Salvation Matters

The Baptism of John the Baptist and The Baptism Jesus Christ Commissioned: Some Differences and Similarities

2011-10-20T17:57:00.006-05:00

First of all, let us observe the person John the Baptist and what he preached and practiced regarding his calling and that was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. Bible students are aware of the prophecies in Isaiah 40:3-5 and Malachi 3:1 that he was to be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.” His parents were Zacharias and Elisabeth, faithful children of God (Luke 1:5-7). John ‘paved the way’ for Jesus and the first disciples of the Lord were the disciples of John (John 1:35-37). He was not a socialite nor did he wear the color of royalty but he had a mission to carry out and this he did with great courage.

John lived during a transitional period between the Old Law and the New Testament of Jesus Christ. He exclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). It was in the near future that the kingdom God would be established on earth as individuals were born of water and the spirit (John 3:5). Jesus Christ became its king and head. The terms “kingdom” and “church” refer to the same entity (Matthew 16:16-19). The Old Testament prophets foretold of the coming of the kingdom that would be exalted above all earthly kingdoms (Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel 7:13, 14). This was indeed “good news” for those who would believe in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

John also taught that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This was the correct and biblical order at that time. The children of Israel had
drastically strayed from the true worship of God and their lives had become tainted by the pagan society in which they lived. It was needful that they should repent of their sins and thus be ready to believe in Him who was to be their spiritual Deliverer; however, it seems that most did not readily accept Jesus to be the Son of God (John 1:11, 12).

John the Baptist “came into all the region around about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sin” (Luke 3:3, 4). Repentance was the major theme of John’s preaching. The response was that “all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River.” So John practiced what he preached and he baptized the people “for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). Forgiveness of their sins of course was in anticipation of and dependant upon the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary. It is worthy to note also that those who desired to be immersed by John came “confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5).

In contrast with the ‘baptism of John the Baptist’ we now observe the baptism that Jesus Christ commissioned His apostles to preach and practice as recorded in the following passages: Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Mark 16:15, 16: “And He said to them “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Luke 24:46, 47:“Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (NKJV). When you summarize the teaching of these passages you find the following:

1. The apostles were to teach all nations” or “preach the gospel to every Creature.

2. Those who heard the gospel were to believe in Jesus Christ.

3. Repentance was required for all believers.

4. The penitent believers were to be baptized.

5. The believers were to be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.” That is, ‘into’ the name of and in covenant relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts 8:37 we read where the eunuch confessed “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” prior to his being immersed by Philip instead of confessing his sins. The gospel that the apostles preached were the facts that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and that He arose on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Most religionists would have no major problems in accepting what we have written thus far; however, the disagreement deals mainly as to why the people were baptized by John the Baptist and the apostles. Herein is the important similarity. Please read the following passages:

1. Mark 1:4: John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of Repentance for the remission of sins.”

2. Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be Baptized for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Please observe closely the phrase “for the remission of sins” pertaining to the ‘why’ of both the baptism of John and the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ and taught and practiced by the apostles. In the Greek text it is εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, that is, for, unto or in order to obtain forgiveness of sins and not because one’s sins had been forgiven. Here are three passages in which we find this phrase:

Mark 1:4: FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

ACTS 2:38: FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

MATTHEW 26:28: FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

In Matthew 26:28 we find where Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and He said regarding the cup which his apostles were to drink: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Now, no one would understand that Jesus was saying He shed His precious blood for “many” because their sins had already been forgiven. Why then is it so difficult for people to understand that a penitent believer is immersed “for”, that is, to obtain forgiveness of sins by the grace of God through the blood of his son (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8). But someone might say that baptism is a work of man. When the authority of Jesus was questioned he asked his critics this question: “The baptism of John-where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?” “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet” (Matthew 21:25, 26). The fact is, God commissioned John to preach repentance to the children of Israel and to baptize them “for the remission of sins.” Did they all respond to John’s teaching and the baptism he practiced. Please permit the Word of God to answer that question. “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Luke 7:30). Now, one who is greater than John the Baptist has come and commanded that all are to believe and be baptized in order to “be saved” (Mark 16:16).

His apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit taught on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of our Lord that believers should “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin” (Acts 2:38). Now I ask, the baptism of Jesus, is it from heaven or from men? The answer is plain and simple-it is from heaven! How do we know? Listen to the One who commissioned it and
commanded it of all believers. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 8:18). The apostle Peter preached that this baptism “for the remission of sins” was to be done “in the name of Jesus Christ”, that is, by His authority. The question now presented, will you reject the “will of God” by not being baptized for the remission of your sins? If you are a penitent believer, we now ask, “And now why are waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). The Lord who saves you will add you to His church which is His body (Acts 2:41, 47; Ephesians 1:22, 23).

Justification By Faith As Found In the Book of Acts

2010-10-17T13:46:00.008-05:00

During the years that I worked with one congregation of the Lord, there was a group of brothers and sisters that sang for a local nursing home once a month. The residents enjoyed singing with us some of the old favorites songs found in the book we used that was published by our brethren. One of the most requested hymns was Amazing Grace. One of the stanzas of this song is as follows: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.” However the publishers of this particular song book we were using took the liberty to change the last phrase of that stanza to “The hour I first obeyed.” Now I understand perfectly the reason for this change and I do not doubt the motive of these brethren. We have heard so much from our denominational friends that we are saved by “faith only”; however, we must not avoid scriptural terms simply because of the misunderstandings regarding the biblical theme of justification by faith. There is a vast difference between the doctrine of “faith only” and the Bible based doctrine of salvation by faith. In fact the expression that these brethren wanted to avoid is actually found in Romans 13:11: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than WHEN WE FIRST BELIEVED” (Emphasis mine, RE). The apostle Paul asked the disciples of John, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed” (Acts 19:2). Of course Paul had much to say about being justified by faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:1, 2, we read, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Thus it is scriptural and right to say that we are saved by faith but we must understand all that is included in that statement.

