don Wright

Jesus once said, “1f ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (in. 8:31, 32). Many wonderful thoughts can be gleaned from the words which Jesus uttered here. We are made aware of some exceptional realities that come as a result of one continuing in the words of Jesus.

We Are Disciples of Christ

One who continues in his word is his disciple. What a privilege it is to be a disciple of Christ. We become learners of Christ, and he becomes our teacher. It is always a special claim to be taught of a great teacher, and Jesus is the greatest teacher of all. As his disciples we learn not only things pertaining to the here and now, but also of things pertaining to eternity. Only Jesus our teacher has the wonderful words of life (Jn. 6:68). All Christians who continue in the words of the Savior, figuratively sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of his wisdom.

We Are Set Free

Jesus also spoke of being set free. This, of course, does not refer to any type of physical freedom; it deals with being freed spiritually. There is no greater bondage than that of sin. Therefore, there is no greater deliverance than that from sin. Now there is only one way to obtain this freedom under consideration, and that is by abiding in the words of Christ, i.e., by obeying and standing in the gospel of Christ (Rom. 6:1-18). As long as we stay away from sin, our former master, and serve our new master, Christ, we are free. This is a reality that comes as a result of continuing in the words of Jesus Christ. The only way we can lose our freedom is to turn back and serve sin again.

Continuing in The Words of Christ

Finally, Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word . . . ye shall know the truth.” Knowing truth is vital to any soul. Without knowledge of truth one cannot be saved, for it is truth that teaches us how to take advantage of the salvation that flows from Calvary. It is truth that tells us that we must believe on Jesus, repent of our sins, confess Christ with the mouth, and be buried in the waters of baptism. Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth …” (I Pet. 1:22). He went on to affirm in ver. 24 that we are born again of the incorruptible seed, i.e., the word of God (truth). It is obvious, then, that truth is important to all of us. And how is it that truth is made known adequately?

By one continuing in the word.

Some truth is comprehensible at first glance. However, there are other truths that can only be fully comprehended and appreciated by contemplation. It necessitates a continuing in the words of Christ. If we have the willingness to study like we ought to, and to continue in those words of Christ, Jesus assures us that we shall know the truth. We will be familiar with the doctrine of Christ and with the will of God. We will know assuredly what God would have us to do in order to establish and maintain fellowship with him. It is in this that we find true freedom. We find comfort in realizing that we are heaven bound. We know that we are heaven bound because we know the truth. We know just what God demands, and we know whether or not we are following those demands. Some openly admit that they are not quite sure of whether or not they are heaven bound. My advice to them is search the Scriptures. There is no reason why we should not know God’s will. We have the truth where his will is revealed. It is up to us to learn it. Paul said, “Study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15). To study regularly and to familiarize ourselves with the word of God is in part what is involved in continuing in the words of Christ.

Is continuing in the words of Christ worth the effort? Yes, for then you will be a disciple of Christ, you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 2 p. 21
January 19, 1995

By Lance Baines

They morph, they teleport, they even plant flowers in Angel Grove. They’re the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and if you haven’t heard of them, you probably don’t own a calendar either. Unlike most of the media offerings for children’s entertainment, the producers of the Power Rangers insist this is a show that teaches some-thing. You know what? They’re right!

Mixed Messages

The Power Rangers teach us about the failure of mixed messages. Picture this: A team of twin tongued sales people pitching the Rangers to network big-shots under the guise of “non-violent” action heroes. The net-works buy it and advertise programming that teaches children how to resolve their conflicts peacefully. Now picture this: Every small child in America kicking, flipping, hitting, and receiving such in return as they recreate the latest fight sequences from the last episode of Power Rangers. No, Im not saying that it’s wrong for kids to wrestle in good fun, but I am saying that children imitate what the Rangers do, not what they say. It seems evident then that a mixed message and no message at all are hard to tell apart. Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of giving off mixed messages too. Have you ever heard somebody preach “both sides” of some important issue in an “unbiased way” so that people can “make up their own minds”? Or how about this one: If you teach that it is a sin to add onto the church institutions that the Lord did not put in his church, will you yet worship with institutional churches? The thought of a mixed message isn’t worth a penny.

Parental Fanaticism

The Power Rangers also teach us about how much time and energy the average parent has to spend on little Jr. In almost every major city in America, parents with small children have been bribing, harassing, and even threatening truck drivers and retailers in bold but futile attempts at obtaining the new “zords.” The rest of us simply weary ourselves as we fetch for our children their fair share of amusements. No, it’s not a sin to take your kids toy shopping, but if we could spend even half of that automobile time drilling our kids on the plan of salvation, lessons from the lives of Bible heroes, and basic morality, most of us would be increasing, not de-creasing, the amount of time we spend teaching our children. Don’t say that the time isn’t there when it is.

