Truth Magazine

By R.J. Stevens

According to Ephesians 6:4 they are. “Fathers provoke not our children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (KJV). “But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (NAS). “Children” doesn’t always mean preschoolers. It is obvious from these passages that the children under discussion are old enough to receive instructions from the Lord’s teachings. I believe we must conclude that parents have the responsibility of teaching sons and daughters principles of truth which come from the Lord, especially the things Paul mentions in Ephesians 5:22 through Ephesians 6:4 regarding the family relationships. This must be done whether the children are Christians or not Christians. The words spoken by Jesus will judge sons and daughters of accountable age as it will judge their fathers and mothers. John 12:48 says, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Not long ago my wife and I were guests of a fine family during a gospel meeting. One of their sons is a faithful child of God, but their other son is not. It appears that he has no intention of becoming one. I pray that he will have a change of heart some day. Both sons had the same father and mother and were brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It seems to me that both of them were responsible to God’s teaching when they reached an accountable age.

What I am getting ready to point out happens many times. However, I hope this doesn’t happen to either of my friend’s sons. Suppose the faithful son who is married commits fornication and leaves his wife and marries another. He knows this is contrary to Christ’s teachings. Can he expect to have fellowship with God by walking in the darkness of an unlawful adulterous relationship? According to 1 John 1:6, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 5:8-11 he is to be withdrawn from and God’s people are not supposed to even eat a common meal with him. This was done in Corinth to keep the leaven of wickedness out of the church and cause the fornicator to repent of sin and save his soul. It is implied in 2 Corinthians 2:4-11 and 7:8-12 that the man who had his father’s wife repented and severed the unlawful relationship. Therefore if the once faithful son of my friend wants to come back into fellowship with God and his people, he would have to repent and sever his unlawful adulterous relationship.

Now let’s suppose that the other son who never obeyed the gospel while he was at home marries and later commits fornication and marries again. Having been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord he also knows that what he has done is contrary to the Lord’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage. Now let’s suppose he decides he wants to be baptized for the remission of his sins, especially the sins of fornication and adultery. He desires to have fellowship with God and God’s people. In order for the older son to have fellowship with God, he would have to repent and sever his relationship with his adulterous spouse. Thanks be to God for some who have severed relationships that were adulterous. According to some brethren, the second son could continue in his unlawful adulterous marriage because he never had been in covenant relationship with the Lord and was not accountable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage, even though he had the same dad and mother who taught him the same principles his older brother had been taught.

James says there is only one lawgiver (Jas. 4:12). It is hard for me to understand that there is more than one law given to govern the morals of these two sons we have talked about. If they both commit the same immoral acts of fornication and adultery, I believe they both must repent in the same way. Our problem is not so much which law they are under but what is involved in repentance. We seem to have a double standard for repentance, one for children of God and one for aliens.

Now, if an unbelieving son or daughter of parents who are faithful to God is amenable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage, wouldn’t their unbelieving neighbors be amenable to Christ’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage? All unbelievers will answer to Christ in the day of judgment (Jn. 8:24; 12:48).

There are many good brethren who are just as conscientious as I am who hold a view different than what this article teaches. But one thing for sure we both can’t be right if we teach conflicting views. Let’s keep on studying because we love one another and want to be united here and in heaven. (Reprinted from Gospel Truths, June 1991.)

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, pp. 483-484
August 15, 1991

By Dan King

Unity and harmony in human relationships is one of the most pleasant things in the world. David emphasized how basic it is in Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (v. 1) Life can be viewed as good or pleasant, happy or sad, depending upon our surroundings and circumstances, and how we see them.

Pity the poor family, whether blessed with this world’s goods or not, that spends most of their time together in disagreeable arguments and fits of temper. Life could be so much more enjoyable if all parties would make a serious effort to be happy together and make their home a “good and pleasant” place to be. The result would be that the family circle would represent to all members of the household, a veritable “shelter in the time of storm” from all the vicissitudes of this world, a place to which each family member would flee to find repose from the turmoils of modern life in the city.

Likewise, God intended that the church be such a bastion of relief to distraught and distressed souls of this world. It was his intention that it be seen as a relationship filled with comfort and consolation for sin-sick men and women, a place to which they might flee from the ugliness and evil of the carnal side of life.

