Truth Magazine

By Frank Jamerson

God, through Ezekiel, said, “Behold, all souls are Mine: The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine: The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:4, NKJV). Most readers of this article will agree that children do not inherit the sins of the father, but do we agree that the father does not inherit the sins of his children? Do we agree that righteousness, as well as sin, is not inherited? Why is it that faithful parents have children who never obey the gospel, or have children who fall away? Why do unfaithful parents sometimes have children who become faithful Christians? The answer to these questions is found in the fact that children have free will.

Individual Accountability

Children inherit physical, social and maybe mental characteristics from their parents, but not sin or righteousness. Paul said that all are “the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29), and that “we have had human fathers who corrected us, shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (Heb. 12:9) The fact that our spirits come from God, and not from our parents shows that we do not inherit sin from our parents.

Ezekiel said that a just man may “beget a son who is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does any of these things and who does none of these duties, but has eaten on the mountains or defiled his neighbor’s wife; . . . His blood shall be upon him” (not upon his father) (Ezek. 18:10, 11, 13).

There are many Bible examples of righteous men who had unrighteous children. Eli had corrupt sons (1 Sam. 2:12-24), David, the man after God’s won heart, had a son who rebelled and tried to overthrow his own father (2 Sam. 15), and righteous king Hezekiah, who was granted fifteen extra years to live, had one of the most corrupt sons who ever ruled in Judah (2 Kgs. 20:6; 21:1-6). In the New Testament, the father of the prodigal son was not blamed for the sin of his son! In fact, the father represents the attitude of God, who has “nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me” (Isa. 1:2). Those who have been Christians for long, can give contemporary examples of parents who have been faithful Christians but have a child, or children who have rebelled against everything they have been taught.

Bad parents may also have good children. Ezekiel said that if a son who was rebellious to his father “begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise . . . he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live” (Ezek. 18:14-17). One of the wicked kings in Judah, Amon, had a son, Joash who became one of the few good kings (2 Kgs. 21:9; 22:2).

How did Ezekiel explain this? He said that “if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all my statues, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die,” but “when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and th sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die” (Ezek. 18:21, 24). If a righteous man can turn from his own righteousness, he can certainly turn from his parents’ righteousness! If a wicked man can turn from his own wickedness, he can certainly turn from his parents’ evil! Parent have a strong influence other their children, but children are responsible for their own decisions. The proverb, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” was not true in Ezekiel’s day, and it is not true today.

The “sour grapes” proverb is dangerous from two aspects. First, children may excuse themselves for their sins because of the sins of their parents, and second, some may assume that they are righteous because their parents were righteous. We are not robots, who have been programmed to do good or bad regardless of our desires. Each person is accountable for himself before God.

What About Provers 22:6?

Parents who have children whose souls are lost, naturally wonder what they did wrong. If that is not agonizing enough, someone will remind them that Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Like Job’s “friends,” they will say, or insinuate, “you are reaping what you have sown,” and “God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth” (Job 4:7; 1:6).

A “proverb” is a wise saying that is generally true, but there may be exceptions to it. The wise writer said: “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened” (Prov. 10:27). Is that always true? Have you known any wicked people who lived a long life, or righteous people who mat an early death? He also said: “Wealth makes many friend, But the poor is separated from his friend” (19:4). Are the wealthy always blessed with friends, and the poor always cursed with the lack of friends? These things are generally true, but there are exception. Children who are trained in the way of the Lord will generally continue in that way, and those who were not will generally not be interested in God, but there are exceptions! Most of you can think of exceptions. I knew a man who debated Ben Bogard, but today one of his sons is a deacon in Mr. Bogard’s denomination! I also know a man who left the Lord, but today has two daughters who have obeyed the gospel!

Parents have the responsibility to train their children, by teaching and example, in the way God would have them go. Most of us would make some changes in the things we did, if we could do it over, but we did the best we could at the time. Children are responsible for their response to that training, whether it was good or bad. In the final analysis, each individual is responsible for his own soul. The child who was not taught, has the responsibility to learn, and the child who was taught has the responsibility to apply it to himself! We parents should not take too much credit for the faithfulness of our children, nor too much blame if they go astray! “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, not the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezek. 18:20).

