Truth Magazine

By John A. Smith

Negative Influence Of Their Peers

To overcome negative peer pressure the young person must begin with the right mental attitude.

1. Expect that it will come. Do not be so naive as to think that it will not affect you.

2. Determine to resist it. Without a firm resolve to resist the corrupting influence of others, you will get no place. Part of Joseph’s ability to resist Mrs. Potiphar’s advances came from his determination to say no (Gen. 39:8).

3. Counteract it. Find some positive step that you can take to counteract the influence of those who would have a negative influence.

A. Check it out.

1. Look at what’s going on – does it appear to be normal? healthy? right?

2. Listen carefully – are friends being honest? direct? or just a “sales pitch”?

3. Apply the “Trouble Rule.”

a. Does it break the law (moral or civil)?

b. Will it make someone I respect angry?

c. Will it harm a relationship or hurt someone’s feelings?

d. Will your friend only do “whatever” if you participate?

B. Make a good decision (and evaluate afterwards).

C. Act to avoid trouble.

4. Avoid it. Watch the situation in which you find yourself and avoid those where you know you will be tempted. Joseph successfully escaped the advance of his boss’ wife y not hanging around her and then running away from her Gen. 39:10,12).

How Can Parents Help?

Parents need to pay the price, take the time, and do whatever is necessary to know who their children have chosen as friends. This may mean a house crowded with young people, a back yard with well worn base paths or a r that becomes a taxi. But now honestly, is it not worth at small price? They are the only children that we will have. Your houses will be silent soon enough. The time will come later for a yard that resembles a new carpet. Cars can be replaced, but our children have only one soul.

We need to strive to be sympathetic with them. Remember that you were once a teenager yourself. Regardless of what your children might think, you were not born an old “foggy.” There was a time when you spoke as a child, understood as a child, and thought as a child (1 Cor. 13:11). Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonians is appropriate for every parent: “warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thess. 5:14).

Parents need to be supportive and encouraging of their children. If you tell a young person that he is stupid, good-for-nothing, and untrustworthy, he will prove you right. Be a Barnabas to some young person. Be as Paul was to Timothy. Praise him. Comfort him when he makes mistakes helping him to remember that he serves a loving and forgiving God. Be quick to pick him up when he falls.

Young people are subjected to many pressures, yet none which cannot be overcome and conquered. Young people need good role models, encouragement, understanding, acceptance and patience. Sacred history records the biographies of many outstanding young people (Daniel; Joseph; Timothy; David; Josiah) all of whom faced and conquered obstacles and problems. Sometimes they fell down, but they always got up through God’s outstretched hand to continue faithful to the end.

God bless you in your youth!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 13, p. 397
July 4, 1991

By Anthony Wayne Goforth

Recently, a family left the congregation of which they had been members, under less than favorable circumstances. When their loving congregation, believing they should “have the same concern one for the other” (1 Cor. 12:25), sought to take steps to correct the matter, the family simply fled to another congregation where they were accepted. When their new congregation was contacted about the matter, and asked if someone from each congregation could sit down with this family to try to bring about repentance, the response was, “It’s none of your business; they are not your members anymore.” It was further stated that if the offended church were to discipline this family, they would be guilty of “practicing the sponsoring church concept in the area of discipline” since they were now members elsewhere. The sponsoring church is an unauthorized centralizing of funds under one eldership which oversees the work of many churches for them. However, God did authorize the local church to perform the works of evangelism, benevolence and edification (Eph. 4:11-13) of the which discipline is an essential part! Since the family was being disciplined for sins committed while yet members of the previous congregation, there is no parallel that can be drawn to the sponsoring church.

This real life scenario reflects some common problems and misunderstandings of church membership and discipline, both on the part of the individuals being disciplined, and of the congregations to which they may flee, asking that “asylum” be granted to them.