Now I want us to go to the book of Acts and investigate whether or not the doctrine of justification of faith is found in the writings of Luke (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3). When speaking of the number of conversions listed in Acts, preachers and teachers are most likely to state that there are nine examples found therein. For most of my preaching experience I have used a chart showing the conversions of the people on Pentecost (Acts 2); the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-12); the nobleman from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-40); Saul (Acts 9; 22; 26); the household of Cornelius (Acts 10 & 11); Lydia and her household (Acts 16:13-15); the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-34) the Corinthians (Acts 18:8) and the twelve men in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7). Sometimes the statement has been made that these are the only examples of conversion mentioned in Acts. Also I have taught that while faith, repentance and confession of our faith have not always appeared in each case, the fact is that baptism is mentioned in all of them. As students of the Bible we have emphasized the importance of baptism in the plan of salvation that Jesus Christ has given (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:47). And this is as it should be because our religious neighbors have taught for so long that baptism has nothing to do with our salvation. The story is told about a Christian lady who lived alone and late one night while she was in bed she heard a noise in her house. She got up and quietly went to her bedroom door and when she saw a man standing in the hall she became so frightened that she couldn’t scream or say anything until she remembered a scriptural reference that she had heard so many, many times in worship and so she shouted very loudly ACTS 2:38! The intruder froze in his tracks. She called 911 and soon the police were at her residence and arrested the man. As he was being led away the arresting officer asked him why he did not run before they arrived. His answer was, “I thought she said she had an axe and two thirty-eights.” We can rest assured the Holy Spirit had every reason to have Luke record these nine examples in the way that he did and that should be sufficient for us. I can understand that the Holy Spirit wanted to make it very clear as to how we are saved by a faith that obeys all the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. However we must understand that there are other references made of individuals and groups of individuals in Acts being saved from their sins by God’s grace and the blood of Jesus Christ. But the phraseology that Luke used was different in that he often used a part to represent a whole. There is a figure of speech that is called a synecdoche, which is, “a term denoting a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing…” (Wikipedia Dictionary). In this specific case Luke would simply say that individuals believed and that meant, by faith, they submitted themselves to the Lord’s every command in order to be saved. The author of Acts recorded words by different men who were inspired of the Holy Spirit to show beyond a doubt that sinners are justified by faith. It was the apostle Peter at the household of Cornelius who said; “To Him all the prophets witness, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Emphasis, mine, RE, Acts 10:43). The apostle Paul declared, “Therefore let it be known to you brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses” (Emphasis, mine, RE, Acts 13:38, 39).

It was at the council in Jerusalem where we read the words of Peter, “And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Emphasis, mine, RE) (Acts 15:7-9). These passages clearly teach that when a person believes in Jesus Christ he receives remission of sins, is justified and his heart is purified by faith.

Let us now observe the following passages that refer to cases of conversion mentioned in the book of Acts that we normally do not use and that do not specifically mention baptism. (Emphasis in the following passages, Mine, RE):

1. Acts 5:14: “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitude of men and women…”

2. Acts 6:1: “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying…”

3. Acts 6:7: “Then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

4. Acts 9:31: “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

5. Acts 9:35: “So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

6. Acts 9:42: “And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.”

7. Acts 11:21: “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.”

8. Acts 11:24: “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

9. Acts 11:31: “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

10. Acts 12:24: “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

11. Acts 13:12: “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

12. Acts 13:48, 49: “Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout the region.”

13. Acts 14:1: “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.”

14. Acts 14:21: “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.”

15. Acts 16:5: “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

16. Acts 17:1-4: “…And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”

17. Acts 17:11, 12: “…Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”

18. Acts 17:34: “However, some men joined him and believed…”

19. Acts 19:18, 19: “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds…”

20. Acts 18:28: “…And when he (Apollos) arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.”

Please note that in these passages, Acts 5:14:9:42; 11:21; 13:12; 13:48, 49: 14:1: 17:11, 12: 17:34: 18:28; 19:18, 19, Luke simply says that these individuals believed. Are we not to understand that they were saved just like the approximately three thousands were saved on the Day of Pentecost when they were instructed to “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins…”? If not, why not. But let us examine more closely what is involved in the statement that various ones believed and were saved from their sins. It was Peter who said in his lesson to the household of Cornelius, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43. In verses 47 & 48 of this same chapter, the apostle asked, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” We must conclude that the faith that saves includes the command to be immersed in the name of the Lord. In Acts 18:8 we read, “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” We understand that many of the Corinthians did just as the Lord had commanded and were saved from their sins. But what of Crispus since it is written that he and his household simply “believed on the Lord.” Were they
saved from their sins like the Corinthians? The apostle Paul, in First Corinthians spoke of Crispus in chapter 1:14, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius.” We must come to the inevitable conclusion that when the expression is used that the people "believed” it was all inclusive; that is, this active faith embodied all the commands that the Lord required in order to be saved from past sins, namely the command to repent and be baptized. The example of the conversion of the jailer and his household as mentioned in Acts 16 is one of the most abused and misused passages that so many religionists use to show that a sinner is saved by ‘faith only.’ But when closely examined we can readily see that this is not the case.
Beginning in verse 23, we learn that Paul and Silas were beaten and placed in prison with their feet in the stocks. An earthquake caused the doors of the prison to be opened and the chains of all the prisoners were loosed. The jailer awaking from his sleep thought the prisoners had escaped was about to take his life when Paul told him not to harm himself for all were still present. It was then that the jailer called for light and fell down before Paul and Silas and asked them the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved” (v. 30)? He was instructed to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” It is at this point that most religious leaders will teach that the only requirement of a sinner to obtain salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ. But verse 31 does not teach that the jailer believed, it simply states what he was to do in order to be saved. There is no evidence that the jailer had any knowledge of Jesus as being the divine Son of God and that He had been crucified for the sins of the world. In order for the jailer to obtain faith in Jesus, he had to be taught of Him. That is why Paul and Silas “spoke the world of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” The apostle Paul later wrote in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. In Acts 16:33, we learn that the jailer and his household were baptized. It was then Luke recorded that the jailer and his family “rejoiced, having believed in God…” It is in this verse and at this point of time that it is stated that the Jailer and his household believed on the Lord and rejoiced because they were saved from their sins. We must conclude beyond a shadow of doubt that the faith that saves is the faith that obeys all the commands of the Lord. This characteristic of faith has always been true. Take for example the patriarch Abraham. Paul wrote in Romans 4:3, “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now what kind of faith did Abraham posses that pleased God? In Hebrews 11:8-10, we learn, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The writer James in chapter 2:21-24 also contributes to our understanding of the kind of faith that saves when he wrote, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Emphasis, mine, RE).

