The Christian Life

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:26). “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian’” (Acts 26:28). “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on this behalf” (I Peter 4:16).

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

1. It means remission of past sins (Acts 2:38).
2. Membership in the church, the Body of Christ (Acts 2:47).
3. He can call God, Father (Romans 8:15).
4. He can worship and serve God acceptably (John 9:31).
5. He has the hope of eternal life in Christ (Revelation 2:10).

HOW DOES ONE BECOME A CHRISTIAN?

1. He believes unto righteousness (Romans 10:10).
2. He repents unto life (Acts 11:18).
3. He confesses unto salvation (Romans 10:10).
4. He is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans. 6:3). He is born again (John 3:5). See also I Peter 1:23.
5. A Christian must live like Christ; must follow Him.

WHY WEAR THE NAME CHRISTIAN?

1. It honors Christ who died for us (Hebrews 2:9).
2. We were baptized in the name of Christ (Acts 19:5).
3. Paul condemned human names (I Corinthians 1:10).
4. We are married to Christ (Romans 7:4). Therefore, we should wear His name.
5. There is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12).
6. We are His children (Galatians 3:26). Hence, we are in His family, and should wear His name and no other.

BECOME AND REMAIN A TRUE CHRISTIAN!

WHAT MUST ONE DO TO KEEP SAVED?

A. This great question implies:

1. Man was once lost in sin.
2. That he has been saved.
3. There is a danger of falling.
4. Something must be done to remain saved.

B. There is a danger of falling.

1. Demas hath forsaken me . . .” (II Timothy 4:10).
2. Simon was commanded to repent and pray (Acts 8:22).
3. The last state was worse than the first (II Peter 2:20).

C. Christians have the power to stand.

1. Give all diligence and add the Christian graces (II Peter 1:5-10).
2. Make your calling and election sure (II Peter 1:10).
3. Then, “Ye shall never fall” (II Peter 1:10).

D. Four safe rules to follow:

1. Read the Bible daily. The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby (I Peter 2:2). The engrafted word will save (James 1:21). We will be judged by it (John 12:48).
2. Pray to God every day. Pray Without ceasing – have a regular time for prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
3. Attend all the services of the church. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). The disciples met upon the first day of the week.(Acts 20:7). Christians need this spiritual food.
4. Give liberally of time, talents and means. See I Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Cor. 9:7. “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”

MAKE IT AS SURE AS YOU CAN!

OUR RELATIONS ONE TO ANOTHER

A. Love one another.

1. “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
2. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
3. One cannot love God whom he hath not seen and hate his brother whom he hath seen (I John 4:20).

B. Bear one another’s burdens.

1. “Bear ye one another’s burdens [the crushing burden beyond one’s ability to carry, John Rose] and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
2. “For every man shall bear his own burden [any load one can carry, himself; John Rose]” (Galatians 6:5).
3. Each individual must bear his own responsibility to God.

One cannot obey God for another person. However, we can help one another bear the infirmities of the flesh.

C. Forgive one another.

1. "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).
2. How often shall we forgive? Jesus said to Peter: “Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).
3. “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (Luke 17:4).

D. Pray for one another.

1. Paul said: “Brethren pray for us” (I Thessalonian 5:25).
2. “Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
3. Samuel said: “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (I Samuel 12:23).

LET US HELP ONE ANOTHER

(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

“And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ASV).

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

1. The word church comes from “ekklesia” which means the called out (Thayer).
2. It is the body of Christ (Colossians. 1:18).
3. It is the family of God (I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19).
4. It is the kingdom of God and Christ (Ephesians 5:5).
5. It is the pillar and ground at the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

WHAT IS IT CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

1. My (the Lord’s) church (Mat 16:18).
2. The church (Acts 8:1).       
3. The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28).
4. The church of God (I Corinthians 1:1, 2)
5. The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16).
6. The body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
7. The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS CALLED?

1. Disciples (Acts 20:7).
2. Saints (I Corinthians 1:2).
3. Beloved of God (Romans 1:7).
4. Brethren (Col.ossians1:2).
5. Sons of God (Romans 8:14).
6. Children of God (I John 3:1).
7. Heirs of God (Romans 8:17).
8. Royal Priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
9. Christians (Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:16).

Are You Wearing These Scriptural Names Only?

WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED?

1. In the last days in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4).
2. In the days of these Kings (Daniel 2:44).
3. It was “at hand” in John’s day (Matthew 3:1-2).
4. The disciples prayed for its coming (Matthew 6:9-10).
5. Christ said: “I will build” it (Matthew 16:18).
6. It was to come during the lifetime of some of the disciples
7. (Mark 9:1).
8. The disciples had not entered it [before the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ and Acts 2] (Matthew 18:3).
9. Just before his death Christ said: “The kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:18).
10. The kingdom was to come with power (Mark 9:1). The power was to come when the Spirit came (Acts 1:8).
11. All of these requirements were fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:1-4).

