Truth Magazine

By Johnie Edwards

Northern California was hit with an earthquake on Tuesday, October 17, 1989 around 7:04 p.m. Ellettsville, Indiana time. The quake lasted for about fifteen seconds and registered 7.1 on the Richter scale. It has been estimated that the damages may run into the 10 Billion Dollar figure. About all of the news people were asking if this was the big one. Those in the know about such things say the big one is yet to come. I got to thinking about the big one; yes, it is to come!

Bible Earthquakes

The Scripture speaks of several earthquakes. One occurred in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziah, king of Judah. “And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the day of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee” (Zech. 14:5). Perhaps the most remembered earthquake was at the time of the crucifixion of Christ. “And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matt. 27:51). Such miracles as “the graves being opened, the resurrection” and the like caused the centurion to say, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:52-54).

The Prison Keeper and An Earthquake

A great earthquake was involved in the story of the conversion of the Philippian Jailor. Paul and Silas had been put in prison and as they were singing and praying at midnight, “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26). This earthquake led to the jailor asking, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) As an unbeliever, he was told to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). In order for him to be saved, “they spake unto him the word of the Lord”; his repentance can be seen in that he “washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway” (Acts 16:32-33). The world has been taught that this man was saved at the point of faith, but a careful reading of the conversion will indicate to the honest person that he heard, believe, and obeyed the word, being baptized the same hour of the night, which was about midnight.

God’s Shaking of the Earth

The Hebrew writer said, “Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven” (Heb. 12:26). Down through ages past God has shaken the earth as he took out of the way false gods, passed judgment upon his people of the Old Testament, removed nations and the like. The big shake is yet to come!

The Big One to Come

At the end of time there surely will a shaking of the earth as “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall be raised first” (1 Thess. 4:16). Can you imagine the earth being opened up as every grave will be opened. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which an that are in the graves shall hear this voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). As the recent earthquake in California found folks buried under rocks of concrete, I am-reminded of the time of God’s judgment when people will cry “and say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:16-17)

The Unshakable Kingdom

There is not too much safety here on this earth but there is a place which cannot be shaken. The church of the Lord is unshakable! “Wherefore receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved (shaken), let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29). You are encouraged to become a member of this unshakable kingdom.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 24, pp. 737, 751
December 21, 1989

By Franklin T. Puckett

One of the most widely held beliefs of our day is the teaching that a man is saved by faith alone. Nearly all of the denominational creeds have the idea imbedded in their articles, either clearly stated as in the Methodist Discipline, or else clearly implied. It is taught that a man is saved miraculously, the very instant he believes in Christ, and that this belief is wrought in his heart by the action of the Holy Spirit. Man, in this view, is wholly passive and unable to do anything at all to bring about his salvation. It is all the work of the Holy Spirit. Neither the man’s obedience, nor the commands of Christ are taken into consideration. It is purely a miracle.

This is surely one of damnable of all false doctrines which curse the land this day. It does more to produce indifference in the hearts of the people than anything I know. It leads men to deny the essentiality of the church altogether. So strong a grip has the doctrine secured on the hearts of men that it is a very common experience to hear devoted religious people say, “Oh, the church is not important,” “The church does not save,” “One can go to heaven just as well without being a member of the church as he can in the church,” etc. Now if by the word “Church” such people mean some denominational institution, then surely no Bible student anywhere would argue with them. On the contrary, every informed person will agree fully with the idea that membership in a denomination (any denomination) is not essential to salvation.

But no person who has reached the age of accountability, and has transgressed God’s law either by omission or commission, will ever reach heaven without being a member of the church which is revealed in the Bible. I call your attention t the fact that Jesus Christ is the “Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). It is Christ who saves; Christ who is the Savior; and not the church. “The church” does not save; the church is the thing saved! “For the husband is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body.” What does Christ save? He saved the body. But what is “the body”? It is the church (Col. 1:18, 24; Eph. 1:22-23). Christ is the head of the church – his body. And it is this body which is saved by Christ.

The conclusion is clear from this that if one does not belong to the church, he does not belong to that of which Christ is the Savior. It was the church which was purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28); and it is “to the church” that the saved are added (Acts 2:47). There are no saved out of the church; there can be none. For everyone who is “saved” is “added” to the church by the same one who saves him – God.

The church was purchased by the blood of Christ. Unless we are willing to say that Christ was swindled when he bought the church, we must recognize that the value of the church is equal to the value of the blood of Christ. If the church is not valuable, then Christ was cheated when he purchased it with his own blood. The church is a “blood bought” institution. If one is to be saved by the blood of Christ, one must be a part of the church, his spiritual body, which was purchased by that blood. If one is a sinner, at enmity with God, then salvation and peace and reconciliation are to be had only in the church, the blood purchased possession of Jesus Christ. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:14-16).