We must not separate acceptable faith from scriptural works. Faith without works ordained of God cannot save; and, works not founded on biblical faith is unacceptable to God. For many years I used the illustration of a man in a boat with two oars that represented faith and works. When the man used only one oar (whether it be faith or works), the boat simply would go in a circle; but, when he used both oars (faith and works), he would be able to proceed toward his desired destination. But in using this illustration, I was separating scriptural and acceptable faith and works in a manner that did not portray the oneness of the two found in the word of God it was not until our daughter married a gentleman who enjoyed riding in his kayak that I noticed he used only one paddle in maneuvering his boat. It was then that I learned the illustration best used in revealing scriptural faith and works is found in one paddle and not two oars. Acceptable
faith and works should not be separated. As Paul would say in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love”
(Emphasis, mine, RE).

Biblical faith is foundational. All that we do to please God and to experience salvation is based upon and motivated by faith, otherwise, our actions will profit us nothing. And it is this kind of obedient faith that saves us by the grace of God (Romans 5:1, 2; Ephesians 2:8).

Morality Alone Cannot and Will Not Save!

2010-09-19T13:31:00.002-05:00

There is the tendency among many people to equate morality with being a Christian. While it is true that every devout Christian is a good moral person, it does not follow that every good moral person is a Christian. The moralist, separate and apart from Christ is a sinner. The apostle Paul, quoting an Old Testament passage, stated that “There is none righteous, no not one.” He further declared, “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23). It isn’t that a man is born a sinner; he simply becomes one through violating the commands of God (I John 3:4).

The moralist may be known for his sweet disposition, his kind words, his charitable deeds, his good citizenship and his participation in community affairs. But, if he has never obeyed the gospel of Christ he is in a lost condition. When a person as previously described passes from this life, his peers are apt to say, “Well, he was not a member of any church but he certainly was a good man, worthy of salvation.”

The basic difference between a moralist who is not a Christian and a Christian who is morally clean is found in their relationship with God. The moralist exclaims that he deserves to be saved upon his own meritorious goodness. This attitude was found in the Pharisees “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”; and, is found in the words of a self righteous individual as recorded in Luke 18:9 – 12), “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess’. The Christian admits his inability to save himself and submits to the will of God. He cries out, “God, be thou merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). If one moralist can be saved without the blood of Christ, then it must be concluded that all moralists can be saved. If this be true, Christ died in vain. There was no need for his crucifixion on Calvary.

Surely, if any moralist could have been saved without the vicarious death of Christ, the man Cornelius would have been. It is rather doubtful that any living person would have been more moral in character than Cornelius. He was a centurion in the Roman army. This meant that he was a Gentile. He was a devout man and one that feared God. He was a benevolent individual and was habitual in his prayers to God. He is referred to as a righteous man and one who enjoyed an excellent reputation, even among the Jews (Acts 10:1, 2, 22). In spite of such high standards, Cornelius was instructed by an angels of the Lord to “Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house” (Acts 11:13, 14). This morally upright person needed to hear the gospel of Christ in order that he might be saved. It is no different today. God is no respecter of person. He saves all men alike and in like manner – through the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:34; Ephesians 1:7). God requires faith, repentance, and baptism on the part of the alien sinner in order to receive remission of sins (Hebrews 11:6; Acts 17:30; Acts 2:38). If we are saved, it is not by our own goodness but by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5, 8).

The Way That Is Safe and Cannot Be Wrong

2010-08-13T13:26:00.002-05:00

Several years ago we lived in Savannah, Georgia. It was a new experience for us to watch those huge freighters entering the mouth of the Savannah River and traveling some fifteen miles inland to the state docks. It didn’t seem possible that the massive ships could achieve such a feat. However we learned that a channel had been dredged in the middle of the river for a safe passage for these huge ships. And as long as the captains of these ships steered their vessels in the channel there was safety. It was not necessary for the men on these ships to know where all the hidden dangers were beneath the surface of the water; but it was essential to possess knowledge of the safe way to travel. This principle is very applicable in the study of the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught men to enter the “strait gate” and walk in the “narrow” way (Matthew 7:13, 14). “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” declared the wise man in Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV). We should therefore seek out the way that is infallibly safe and cannot be wrong in religious matters. We suggest the following aspects of this way that is revealed in the Word of God.