Strength and Unity

Last but not least, the Power Rangers drive home a strong message about the power of strength in unity. What any of the Rangers cannot overcome as individuals, they always overcome together. They nurture friendship and brotherly love and this bond is the crux of their victory. The congregation with whom you worship could probably use a double dose of that same spirit, and I wonder to myself about how much more our young people would admire the church if we took this more seriously. Some people will do everything they can to avoid contact with their fellow saints. They run out after services. They don’t like to greet people enthusiastically. The speck in your eye provokes their wrath more than their pity, so they don’t want to get too close to you. No, we don’t need another committee to study the problem, but we do need to pray, each and every one of us that the Lord might heal any pig headedness harboring in the recesses of the soul. Show some hospitality. Say some-thing nice to your spiritual family. We can show our young people a strength and a unity far greater than the Power Rangers. Believe it!

Shrewd with the TUBE

Kids watch TV, and a lot of it too! Surely such a time consuming device has a higher calling than being a mere idiot box. Why not use what they are interested in to teach them lessons that will stick to their souls long after the Rangers and shows like it have gone the way of the dinosaur? Simple but valuable lessons are all around us. Practice what you preach, teach your kids during those idle car rides, and treat your spiritual family to something worth coming out of the world for. Some day, the world will lose interest in the Power Rangers and they’ll be gone. Parents probably won’t miss them one bit, I know I won’t, but let’s not miss one bit of opportunity to give our kids something that’s here to say. Have you taught your child today?

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 2 p. 1
January 19, 1995

By Gene Frost

For years I have tried in vain to get John Welch, of Indianapolis, Indiana, to engage in a written and oral study of the deity of Jesus. He has been adamant in his demand to set every condition for a debateformat, propositions, and place. I have concluded that John Welch will never debate under terms fairly and mutually determined.

Finally, it has come to this: if there is to be a debate on the deity of Jesus (which we believe is sorely needed in order to offset the gross distortions emanating from the Welch party, to clearly set forth the issue, and give occasion for a public scriptural refutation of the heretical position being espoused by them) we would have to meet John Welch on his terms. Therefore, we acquiesced and on August 31 we submitted to him his propositions for debate. On September 24, he accepted. On November 10, the Expressway church in Louisville, Ky. offered their building for the discussion, to be held the third week of May. I accepted immediately. As of November 28, when no word had been received from John Welch, Greg Litmer (evangelist with the Expressway church) telephoned John. John wanted a later date, the third or fourth week in June. The elders of the Expressway church agreed to the third week, and since John Welch has no further demands, the debate is scheduled.

The propositions to be debated are:

(1) “Resolved: The Scriptures teach that the inner being of Jesus, his Spirit, was unchanged when he came to earth.”  Gene Frost, affirms; John Welch, denies

(2) “Resolved: The Scriptures teach that when Jesus came to earth his spirit was changed.”John Welch, affirms; Gene Frost, denies

The debate will be conducted June 19-20, 22-23, 1995, in the building of the Expressway church of Christ, 4437 South Sixth St., Louisville, Ky.

John Welch has had his way in arranging this debate. He has his propositions, his format, his place (he demanded Louisville), and his time. And, as one of his associates said, he has been preparing for debate “for nearly five years”; I am now beginning my preparation (I never get serious about a debate until propositions are signed). Yet, he writes in Faith and Facts that I have “every advantage”! My first reaction was laughter . . . but, then, you know, in a way he is right: I have the advantage: I have the truth! And he knows it, and this is why he has tried to assume the position we defended at Beaver Dam, Ky., which he denied, and ever since has desperately tried, but without success, to push the opposition into another position.

It should be an interesting discussion.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 24
January 5, 1995

By Daniel H. King Sr.

We all have many choices to make in life. Most are trivial and a few are significant. When we wake up in the morning we may puzzle over which breakfast cereal to have, or whether to have cereal at all. A lady considers which color lipstick to wear today, which dress to put on, and which type of shoes is best for today, heels or flats. Tomorrow we probably won’t even remember how the decision turned out. Many such inconsequential things are thought through and decided by us on a daily basis. We hardly recall the result from one day to the next.

Occasionally, however, we must decide about important things. So many have been the trifling issues in our lives, that if we are not careful, we may tend to treat them as trifling also and not give them the care and attention which such vital matters deserve. The determination to become a Christian is an issue of such consequence that most of us give it much thought and reflection before making the commitment.