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 12, pp. 388-389
June 15, 1989

By Bill Hall

How often are you late for worship services? Once every two months? Once or twice a week? If you fall into one of these categories, these thoughts are for you.

It must be extremely difficult to get your mind on the worship or Bible class when you are late. There is the stress that you experienced as you anxiously glanced at your watch every few seconds while hurrying to the building. “Maybe they will start late,” you kept thinking. You are not so fortunate, though, so you face the embarrassment of everyone turning around and staring as you come in. “Why don’t they have better manners?” you think,, as you try to focus on their guilt rather than your own. You glance at your neighbor’s Bible or song book to find out what’s going on, but it takes a while to get in the groove. And, worst of all, you may be showing, unconsciously no doubt, a disregard for the occasion, for we are rarely late for any occasion which we really think is important.

Your habit is a hindrance to others, too. The thoughts of sincere worshipers are disrupted as you come in and find a seat. The Bible class teacher may feel the need to interrupt his train of thought to “catch you up” on what has been said. If there are several of you in the same congregation, the singing suffers. In short, your practice may be far more discouraging to sincere people than you have ever realized.

We could schedule our services fifteen minutes later if that would help, but we are quite sure this would just place your arrival time fifteen minutes later, too. You see, habitual tardiness results from planning too close “to the minute.” The solution is really simple. If you live five minutes from the building, plan to leave home twenty minutes before starting time instead of five minutes before starting time. If you succeed in leaving according to plans, you will have time to speak to other early arrivals, and to prepare yourself for worship. On the other hand, if some last minute problem causes you to leave later than you planned, you can still arrive before services begin. This is exactly what people do who are “never late.” Why don’t you try it?

Sometimes the fault lies with just one member of a family who causes all the rest of the family to be late. If you are that one member, you are being inconsiderate and unfair to your family. I urge you to be more helpful and thoughtful.

You may be late rather frequently because of circumstances beyond your control. This article does not pertain to you. You come to services even if you’re thirty minutes late.

What will this article accomplish? I shall probably never know. But if it leads just one habitual late-comer to become a habitual early-comer, it might prove to be this writer’s most effective article. Will you be that one person?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 13, p. 396
July 6, 1989

By Mike Willis

And beside this, giving diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. And N these things be in you, and. abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and bath forgotten that he was purged from his sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:5-11).

Many who have been baptized into Christ fall away from serving Jesus. Some become so wrapped up in the cares of this world that they bear no fruit for Christ and have allowed their remembrance of their salvation to fade. Many begin the course without finishing it (contrast to 2 Tim. 4:6-8). Peter wrote the words of the text before us to encourage our perseverance in Christ.

Man’s Part: Giving All Diligence

Earlier Peter declared that God has granted unto us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” through the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that we can become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (1:3-4). God has provided a revelation sufficient to save men from sin. What must man do in response?

Peter said that man’s response is “giving all diligence.” (Note: The ASV translated “for this very reason” what the KJV translated “and beside this,” thus tying the two thoughts of the text together better.) God’s part was to provide all things that pertain to life. and godliness; man’s part is to “give a diligence. ” There is no excuse for indolence in serving the Lord. When a man shows no diligence, he manifests a lack of appreciation for what God has done for him. Involvement in other affairs choke out the spiritual word in the lives of many Christians. This lack of diligence results in many being barren and unfruitful; many have forgotten their cleansing from sin.

The Christian Graces

The Christian graces must be built on the foundation of faith. The construction of the language is this: “in your faith supply.” Augustine wrote, “Faith is the root and mother of all virtues.” Many try to be holy without saving faith; it is a useless effort; only from faith can those spiritual graces spring whose crown is love to all. Faith in the Lord is the fountain from which all virtues flow (cf. Prov. 1:7; 16:6 – the fear of the Lord). Belief in God and concern for standing before him in judgment causes me to live so as to be pleasing to him. Hence, in my faith, I am to add these Christian graces:

1. Virtue. The word “virtue” (arete) refers to “manly courage to stand for one’s conviction. ” Where this virtue is absent, faith cowers and hides. Where this faith is present, man has the courage to confess Jesus even if it costs his life. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were men who showed virtue in their lives. The apostles demonstrated their manly courage when standing before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:13-21; 5:29-39,40-41).