HOW CAN ONE ENTER THE CHURCH?

1. Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans10:13-17).
2. Believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).
3. Repent of past sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30).
4. Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:8-10).
5. Be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). Thus, one is born into the family of God (John 3:5).

WHAT CONSTITUTES BAPTISM?

1. Water (Matthew 3:11).
2. Much water (John 3:23).
3. Going down into the water (Acts 8:38).
4. A burial and a resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
5. Coming up out of the water (Acts 8:39; Matthew 3:16).

 Are You A Member of New Testament Church?

WHERE IS SALVATION?

1. Salvation is in Christ’s church, because it is the blood bought institution (Acts 20: 28; I Corinthians 6:20).
2. Salvation is in the church, for Paul affirmed that Christ would save the church (Ephesians 5:23). No promise to those outside.
3. Salvation is in the church, for it is there that man is reconciled unto God (Ephesians 2:16). Man must be reconciled to God.
4. Salvation is in the church, because that is the group that Christ will present unto Himself. (Ephesians 5:27)
5. Man cannot be saved out of the church, because God adds all the saved to it (Acts 2:47). The requirements of salvation and church membership are the same.
6. The church is the family of God and certainly one cannot be saved out of God’s family (I Timothy 3:15). To say that God has children out of His family would be to charge Him with spiritual adultery.
7. Take the children of Israel as a type: (I Corinthians 10:2-6).

• Crossing the Red Sea was a type of baptism (I Corinthians 10:2).
• Israel in the wilderness was a type of the church (Acts 7:38).
• Crossing the Jordan River was a type of death.
• The land of Canaan was a type of heaven.
• They had to pass through the wilderness [a time of proving Deuteronomy 8:1-3] (church) to get into Canaan (heaven).
• Therefore, we must pass through the church to enter heaven at last.

 Are You Seeking Salvation in the Right Place?

WHAT IS IN CHRIST – THE CHURCH?

1. Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
2. Salvation (II Timothy 2:10).
3. Redemption (Colossians 1:14).
4. The grace of God (II Timothy 2:1).
5. All the promises of God (II Corinthians 1:20).
6. All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).

Can one be saved without these blessings? They are all in Him, His body, the church. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18) How then does one get into Christ where these blessings can be enjoyed (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)?

(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)

Going About Doing Good

Peter declared that Jesus, “...went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). The apostle John wrote, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (I John 2:6). 

From these two verses one can easily understand that one is to follow the example that was set down by the Lord (cf. I Peter 2:21) and since He “went about doing good,” men also should go about doing good.

How is this to be done? Notice these passages about the things which the Lord did in doing good: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23; cf. 9:35). “And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils” (Mark 1:38-39). “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).

These verses state that the Lord preached the Gospel and healed the sick and afflicted. He attended to the needs of the spirit and the body. Thus, He cared for the whole man.

God knows that all men require certain things to keep their bodies functioning, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For afterall these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). Jesus realized the sincere fleshly needs of those that came unto Him and He feed them (Matthew 15:32-38; cf. Matthew 14:15-21).

God also realizes the needs of the sick. In the age of the miraculous [in contrast – we, who live past the first century, do not live in the age of the miraculous (Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 13:8-13; et al.)], those with a variety of illnesses and maladies were released from their burdens, such as: “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity” (Luke 13:11-16); and, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth  his  hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:2-3).

However, the Lord proclaimed that there is a yet another good to be done unto others which is of far greater importance than the mere physical. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). This statement makes it abundantly clear that the physical has its importance but the spiritual has a greater preeminence. Why? The answer is very simple: every man’s spiritual life and destiny depends upon his reaction to God’s Word. That reaction is either love and obedience or hatred and disobedience. Paul stated the truth of man’s dependency upon God’s Word, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). The Word of God is able to “build you up,” that is – satisfy one’s spiritual needs in this life (obedience to God and fellowship with Him); and to “give you an inheritance,” that is – provide an eternal home with God in Heaven.

God demands that men care for the physical needs of his fellowman (Luke 10:29-37). James stated that one’s care is to be genuine and not feigned, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:14-17). Those with legitimate physical needs are to be cared for when one has the opportunity and ability to help. However, men’s spiritual needs are far greater and should receive the greater attention.

Paul wrote, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). The greatest good anyone can do for another is to preach unto him the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. Their eternal lives depend upon it!

John Rose

Heaven – What It Is

TEXT

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

THESIS

Heaven is a Divinely prepared place and God has provided for men to receive it.