Imagine, then, how God must see it from his heaven, when the church is filled with unkind and hostile feelings and words, when brethren are hateful to one another, and lies and animosities abound. The Word of God has plenty to say of this in a score of New Testament passages (1 Cor. 1:10; 3:3, 17; Gal. 5:15, 20; etc.). But none is so heartfelt and sincere, as the prayer of the Savior, uttered on the night of his betrayal:

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn. 17:21).

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Not only is it the will of God for us so to dwell, but it is indeed “good and pleasant.” As members of the body of Jesus Christ, let’s all work hard to make our families what they should be in the sight of the Lord. And, let’s try hard to see to it that our church relationships are full of the harmony and friendliness that can make it the closest thing to “heaven on earth.”

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 484
August 15, 1991

By Michael R. Baggett

One of the most fascinating miracles of Jesus is his turning the water into wine. Only the Son of God could transform 120 gallons of water into wine.

The point I wish to discuss does not concern so much the miracle as it does the confidence of Mary in her first-born, Jesus. When the wedding guests wanted wine, Mary turned to Jesus for the answer. Mary did not instruct Jesus “how” to or where to get the wine, she simply told him the problem (Jn. 4:3). Further, what she said to the servants indicates her trust and faith in the ability of Jesus: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (Jn. 4:5). O how the religious world needs to abide by this principle!

Why should men do whatsoever he saith? We should do whatsoever Jesus saith because he has “all power.” In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says that “. . . All power is given me in heaven and in earth.” This “power” is authority. God has given Jesus authority over all things to the church. Jesus, therefore, has the right to tell men what to do.

Not only did God give to Christ this power, it was God’s plan from the beginning. From eternity past, God planned that Jesus would die for man’s sins and be given dominion over all things (Eph. 1:9,10;3:9-12).

Christ’s power over Satan is foretold in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Moses foretold the coming authority of Jesus in Deuteronomy 18:18,19: “1 will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

Peter, the Apostle, tells us plainly who this prophet is in Acts 3:18-23. Peter tells us this prophet is Jesus Christ. When the time was right, God sent Jesus to suffer, to die, to be resurrected, and to tell men what to do. To reject his words is to bring destruction to the soul!

On the holy mount, God taught Peter, James, and John who it is they need to “hear.” Moses and Elijah appeared in the presence of the three. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter thought it would be a good idea to build a tabernacle for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter seemed to think Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were equal in greatness and authority. However, God corrected this leaping conclusion saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. ” It is not Moses, who represented the Old Testament Law, or Elijah, who represented the Old Testament prophets, we are to hear: but Jesus, the giver of the New Testament (Matt. 17:5).

The Hebrew writer tells us who it is who speaks to us in these last days (the Christian dispensation): “God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Heb. 1: 1,2).

Paul tells us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Whatsoever we do in word is what we say or teach in serving God. Whatsoever we do in deed is what we practice in service to God. To do in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do by his authority. Authority comes from his word (Jn. 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Today, men need to be like Mary who proclaimed: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Don’t question it. Don’t doubt it. Just trust and obey what Jesus says. In the judgment, only those who have obeyed his word will be saved (Heb. 5:8, 9).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 485
August 15, 1991

By Mike Willis

In the preceding articles of this series, we have been looking at several lessons drawn from Philippians 4 which emphasize how to live with good spiritual health through trying times and circumstances. In this lesson, I emphasize the teachings of Paul regarding how to handle anxiety. The apostle wrote,

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

These verses contain several principles for good spiritual health.

1. Don’t worry and fret about everything. Paul is reiterating the teaching of Jesus who wrote,

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matt. 6:25-34).

The apostle Paul is teaching the same gospel truth as was preached by Jesus. Regarding the exhortation “be careful for nothing,” B.C. Caffin explained, “St. Paul does not wish his converts to be careless, but to be free from that over-anxiety about worldly things which might distract their thoughts from the service to God, and hinder the growth of holiness” (Pulpit Commentary: Philippians 156). There is nothing spiritually virtuous about a don’t care attitude which turns in sloppy work. As a matter of fact, this attitude toward work is condemned by the Proverbs as slothfulness (6:6-11). Neither is this verse teaching that men should not be anxious about their duty to God. Rather, what Paul is condemning is an over anxiety which distracts from service to God.