2. Knowledge. Faith must rest on the word of God (Rom. 10: 17). Where there is virtue without knowledge, there is blind zeal, the courageous stand for spiritual darkness. Hence, one’s faith must rest solidly on the word of God in order that a Christian may walk approvingly before God (Col. 1:9-10).

3. Temperance. The word “temperance” is translated “self-control” in more recent translations. The word refers to that subduing of one’s passions to bring them into compliance with God’s word. This is what Paul did when he buffeted his body to bring it into subjection to God’s word (1 Cor. 9:27). Self-control needs especially to be practiced with reference to the temper, drinking, sexual appetites, etc. Where temperance is absent, there is knowledge without practice. Each of us has witnessed the Christian who could teach the truth but did not bring his life into compliance with the truth he knew. Hence, self-control needs to be supplied by a living faith.

4. Patience. The word patience emphasizes the need for perseverance in service to Christ. The one lacking this virtue is like the stony ground hearers who “have no root, which for a while believe, and in the time of temptaton fall away” (Lk. 8:13). These hearers are like a fire burning dry grass, which blazes for a moment but quickly dies. The good ground hearers “bring forth fruit with patience” (Lk. 8:15). Where patience is absent there will be no endurance of adversity in the service of Christ.

5. Godliness. The word godliness points to a piety and reverence for God, for his demands on our lives. Godliness causes us to give him the praise, honor, and glory which are due him. There is a respect for the things of God where piety or godliness exists. Where godliness is absent, there exists the endurance of adversity without reverence for God and perhaps with a bitterness of spirit.

6. Brotherly kindness. Brotherly kindness prevents that lop-sided interest in spiritual things to the neglect of the needs of brethren. This kind of “spirituality” was-shown by the priests and Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37) who walked past the one in need without helping. Brotherly kindness responds to the needs of one’s fellow Christian (Gal. 6:10; 1 Jn. 3:16). This is shown ~v helping one to bear his spiritual and physical burdens.

7. Charity (love). Love is not confined to that small circle of Christians; it reaches out to all of mankind, even as the love of God does. Love responds to the needs of all men, but especially to the needs of the saints (Gal. 6:10). Where this virtue is absent there is the monastic view of life which limits Christianity to those who think and act like we do. Love expresses itself not only to its friends but also to its enemies (cf. Matt. 5:44-48).

What These Virtues Do

Adding these virtud to life contributes these things to the Christian:

1. Positively. (a) “Ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful. ” God has so ordained life that fruit will be produced where these virtues exist. Just like a seed planted in moist earth with sunshine will grow into a fruit-bearing plant, so also will a Christian be fruitful where these virtues exist. The fruit he bears will be the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), good works, converts to Christ, etc. Where these things are absent in one’s life, -a person needs to take a personal inventory to see if he is adding the Christian graces to his life.

(b) You make “your calling and election sure.” The growth in these graces is an assurance of an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom. Where these things are absent, the Christian cannot have the assurance of salvation which Paul had at his death (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6-8). If I want the confidence which Paul had, I must be “giving all diligence” to add these virtues to my life.

2. Negatively. Where these virtues are absent, these results follow: (a) The Christian is spiritually blind, not able to see afar off. Those who are not adding these virtues to their lives can only see temporal things; they cannot look beyond the horizon of today’s pleasure to see tomorrow’s reward of glory in heaven. They are unlike Jesus who “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12-2). They are unlike Moses who chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for,a season” (Heb. 11:24-25). Those lacking these graces can only see the shame of the cross and the pleasures of sin; they cannot see the “joy” beyond the cross and the short-lived pleasures of sin. They are spiritually near-sighted.

(b) The Christian has forgotten his cleansing from sin. The first love which he had for Christ has waned (Rev. 2:4). There is no remembrance of the joy which one had at his baptism, at the time when Jesus’ blood washed away his sins. The cleansing from sin is not viewed as a precious treasure the obtaining of which shall never be forgotten. Instead, it is unimportant to him and the memory of having once possessed it is forgotten.

