Truth Magazine

By Lewis Willis

In our worship recently, we sang “Jesus Paid It All.” This old song has stirred the hearts of God’s people for many years. The melody is almost as beautiful as the thought it expresses. I was especially touched by the words of verse 3:

For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy grace to claim

I’ll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

There is absolutely no basis upon which men any of us – can automatically lay claim to God’s grace. None is so great, so important, so good that he deserves the outpouring of God’s favor upon him. The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 14:3: “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Paul quoted this verse in Romans 3:10. Shortly afterward, he wrote: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Honest men confess that it is exactly as the Scriptures say – we are all guilty of sin. Our sins alienate us from God (Isa. 59:1-2). The curse of death is pronounced upon us by reason of our sins, and we are powerless to do anything to change our condition before God. If sinful man is to be saved, it will have to be accomplished by someone or something other than ourselves. And, that is where Jesus enters to change this hopeless scene.

Notice several Scriptures that address what God and Christ have done to save us: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). These are well-known passages to most of us. They tell us the basis upon which salvation from sins is available to us. Certainly it is not our works that save us. It is our “works” that have brought us unto condemnation. If we are saved, it will be God who saves us, through Christ Jesus our Lord!

The verse of the song we are considering sets forth the profound truth that we can be purged from our sins when we are washed in the blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross. David wrote: “Purge me. . ., and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psa. 51:7). This is the same message that is found in Revelation 7:14: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” There is no cleansing from sin except it be by and in the Blood of Christ, the Savior.

This raises the interesting question: “How do I reach the blood of Christ that cleanses me?” Some think that man reaches the blood of Christ by “accepting Jesus as his personal Savior,” and by reciting the sinner’s prayer. The Bible nowhere teaches such! It does, however, tell us how we come in contact with the blood of Christ. All of us know that he shed his blood in his death, at the hands of the Romans and the Jews, at Calvary almost 2000 years ago. The Word of God teaches us how we can reach that “death” in which his blood was shed in the long ago. Listen to the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-4: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

I realize that most preachers will not tell you this. Either they do not know the Truth about how men contact the blood of Christ or they do not believe it or they refuse to teach it. Whatever the reason, scores of people are being denied forgiveness, because modern preachers are not teaching the Truth that the death of Christ, in which he shed his sincleansing blood, is reached when we are baptized into his death. This is a sad circumstance – and it is so unnecessary!

These false teachers often protest that if one has to be baptized to reach Christ’s blood, then salvation is by man’s works, and not by grace. Again, these people are not telling the Truth. It is absolutely true that man is not saved by his own works, or by works of merit. Paul taught as much: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). However, and this is the point that modern preachers do not seek to know, or else will not admit, baptism is not a work of human merit – it is an operation or a work of God! Note Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Paul says that baptism accomplishes its purpose because it is “an operation of God.” The New King James Version says it is “the work of God.” Baptism is effective because God makes it work! Therefore, by baptism we reach the death of Christ. We need to reach his death because that it where his blood was shed. We need His blood to cleanse us from our sins.

The song we are considering says that we have done nothing whereby we might claim God’s grace. We are simply washed in the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God when we obey his Word and are baptized into his death. In that sense, “Jesus paid it all – All to him I owe!” Have you been cleansed by His Blood? Have you been baptized as his Word requires? If not, let me urgently ask that you obey him while yet you can. The day is coming when it will be too late for you to obey him?

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 9, p. 257, 279
May 7, 1992

By Robert F. Turner

God created man in his own image: capable of choice, with a moral (ethical) capacity. He was given a “sense of ought”: the recognition of ethical right and wrong according to some standard. This was necessary so that response to God’s standard could make man compatible with his Maker: good by choice “from the heart,” rather than a robot, subject only to animal instinct.

This “sense of ought” is the conscience, and it results in what is sometimes called “moral law.” One’s moral capacity should not be confused with Christ’s “love God . . . love neighbor” (Matt. 22:37-40): the foundation and summation of all stipulated laws. Moral capacity (some call it “law”) is universal in that all accountable beings are affected by it; but it is not a specific code of conduct, exclusively related to any particular period of history. In childhood its standard is received from parents and early associations, then honed and developed by each one’s experience. As one has access to the revealed will of God and respects the same, conscience is adjusted accordingly (1 Cor. 8:7-12).