This decision puts us into the “house of God” of which Paul speaks in 1 Timothy 3:15. But how much thought have we given to whether we shall be a vessel of honor or of dishonor in that house? In the second epistle to Timothy, Paul considers this question in Timothy’s case. For, Timothy, you see, was making daily decisions which determined which type of vessel he would prove to be in God’s house:

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work (2 Tim. 2:20-21).

The Lord’s house is a great house, not a small one. It is composed of people of all types and descriptions. And, like a grand mansion which has special fine china bowls in which to serve the most dignified guests, so is God’s house. Yet that same great mansion has also a lowly bowl for feeding the dogs, and a container for holding the trash. The point which Paul is making is that we may choose what type of vessel we are to be in the Lord’s house, whether unto honor or dishonor. And, just because we have decided to be inside the house does not mean that we have also decided to be a vessel of honor. The two are not necessarily the same.

Who, then, is that person who is a vessel unto honor in the Master’s house? Here are the apostle’s thoughts on the subject:

1. The Man Who Purges Himself Of Sin. “If a man therefore purge himself of these…” writes the apostle. “Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness,” he had said earlier (v. 19). And later in the chapter he said, “But flee youthful lusts…. (v. 22), and `But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse..: ” (v. 23). His point is that you do not put the trash in the fine china. If there is trash in it, then it is not a vessel of honor. Nor do we feed the dog in a sterling silver vessel. If the dog is fed out of it, then it is not a vessel of honor. How it is used and what is put into it determines if it is a receptacle of esteem or of contempt. But Paul does not stop there.

We need to see ourselves in that light. If our lives are filled with the practice of sin, then we are vessels of shame. If, on the other hand, our lives are purified from these shameful things, we may be suited for service in the Master’s house.

2. The Man Who Is Sanctified. The idea of sanctification, mentioned in this context and elsewhere by the apostle Paul, is no great mystery. The notion is actually rather simple, though the word is intimidating to some of us on account of the eccentric, and even sometimes bizarre, interpretations which have been forced upon it by theologians. All it means is that something or someone is “separated,” “set apart” or “set aside” for special uses. Most Bible dictionaries and lexicons define it as “to separate from the world and consecrate to God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God.” That pretty much says it all. In the Old Testament such items as the tent of meeting (Exod. 29:44), the holy altar (Exod. 29:36), the offerings placed upon it (Exod. 29:27), the Sabbath day (Neh. 13:19-22), and the whole nation of Israel (Exod. 19:5, 6) were sanctified by God for his special uses.

The root from which the word “sanctify” comes is the same as that from which the word “saint” is also derived. We are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place” (1 Cor. 1:2). Do we see ourselves as living to please ourselves or to please the one who “sanctified” us?

3. The Man Who h Meet For The Master’s Use. The NIV renders this line as “useful to the Master.” A person who loves God wants not merely to be identified with him, but to be useful to him, helpful in his purposes and his work. Each of us has talents which may be beneficial to the cause of Christ, but whether they will be “useful” or not is another question. A hoe or shovel which has a broken handle is not very useful in the garden. A rake with many loose tines will not serve its purpose well in raking the yard. Likewise, a Christian whose life is not in proper order cannot be “useful to the Master.” This will ever be a matter of priorities. “Christ has no hands but our hands to do his work today, he has no feet but our feet to lead men in his way…” When we recognize that we, in the church, are the Lord’s only workers today, it becomes the more important that we live up to our responsibility to be “useful to the Master”!

4. The Man Who Is Prepared Unto Every Good Work. The vessel which can serve a useful purpose in the service of the Master is the one which is ready to hand. A container which is hidden in the deep recesses of a closet or a cabinet will not be of much value. Neither will the one which is still enclosed in the fancy box it came in, stored safely in the attic. The vessel of honor, the Master’s “favorite” is the one which is ready for use when work needs doing.

Every cook has her favorite pots and pans, often well used, and sometimes dented and scratched in the process. They may not look like something the TV chefs would use, but she would not part with them at any price. A new frying pan or kettle would have to be “seasoned” and that might take several weeks or even months. The old one is ready for work. It needs no preparation because preparation is al-ready over. As God’s people we go through a similar process. We are at first clumsy and of little use in the Lord’s kingdom. Over time, though, we become more and more useful if we have weathered the preparation stages as we should. This is where we need to be heading, so that we may be “vessels unto honor” in the service of our God. Once prepared, we need to remain ready, prepared for every opportunity to do good.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 14-15
January 5, 1995