Where are people reconciled to God? In the one body, the church. Where is peace found? IN the one body, the church. The Bible says the body is the church, and that peace and reconciliation are to be had in the body, and not out of it. Talk about being “saved by the blood of Christ!” My fired if you are ver saved by the blood of Christ, it will be because you have come into that body where you are reconciled to God by the cross of Christ. The blood which was shed for our redemption can save us only in the church. There is no other way.

Does the church save? Of course not. It is Christ who saves! But what does he save? He saves the body, the church, God exercised great power when he raised Jesus from the dead and “made him to sit at his right hand in heavenly places, far about all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:20-23). So the church is the fullness of Christ. It was not some human institution or some man-made denomination which he purchased with his blood; it was “the church.” It is over this body that he reigns as head; it is here that the fullness of God dwells. It is here and here only that salvation is premised to the penitent sinner.

We are pleading with people to become members of the New Testament church. We are pleading that men and women in our day do exactly what they did in the days of the apostles. These people then heard the gospel, believed it, repented of their sins, and were buried through baptism for the remission of sins. And when that happened God added them to the church. Here they were reconciled to God, washed and made clean by the blood of Christ; they were then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. They were in the church – the saved of God.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 24, p. 743
December 21, 1989

By Robert Wayne LaCoste

On one of the recent meetings, a family asked me to an evening meal in their home. Naturally, as any good red-blooded American who loves Italian food would, I accepted.

I don’t suppose I had been seated five minutes when I was asked, “Bob, how do you feel about Christmas? Do you observe it?”

My answer for the past 25 years has always been the same. “I surely do not observe it as the birth of Christ, since God’s word says nothing about the birth of God’s Son from a when standpoint. However, I have no problem with observing it as any other national holiday in our country, paying notice to the folklore and festivities surrounding it, No Christian can attach any spiritual significance to it, though. A Christian can observe it non-religiously.”

My brother in Christ seemed startled at my response, and I feel that he spoke before thinking, as the next comment surely got my attention. “Well, Bob, to me it’s all idolatry.” Now, I have been called a lot of things over the years, but being called an idolater (and by one of my own brethren in Christ!) was indeed an eyebrow raiser. Since this brother had a son, I asked, “Was your son circumcised?” “Yes, he was,” came the response. “Why do you ask?” “Because Paul said that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing” (Gal. 5:2). “Well, err, he was circumcised, but not for spiritual reasons.” ‘,’Yes, I’m sure that’s the case,” I said. “But now, if you can take an act that was originally intended to be for spiritual reasons, and observe it non-spiritually or non-religiously, then why can’t I take a day that was originated for spiritual reasons and observe it nonreligiously?” My brother’s tone softened, his attitude changed remarkably, and he uttered, “I don’t press my convictions on Christmas. I take note of my brethren’s conscience and respect it.” “Ah,” I said, “Now there’s something we both agree on. Surely we must respect one another’s feeling on Christmas and not allow that liberty we hold to be, a cause of offense or stumbling one to the other.”

I wish more conversations about Christmas would end as this one. Dear reader, I have seen those professing to be children of God who will take something like Christmas and further divide God’s people. Just what we needed right? Wrong! What we need is a respect for one another’s conscience and allow that brother or sister their liberty as long as it isn’t flaunted in our face. Surely this is why Paul wrote Romans 14. This non-religious observance of Christmas is like the eating of meats and observing of other days, as the Romans -did. Paul noted, “One man esteemeth one. day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5).

Some consider putting up a tree or decorating their house hypocritical. “How could you ever convince your neighbor, especially if he’s Catholic, that you don’t believe in Christmas?” Oh, but I do believe in Christmas – from a non-religious standpoint. I have also been known to put a skeleton oil my door at Halloween or put a pumpkin in the window; however, that doesn’t mean I follow the pagan occult that originated that holiday, either! Dear reader, I know of Jews who put up lights and decorate things around Christmas time. Have you ever met a Jew who believed in the birth of Christ as being December 25, or for that matter believed in Christ, period? Let’s get serious! I may rest on Saturday, but no one ever accused me of being a Seventh Day Adventist. I have had fish on Friday, but no one ever accused me of being a, conservative Catholic. My, kids dress up and go trick-or-treating on Halloween, but no one ever accused us of paganism. In years and years of putting up my plastic Christmas tree no one has ever accused me of believing December 25 as the birth date of Jesus!

