Truth Magazine

By Bob Pulliam

One of the most fundamental aspects of Christianity is the everyday life we live. It is many times pictured as a walk (2 Cor. 5:7; Eph. 4: 1; Rom. 8:4). It is to be a conscious effort toward purity and uprightness: and no place better confirms this than the seventh and eighth chapters of the book of Romans.

Chapters six through eight of Romans deal with the subject of sanctification. Six states the fact of such in Jesus; seven illustrates the folly of seeking such through law and personal effort; and eight offers the assurance that such will remain firm to the end.(1) Chapter eight contains a contrast of purpose and result that clearly illustrates the change of life a person should experience in conversion. It is a change of masters and guiding influence. Chapter eight is also a contrast, in and of itself, with chapter seven. Realizing this helps to explain something far more confusing in the minds of many. It is the question of “how does sin dwell in me?” (Rom. 7:17,20)

This phrase seems strange indeed! How is it that sin dwells in me? Is it demon possession? Is there something we do not know or understand about sin? Is it like a physical germ that invades and attacks, making it a thing rather than a description of an act (1 Jn. 3:4)? This is usually understood by taking this phrase in its immediate context of chapter seven compared with what the rest of the Bible says about sin. But let’s consider this phrase in the broader context of chapter eight.

At the end of chapter seven, Paul draws forth the two laws that he had been discussing. These two are picked up in the ideas of walking “according to the Spirit” and “according to the flesh” (v. 1). We walk “according to the Spirit” (v. 1) as we submit to “the law of the Spirit” (v. 2). Paul says that those who “live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh” (v. 5). This is reinforced by Paul’s statement that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (v. 7). The matter at hand is the control God holds over the individual which brings about a sanctified state. Paul now states that the Spirit dwells in those who are not in the flesh (v. 9). The “Spirit” here is the controlling influence over the Christian. It is a figure of speech (metonymy) where the Spirit is used for the “law of the Spirit” first mentioned in verse two.

Now we have two indwellings. We have the indwelling of sin in chapter seven; and we have the indwelling of the Spirit in chapter eight. These indwellings serve to represent the seat of governing influence in the lives of the individuals under consideration. The idea is not that of something actually getting inside someone and making them do things. They are parallel indwellings that represent the true direction of the person they inhabit. They are that upon which the person depends for the direction taken in life (flesh or Spirit). The person sets his affections on the flesh, or upon the things of God (Spirit).

Verses thirteen and fourteen especially bring these ideas forth. It is those who are led by the Spirit of God (“law of the Spirit,” v. 2) that may call themselves sons of God. The leading of the “law of the Spirit” is accomplished through the same means as the leading of the flesh (sin). If the flesh is chosen as the guiding force, its appetites will be the master (indwelling of sin). If the Spirit is chosen as the guiding force, its precepts will be the master (indwelling of the Spirit). All of this is a contrast between the law of sin (7:23,25) and the law of the Spirit (8:2).

This leaves the sanctification necessary for salvation up to you. What will you choose as the basis for your choices in life? What will determine your decisions and actions? Will you be guided by the flesh, or by the law of the Spirit? Will it be the indwelling of the Spirit or the indwelling of sin?

Endnote

1. This in effect takes the same logical form as chapters three through five, where Paul shows the fact of justification in Christ; that it can’t be achieved through law; and the assurance of that justification till the end.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, p. 749
December 19, 1991

By Randy Blackaby

There is a sin which has become respectable these days. That sin is forsaking the assembly or failing to worship the Lord on a regular basis.

There are brethren who seem to feel absolutely no guilt about going camping, fishing or visiting on the Lord’s Day, so long as they “make their appearance” at the church building once or twice a month.

And, some of the “faithful” brethren take exception to any effort to discipline these forsaking brethren. Thus, the forsaking become forsaken.

Unlike the psalmist who wrote in Psalm 122:1: “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord,” many Christians must force themselves to go to worship.

Consider what this attitude reveals about us:

1. It means I’m willing to ignore what the Lord has told me to do. When I purposely and without serious hindrance fail to worship on the Lord’s Day, I violate brazenly the commandment of Hebrews 10:25.

Some will be quick to say, “Going to church is not everything.” That’s true, but when we don’t start there it is unlikely that righteous behavior the rest of the week will follow.

2. It means I don’t really care to be with the Lord or his people. During worship we “commune” with both God and his children. That is, we share several things in common. Such is not possible when we don’t assemble together.

Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, t am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

Jesus also said, in John 14:1-3, that he has gone to prepare a place for us. But, if we don’t enjoy being with him here on earth, will we be able or even want to be with him throughout eternity?

3. Our failure to gather for worship suggests we don’t want or appreciate the blessings that are derived from this gathering. It means we don’t think we need to be encouraged, instructed or corrected.

4. It is indicative of the fact that you enjoy being with people of the world more than with God’s people. The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans in chapter 15:24, said: . . . whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.”

Sure, there are some hypocrites in the church and not a few “weak brethren.” But, overall, they are the best people in the world.

5. Lack of interest also indicates a high degree of selfishness, the main ingredient in all sin. Folks complain, “I just don’t get much out of the services,” Well, you might be surprised to know that worship really isn’t primarily designed for us to receive but to give. The saint who gives praise to God, attention to the Word, a portion of his earnings and help to weaker Christians, will find himself getting a lot out of worship.

6. Negligence in worship also sets a soul-damning example to others – often to members of our own household. The parents who are hit or miss in their attendance at worship and Bible study will likely be the same ones who will call the preacher in despair when their teenagers are pregnant out of wedlock, addicted to alcohol and drugs and totally disinterested in biblical morality. Sometimes they really can’t understand what happened. But the preacher will understand and so will many brethren.

Parents remain the greatest influence in the lives of their children. When they opt to do other things on the Lord’s Day than worship, they send a strong message to their children, other family members and neighbors.

7. When I forsake the assembly I must feel I have nothing to contribute to the work of the Lord. But that is a gross error because theBible clearly teaches that each of us offers up spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5). We can exhort, edify and comfort one another (Heb. 10:24-25 and 1 Thess. 5:11). We are to give of our means that others may hear the gospel (1 Cor. 16:1-2 and Mal. 3:8).

The church is the ekklesia or “called out” body of people saved from sins. What would happen to the church and its work if a majority of members opted to forsake assembling together?

Would the gospel be spread? Would the Lord be honored? Would each member be strengthened? Of course not.

Is lying or committing adultery or stealing worse in God’s eyes than forsaking his assembly for worship? Study the Old Testament and you will see that the prophets accused Israel of each of those sins in conjunction with their forsaking the Lord.

The man or woman who calls himself a Christian but does not care to worship Christ is a liar (I Jn. 2:4). When we forsake the Lord for the “god of this world” we commit spiritual adultery by leaving the relationship to which we pledged to remain faithful. And, when we use the Lord’s day for our personal pleasure and recreation, we steal what belongs to the Lord.

The one who forsakes worshiping the Lord is no better than those who lie, steal and commit adultery. There is nothing respectable about this sin.

It damns souls like all other sin. Those guilty need repent.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, pp. 744-745
December 19, 1991

By Randy Harshbarger

The title of this article suggests that there is power in the preaching of God’s word, the gospel, or as Paul says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation.” The Apostle was duty bound to preach only the gospel, for it is the only message that can accomplish what God wants accomplished, namely, the salvation of the souls of men. When something other than the gospel is preached, men are converted to someone or something other than the Lord. Paul understood the responsibility placed upon him to preach only God’s word (1 Cor. 9:16) and, with dauntless resolve, preached only the preaching of God’s son (1 Cor. 1:21; 2:2).

This article does not purport to tell anyone how to preach. We recognize the various backgrounds, temperaments and abilities of men (as was true, at least in part, of the apostles). It is, though, without reservation the message that must be preached, the gospel, that we must focus on. Yes, preach the truth in love, but preach the truth! Preachers today must have that single-minded purpose Paul, Peter, Stephen and the Lord had! It is our business to preach the word, and preach Christ. We must exalt the name of the Lord, keeping the story of the cross always before the hearts of men. If the simple story of the cross does not stir men’s hearts, then they will not be properly moved (Lk. 8:13,14). Depending upon our own eloquence, or playing upon the sympathies of men with something other than the gospel, is to lead people away from the Lord, not to him. It is truth that makes us free from sin, and only truth (Jn. 8:32). Paul recognized that to preach something other than, or in addition to, the gospel, was to be unfaithful to the Lord, and would result in the condemnation of souls (Gal. 1:10,11).