In the absence of specific revelation, conscience respecting things of God is directed by that which is apparent in the world about us. Paul tells us man may “know” the 4geternal power” and “deity” of God by that which is revealed in the created universe. This knowledge imposes two obligations: to “glorify” (look up to, be humbled in his presence), and to be “thankful” (to recognize our dependence on him). No man, in any period of history, is exempt from these obligations.

When men of old failed to respond to these obligations: “did not like to retain God in their knowledge,” the conscience was seared. “God gave them up” to all sorts of sin (Rom. 1:19f). It is not revealed specifically what God would do for those who responded positively to primitive knowledge, but the history of God’s dealing with man suggests that doors to further information would be opened. Examples: Noah, Abraham. There were “prophets” of God in early days.

We do know that God deemed man sufficiently equipped to be morally responsible; and the access all men have to moral principles (good conscience) is enough that condemnation of their sin is just. That is the message of Romans 1-2. In addition to rudimental “mores” of men (Hammurabi code, Egyptian Book of the Dead) it is also clear that God gave some men specific and positive precepts – build an ark, sacrifice upon an altar, etc. Eventually, in the gradual unveiling of God’s will for man, a special nation was formed (Israel) through which “God with us” would come, and give the complete and final revelation. In this process, God “suffered,” and “overlooked” conduct that would later be condemned (Acts 14:16; 17:30; Rom. 2:4; 9:22), and his toleration must not be construed as approval of such conduct today (Matt. 19:8-9).

It is not wrong to designate dispensations (Patriarchy, Judaism, Christianity), but the laws or stipulated will of God (expressions of his nature) in any “dispensation” can not save man from sin (Gal. 3:21). They are “weak through the flesh” (Rom. 8:3), i.e., none keeps law perfectly. They only serve to show the direction God would have man go – the character God would have him build. Later instructions differ from the earlier ones according to God’s progressive revelation of himself, “precept upon precept, line upon line,” until all was complete. Since “all sin” (Rom. 3:23), they serve to identify sin (Rom. 3:20; 5:20; 7:7,13) and bring man to God for mercy (Gal. 3:24).

Jesus Christ (God with us) was and is the final revelation of God to man (Heb. 1:1-2). His word will judge us in the last day (Jn. 12:48). Just as all men have always been subject to all they could know of God’s will – and the truly submissive man gladly seeks and accepts all he can know of God’s will – all men are now subject to the will of God expressed in Jesus Christ. The conscience of a true Christian is “set” or adjusted by knowledge of that will – he has God’s final law written in his heart (Heb. 8:10; 2 Cor. 3:3).

Our previous ignorance, or reliance upon statements from the twilight or moonlight ages of revelation, cannot change the responsibilities imposed upon us by knowledge of the perfected will of God. When we become judges of the law rather than doers (Jas. 4:11-12), we forfeit the salvation of mercy and forgiveness provided in Jesus Christ.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 9, p. 261
May 7, 1992

By Michael Garrison

And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory (1 Tim. 3:16).

The phrase “without controversy” means there is and can be no doubt. No one should have any doubt about Jesus Christ being the Christ. He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:17-18).

But, did he really fulfill all the Law? In Luke 24:44-48 we have the answer: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise form the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Joseph P. Free reports, “There are three hundred and thirty-two distinct prophesies in the Old Testament which have been fulfilled in Christ.” He said, “The chances of all of these prophecies being fulfilled in one man are so overwhelmingly remote that it is strikingly demonstrated that they could in no wise be the shrewd guesses of mere men, but were given by God to holy men who ‘spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit’ (2 Pet. 1:21)” (Archaeology and Bible History, 284).

The title of this article is “The Mystery of Godliness.” The word “mystery” means “that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those who are illumined by His Spirit” (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words) So, the prophets and apostles revealed that which was once a mystery. The mystery is that God was “manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ” Let us examine each part of the “mystery of godliness” which is so important.

God

This means deity. The subject of this verse is Jesus Christ. He is God! John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:1, 14). The apostle Paul informs us that though Jesus was “in the form of God, (He) thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).

In Hebrews 1:8, God the Father calls his Son, God! And in Acts 20:28, we learn about “the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood, ” which is a clear reference to Jesus the Christ.

Yes, Jesus is God – He is not the Father, but God the Son.