*Accepting the Holy Scriptures as being the inspired Word of God cannot be wrong (II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:3, 21).
*It cannot be wrong to believe in God and in His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Matthew 16:16).
*It cannot be wrong for sinners to repent of their sins (Acts 17:30, 31; II Peter 3:9).
*It cannot be wrong to be baptized for the remission of sins, having confessed one’s faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-39).
*It cannot be wrong to be immersed in water instead of being sprinkled (John 3:23; Romans 6:3, 4; Colossians 2:12).
*It cannot be wrong to have an obedient faith instead of a faith only religion (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8, 9; James 2:14 – 26).
*It cannot be wrong to wear the name of Christ (Christian) rather than names that honor men and/or movements (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16; Romans 16:16).
*It cannot be wrong to sing praises to God in worship without the addition of instruments of music (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; 13:15).
*It cannot be wrong to partake of the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of every week (I Corinthians 11:23- 30; 16:1, 2; Acts 20::7).
*It cannot be wrong to be faithful in attendance to the periods of worship (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24, 25; James 4:17).
*It cannot be wrong to be pure in heart and live a faithful Christian life (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 2:10).

We need to possess the wisdom of following the safe way wherein is assurance and security. Why take a risk when the safe way can be learned and followed by all who choose to do so. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The infallible Word of God provides us the infallibly safe way through Jesus Christ and that cannot be wrong (John 12:48).

For the Remission of Sins

2010-07-20T09:03:00.002-05:00

Jesus Christ, on the night of his betrayal, instituted the Lord’s Supper. In reference to the fruit of the vine, he said: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus spoke in prospect, that is, his blood was to be shed for the remission of sins. It is declared in Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and, without shedding of blood is no remission.” It is plain to see that Jesus shed his blood in order that man might have the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus did not shed his blood because man was already saved. His blood was “FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS” (Matthew 26:28, Emphasis mine, RE). Now, by understanding this expression, “for the remission of sins” in this light, it will not be difficult for one to perceive the meaning of the same expression in another passage.

The apostle Peter preached Christ and him crucified on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-24). He instructed those people to “know assuredly” or believe confidently that Jesus was “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). We know that many believed in Christ because “they were pricked in their heart” and inquired of Peter and the rest of the apostles as to what they should do to be saved (v.37). By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38, KJV, Emphasis mine, RE). It is evident that many understood and accepted the terms of obedience in order to have forgiveness of their sins. There is no reason whatsoever to think otherwise. It would be unnatural to assume that some three thousand people thought that they were to repent and be baptized because their sins had already been washed away. They repented and were baptized in order to have their sins remitted. The Greek word EIS is translated “for” in the King James Version both in Matthew 26:28 and in Acts 2:38. If one can understand that Jesus shed his blood “for the remission of sins, he can also understand that repentance and baptism are “for the remission of sins”. Neither passage carries the meaning “because of” in the context.

The passage in Acts 2:38 that speaks of baptism “for the remission of sins” is not easily misunderstood. It is not a matter of interpretation but a willingness of heart to accept the truth therein stated. Perhaps the various translations of the New Testament will enable all to see that the Greek word EIS (for) in this passage means unto, in order, into, towards.

1. King James Version: “Repent and be baptized…FOR the remission of sins” (Emphasis here and following, mine, RE).

2. American Standard Version: “Repent ye, and be baptized…UNTO the remission of your sins.”

3. Revised Standard Version: “Repent, and be baptized…FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS.”

4. Phillips Translation: “You must repent and everyone of you must be baptized…SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SINS FORGIVEN.”

5. New English Bible: “Repent and be baptized…FOR the forgiveness of your sins.”

6. New International Version: “Repent and be baptized…SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.”

7. Charles B. Williams: “You must repent and, as an expression of it, let every one of you be baptized…that YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SINS FORGIVEN.”

8. Today’s English Version: “Turn away from your sins, each one of you, and be baptized…SO THAT YOUR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN.”

9. Living Oracles: “Reform, and be each one of you immersed…IN ORDER TO the remission of sins.”

10. First German Bible: “Repent and let every one of you be baptized…”FOR (IN ORDER, TO, UNTO) the forgiveness of sins.”

11. American Bible Union Translation (1858): “Reform and be immersed every one of you…FOR the remission of sins.”

12. Modern Speech: “Repent,” replied Peter, “and be baptized…WITH A VIEW TO the remission of sins.”

13. Goodspeed’s Translation: “You must repent, and every one of you be baptized IN ORDER TO HAVE your sins forgiven.”

14. Wycliffe’s Translation of the New Testament (translated 1308 and is the oldest complete English translation): “And Petre seide to heem, Do you penaunce, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jhesu Crist, (INTO) remission of youre synnes…”

Other translations could be cited but the ones presented should prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Acts 2:38 teaches a person to repent of sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to have his/her sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ according to the infinite grace of God as taught in Ephesians 1:7; 2:5: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” “Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

The Great Physician

2010-07-01T23:08:00.002-05:00

On the occasion of calling Levi to become His disciple Jesus associated with the publicans and sinners present, eating and drinking with them. This invoked the wrath of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. In answer to their criticism Jesus replied, “They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:29-32). Luke, the physician, wrote of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Jesus had to be great because of the nature of the disease called sin. There are times when a general practitioner is all that one needs; however, there are occasions whenever a specialist is required because of the seriousness of the disease. In combating the malady of sin there is no other one to who man can go save Jesus Christ.

We can best understand how effective Jesus is when we view the horribleness of sin. First of all, the seat of this sickness is the heart. This is where sin originates in the individual. Jesus knew this fact and stated it in this fashion, “For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man…: (Matthew 15:19, 20). The wise man wrote, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). We can readily see the need of following Solomon’s admonition to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Second, sin is universal in its scope. Paul declared in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ was the only person who has lived on this earth who has not been tainted with sin.

Third, sin is contagious in nature. Paul expressed an eternal truth when he wrote in I Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” How many young people, guilty of transgression, have cried, “I fell in with the wrong crowd.”

