The Never Failing Scriptures

The Claims of the Scriptures

The writers either told the truth or else they did not. If they did not tell the truth about this [i.e. that they were writing by inspiration], then how can we put any confidence in anything else they said? Why should they desire to misrepresent the truth? If they did misrepresent the truth in their claims to inspiration, then they condemned themselves most severely. The apostle Peter’s second letter was written for the sole purpose of rebuking false prophets and deceivers. One could hardly find anything that even resembles it outside of Holy Writ. The apostle Paul often Warned his reader to “lie not one to another.” In the first chapter of Romans, he listed deceit as one of the deadly sins committed by the Gentiles, which caused God to “give them up unto a reprobate mind.” The beloved John Was very outspoken against those who misrepresent the truth. He tells how Jesus rebuked some of the Jews in strong language, thus: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the Way of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof” (John 8:44). In Rev. 21:8 John writes: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and idolaters, and all liars. their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” It is inconceivable that these men could write such bitter denunciations against all who misrepresent the truth when they themselves made false claims about the revelation which they gave to us.

L.R. Wilson

Life Line Printing and Book Co. 1948. Pages 11-12

WORKS INCLUDED AND WORKS EXCLUDED

For centuries James 2:14-26, has been the occasion of much controversy; and, it was this passage which prompted Martin Luther to regard the Epistle of James with considerable contempt, and to describe it as “a right strawy one.” Others, who entertain no doubts regarding the inspiration of the book and passage have nevertheless engaged in much useless and vain speculation thereon in an effort to harmonize an alleged conflict of teaching between James and Paul! There are those who believe that Paul, in Rom. 4:1-6, teaches that justification is by faith without works of any kind; and, inasmuch as James, in this passage (2:14-26), quite obviously affirms that there is no justification apart from works, it poses quite a problem for the advocates or the doctrine of salvation by faith only. Moreover, Paul, in Ephesians 2:8-9, wrote: ‘For by grace have ye been saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works that no man should glory” Yet, James asserted: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works. and by works was faith made perfect” (James 2:21-22).

It should be apparent to the must casual reader that Paul and James are discussing two different kinds or works in these passages. Paul refers to works which are excluded from God’s plan to save; James discusses works which are included in it. Each writer gives the characteristics of the works under consideration. Those excluded, discussed by Paul, are works in which one might glory (exult in, boast of); the works included (mentioned by James) are those which perfect faith. Of the first category, works of which a man might boast and in which he might glory, are human, meritorious works, works of human achievement, works the design of which is to earn salvation. Were it possible for man to devise a plan by which he could save himself, he could dispense with grace, accomplish his own deliverance from sin, and glory in God’s presence. Such of course, is utterly impossible. All such works are excluded.

The works included, and discussed by James, are the commandments of the Lord, obedience to which is absolutely essential to salvation (I John 2:4; II Thessalonians 1:7-9.) Humble submission to the will of God as expressed in his commandments, far from involving works of the type excluded, demonstrate complete reliance upon God, and not upon one’s self. Only those who seek to exclude all work, even the commandments of the Lord, such as baptism in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16.15-16; Acts 2:38), have any difficulty in harmonizing Paul and James! Paul taught the necessity of obedience to the commands of Christ as plainly, positively and emphatically as did James (Romans 6:3-4).

Guy N. Woods

PREACHING THE GOSPEL . . . WITHOUT MENTIONING BAPTISM

An incident occurred in the Texas country years ago, the story of which I remember. The preachers of a small town proposed a union meeting in which all of the preachers of the town would take alternate turns to preach. There was a certain gospel preacher in the town, who had not been consulted on the arrangement. When he heard about this meeting he called on the other preachers to request his turn to preach, and asked to have a time assigned to him. He was in-formed that an agreement had been made that the subject of baptism would not be mentioned—that they had agreed to preach Christ and say nothing about baptism. To their surprise this preacher promptly accepted the conditions, and agreed to preach without the mention of the word baptism. A night was assigned for his sermon, and he announced in advance the subject: “What Must I Do to Be Saved?”

The people wondered how that kind of preacher could preach on that kind of subject under that kind of agreement to not mention baptism. They came from the necks of the woods and forks of the creeks to hear him preach that kind of a sermon.

He preached with much animation and eloquence on salvation, and the love of God that brought salvation to man through Jesus Christ. Reaching the point of the question—“what must I do to be saved”—he turned to Mark 16:15-16 and read the words of Christ: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth”—and doeth that thing I promised not to mention—”shall be saved.” He then read Acts 2:38: “Repent, and do that thing I promised not to mention, “for the remission of sins.” And he read every verse in the New Testament on baptism, and called it that thing I promised not to mention!