R. Finlayson commented, “Anxiety is harassing care, very different from the providential care of God. We cannot help having cares in the world – cares about getting a livelihood, cares about health, cares about higher matters, cares about those who are near and dear to us, and cares, beyond our immediate circle, for men generally and for the church. But, though we cannot help having cares in this world, we are not to be harassed by cares, as though we had to bear them ourselves” (Pulpit Commentary 176).

Such an anxiety reflects an absence of trust in God’s providence. Jesus taught that the Lord would provide for man’s necessities. Therefore, we should not worry and fret about food, clothing, and shelter – how much less should we worry about things of lesser importance such as schedule deadlines, surviving the expense of having the car repaired, and a hundred other things which might distract us from our service to the Lord.

2. Cast your cares upon the Lord. Paul instructed that Christians bring their burdens of worry to the Lord, making prayers and supplications with thanksgiving. Peter emphasized the Lord’s concern for his children saying, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). Christians are blessed to have access to the throne of grace to find help in the time of need (Heb. 4:16).

A Christian will make his prayers, supplications, and requests known to the Lord. He will ask the Lord’s help in facing the circumstances of his life. God has promised to be attentive to our requests even as a father is to his children. Jesus said,

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt. 7:7-11)

The Lord has not given us a blank check in prayer that guarantees us everything for which we ask. James said that some prayers are not answered because they are asked with the wrong motive (Jas. 4:2-3). Every request which men make is subjected to the overseeing providence of God; hence, we pray, “If the Lord will.”

Our worries are intensified by the neglect of daily prayer. In the popular song “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” Joseph Scriven wrote,

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear,

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

O, what peace we often forfeit;

O, what needless pain we bear;

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

3. Our requests should be accompanied with thanksgiving. Sometimes prayers become the expression of selfish “gimme’s.” Paul emphasized that prayer should contain thanksgiving. Jesus taught an important lesson on gratitude when he healed the ten lepers and only one returned to express his thanks (Lk. 17:12-19).

There is another aspect of thanksgiving which recognizes and accepts one’s circumstances in life. This can be illustrated in Paul’s life by the disposition he had toward the messenger of Satan which buffeted his body. Three times he requested of God that the affliction be removed. The Lord responded by saying, “My grace is sufficient to thee.” Then Paul accepted his circumstances with the disposition expressed in these verses:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Paul accepted the Lord’s providence and was able to give God the thanks and glory, even in the midst of adversity. because he recognized that God, who knew better than him what was best for his life, allowed the suffering. The wise man wrote, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him” (Eccl. 7:14). Consequently, even in the face of adversity and suffering, the Christian can bow his knee in thanksgiving to the God who controls all things.

The Peace of God

The Lord promised to give his peace to those who live as he has directed. The peace from God surpasses all understanding. Jesus spoke of his peace saying, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27). Jesus’ peace was different from the peace that the world is able to give.

The world is able to give peace from civil conflict, although it is temporary. The world may bring peace between friends, neighbors or relatives. However, the world can neither give nor has it experienced peace with God which is only available through Jesus Christ. T. Croskery’s comments in the Pulpit Commentary (168) are wrote reproducing as he discussed the nature of this peace:

(1) It springs out of our justification (Rom. v. 1). (2) It arises in the soul as part of our spiritual-mindedness. “For to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. viii.6). (3) It is the abiding experience of the saints so long as they are practically consistent in their walk. “Great peace have they that love thy law” (Psa. exix. 165). “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isa. xxvi. 3).

The peace which God gives will “keep your hearts and minds. ” The word ” keep ” is translated from phroureo. It is a military term meaning “to guard, protect by a military guard, either in order to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.” It is used in a metaphorical sense in this passage to mean “to protect by guarding.” The Lord has promised to guard and protect the hearts and minds of those who do as these verses command.

A fourth prescription for good spiritual health is handling life’s trouble, not through worrying and fretting, but through casting them on the Lord in prayer.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, pp. 482, 502-503
August 15, 1991