The issue again is: I will not flaunt my liberty. I will respect the feelings of my brethren opposed to an observation of this holiday, but as I respect theirs, I would appreciate not being branded as an idolater by them. Only when we make those teachings of Christ written in Scripture the standard for “righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and avoid any form of railing against a brother who chooses to exercise a liberty not regulated by God, shall we, dwell together in the peace the Lord taught.

Have , fun this holiday season. Observe what God wants observed, not man; but at the same time, allow your brethren their rightful liberty in Christ Jesus.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 24, p. 745
December 21, 1989

By Mike Hughes

Introduction:

The Christmas season has become so much a part of our national life that is it practically impossible to isolate oneself from it. Manger scenes, the “Christmas Story” in schools, and appeals to put Christ back into Christmas have the effect of presenting as truth what are really fictional parts of the “Christmas Story.” These fictional parts have no foundation in fact, as presented in either the Scriptures or in historical record otherwise. We must be willing to investigate biblical teaching concerning the Birth of Christ to separate fact from fiction, so we might believe whatever truth is presented and practice whatever is authorized. We also should want to avoid believing that which isn’t justified in the scriptural account.

Body:

I. The Facts about the Birth of Christ.

A. It is a fact that a baby boy named Jesus was born in Bethlehem more than 1900 years ago and that he became one of the most influential men of history.

1 . Biblical and extra-biblical sources prove his birth.

2. Josephus the Jew, Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny the Younger support the fact that he lived and was believed and followed as the N.T. teaches.

B. It is a fact that he was born in a stable.

1. Read Luke 2:7. The innkeeper was the first in a long line of people who turned away the Son of God. He still finds no room in the lives of many.

2. Archaeological discoveries have confirmed the general accuracy of Luke’s account of the circumstances.

a. It was denied by many that there was imperial census, that Cyrenius was governor (Lk. 2:2) or that all had to go to their ancestral home.

b. Archaeological finds have shown all three to be true – papyrus documents indicate a census every 14 years, that Cyrenius was governor on two occasions that would allow him to have been governor at the date of Jesus’ birth, and that Roman-ruled countries were required to return to ancestral homes for taxation.

C. It is a fact that angels announced his birth to shepherds (Lk. 2:8-14).

D. It is a fact that wise men from the East came to worship Jesus.

1. These were magi (magoi), possibly priests or philosophers from the Euphrates Valley with the learning of the East, guided by the Lord by means of “his Star” (Matt. 2).

2. They came asking the location of the new-born King!

E. It is a fact that Jesus was born of a virgin.

1. Read Matt. 1:22,23.

2. Notice the evidence for the virgin birth.

a. Mary (Lk. 1:34,35): She immediately went to see Zachariah and Elizabeth, although Zachariah would have condemned her for adultery. At the cross she remained silent when her admission of adultery would have saved Jesus from death. What kind of mother was this?

b. Joseph: Why would Joseph invent such a story?

c. Elizabeth, Matthew, Luke, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and others preached he was not the son of a mere man.

3. Acceptance of this evidence prepares one to accept all else the Bible says of him, but repudiation undermines the trustworthiness of the whole Bible.

F. It is a fact that Jesus came on a mission of salvation (Matt. 1:21; Lk. 2:29-32).

II. Fiction Surrounding Jesus’s Birth.

A. It is fiction that there were three wise men.

1. The three gifts could have been brought by a smaller or larger group of wise men.

2. The Bible doesn’t say how many came.

B. It is fiction that the wise men visited the stable.

1. In spite of the manger scene depicting wise men there, Matthew 2:11 says they visited Jesus in a house.

2. The flight to Egypt after their visit, as well as the public presentation in the Temple at age of 40 days, would indicate the wise men came after 40 days (cf. Lev. 12:1-4).

C. The principle fiction is that he was born on December 25.

1. The Bible does not date his birth, and learned men have put the date in various months of the year.

2. Articles in any encyclopedia will show lack of evidence to support December 25th as being Jesus’ birthday!

3. The rainy season of Palestine makes it very unlikely that shepherds kept flocks out in the fields.

D. It is fiction that Christ wants us to observe a special day in honor of his birth.

1. Too many of us are inclined toward special observances rather than regular observances. We render service in spurts.

2. Christians remember his death on the only special day found in the N.T. teaching – the first day of every week, even as the early church did Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2).

3. Since we walk by faith, which is based on the Word of God, we cannot make a special religious observance of any day in the absence of any justification from the Scriptures.

Conclusion:

Notice the facts and fiction stated above. As a national holiday, December 25 may be observed by Christians as any other such holiday; but we should not attach any religious significance to Christmas. All Christians should give thanks daily for his birth and his willingness to sacrifice his life on the cross so we, through obedience to his will, will have hope of eternal life with him in Heaven (Jn. 14:1-4).

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 24, pp. 744, 751
December 21, 1989