It is a strange thing that denominational people will detour around such a plain and positive command, so simple to be understood and performed, so easy to accept and obey—and so much emphasized in the New Testament.

When Philip preached Christ, he preached the kingdom of Christ, he preached the all-prevailing name of Christ and he preached baptism into Christ.

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them…. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:5-12).

Foy E. Wallace, Jr.

Prayer

Jesus told us what to say when we pray. When you pray, you should address God and not man. Prayer to God is sacred, “Hallowed pray to “Our Father who art in heaven.” (Matthew 6:7-9). Our prayers are to be in “thy name.” Jesus, our example, showed us when to pray. He prayed before He made a decision (Luke 6:12-13). Before selecting His apostles He spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). He prayed for the sorrowing souls of Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:32-43).

He prayed for Peter when Satan had asked for him. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you. But I have prayed that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus prayed in His own sorrow. He cried out in prayer, “Father the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee” (John 17:1). In the garden He prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew. 26:39). Jesus prayed for those who abused Him. He said, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). As we often sing. “pray when in sorrow, pray when in trouble, pray all the time.”

G.K. Wallace

SALVATION FROM SINS

Some people believe and teach we are all God’s children, but that is not true. We are all God's creation. However, all who are accountable to God for their actions have sinned and are thus separated from God―they are lost in their sins and in need of God's salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23). All who are in need of salvation are children of the devil. In this world, all people who are accountable to God for their actions are either children of the devil or they are children of God. Jesus said to some Jews of His day that they were children of their father the devil, and they loved to do the evil things that the devil does. Jesus told them that the devil was a murderer from the beginning and always hated the truth. Jesus said that was the case because there is no truth in him. Furthermore, Jesus said that when the devil lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice, and He knows them, and they follow Him (John 10:27). And, Paul tells us that the children of the devil become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians3:26) We learn from the next verse when one is by faith made a child of God―“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (ASV, 1901). Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). He also asked, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that Christians are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Paul also wrote of Christians, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). A child of the devil must take each step in God’s great plan of salvation. This is the conversion process of one ceasing to be a child of the devil and becoming a child of God in God’s great family, the church of His Son. This is the process of being born again (John 3:1-21).

The steps in God’s singular plan of salvation leading to eternal life in Heaven are:

Hear and understand the gospel, for that is how faith is formed in one and then strengthened and sustained.

• Romans 10:17―“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.
• John 20:30-31―“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
• Romans 1:16―“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
• I Corinthians 15:1-4―“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ.

• John 8:24―“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
• John 3:18―“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
• Hebrews 11:1, 6―“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen … But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a re-warder of them that diligently seek him.”

Repent of one’s sins.

• Luke 13:5―“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
• Acts 17:30―“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”

Confess one’s faith in Christ.

• Romans 10:9-10―“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
• Acts 8:36-38―“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

Be baptized (immersed) by the authority of Christ in water for the remission of sins.

• Mark 16:16―“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
• Acts 2:38―“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
• Acts 22:16―“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
• Romans 6:3-4―“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
• Galatians 3:26-27―“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
• I Peter 3:21―“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Having been added to the church by the Lord Himself (Acts. 2:42, 47), one must continue to be faithful to Christ in the church of our Lord, for salvation can be lost.

• I Corinthians 15:58―“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
• Hebrews 10:36-39―“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
• Revelation 2:10―“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
• II Peter 2:20-22―“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
• Galatians 5:4―“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

More than the foregoing God does not require of the child of the devil to become a child of God. Less than obedience thereto and one will remain a child of the devil, losing one’s soul when life on earth is finished. Don’t turn a deaf ear to God’s great plan to make a child of God out of a child of the devil, so one can live with him in glory when this life is over. Jesus saves only those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).

David P. Brown

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

I recently read the following comments in The Patriot Post Digest dated July 7, 2006:

“Judge not, lest ye be judged.” It’s notable that this text from the Bible has replaced John 3:16 as Americans’ favorite scriptural quotation–but what does it actually mean? Is this ageless admonition really a call to unmitigated tolerance over discernment between right and wrong? Is it really a biblical nod of the head to the virtues of postmodern morality and multicultural society?