“God Was Manifest In The Flesh”

Jesus was manifested – or made known – in the flesh. God the Son took upon him human flesh. See Philippians 2:6-8 again. In human flesh, Jesus became able to understand what it is like to be human. We are told in Hebrews 4:15 that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ” So, Jesus knows what it is to suffer in the flesh, because he humbled himself unto God the Father and came to earth in fleshly form.

“God Was Justified In The Spirit”

“To justify one means to declare and prove him to be what he claims to be, and to disprove all false accusations that may be made against him” (E.M. Zerr Commentary). Jesus was once and for all time “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4). Also, read Acts 13:26-39.

“God Was Seen Of Angels”

Angels have always had an interest in things pertaining to man’s salvation. Peter wrote, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: which things the angels desire to look into ” (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

Angels were present at various time while Christ was on the earth. In Matthew 4:11, after Jesus was tempted by the Devil, “angels came and ministered unto him. ” In Luke 22:38-43, as a result of his prayer to the Father before his betrayal, false accusations, crucifixion, and death, “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. ” On the day of His resurrection, “the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” (Matt. 28:2). So, Jesus was indeed “seen of angels!”

“God Was Preached Unto The Gentiles”

Jesus is the Savior of all who will obey his gospel. Jesus instructed his apostles, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matt. 28:19). By the time Paul wrote to the saints in Colosse, he could tell them that the gospel “was preached to every creature which is under heaven – (Col. 1:23). So, the Jews and Gentiles had an opportunity to learn what to do to escape ungodliness and worldly lust.

“God Was Believed On In The World”

As the apostles went everywhere preaching the gospel, many believed and obeyed the gospel. In Thessalonica, when the gospel was preached, “some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas” and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few” (Acts 17:4). When the unbelieving Jews realized what was happening, they went to the rulers of the city and said, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6). So, many people were believing the saving gospel and Jesus was being believed on in the world.

“God Was Received Up Into Glory”

After Jesus had made it possible for sinful humans to escape ungodliness and have sins washed away in his blood (Rev. 1:5), he returned unto His Father in heaven. In Acts 1:9, the apostles saw Jesus “taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” This fulfilled Daniel 7:13-14: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him, and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. So, He went back to glory (Jn. 17:4-5).

In light of the six items above, no one has any excuse for not believing and obeying Jesus Christ. Do you believe? Have you obeyed? If not, why not do so as soon as possible? If you have fallen away from God, why not return to Him in humble obedience? He wants to save you and everyone else.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 8, pp. 244-245
April 16, 1992

By Connie W. Adams

It was with mixed emotions that we returned to Bergen, Norway in February for a gospel meeting. The brethren there are trying to have some men to come for meetings who have previously worked in that country. I hope others will be able to arrange to go should they be invited. Going to Bergen with mixed emotions was not new for me. In 1957 I took my six-months-pregnant wife with me to begin the work in the land of the midnight sun. We knew nobody there. We did not know the language. We had nowhere to live except for a week’s reservation in a hotel. We did not know how we were going to make contacts with people. But somehow, in the Providence of God, that all worked out.

The work was slow and hard. Then, as now, the population was over 90 percent Lutheran, the state church. Then, as now, many bristle at the thought that you have come to evangelize in what they consider a “Christian nation” which sends out missionaries to spiritually darkened areas of the world. They do not consider themselves in that category. Baptizing babies, confirming sixteen year olds, Christmas and Easter observances, weddings, funerals, and a place to be buried, is the major religious life of the vast majority of the people in that land. They are comfortable with it and do not particularly want to be bothered.

Among the dissenters from the state church, the majority are charismatics. These are as difficult to reach as they are here or in other places. Subjective religionists don’t care a hoot about what the Bible says, not if they have to question what they think they have “felt.” Some of these will come to hear you once or twice, long enough to see if you agree with what they already think. The Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are very active there but their persistent door-knocking has served to aggravate the people.

Added to this situation is the fact that immigration laws have changed and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to gain entry to the country to stay for a long term to preach. People can yet enter on an American passport and stay for six weeks as a tourist.

In such soil the old Jerusalem gospel has not flourished as it has in other places. But over the years there have been some found with good and honest hearts. There have been some heartbreaking events which weakened and all but destroyed what progress had been made. One brother who preached for a while, left the faith to embrace denominational error. Another native preacher and his wife had serious trouble and they ended up going to the world. Others fell away for various reasons. The church in Bergen lost its meeting place by foreclosure and along with it the furnishings, boxes or tracts, song books, Bibles, Bible class literature and all of the files.