INTRODUCTION

1. God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26).

     A. God is not flesh but rather Spirit (John 4:24).

     B. God is eternal (I Timothy 1:17).

     C. The flesh of men is dust and shall return to the dust (Genesis 3:19;  Ecclesiastes 12:7).

     D. The spirit of man never dies, he lives on (Ecclesiastes 12:7;  Matthew 22:32).

2. The ever-living spirits of men must have a home.

     A. Both the righteous and unrighteous shall not remain on this earth (Luke 16:19-31).

     B. All shall come forth from the graves (John 5:28-29).

     C. The righteous have considered themselves but  sojourners in this life and yearn for a Kingdom to come (Hebrews 11:13-16).

3. The city which those righteous pilgrims sought is Heaven.

     A. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

     B. Heaven is a pure place for a pure people.

     C. Heaven is a precious place for a precious people.

DISCUSSION

I. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

     A. Heaven has been prepared by God (John 14:1-3; Titus 1:2).

     B. God’s Word teaches all men how to be prepared.

          a. Eternal life is in the Son of God (I John 5:11).

          b. One gets into the Son by obeying the Gospel (Galatians 3:26-27).

NOTE: Salvation is also in the Christ (II Timothy 2:10). Salvation and eternal life are one and the same. Salvation is in the church Acts 2:47). Therefore, one cannot reject the Church of Christ and gain Heaven.

II. Heaven is a pure place for a pure people.

     A. Heaven is a place of absolute purity (Revelation  21:22-27).

     B. The Gospel calls us to pure lives.

          a. We become pure through obeying the Gospel (I Peter 1:22).

          b. The pure shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

          c. Only purity is accepted before God (James 1:27).

III. Heaven is a precious place for a precious people.

     A. Heaven is worth more than all the world (Matthew  16:26).

     B. God’s people are precious in His sight (Psalm 116:15).

          a. Psalm 37:31-33.

          b. I Peter 5:7.

          c. Hebrews 13:5.

     C. God has shown how precious by giving His only begotten Son (John 3:16)

John Rose

The Christ and Melchizedek

Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5-6,10; Hebrews 6:20-7:22

The type and anti-type principle found between Melchizedek [Melchisedec, KJV] and the Christ is clearly set forth by the inspired penman of the book of Hebrews, “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedeck, and not be called after the order of Aaron,” (Hebrews 7:11).

The historical account of Melchizedek is recorded in Genesis 14:17-20. Abraham had fought and conquered the forces of Chedorlaomer, who had spoiled Sodom and Gomorrah and had abducted Lot and taken his goods [perhaps including family members and/or servants of Lot (Genesis14:12,16)]. Upon Abraham’s return with what had been stolen, he was met in the valley of Shaveh by the king of Sodom, (Genesis 14:17). Melchizedek also met Abraham, (Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek was the king of Salem and the priest of God; he brought to Abraham, bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). Abraham received a blessing from Melchizedek and he also blessed God Almighty, who had given victory to Abraham over the invading armies from the north, (Genesis 14:19-20). After being blessed, Abraham paid a tenth of the goods; or a tithe, to Melchizedek, (Genesis 14:20).

The next and only other Old Testament reference to Melchizedek is found in a psalm of David, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” (Psalm 10:4). David declares by inspiration that God has sworn that there is a priesthood, like unto Melchizedek’s, that is for ever.

The Hebrews writer clearly explains the correlation between Jesus and Melchizedek. The following is a brief look at those points:  

Melchizedek

• King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2)
• King of Salem or peace (Hebrews 7:2)
• Priest of God (Hebrews 7:1)
• Both king and priest (Hebrews 7:1-3)
• No Biblical genealogical record (Hebrews 7:3)
• No Biblical record of birth / death (Hebrews 7:3)
• Not of the seed of Aaron (Hebrews 7:6)
• Greater than Levite priests (Hebrews 7:6-9)
• Continual priesthood (Hebrews 7:3)

Christ

• Rules in righteousness (Hebrews 1:8)
• Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6-7)
• High priest of God (Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 8:1)
• King and Priest (Zechariah 6:12-13)
• Divine, no human origin (John 1:1-3,14)
• Eternal, no beginning or end (John 8:58; Revelation 1:8)
• Born of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14)
• Greater than Aaron and Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:26-28)
• Unchanging and everlasting priesthood (Hebrews 7:24-25; Ephesians 3:11)

The priesthood of Melchizedek gave us a foreshadowing of the eternal priesthood of the Christ. Melchizedek was a great man, “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils,” (Hebrews 7:4). Thanks be to God that our High Priest is so much, “better,” “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament…For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” (Hebrews 7:22, 26-28).