Fourth, there is a deceitful nature of sin. It has a way of appearing good and acceptable when in reality it is evil and damnable. “But exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Fifth, the eventual consequence of sin is death to the one who is afflicted with this awful malady. Paul made it clear in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A person may die physically with a terminal disease but be saved eternally through Jesus Christ; however, the individual who dies with the disease call sin is forever separated from God in eternal punishment (Romans 6:23). “Death” in this passage is in contrast to the expression “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Thus, Paul has reference to eternal death or separation. We can readily see the awful nature of the disease called sin. Therefore a physician was needed who would be able to cope with and cure such a malady. Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, possessed all the qualifications of such a one to whom the sin-sick world could turn to for healing.

The first qualification we want to mention is that Jesus has the proper endorsement. God the Father confessed at the baptism of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Again, at the transfiguration, the Heavenly Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). The goodness of the life of Jesus, the lessons He taught, the miracles He worked and His victory over death all testified to His divine sonship and the endorsement of heaven (John 20:30, 31; Romans 1:4).

Second, Jesus possessed a sympathetic attitude toward mankind. He heard the cry of distress and came. He suffered with and for mankind. Matthew records such a scene that displayed this attitude in Matthew 9:36, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed, and scattered as sheep not having a shepherd.” His death on the cross was an expression of his matchless love (Isaiah 53:4, 5).

Third, Jesus possesses all knowledge of human nature and the disease called sin. It is stated in the Holy Scriptures that he “knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Though Jesus was never afflicted with the malady of sin, he knew all about it. He even mentioned that sin originates in a man’s heart (Matthew 15:18, 19). Jesus knows that eventually the consequence of sin leads to a spiritual death (James 1:13-15).

Four, the Lord always maintained perfect and moral spiritual health. Unlike other physicians who often contact diseases and die, Jesus never knew sin in His life. The Hebrew writer spoke of this fact when he mentioned that Jesus was tempted in all points like we are “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-16). In reference to Christ, Peter wrote, “who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (I Peter 2:22). Had He been a sick man he would have endangered the lives of His patients.

Fifth, the Great Physician has the remedy for sin, regardless of how dark and base it might be. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). The apostle Paul declared that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). The remedy is of proven worth. By it countless numbers have been saved from sin and death and have been prepared to make this world a better place in which to live.

Though the remedy is infallible, restoration to health is conditional. One may spurn it or neglect it, the result is the same. Faith in the Great Physician and a willingness to follow His instructions are necessary. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

The prophet Jeremiah raised the question, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there” (Jeremiah 8:22)? Jesus is that balm and that physician. He is the only one who can save. But a person’s heart must be submissive to His will as found in the words of Jeremiah, “Heal me, O Jehovah and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise" (Jeremiah.17:14).

The prescription that the Great Physician has given for the healing of our sin-sick soul is that we should believe in Him as the Son of God, repent of our sins and based upon our confession of faith to be immersed in His name for the remission of our sins (John 3:16; Acts 17:30; Acts 8:37; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). If we do this and live for Jesus Christ our soul will prosper in this world and we will live eternally with our Savior (3 John 2; I John 5:11-13).

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

The great Physician now is near,

The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks the drooping heart to cheer;

O hear the voice of Jesus;

All glory to the dying Lamb!

I now believe in Jesus;

I love the blessed Savior’s name,

I love the name of Jesus.

His name dispels my guilt and fear,

No other name but Jesus;

O how my soul delights to hear

The charming name of Jesus.

And when to that bright world above,

We rise to see our Jesus,

We’ll sing around the throne of love

His name, the name of Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song,

Sweetest name on mortal tongue,

Sweetest carol ever sung,

Jesus blessed Jesus.

Hearing But Not Believing

2010-06-29T21:03:00.002-05:00

One of the frustrations experienced by preachers is knowing that the gospel has been taught, yet there have been no responses by the hearers to obedience. This may occur when sinners refuse to obey the gospel of Christ and/or when members of the church fail to comply with the teaching of Christ to mature in the faith. There can also be puzzlement in the teacher’s heart when one family obeys and another family rejects the same teaching while being instructed privately in their homes. The same gospel is being taught but is bringing different responses. It is easy to become discouraged, blaming oneself for the failure to convert all the people being taught the way of salvation.

We must understand and come to realize that all who hear will not believe and obey the gospel. The hearer has a responsibility in the process of conversion. This principle is clearly taught in the parable of the soils presented by the Lord and recorded in Matthew 13:1-23. In the usage of the words of Isaiah, Jesus mentioned that there were those who would hear but not understand. The apostle Paul referred to this prophecy of Isaiah on various occasions in his work when the Jews would not respond to the teaching of this inspired man (Acts 28:25-29; Romans 10:16-21).

While it is true that faith is produced by the hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17), there are times when the gospel is heard but obedience to Christ is not the end result. Why? The answer can be found in the example of so many Israelites who failed to enter the promised land. The writer of the book of Hebrews informs us that the glad tidings had been preached to the children of Israel “but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard” (Hebrews 4:1-3). Earlier we learned that the reason why some did not enter into that rest was because of unbelief (disobedience) (Hebrews 3:18, 19). Had they not heard? Yes, but the word of God had not been united or mixed with faith on the part of the hearers. And without faith a person cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).

The hearer of the gospel indeed has a great responsibility. If the heart is not receptive, there cannot be any faith. As food eaten cannot benefit the body if it is not digested, neither can the gospel of Christ save the individual unless it is united with faith. We are exhorted to “receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). It is only then that the desired result will occur.

Faith, Grace and Law

2010-06-29T20:53:00.002-05:00

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (NKJV). We often use this verse to contrast the old Mosaic Law with the new way of grace and truth through Jesus Christ. We emphasize to our religious neighbors that we are no longer under the Law of Moses but under a different system made possible by the death of our Lord. However we must be careful that we do not leave the wrong impression in the minds of others, that is, the Law of Moses was void of God’s grace or that the system of grace excludes law.