In 1980 when Tom and Shirley Bunting and their children came back to Bergen (they had spent two years there in the late 1960s), they had to start all over again. Only this time, it was even harder than it had been for us in 1957, for they had to overcome ill will which some former members had generated and the shame of the unbusiness-like manner in which the property was lost.

The Buntings have stayed. Their son Terrell and his wife Karen are there in Bergen with the intention of spending their lives there. They encountered difficulty getting in to stay. If they leave, it will be mighty hard to get anyone else there to replace them.

The Church in Bergen

We found a small group of eight members. They had worked hard to prepare for the meeting. They could have done more advertising in the newspaper if they only had the funds. They did what they were able to do. Many advertisements were hand-delivered. Two brethren came from the small group near Oslo to be with us the first two days of the meeting. Also a sister and her child from Stavanger came for four days. We had seven non-members to attend the meeting, three of these attending two times. The singing was ably led by a faithful Norwegian brother. While most attending understood English, some did not so the sermons were interpreted. Terrell Bunting did this twice and the rest of the time, Bjorn Ringdal interpreted. Both did their work well. Bjorn is a student in the university and hopes to one day be able to support himself and preach in Norway. He was baptized at Southside in Pasadena, Texas while an exchange student there. He is a most impressive young man. A young woman, who is also still a student, though married and with one child, is also a member. Another member has been in north Norway for a time but hopes to relocate in Bergen.

The congregation had purchased a building which was once a bakery and has made it into a very nice place to meet. It is in an old and very well-known part of the city and easy for locals and visitors alike to find. Their payments are not much more than the rent they had been paying.

We attempted to locate some people we had known many years ago so the brethren there would have these additional contacts with whom to work. We succeeded in finding a few people and managed to get four visitors to the meetings from that. We found two women who were young girls when we lived there and who had attended Bible classes. They came twice.

Needs

It is urgent that the Buntings continue their work. They have shown exceptional patience. The cost of living in Norway is the highest in Western Europe. Housing is especially expensive. Gasoline is $4.50 a gallon. Milk is over $4.00 a gallon. Eating out, even at McDonald’s or Burger King is very costly. A quarter-pounder, fries and soft drink sells for $9.50. Wages are high, though many are unemployed and live off the dole of a socialistic state.

Terrell Bunting and wife have two children and expect their third in the late summer. They are losing $350 a month support by summer. They can ill-afford this. While we were there, Tom Bunting received a letter telling him that he will lose $200 a month support in three months. They can’t afford that loss either. Tom’s wife, Shirley, teaches school now in order to help them stay. Some daylight is being seen in the work. If the Buntings have to come home, who could replace them? Who could even get into the country to stay for longer than six weeks? They are working under the conviction that “we shall reap if we faint not.” We are all thrilled about the opening opportunities in eastern Europe and other places, but we must not allow the light to go out in Norway. These few members there need the prayerful encouragement of brethren everywhere. The Buntings need the patient and understanding support of brethren who do not expect the same kind of results as we have seen in some third world countries and few other fields. If you can help these good brethren, here are their addresses. If you cannot financially help them, could you find the time to write them an encouraging letter?

Thomas Bunting

Adolf Bergsvei 52-D

5030 Landaas

Norway

Terrell Bunting

Brormadalen 89

5071 Loddefjord

Norway

I would also like to encourage brethren from churches which support these men and who are able to do so, to visit Bergen and worship with these brethren. It would do them a world of good. But it would also do the visitors untold good. It would help them to appreciate what they have at home: commodious meeting houses, well-arranged and taught Bible classes at many age levels, abundance of available literature, several good song leaders, elders, and deacons, many Christians from whom to draw strength and who are just a phone call away, and many others besides.

Through it all we have to remember that many souls over the years have heard the truth in Norway. Some did obey it and some died in hope. There are some faithful Christians there now. A diligent search is still being made for good and honest hearts. We just must not forget those who have dedicated their lives to the search.

I keep thinking of all those children who came to Bible classes every Sunday for several years. And I think about two 45-year-old women who were so glad to see us, and who told us they had not forgotten all they learned. They were proud of the fact that they could so easily locate Scriptures during sermons, for we had drilled them as small children on how to find their way around in the Bible. Surely, brethren, it has not all been in vain. Please keep the sowers of the seed in Norway.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 9, pp. 262-263
May 7, 1992