1. Errors on the part of the individuals. Those who would flee discipline have the old misunderstanding of “you can’t withdraw from me if I withdraw from you first.” Certainly, one may attend any faithful congregation he feels best meets his family’s needs, but if there are discipline problems left unresolved, these must first be corrected before moving on to another congregation. To fail to do so shows little concern for one’s own soul since sin remains unrepented and therefore unforgiven (Matt. 5:23-24). It shows little concern for the congregation from which one might flee as well. Correction needs to be made where the sin occurred, where it is known, and where its evil influence has been felt (Matt. 18:1518). One should be thankful if he is part of a congregation that loves him enough to discipline (Heb. 12:5-11). Instead, the attitude is all too often, “Then I’ll just go somewhere else.” And, if they look far enough, they will find some congregation that does not love their souls as much, and will accept them as they are, still in their sin, thus perpetuating the problem. Can you imagine an IRS agent notifying a person that because he had not paid his taxes, he was going to jail, only to be told by the tax evader,

“You can’t touch me, I now denounce my citizenship.” Such would lead to anarchy in the world, and in the church as well. It would virtually eliminate discipline all together. Now, one may be a citizen wherever he wishes, but if there are obligations left unresolved, they must first be settled before moving, or be sent back to correct it as in the case of Manuel Noreiga! This shows little concern for the congregation to which one might go. They are immediately brought into fellowship with an impenitent sinner, his thus becoming a “spot in their love feast” (Jude 12), thereby endangering the souls of the new members as well.

2. Errors on the part of the congregation which would accept those into fellowship who are being disciplined elsewhere. This can be a problem in areas where there are numerous faithful congregations. When problems arise, it is all too tempting for one to just move to another congregation and leave matters unresolved. And, congregations that do not encourage them to first “go and be reconciled” (Matt. 5:24) contribute to the problem. A local congregation is not a city of refuge (Num. 35). At least with the cities of refuge, one had to truly be innocent, or be delivered back for proper discipline. The second congregation in our illustration seems very much like the Corinthian church, being puffed-up over having gained a family in sin, rather than mourning over being put in fellowship with an impenitent sinner (1 Cor. 5:2, 6-8). If the erring brother of 1 Corinthians 5 had asked to be a member of Athens or Philippi, the two churches could have communicated about the man’s status without any violation of autonomy, regardless of which church initiated the communication. There is Bible precedent for communication between congregations without practicing the “sponsoring church” (cf. Rom. 16; Col. 4:13-17). Paul even instructed Onesimus to return to Philemon! And, there is even authority for asking of letters of recommendation from those seeking to place membership (2 Cor. 3:1). And, when one does ask to be identified with a group, must they immediately be accepted, even before the brethren can have a chance to talk with (Acts 9:26-27)?

May I suggest, that it does not suffice for the sin to be confessed only at the new congregation, but to the ones which were initially offended as well (Matt. 18:5). Otherwise, when we have fights with our spouse, all we have to do is to tell some stranger we are sorry and that should settle it! Often, we are too excited about the possibility of gaining new members to want to probe their reason for coming to us, or for leaving their previous group, which we have already established Bible authority for so doing.

Conclusion

Really, was the first congregation really guilty of the sponsoring church? Or, when members flee to another congregation to escape discipline and are accepted, is this closer to the Catholic doctrine of granting sanctuary?

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 13, pp. 398-399
July 4, 1991

By Wallace H. Little

George W. Cornell, a religious writer for the Associated Press, recently wrote: Scholars Seek True Words of Jesus. His article discussed Robert Funk and his “Jesus Seminar” deciding which New Testament words “Jesus actually spoke.” Can such arrogance do this? Dare created man pit his puny intellect against creating Divinity’s omniscience? These “scholars” apparently believe they know the Bible better than the men who penned God’s words as he inspired them. Except for the seriousness of it (Jn. 12:48), it’s laughable. How foolish (Psa. 14:1)!

The Bible claims inspiration (“God-breathed words”) twice (Job 32:8; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). In 1 Corinthians 2:11-13, the apostle Paul explains: “For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (ASV).

This inspiration fulfilled Jesus’ promise (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). “. . . the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, . . . shall teach you all things, . . . bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you . . . testify of Me . . . guide you into all truth:. . .”