Conclusion

The closing exhortation of these verses points back to the opening exhortation. In 1 Peter 1:5, the apostle said “giving all diligence” and in 1 Peter 1:11 he again said, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” One’s growth in Christ and personal assurance of salvation are directly tied to “giving all diligence.” How much effort are you making to grow in Christ? Will you be a stronger, more knowledgeable, selfcontrolled, persevering Christian tomorrow than you are today? Will you be fruitful in the Lord’s kingdom and service?

Unfortunately, many of us will not be. In ten years, some who are now professing godliness will be in the clutches of Satan and without the hope of salvation. The cause of this will not be uncertain. This will be caused by our not “giving diligence” to make our calling and election sure. We gave diligence to little league, school activities, television, and other things which root Christ out of our lives. Our failures are not caused by a lack of divine grace, but a lack of diligence.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 13, pp. 394, 406-407
July 6, 1989

By Leslie Diestelkamp

Problems, problems, they are everywhere among the people of God who, ideally, should be free from such. But it has always been so. Paul warned again and again that such would be true (see Acts 20:29; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). What are some problems for which we must watch and try to prevent great harm from coming to the cause of Christ?

Examples of great problems are found in Revelation chapters 2 and 3: Ephesus had left their first love (2:4); Smyrna would have tribulation (2:10); Pergamos had some false teachers (2:14,15); Thyatira tolerated a teacher of immorality (2:20); Sardis had a name of being alive but was dead (3:1); Philadelphia was not criticized; Laodicea was lukewarm (3:15,16). No doubt many churches today need to study Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

Some Great Problems Today

1. Materialism (“the love of money is the root of all evil,” 1 Tim. 6:10) is everywhere in America. Christians are prevented from full devotion to the Lord and churches are sidetracked into pursuit of physical “things.”

2. Immorality (Gal. 5:19-21) has invaded the ranks of God’s children as they follow the world instead of Christ. Fornication, adulterous marriages, lying, social drinking, and such like disgrace the Lord’s body.

3. Misunderstanding (2 Pet. 3:16) causes the Scripture to suffer abuse. Remember, the Bible misunderstood is no more useful for salvation than the Bible unknown. And it is so necessary that the principles of salvation be understood. If we will believe them, we can understand them if we also use diligence in objective study.

4. Division and strife prevent effective work in the kingdom (1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 2:10). Christ prayed for unity of his disciples (Jn. 17:21). And division is usually over matters that are trivial and/or matters of personal conviction and that, if all have the right attitude, can be settled in the heart of each individual.

A greater problem may be in missed opportunities. Good preachers become tied to “church administration” instead of evangelism. They may be full of zeal for the local church that supports them abundantly, but unconcerned for the lost in far away lands. “The field is the world,” you know, and the commandment is “Go into all the world.” Instead of watching for places to preach to bigger crowds and richer churches, we must “look upon the fields that are white unto harvest” Un. 4:35). And churches must also utilize our modem transportation systems, communication facilities and affluent financial conditions to be deeply involved in world evangelism.

But the greatest problem, I believe, is a watered-down gospel (Rev. 22:19). By this I mean a diluted message. One dairy farmer I knew’ who sold milk directly to the consumers in town was accused of adding water to the milk. It was a watered-down product. Today, from pulpits and presses among us come forth profound and scholarly messages, sometimes, tickling the ears of the listeners but failing to bring conviction to the hearts, or practical edification, to the minds of the hearers. Please do not assume that I thus condemn all gospel preachers, or even most of them. I do not. I love and respect most men who proclaim the Word. But I have heard some and read the work of others who teach truth just as any Methodist preacher might do sometimes nothing wrong with it except for what it does not contain.

Paul said, “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you” (Acts 20:20). But there is a concept among some that what we preach and what we write must fill the hearts of listeners and readers with joy. But sometimes we must fill those hearts with shame, and fear of hell, and with aching, broken hearts, convicted of transgression. Indeed, a diluted gospel is a perverted gospel! Truth that is less than all truth will not save or make the saved “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2: 10). With malice for none, with love for all, we must “declare unto you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). A watered-down gospel message, delivered in pulpit or press, may be the Devil’s greatest weapon against God’s people today, especially when those people of God are delighted to have it so!

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 13, pp. 393, 407
July 6, 1989