John Rose

The Greatest Gift Of All

When the idea of gifts is pondered, one commonly would consider the act of “giving.” Truly one cannot receive a gift except it first be given by someone. Giving is indeed at the very heart of the Biblical Message (cf. John 3:16; 15:13-14; Romans 8:32). It is to the verse from John 3 that this article would bring the reader’s attention.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “God so loved the world,” Our Heavenly Father loved man, whom He created in His own image, to such an extent that He did a certain thing, that thing was to “give!” What precipitated such giving? The answer is found in Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve had transgressed the law of God, thereby sinning (Genesis 3:6; cf. I John 3:4). The punishment prescribed for their sin was death, “thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Adam and his wife stood condemned before their Creator and were powerless to redeem themselves or to justify themselves in the sight of God. Action now had to be taken to save these two precious souls from everlasting destruction (I Thessalonians 1:7-9). Who took action?

God, as was exemplified in the inquiry by God of (Genesis 3:8-9); so God was the One to move first. He put into place His eternal plan to save men from their sins, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9; cf. Ephesians 3:11; Titus 1:2; Revelation 13:8). It is/was the eternal plan or purpose of God to save man by the sacrifice of His Son upon the Cross.

What (or more precisely: who) then was “given”? The very Son of God. “That he gave his only begotten Son.” The Son was “given,” but who is the Son? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1; cf. 10: 30; Philippians 2:6). Jesus is God—He is Deity. The Lord told Philip, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” What is the implication of these facts? That God gave Himself! What could be more sublime or majestic than this Heavenly ideal—God gave Himself for us; for our sakes.

We who were sinners (Romans 5:8) and enemies of God (Romans 5:10) received this unfathomable gift! The One that had been scorned and despised and disregarded; was the very One that took away the scorner’s reproach. The concept of such great love as has been demonstrated by God toward us requires spiritual maturity to grasp and the end of its depths shall never be found by the minds of men.

However, when one does lay hold of this great example, many passages of Scripture open with greater meaning and depth, such as:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

What has been the great example of this? God gave Himself for us. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:26-27).

What is the greatest means by which God has shown us how to be like Him? God gave Himself for us. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13). How has God loved us? God gave Himself for us.

Finally: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Why is it our “reasonable service” to “give” our entire beings (Matthew 22:37-40) unto God in service and subjection? Because God gave Himself for us! Oh, how unsearchable are the riches of God (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8)!

John Rose

Time and the Gospel

The well worn axiom, “All things change with time,” is applicable to many things in life: the physical aspects of the lives of human beings; the temporal configuration of the terrain, weather, etc. of the Earth; countries, kings, and customs; even the emotional dispositions of men.

However, change is not relevant to all things that exist. To the point – God does not change, “For I am the LORD, I change not;therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). James also speaks of God immutability, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

To be more precise, God does not change is in His Divine attributes. God does not vary or change concerning His: omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, or immutability. Change is, however, involved in God’s circumstantial will – hence the record of Genesis chapter six.

A circumstance of Biblical history that vividly illustrates the type of change which exists with God (His circumstantial will) is found recorded in the book of Jonah. The barbaric Assyrian people were hideously wicked. Their great evil brought the wrathful justice of God against their capital city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:2). Consequently, God determined to destroy Nineveh (Jonah 3:4). When God’s message of destruction was delivered by the prophet Jonah, the Ninevites heard the Word of God and repented (Jonah 3:4-9). The repentance, or change of mind, of Nineveh changed the mind of God, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10). God had determined to destroy Nineveh – but that determination was based upon the reaction of the Ninevites to God’s Word: God’s will was circumstantial or conditional, in that, if Nineveh repented they would be saved – if not, they would be destroyed.

One should notice what did not change: God’s Word. His Word was the standard of determination. God’s decree went forth to Nineveh, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown,” and the Ninevites reaction to that Word determined God’s further actions.

At the dedication of the temple, which Solomon built, God said, “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel” (I Kings 9:4-5). If Israel remained obedient to God’s Word they would prosper – if not; they would perish: “But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people” (I Kings 9:6-7). Israel sinned greatly and God turned from blessing Israel, as He had before, and brought great wrath upon them (cf. II Kings 17:1-23; 24:1-4).

Throughout the times of the kings of Israel, God’s Word was the standard by which Israel was judged (such is also true of all of man’s history), “Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God” (II Kings 17:13-14). When men rejected God’s Word, God rejected them (II Kings 17:18).

God’s Word remained constant, unchanging. Man changed – God did not (His attributes and His Word which is a product of His attributes). So it has always been with God’s Word. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). The immutability of the Word of God qualifies It to be the basis for God’s judgment on that final day, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

The final conclusion, therefore, is: times change and men change but every man’s obligation to be obedient to God’s unchanging Word remains the same.

John Rose