Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The deity of Christ has been under attack for centuries as modernists have methodically tried to remove supernaturalism from the Christian religion. The Christ of modernism is merely a man – a good man, but still only a man. The Christ of the Bible is the incarnation of God.

The Christ of Prophecy

The prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah described him as more than a mere man. He is “God with us.” Here are some of the prophecies which emphasize the deity of the Messiah.

1. Isaiah 7-14. In foretelling the virgin birth, Isaiah describes the child to be born as “Immanuel.” Matthew explains the meaning of the Hebrew word to be “God with us.”

2. Isaiah 9:6. The child who was born of a virgin would be known as “Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The government of God’s kingdom would be placed upon his shoulder.

3. Micah 5:2. The Messiah who would enter human history as a baby born in Bethlehem is him “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

4. Psalm 2. In the second Psalm, the Messiah is represented as being so inseparably united with God that the heathen could not separate the Lord from his Anointed. The Lord promised to set his king upon his holy hill and said, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (2:7). The author of Hebrews refers this passage to Jesus showing his superiority to the angels: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” (1:6) The nations were commanded to “kiss the Son” in giving worship and honor to him.

5. Psalm 45. This psalm describes the marriage of the Messiah to his bride (the church). The Messiah is “fairer than the children of men” (45:2) and “most mighty” (45:3). To the Messiah, God said, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (45:6-7). The author of Hebrews used this statement to attribute deity to Jesus in contrast to the angels (1:8).

6. Psalm 110. The reign of the promised Messiah is described in this psalm. The psalm opens, “The Lord, said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hands, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (110:1). This statement was quoted by Jesus to confound the Jews who could not understand how the son of David could also be David’s Lord (Matt. 22:44). The Messiah is pictured as reigning in his kingdom, seated at the right hand of Jehovah God. His reign combines the office of priest and king, just like Melchizedek; his reign is everlasting, not being limited to a brief period of earth history. An everlasting dominion is possible only for an eternal Being.

7. Daniel 2:44. Writing during the Babylonian captivity, Daniel foresaw the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom during the days of the kings of the fourth kingdom (the Roman empire). The kingdom which the Messiah would establish “shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people . . . it shall stand for ever.” His everlasting dominion would include those from every nation.

8. Daniel 7.-13-14. In a later prophecy in the book, the prophet saw one “like the Son of man ascending with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days (a prophecy of the coronation of Jesus after his ascension into heaven). To this Son of man were given “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.”

9. Zechariah 13:7. This passage states that the Messiah is “the man that is my fellow,” describing him as the equal of the Lord of hosts.

From the testimony of the prophets, we can learn that the Messiah could not be merely a man. A man does not have the attributes necessitated by the descriptions of him as “God with us,” “The mighty God,” eternity, dominion over the entire world, and such like phrases. His humanity is also described in the Old Testament pointing us to the incarnation of God in human flesh.

The Birth of the Babe

Did Jesus leave his deity behind when he became flesh? That he did not leave his deity is seen from several lines of evidence.

1. Matthew 1:21-23. In Matthew’s birth narrative, the child born to Mary is no ordinary man produced by human generation. The child was conceived in Mary by the Holy Ghost and is Immanuel, “God with us.”

2. Luke’s record. Luke’s record of the birth of Jesus gives emphasis to the deity of Jesus. The babe born in Bethlehem was no ordinary child, like every other child. In announcing the work of John the Baptist to Zachariah, the angel foretold his work to prepare for the Messiah: “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him (that is, the Lord their God, mw) in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (1:16-17). The “Lord their God” of Luke’s gospel is none other than Jesus. In studying the work of John the Baptist, we can see how he turned the hearts of men toward the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (cf. Jn. 1:29,36); he turned the hearts of men toward Jesus – the Lord their God.

When the Lord announced the birth of baby Jesus to Mary, he described the infant as the “Son of the highest” (1:32), the “holy thing” (1:35), and the “Son of God” (1:35). These words cannot be used to describe a mere human infant!

When Mary went to Elizabeth to confirm the announcement of the angel by the visible sign of the pregnancy of the aged barren woman, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and described Mary as “the mother of my Lord” (1:43). The baby in Mary’s womb was Elizabeth’s Lord!

After the birth of John the Baptist, Zacharias was enabled to speak once again. In his prophecy, he spoke both of his son John the Baptist and the babe to born to Mary. He recognized Mary’s child as the “horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (1:69). When he turned to speak of John’s work, Zacharias said, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.” Of course, John went before the face of Jesus to prepare the way for him.