The grace of God preceded the Law of Moses and was included in it. Regardless of when a person lived in ages past there had to be a response to the unmerited favor of God in order to receive the benefits therein. Paul declared in Romans 4:16: “Therefore it is faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all.” A person was never accepted of God simply because of his/her race or national origin. He/she had to possess that faith like unto Abraham in order to be blessed by the grace of God. That kind of faith motivated one to obey the commands of God. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” (Hebrews 11:4). “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household…” (Hebrews 11:7). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance…” (Hebrews 11:8) These are just a few examples of faithful men who responded to God’s grace as recorded in Hebrews chapter eleven.

The grace of God was evident in the overthrow of the city of Jericho. “And the Lord said to Joshua: See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:1). Now that is unmerited favor! Joshua and the people of Israel had not done anything toward capturing the city yet God said, “I have given Jericho into your hand.” Instructions were given from God and followed by Israel relative to what God wanted them to do. In their faith, the people marched. At the blast of the trumpets and the shout of the people on the seventh day the wall of Jericho fell. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (Hebrews11:30). The works performed by Israel did not cause the city walls to fall; rather it was by God’s grace. However, the walls would not have fallen if the Israelites had not done what God commanded them to do.

God’s grace can also be seen in the curing of Naaman (II Kings 5). This man had leprosy. There was no earthly cure for this terrible and fatal disease. However, when Naaman finally obeyed the command of the prophet of God to dip seven times in the river of Jordon, “his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (II Kings 5:14). The waters of Jordan did not cleanse him. It was when his faith motivated him to obey the command of God that the grace of the Lord was bestowed upon him. Throughout the Old Testament the wonderful grace of our heavenly Father is clearly seen. Law does not exclude grace.

In contrast, the system of grace does not exclude law. God is the giver, salvation is the gift and man is the recipient. No student of the Bible denies that we are saved by the infinite grace of the heavenly Father. The apostle Paul made this truth evident in his writings: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Ephesians 2:4, 5). “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste of death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Does this mean that God saves people without an individual having a choice in the matter? Certainly not! Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13, 14 that the “many” in contrast with the “few” would be eternally lost, the reason being that a person determines whether he/she will obey or disobey Christ.

But someone is ready to reply, “If a person has a part in his/her salvation, such works nullify the grace of God.” Not so! That grace of God which “has appeared to all men” also instructs mankind to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” and informs us how to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-14). We have to respond to the grace of God by living in harmony with the teachings of the Word of God. In Ephesians 2:8 we learn, “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” Faith is a person’s part of his/her salvation that is required by God. “Therefore it is faith that it might be according to grace…” (Romans 4:16). If there is not a response (faith) on the part of an individual, God’s grace will not save. In the great Roman letter Paul mentions “obedience of the faith” in the beginning and in the ending of this epistle (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Faith is the foundation of obedience. The faith that saves is one that obeys (Hebrews 5:8, 9). It is a living, vibrant, obedient faith (James 2 24, 26). While the works of the law could not justify anyone, it is a work of God that we believe on His Son (John 6:29). Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16: “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” The Lord also requires that a person repent of sins, confess his/her faith in Jesus Christ and be immersed for the remissions of our sins (Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9, 10; Mark 16:16). When in our faith we respond to the commands of God we know that we have not merited salvation. Jesus taught: “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). It is not a matter of who saves but rather when God saves a person.

Paul declared that “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Yes, there is law under the system of grace and the commandments ordained of God for mankind to obey do not nullify His grace.

A Noble People

2010-06-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

In Acts 17:11 (ASV), we read; “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica…” Why would such a statement be made regarding the people of Beroea? What is involved in being noble? One definition of the word ‘noble’ is.” having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character; lofty” (Webster Dictionary). This understanding has nothing to do with one’s birth or ancestry. This is dealing with the moral fiber of an individual. There are many noble people from various backgrounds simply because they possess a worthy heart that is honest, fair, understanding and receptive to new and lofty ideals. The same writer that declared the people in Beroea noble also informs us why he did so. In the remainder of Acts 17:11 we read, “…that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The first important ingredient in one’s being noble is to possess an open heart, a receptive mind. That is basically what Luke means when he wrote that the people “received the word with all readiness of mind.” There is a great need today for people to be intellectually honest with themselves and the Word of God. A person may be honest in his dealings with others yet refuse to have that integrity of heart that is needed to receive the teachings of God. It is easier sometimes to be fair and honest in business dealings than to be open-minded when it comes to a study of the Holy Scriptures. It requires fortitude and courage to permit the Word of God to have free course in one’s heart and life. Very few people today are willing to permit God to shape and mold their thoughts, habits and character by His revealed will.

Prejudice is peculiar to the human race. To some degree all are adversely affected with this trait of character. Because we are, we refuse to eat certain foods, associate with some people and avoid being seen in various places. Prejudice is defined as “An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. A preconceived preference or idea; bias” (The American Heritage Dictionary). There is the thought of prejudging something or someone. One biased individual was heard to say, “Don’t confuse me with the facts; my mind is made up.”

Jesus Christ knew prejudice in His day. There were those who were prejudiced against the place where he lived. Philip informed Nathanael of “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael’s reply was, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Later when Nathanael met Jesus, that prejudice which inferred that no great one could come from such an insignificant city was removed. He said, “thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel” (John 1:45-49). There was a great deal of prejudice among the Jews toward the person of Jesus Christ. They would not accept the fact that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. John recorded, “He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not” (John 1:11,120). This terrible disposition of heart contributed to the eventual crucifixion of Christ. Peter declared, “He is the stone which was set at naught of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11). The truth that Jesus taught was often rejected because of pre-conceived opinions. Actually, one of the reasons why Jesus spoke in parables was to conceal the truth from those whose ears were dull of hearing, eyes that were closed, and hearts that had been hardened against the truth (Matthew 13:10-15).