The carnal appeals of Satan, sin and compromise are many and always attract the worldly minded (Acts 17:21). Yet, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4,5). To teach and reason from Scripture will turn men from Satan to God. Funny stories or jokes that have no other purpose than to entertain are out of place in true gospel preaching. The experiences of men, while important to them, do not establish the basis of fellowship with the Lord. And, our own experiences cannot establish a right relationship with the Lord, but will lead to a completely subjective, better-felt-than-told salvation. When an appeal to something other than the gospel is made, we weaken our efforts to reach lost men.

It has been said (with validity) that the social gospel and institutionalism, represent a loss of confidence in the power of God’s word. There seem to be some trends discernible today pointing in the direction of a loss of confidence in the power of the gospel. In the beginning stages, trends are hard to discern. Sometimes the changes in thinking, preaching, writing, etc., are almost imperceptible. Yet, some signs are more easily observed. Of course, none would, openly admit to a rejection of the gospel and its power, at least not now. But, what about ten or twenty years from now? Apostasy does not happen over night, but remember the new generations to come and what happened to Israel (confer Judges 2), Some things are being said and taught that represent a drift away from the message God commands that we teach and preach.

Most will agree that the power of the gospel can be seen in the specific application of truth. The people on Pentecost got the point, were duly convicted of sin, and understood that they needed to do something. Stephen was rather pointed in his message, saying, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your Fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7:51). Jesus told the Sadducees that they were wrong (Matt. 22:29). He did not try to deal with the negative in a positive way. He simply said: “You are wrong!” Did he love them? Certainly, and it was evidenced in the fact that he said what needed to be said, when it needed saying. We can all take a lesson from that! Paul dealt with Peter’s vacillation face to face (Gal. 2:11). No doubt today, Paul would be charged with having an image problem. How could Peter reach his potential with all the negative publicity? When Paul stood before Felix, he preached “righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25). Paul was not concerned about Felix feeling good about himself. He did want Felix to be at peace with God, and preached the only message that would achieve that. No doubt, Paul would have flunked out of any Dale Carnegie course.

Was Jesus using slurs when he said to the scribes and Pharisees: “Woe unto you . . . hypocrites . . . blind guides . . . inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt. 23)? Too negative? Some today would say yes! Why is it, though, that some complain and criticize in such a negative way, against anything negative (Rom. 2:1)? We cannot blindside people with the truth. To preach the truth and condemn error is not to engage in personal attacks. Yes, strive for balance. A steady diet of all negative is out of balance, just as much as all positive is. The gospel has both. Those who call for non-doctrinal sermons and shorter sermons and less Scripture need to study 2 Timothy 4:1-5. One of the problems with the Positive Mental Attitude philosophy is that, carried to its ultimate end, all preaching directed to such things as immodesty, dancing, social drinking, disregard for God’s marriage laws, etc., will eventually be eliminated.

The life of the Christian is compared to many things, one of them being a war that continues throughout life. Some opt for a peaceful co-existence with the world, but the attitude of the world is such that fellowship with the Lord and the things of the world cannot be (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4). The world, evil, Satan and sin, all seek to overcome us (1 Jn. 5:19; Rom. 12:21). Error seeks to trap us, but only truth will make us free (1 Jn. 4:1,2; Jn. 8:32).

Men who are lost in darkness need the eyes of their hearts enlightened by the word of God (Eph. 1:18). Only the gospel can turn men to the Lord (Acts 26:18). To be delivered from sin and Satan’s kingdom is possible because God in his love sent his Son to die for all (Col. 1:13,14). We must be good soldiers and fight the good fight of the faith (2 Tim. 2:3,4; 4:6-8; 1 Tim. 5:12). This warfare must be the concern of all, and every child of God must be on duty. Our weapons are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4,5); our armor the Lord provides (Eph. 6:10-20).

Our commitment must be to the Lord and to his truth. When we contend earnestly, let it be for truth (Jude 3). Loving the souls of men, we hate the sin that condemns. But let us remember the message the apostles preached: “And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God,.ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).

Many of the old pioneers preached a sermon variously titled, but often called “The Adaptation of the Bible to Man” (confer The Gospel Preacher.- A Book of Twenty Sermons, by Benjamin Franklin). These lessons help us understand that God’s word fits perfectly and applies in every way to man as he is. No, we do not need a new gospel for a new age, nor do we need to help the Lord in trying to improve his word. It would do any Christian good to hear such sermons again today. When a gospel preacher laughs at and ridicules brother Roy Cogdi4l’s New Testament Church, charging it is out of date and would not fit modern audiences, brethren we are doing more than just drifting!