When the baby was born, the angels in heaven announced to the shepherds of Israel that “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” had been born (2:11). A multitude of the heavenly host sang praises to God at the birth of the child.

The birth narratives emphasize that the child born in Bethlehem was no ordinary child. He was the Lord’s Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord. To the mind of an humble Jew, such descriptions could not be given to a mere human being without being guilty of blasphemy. These descriptions must be understood to describe the deity of Christ, a deity which did not begin at some later point in his life but was there the moment of his birth. The miracles of Jesus’ humanity point us to his deity: he enters the world by one miracle (the virgin birth) and leaves it by another miracle (his ascension).

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 21, pp. 642, 662-663
November 1, 1990

By Eric Norford

Gospel preachers in the 1990s will be faced with some unique challenges as well as some tremendous opportunities. Let us consider these things in this article.

The world markets are opening up more. We saw, in 1989, the Communist bloc in eastern Europe open up. The fences that separated these countries from the rest of the world came tumbling down. This opened the doors of opportunity to preach the gospel to that section of the world. The few Christians in China need to be built up and the gospel message needs to be carried to the billions of Chinese. The doors are opening up all over the world and our challenge is to take advantage of this wonderful blessing. Will we do it?

Doctrinal issues will continue to be a great challenge to our faith. We will continue to have to deal with our brethren and insist on doctrinal soundness. Abortion, which kills over 2 million babies a year, will be a volatile subject. The marriage-divorce-remarriage issue will not get better, as long as brethren continue to misinterpret and pervert Matthew 19:1-9 and 1 Corinthians 7. The social gospel will become more and more prevalent. World religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Janism, etc., will become more and more popular. These lifestyles are what people often want because of the allure of worldly pleasure. This will be difficult to deal with, but God’s word can put these doctrines to flight.

What will become of our children in the 1990s? Mothers will not be around the home, if present trends continue. In 1989, 51 percent of mothers worked outside the home. Children are often coming home to empty houses and finding themselves lonely and depressed. Empty moments cry out to be filled. Sooner or later television, drugs, ungodly music, or alcohol, become the parental crutch to the child and rebellion and anarchy become a lifestyle.

Our children will not be our children in school. Humanistic teaching is in the majority in every classroom. Situation ethics is the rule rather than the exception and the evidence for this is very clear. Rape, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex ‘ murder, rebellion, and suicide are all on the rise. What used to be unheard of, years ago, is even now, the status quo. Parental neglect and humanism can be the death of this nation. Parents must raise godly daughters. They must prepare them to be wives of elders and preachers and godly young men. They will raise sons who will proclaim the gospel. The schools will not do this, the home must fulfill its God-given roll. It is no wonder our nation is in a turmoil, we are often at fault for letting it happen by being silent and refusing to let our lights shine (Matt. 5:13-16). Children must be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

Technology has really taken off since the invention of the computer and now one can purchase one about the size of a small book. You can get the Bible on computer now. Many helps are available but we must guard against becoming lazy in our study. Another concern with technology is the possibility of altering the Bible more easily. The excuse many give is that times have changed and the Bible has become old-fashioned. The fact is that times will change but the Bible will always be the same. God’s law will always be true!

The greatest need of the 1990s will be to get back to old time preaching – preaching that rocked the hills and valleys of Kentucky and Ohio and rolled across the Roman Empire, preaching that convicts sinners to change their lives, preaching that will convict Christians to live godly lives and be separate from the world. If we can achieve this again the majority of problems among us can cease because we will want to serve God rather than man.

The great challenge of the 1990s can be overcome and the opportunities can be wonderful. But we will need faithful men who will stand on the grand word of God and roll up their sleeves and preach the word to dying men, without fear or favor.

May God give me strength to do his will.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 21, p. 647
November 1, 1990

By Jimmy Tuten

Introduction:

A. It is said that a very beautiful statute of a Greek slave girl once stood in the market place of an Italian city. The statue represented the girl as a neat well dressed young lady. One day a dirty, ragged little girl found the statue and for a long time stood and gazed at it with admiration and awe. She went home and washed her face and combed her hair. Before long she went to the market place again and admired the statue. She went home and washed her clothes. Each time she stood before the statue she found desirable qualities to emulate, and finally she was an entirely different girl.