Today, the power of prejudice is so prevalent among people that it prevents many from studying the Holy Scriptures. There are those who will not permit their family members to attend a series of gospel meetings. Some will warn others not to get mixed up with that group of people, having reference to the church of the Lord. Prejudice is often the motive behind such statements as, “they believe that everybody is going to be lost except them.” How wonderful it would be if there were more noble people like those of Beroea who “received the word with all readiness of mind” (Acts 17:11). The good soil in the parable that Jesus gave as recorded in Luke 8:4-8 represents the heart that is receptive to the gospel of Christ. It was said of Ezra that he “had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord” (Ezra 7:10). So, it is a matter of an attitude that one can develop. One can “prepare his heart” to be receptive to the truth. The apostle Paul spoke of some who did not possess a love of the truth. This fact contributed to the blinding of their eyes that they might not be saved (II Thessalonians 2:9-12). In contrast, how wonderful it is to know individuals whose minds are open and who manifest a spirit of eagerness to learn more of God’s Word.

The second characteristic of the noble people of Berea was that they were willing to examine the scriptures daily to see if the things being taught were true (Acts 17:11). One definition of the word examine is “to inspect or scrutinize carefully; inquire into or investigate.” Thus, to examine or to search implies more than a casual reading. It means to exert effort to discover, to understand, to learn. The source of investigation in the time of the people of Beroea was the Old Testament writings. The eunuch in Acts 8 had in his possession a portion of these scriptures that contained the writings of Isaiah. The Hebrew Scriptures had been translated into the Greek language in the year 285 B.C. Thus, the Septuagint Version was available to a greater number of people. Luke mentioned the frequency of the searching of the scriptures by the citizenry of Beroea and that was daily. An open Bible is a prerequisite to the understanding of the will of God. One should not accept anything that mortal man may say relative to religious matters without examining the Word of God to see if such is true. Yet, many will simply listen and agree because a person has declared himself/herself to be a preacher of the gospel. Since there are no inspired men today, it is necessary that the teachings of men be compared with the inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16, 17). Multiplied millions are being led astray by false doctrines propagated through the various medias like television, radio, internet, etc.

This investigation of the scriptures is a perpetual matter. The Psalmist spoke of a righteous man in this manner: “But his delight is the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalms 1:2). “Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalms 119:97). Paul exhorted Timothy to “give heed to reading” and to “study to shew thyself approved unto God” () I Timothy 4:13; II Timothy 2:15). Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself” (John 7:17). Each person has a moral obligation to himself to study the Bible. Another person should not determine what one believes. Jesus referred to blind leaders leading blind followers and both falling into a pit (Matthew 15:14). It is bad enough when men teach falsely, but it is even worse when others will follow without a proper investigation of the word of God. The apostle John gave this directive, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).

In summary, there are two requirements for those who would be noble as those in Beroea, namely, an open heart and an open Bible. There must be a receptive mind to the teaching of the Word of God and a willingness to search the scriptures to see if such is in harmony with the revealed will of God.

Our Relationship To the Law of Moses ~ Part 2

2010-06-29T20:32:00.002-05:00

WHERE WAS THE LAW GIVEN?
Again you are urged to read Deuteronomy 5:2: “Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.” The terms “Horeb” and “Sinai” refer to the same location in the southern part of the peninsula located between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Akabah. “Sinai” is mentioned as a desert and a mountain in 35 passages of the Old Testament. In 17 passages the same desert and mountain are called “Horeb” or “the waste”. Thus, to speak of “Horeb” is to speak of “Sinai” with reference to where the Law of Moses was given.

WHAT WAS CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW OF MOSES?
Jesus Christ was submissive to the Law of Moses that was in force during His earthly voyage. In Galatians 4:4, 5, we learn “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Jesus was indeed born of the virgin Mary and the time period in which he was born was during the law of Moses; therefore, he was under obligation to his Father to keep the law in perfection. Let’s observe the attitude of Christ toward the law of Moses as we read now from Matthew 5:17, 18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” So Jesus respected the law and held it in high esteem. His purpose was not to “destroy the law”. He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. This passage of scripture does not teach that the law of Moses was never to cease; rather, the very context speaks of the time when the law would pass away, that is, when all things would be fulfilled. In connection with this thought it would be good to read from Luke 24:44: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Jesus spoke these words just prior to his ascension back to the Father. In short, the things spoken of Jesus in the Old Testament had to be fulfilled. And they were, in the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. When such was fulfilled or filled full, the law of Moses was taken away. One of the seven sayings of Jesus while on the cross was, “It is finished” (John 19:30). There are approximately 300 different prophecies in the Old Testament relative to Jesus Christ. The Lord came to this earth and filled all of them. Jesus lived and died under the law of Moses. He kept it in perfection. He never arrayed himself against the law. He taught that man should keep it as God decreed. But when Jesus died on Calvary the law of Moses was abrogated, that is, it was abolished, annulled and repealed. This is exactly what the apostle Paul taught in Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