May we have great faith in the Lord and in the power of his Word. Let us “buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23). Let us plead for a “thus saith the Lord” and be content to speak only the things that “befit the sound doctrine.” Let us be content with and continue to tell the old, old story of Jesus, and his love (Reproduced from With A It Boldness, March 1991).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, pp. 739-740
December 19, 1991

By W.R. Jones

Serving as an elder of the church is a rather awesome responsibility if a man takes it seriously. If he doesn’t take it seriously, then he shouldn’t be one in the first place. Thus, in admonishing Christians to obey the elders the Hebrew writer states, “for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Heb. 13:17). Watching for souls, and this generally includes quite a number who really don’t want to be watched for in the first place, is no little task. The burden is made lighter by remembering what an honor it is before God to serve in this capacity. To be a good elder there are several things which are absolutely necessary. In selecting elders many Christians look no further than family requirements. If a man has some lovely children who are obedient, they consider the prospect well qualified. Others are well satisfied if the prospect has proven himself to be a good business man. Christians with such attitudes are spiritually ignorant and have limited vision.

An Elder Must Desire the Work!

This is not an “office seeking” attitude, but a free and genuine desire and willingness to “use and be used” in God’s work. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1). He is not to desire the office for prestige, power or prominence, but to serve the Lord in all humility. Elders who are offering a reluctant sacrifice need to change their attitude. There is no way to find happiness in half-hearted service. An elder’s wife needs to understand the nature of the work and encourage her husband in every possible way. I have known of elders who not only carried the burden of the office, which is enough within itself, but carried an additional home burden because their wives resented their work for the Lord. What a shame!

An Elder Must Desire to Lead!

As shepherds, elders must lead God’s people. Lead them into the “riches of his grace.” Lead them into “purity” and “unity.” Lead them into “spiritual productivity.” Therefore, elders ought to be thinking out ahead of the people. I have known many elders who only did what they were compelled to do by pressure applied by the members. This is not leading! I have known elders who were like a hound dog I once knew. He would run just in front of the horses who were pulling the wagon. It looked like he was leading, but when he came to a fork in the road he ran over to the side and waited to see which way the team was going, and then he took up his fake lead position again. That is just not leading! True leadership demands thought, time, patience, prayer and courage. There is no way to truly lead without these things in an elder’s life.

An Elder Must Be Willing To Rebuke the Wayward!

There is no easy way to do this. In the work of overseeing, this is the most difficult task I encountered while serving as an elder. It is not all that difficult as an evangelist to stand behind the pulpit and rebuke the people for their sins, but “face to face” it is not so easy. But, it must be done! Elders must be sensitive enough to detect a straying sheep quickly, and loving enough to act without delay that a soul may not be lost. Elders often excuse themselves with a “wait and see” attitude. Of course, they must be patient, but most of the time “wait and see” is simply a “cop-out from duty.” Overseers must be willing to take the lead in discipline, both instructive and corrective. This can’t be accomplished by the “faint hearted.”

An Elder Must Understand the Value of Teamwork!

God authorized “elders” (plural). When you have a number of men who are leading “together,” it demands teamwork. Those involved may not have exactly the same talents and temperaments, but they all can and must contribute their part. A failure to do this will result in one or more taking too much lead and that it not good. An elder should not be simply an “objector, ” but a “contributor. ” You cannot have good teamwork without good communication and that means overseers need to keep their heads together.

I don’t believe there is anyway to do this without talking. They may not always agree one-hundred percent, but if they truly love the Lord and his church then something good will always come from their talking. Sometimes elders become too busy to communicate except briefly “on the run,” and this doesn’t give time for much thought. When elders become too busy to properly oversee they have become too busy!

There isn’t anything the church of the Lord needs more than godly elders. We badly need men who are willing to prepare for this great work. But, alas, there are many who are not willing to study, grow, work, and prepare for this great effort. We will never just “accidentally” have good overseers. Young men should start preparing and then be ready when the time comes. Instead of this, the time comes and then we scramble to get someone acceptable enough to get in. This is a poor way to run God’s business. Then in some places we have the “extra critical” members who make it impossible for the very best of men to serve God in this capacity. These people may mean well, but they do harm to the progress of the kingdom. In conclusion, let us remember, there is nothing that will stablize and strengthen the Lord’s church more than godly elders. May their tribe increase.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, p. 751
December 19, 1991