1. As we behold Jesus in his word with no interposing obstructions we are transformed from the image of our worldly idols into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

2. Inasmuch as “the issues of Life” are out of the mind (Prov. 4:23), transformation must begin in the mind (Phil. 4:8).

3. There is a whole curriculum for the mind given (Phil. 4:8).

4. The only religion that can save your soul and show to others the way of salvation is the one that “reflects upon the world the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, through a loyal discipleship that has discovered that life becomes resplendent when Jesus Christ is believed in and loved” (A.Z. Conrad).

5. We must be mindful of the fact that even unspiritual people know whether or not we live close to Jesus (Acts 4:13).

B. Today we wish to look at the Christian and his transformation (Text).

1. This is the second phase of Christian service in relation to self that calls for self-sacrifice (12:1-2).

2. The body is offered to God so that we be not conformed to the world (vv. 1-2a); the mind is renewed so that we may be transformed (2b).

C. We offer to God our bodies as a “living sacrifice”:

1. It is not offered to self so that one lives as he wishes or does his own thing.

2. It is not offered to others such as a spouse, family member, companion, sexual partner, mistress, or employer.

3. Nor is it offered to something else such as houses, boats, cars, jobs, possessions, professions, recreation, retirement, etc.

4. It is a living sacrifice because:

a. It is to be constant, continuous and not occasional.

b. It is to be sacrificed wherever that body is for it is not dependent upon place.

c. It sacrifices its own desires and life for God.

d. This sacrifice lives for God daily by serving him. This very thing Christians seek (1 Cor. 6:20;.2 Cor. 5:9). They know that life does not exist for this life alone. It has a more supreme purpose, i.e., its resurrection some day.

D. Too, there is a contrast of kingdoms in existence: one is fleeting, the other eternal; one is carnal, the other is spiritual; one appeals to the flesh, the other to the spirit; one leads to destruction, the other to life eternal. We should be impressed with this sobering fact: there is a wide difference between the world from which we have been translated and the kingdom into which we have been placed (Col. 1:13).

Body:

I. “Be Not Conformed To This World.”

A. Before defining “conformed” let us note two passages:

1 . Romans 12:2. We are to turn away from our past (do not be conformed to this world). We are to be “transformed” (our manner of life is to be changed).

2. Romans 8:29.- We shall be conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.

3. The two words are thus used in connection with Past, Present and Future (I Thess. 1:9-10, this passage displays all three).

B. “Conformed” defined: Gr. sunschematizo, from the root schema which means fashion, the outward form, the appearance of a man. It is the appearance that changes from day to day and year to year. (Example: a man dresses differently for work than he does when he comes into the assembly to worship. A man looks different as a young man than he does as an older man. His schema, his fashion, his outward appearance changes.) Webster defines it: “to make or be like.” Illustration: The chameleon has the ability to change its skin color rapidly by conforming to its surroundings. It has come to symbolize a fickle and changeable person. God’s people are to be steadfast (1 Cor. 15:58).

1. We are cautioned in Scriptures not to be like the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

2. When one conforms to the world he becomes a part of a mass “herd,” losing individuality and denies himself self-expression. He’s just another lost sinner.

3. Illustration: Compare 1 Cor. 10:2 and Rom. 6:3, with special note to the fact those “baptized into Moses” came under his leadership, i.e., they committed themselves to him. Those who refused to obey him were destroyed, “overthrown in the wilderness.” Even so, in being baptized into Christ one’s past life is changed. Having been delivered from those sins we commit ourselves to him and are obligated to a transformation of the pattern of our lives (1 Cor. 10:5-11). This is the essential meaning of conversion: to turn from one belief or course to another. A definite, decisive adoption of a transformed life.

4. Even so, Romans 12:1-2 admonishes us to be “transformed” and not “conformed to this world.” One thing is certain, the pay may not be what we would want, but the benefits of such dedication are out of this world.

C. “World” defined: Gr. aion, age, the appearance of the world, not the universe (Rom. 1:20), material resources (Matt. 16:26), or necessarily the people (Jn. 3:16). It is the general course, way of life, the sphere of evil, including everything contrary to the spiritual (1 Jn. 2:16; 1 Pet. 1:14-15). Cf. R.C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, 204.

1. Fashions in the world change and what seems good in it is not always fashionable in the spiritual. (Mack-Levine Hat Company, St. Louis changes their hat style for men each year and I found that the changes did not always suit my taste.) The problem with some Christians is that they have been watching the wrong fashion shows!

2. Furthermore the very fashion and appearance of the world seems lasting, permanent, unending; it seems to offer the very best of everything: pleasure, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, etc. These things are for a “season” (Heb. 11:24-25; 1 Cor. 7:31).