HOW LONG WAS THE LAW OF MOSES TO CONTINUE?
The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:19: “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…” The law had not always been in existence. It was, in fact, temporary in scope. Notice the expression, “It was added…” There had been other covenants prior to this one made with the Israelites. For example God had made a covenant with Abraham as recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. Observe also that Paul stated that the law was to last “till the seed should come.” Galatians 3:16 teaches that the “seed” was Christ. Therefore the law was to last until Christ came and fulfilled the law and the prophets (Luke 24:44). Again we read from Galatians 3:24, 25: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” In Hebrew customs, the schoolmaster (or tutor) was the man who prepared the Jewish boys and then carried them to the place of instructions by their teachers. The schoolmaster (tutor) was not the true teacher but only the one who brought the children to the instructor. Paul said that the law was a schoolmaster that brought the Jewish people to Christ in order that they might be justified by faith in Him. Then he said: “Now that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” In short, Paul is here teaching that people were no longer in subjection to the law (schoolmaster). Another important passage which teaches that the law of Moses is no longer in force is found in Hebrews 9:15-17: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” The writer herein declares that Jesus shed his blood; not only for us today but that he shed his blood for those faithful under the first testament. Also Jesus is depicted in this passage as the testator of a will. While the Lord lived he was in submission to the law of Moses; however, Jesus was making out his testament during the time when he chose 12 men to become his apostles. After his death the testament of Jesus was probated in the high court of heaven and executed by his holy apostles. Today we are to be governed by the writings found in the last will and testament of Jesus Christ. Peter proposed to build three tabernacles there on the mount of transfiguration, one for Moses (representing the law), one for Elijah (representing the prophets) and one for Christ. God the Father then declared: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). In summation we have observed the following points concerning our relationship to the law of Moses:

**That the law was given only to the Hebrew nation (Deuteronomy 5:1-3).
**The law was given to Israel shortly after their departure from Egyptian bondage (Hebrews 8:7-9).
**The location where the law was given to Israel was in Horeb (Sinai) (Deuteronomy 5:2).
**The basic reason why the law was given was because of sin (Galatians 3:19).
**We observed also that Christ’s relationship to the law of Moses was one of respect and submission. Jesus came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Galatians 3:19, 16; Colossians 2:14). Today we are to listen to the Son of God and not to Moses. Jesus left his New Testament for us to learn and to follow (Matthew 7:15-17).

A WARNING GIVEN BY THE APOSTLE PAUL
In Galatians 5:1-3 we read: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Please note that Paul referred to the law of Moses as being “the yoke of bondage” in contrast to the “liberty” in Christ. Some were endeavoring to bind circumcision upon New Testament Christians and Paul stated the principle that if we go back to the law for one thing to bind upon Christians, we are debtors to keep the whole law and that would include offering animal sacrifices, keeping the Sabbath Day with all its restrictions and attending all the required feasts in the city of Jerusalem, etc. In other words, one can’t have a part of the law without keeping all the law. In conclusion, the apostle Paul made it absolutely clear that if any person would try to justify himself by the law during the Christian age, he is “fallen from grace”. That statement is too plain to be misunderstood. A Christian can fall from grace and one way to do it is trying to bind and keep the law of Moses today. The New Testament of Jesus Christ is the sole authority in religious matters today. All the books of the Bible are inspired of God (2 timothy 3:16, 17); however, our relationship to the law of Moses as contained in the Old Testament is different from that of the Israelite who lived under that covenant. If we would know God’s will for us we must study the words of His Son Jesus Christ as contained in the New Testament.

Our Relationship To the Law of Moses ~ Part 1

2010-06-29T20:06:00.002-05:00

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). The Old Testament law was not the ‘real thing’ because it was only “a shadow of good things to come”. One cannot pick apples from the shadow that is cast by the tree; rather, one has to pull the fruit from the tree itself. In our understanding of the Bible, it is imperative that we observe the two major divisions of the Bible, namely, the Old and New Testaments. When Paul instructed Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth he inferred that it could be wrongly divided (II Timothy 2:15) and a part of rightly dividing the Bible is to understand our relationship to the Law of Moses.

The Old Testament is as inspired of God as is the New Testament. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Peter declared, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Therefore the source of these writings is God Himself. Paul wrote relative to the events that took place in the Old Testament in the following manner, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Corinthians 10:11). Again, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The fact is one cannot have a proper understanding of the New Testament if there is not a general knowledge of the Old Testament. We can see how God dealt with people in ages past and observe the great scheme of redemption being unfolded that would bring all events leading up to the coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. Therefore we should all study the Old Testament for the reasons given by Paul.

However our relationship to the Law of Moses, contained in the Old Testament, is different from those who lived under it and were subject to it. The illustration can be given relative to this matter as per our relationship to the laws that governed the thirteen original colonies before the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States were written and passed. Today as citizens of the United States we are governed by the latter and not the former set of laws. Here are some questions that we shall ask and answer to help us understand better our relationship to the Law of Moses.

TO WHOM WAS IT GIVEN?
“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep and do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day” (Deuteronomy 5:1-3). On this occasion Moses was the speaker. He was addressing the children of Israel. We learn that Jacob’s name had been changed by God to Israel in Genesis 32:28. These people to whom Moses was speaking were fleshly descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and they were to become the great Hebrew nation. Moses said that God had made a covenant with the Israelites. A covenant is a pact, an agreement between two parties. In this instance the two parties involved were God and Israel. The truth of the matter is the Law was never intended for anyone except Israel through which God would preserve the lineage of His Son Jesus who would be the savior of the world. The exception would be those Gentiles who became proselytes to the Law.

WHEN WAS THE LAW OF MOSES GIVEN?
We can find the answer to this question by reading Hebrews 8:7-9, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” Please note the statement regarding ‘when’ the covenant was made with Israel: “…in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.” One can trace the journey of the Israelites after their crossing of the Red Sea and follow them down to Elim and then as they camped in the wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. They then moved on to Rephidim. From Rephidim the congregation encamped in the wilderness of Sinai some three months after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It was then that the Lord God called Moses upon the Mount Sinai to give him the law (Exodus 19:20).

WHY WAS THE LAW OF MOSES GIVEN?
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgression…” (Galatians 3:19). First of all note that the law “was added”. The law had not always existed. The law was “added” to other covenants made previously with men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul mentioned it was “because of “transgression” that the law came into existence. Suffice it to say that the law brought forth full realization to the minds of men that they were sinners. Paul declared that this was the case in Romans 7:7, “Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law.” The Law of Moses was given by God to Israel to discipline and separate them to be His own chosen nation through which the Savior of the world would eventually come.

(To be continued)