The Bible says the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all are God (“God” is a plural noun). Christ was the creating God (Jn. 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1,2), the ” fulness of the Father . . . the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 1:19; 2:9). All spoke the same thing. What God the Father said, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit also said.

We’re in sad shape if our salvation depends on the “scholarship” of Mr. Funk and his “Jesus Seminar.” We either believe all the Bible or none of it. God gives us no other choice. Believers know all New Testament words are “true words of Jesus.” Skeptics know nothing.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 13, p. 390
July 4, 1991

By Raymond E. Harris

Thus far in this study of Holy Spirit baptism, we have discussed the action, the element, the agent and the subjects.

We have learned that the action of baptizing is always “dipping.” The element in this case is the Holy Spirit. The agent or administrator of Holy Spirit baptism was always Deity (Jesus or the Father). And, the only subjects or recipients of such baptism revealed in the New Testament were the twelve Apostles and the household of Cornelius (Acts 2 & 10).

In this article we want to consider the design of Holy Spirit baptism and draw some final conclusions.

5. The Design: When we discuss the “design” of Holy Spirit baptism we are talking about the aim, the goal, the intent, the purpose or reason for the action.

As we carefully study the two accounts of Holy Spirit baptism as revealed in the New Testament, we find that each was for a very specific, yet very different, purpose.

The Apostles

In the case of the Apostles we learn that as a result of Holy Spirit baptism they:

1. Would be taught all things John 14:26

2. Would remember all things that Jesus had taught them John 14:26

3. Would receive testimony concerning Jesus John 15:26

4. Would be guided into all truth John 16:13

5. Would learn of things to come John 16:13

6. Would receive power Acts 1:5-8

7. Would become witnesses for Jesus Acts 1:5-8

8. Spoke with tongues or languages they had not previously known Acts 2:4-11

9. Were empowered to preach the Gospel of Christ for the first time Acts 2:14

10. Were able to confirm that they were the men of God with the message of God Heb. 2:3-4

The Household of Cornelius

In the case of the household of Cornelius we learn that as a result of Holy Spirit baptism:

1. They spoke with tongues or languages they had not previously known Acts 10:46

2. They magnified God Acts 10:46

3. The Jews were astonished that the Gentiles received the gift as well as the Apostles . . . Acts 11:15-17; 11:15-17

4. Peter was convinced the Gentiles were to receive the blessings of the gospel Acts 10:47

5. All the Jews come to realize that “God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life . . Acts 11:18; 15:8-9

It is obvious from a study of the foregoing passages relative to Baptism in the Holy Spirit, that such baptism was always a gift. No one in all the New Testament was ever commanded to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was not something within the control of mankind.

What About Holy Spirit Baptism Today?

The last biblical record of Holy Spirit baptism was the household of Cornelius as recorded in Acts 10. That would have been about the year 43 A.D.

Now we come to the book of Ephesians, written about 64 A.D. In Ephesians 4:5, the Apostle Paul tells us that just as there is one Lord and one faith, so there is but one baptism. But, you ask, what is the one baptism of Ephesians 4? We discover the answer to this question by considering the design or purpose for Holy Spirit baptism. It was never for or in order to gain remission of sins and salvation. That was the purpose of water baptism (Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16).

Conclusion

1. The Apostles received Holy Spirit baptism to empower them to

(a) Know all the gospel

(b) Speak all languages to go into all the world.

(c) Work miracles to confirm that their message was from God.

2. The Apostles proved they were the men of God with the message of God by manifesting their great power.

3. The confirmed word is now recorded in the New Testament. We have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).

4. Because of the events at the household of Cornelius everyone was made to understand what Jesus meant when he told the Apostles to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”

Hence, we see that today we have no need for Holy Spirit baptism. God’s word is forever confirmed and recorded and “whosoever will may come.” The purposes for Holy Spirit baptism have been completely and totally fulfilled.

The one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is water baptism. It is for the “remission of sin.” Mankind will have need for such till the end of time.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 13, p. 396
July 4, 1991