3. But, the fashion of the world is a lie, a mask, or a masquerade in that the appearances have within them the seeds of corruption: selfishness, greed, bitterness, hatred, anger, ungodliness, war, division, savagery, deceitfulness, ignorance, etc.

4. That some in the body of Christ have conformed to some degree is seen in their conduct toward others in the body of Christ. Without scruples, it seems, they bite and devour one another, and treat them with less courtesy than they would business associates, etc.

(continued next outline)

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 21, pp. 651-652
November 1, 1990

By Don R. Hastings

Censorship, which promotes good, virtuous character and condemns perversive thoughts, words, and conduct is good and desperately needed in our nation. There is a strong movement in our nation to ban all censorship. Laws are being removed, or ignored, which once made it illegal to sell pornography on records, in movies and in books. Laws, which prohibited homosexuals from living anywhere they wanted and holding any job they desired, are being repealed. The killing of unborn babies has been legalized and vocally defended. The morality of this nation is deteriorating and censorship is not the cause, but a lack of censorship is!

The Tampa Tribune printed an article written by a staff writer. This article was published on the front page of the July 23, 1990 issue. The article was about the opposition to various kinds of obscene, polluting activities in the state of Florida, such as: 2 Live Crew’s album entitled, “As Nasty As They Wanna Be”; T-back bathing suits; pornography which hides under the word “art”; etc. The reporter quoted far more from those who censored the censors than those who rebuked the contaminators of morals. Some of the pictures used at the top of the article were obscene. It is disgraceful that the newspaper would print pictures of women who have no clothing covering that part of the anatomy upon which one sits. The news on television often reports, with pictures and words, stories about adult book stories, prostitution, nude-bar establishments, etc.

Those, who abhor censorship, claim that they have the right to say whatever they want to because the First Amendment gives them the right. The First Amendment gives Americans the right to freedom of speech, but this freedom is not unlimited! For example, one does not have the right to lie. We still have laws which prohibit lying under oath and misrepresenting products and services. It is a great abuse of the First Amendment to say it gives the vile and vulgar-mouthed person the right to spew forth his profanity anywhere he chooses and we must remove ourselves and our children from the sound of his words! A person has the right to express an opposing view, but let him do it with intelligent words which reveal his good, logical arguments. Filthy language is never uplifting, but always downgrading. Freedoms, which are abused and misused, will be taken away!

In the newspaper article, a faculty member at the University of South Florida’s sociology department, said, “We don’t have any idea if (pornography) has any impact on behavior.” Isn’t that statement amazing! People spend billions of dollars on pornography and this professor of sociology doesn’t know if it influences one’s behavior. If people aren’t affected by it, why look as it? Surely we must acknowledge that what we think has a tremendous influence on our behavior! It is what is in the “heart,” or mind, that determines what we say and do. (Read Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 13:34-37; 15:1820.) Those, who advertise their products, know that it is important to get their message into your mind. Pornography encourages violent sexual acts, such as: rape, child molestation; incest; etc.

The reporter quoted a faculty member at the University of Florida speaking about the First Amendment as a platform, “If you take the platform away, we’re no better than a police state.” It is not true, that one who objects to using the First Amendment as a right to justify the publishing of pornography is advocating the abolishing of the First Amendment. I am not a Communist or a defender of it! I love America and her freedoms. It is not those, who speak out against every form of moral pollution who are a threat to this nation, but those who want to engage openly, and freely, in sinful activities without being censored for it!

Many want the freedom to fill their minds and lives with wicked thoughts, words and deeds. They want to say, and do, whatever they please, but they don’t realize that they are enslaved to sin. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Everyone one that committeth sin is the bond servant of sin” (Jn. 8:34). Real freedom is found in Christ for there we must live apart from sin (Jn. 8:31, 32). Real freedom is freedom from: a defiled conscience; enslaving habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, cursing, gambling, drugs, etc.); ignorance; an uncontrolled temper; shame; penalty of sin; hopelessness; Satan’s captivity; etc.

When man rebels against God’s laws and makes his own, which give him the legal right to fulfill his evil desires by doing that which is “right in his own eyes,” society will suffer greatly! Wickedness perverts one’s character by causing one to be: selfish; uncaring about others; insensitive; dishonest; cruel; full of wrath; lacking in mercy, kindness, and love; unjust; without natural affection for one’s family; full of pride so that it causes him to think that he does not have to give account to anyone for the way he behaves; etc.

Will you stand up for what is morally good or be cowardly silent? If the silent majority doesn’t speak up soon, it will be too late to oppose perversion! Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 21, p. 653
November 1, 1990