Of course not. As Christ’s imperative against judgment appears in the Gospel accounts, a different picture emerges. With the Pharisees clearly in view, in the Sermon on the Mount account of Matthew 7, and again in Luke 6, “judge not” appears in the context of the proverbial man who perceives the speck that is in his brother’s eye, but not the log that is in his own. The context, then, suggests a warning against hypocrisy, not moral discernment. Indeed, the full imperative of the passage encourages righteous judgment: “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Then, in John 7:24, taking aim at the Pharisees once again, Jesus makes another extraordinary statement: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” So, does Jesus really call his followers to “judge not”? Not really. In the vocabulary of theologians, this practice of isolating and thereby misinterpreting a phrase or passage from its context is called isogesis.

Other common examples of isogesis – which we’ll leave to your own exegesis – include the imperative “care for orphans and widows” (James 1) to sanction a social, and thereby governmental, responsibility; “Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man” (I Corinthians 11) as an affirmation of male chauvinism; and “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (I Corinthians 13) as a get-out-of-jail-free card for habitual sin (http://archive.patriotpost.us/pub/06-27_Digest/).

The title of the article in which these comments appeared was “Constitutional isogesis…” The point of the article was that “The same fallacies that affect biblical interpretation also affect our interpretation of the Constitution.” The conclusion of the article was as follows: Just as the problem of biblical and constitutional isogesis is essentially the same, so too is the solution. For centuries, a fundamental guiding principle has directed proper scriptural exegesis: Scripture interprets Scripture. That is to say, the primary lens for understanding a text is the text elsewhere in the Bible – thus, we interpret the Bible through what the Bible says.

The author of the article is a conservative. He would also claim to be a Christian although the Bible would judge him to be a non-Christian. Yet, even non-Christian conservatives know and recognize the improper practice of isogesis (isolating a phrase or passage from its context) and that it results in misinterpretation. They also know and recognize the proper practice of exegesis (that Scripture interprets Scripture) and that the primary lens for understanding a text is the text itself. Especially is this true with the text: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). There is a judgment that is condemned and there is a judgment that is commanded. The judgment that is condemned is hypocritical judgment (Matthew 7:3). The judgment commanded is righteous judgment (John 7:24).

May we all learn and apply these truths to our lives in every realm, including both the religious and the political.

David B. Watson

Beacon. Bellview Church of Christ. July 21, 2008.

ENTHUSIASM

It is not listed as part of the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. It is not one of the Christian graces mentioned in ii Peter 1:5-7. However, enthusiasm is an essential component of Christian character. The late brother Bill Cline plainly stated it, “Actually, there is no such ‘animal’ as an unenthusiastic Christian. One could just as well be a God‐fearing atheist or an honest crook. The term is a misnomer. There are some unenthusiastic ‘church members’ but no unenthusiastic Christians.“

The root words behind enthusiasm literally mean, “God in us.” If God is indeed “in us” as He should be (I John 4:16), we should maintain an enthusiastic outlook. Consider just a few passages which stress the need for enthusiasm:

“Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee” (Deuteronomy 28:47). The Israelites’ failure to serve the Lord with enthusiasm would lead to their serving their enemies in misery.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6). This literally says, “The people had a heart to work.” Thus, it speaks not only of their intellectual decision to work, but of their enthusiastic commitment to their task. This is why they were able to accomplish so much. It seems that many churches do everything they do half-heartedly. Which is a major reason why everything they do is not much. Where churches are enthusiastic about evangelism, souls are saved. Where churches are enthusiastic about doctrinal purity, error does not easily infiltrate. Stephanas and his household were so enthusiastic about ministering to the saints that they are described as “addicted…to the ministry of the saints,” as the KJV renders I Corinthians 16:15. Do you suppose that such enthusiasm enabled or hindered their prospective accomplishments?

“For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many” (II Corinthians 9:1-2). The Corinthians’ enthusiasm was a necessary prerequisite to performing the task they were called to do. And their enthusiasm was also contagious—it tends to be. Some churches are dragged down by the constant whining, complaining, and generally negative attitude of a few. But other churches are blessed with souls committed to the Lord’s cause, who in turn motivate each other (cf. Acts 4:36; I Thessalonians 5:14). Where churches are enthusiastic about their work and worship, others will come to share that enthusiasm.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). Just a few decades previously, Paul had written of this same church, the church at Ephesus, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). By the time of Revelation’s writing, Jesus could yet commend them for their works and en‐durance. But for all the good that Jesus could say about the church at Ephesus, He was compelled to convict them for leaving the zealous love for the Lord they once held. Time has a way of jading us. Our seeming failures can make us hesitant to try again. Others have disappointed us, making us reticent to trust others. The church at Ephesus had undoubtedly experienced much of this, but Jesus did not permit their waning enthusiasm.

It may be difficult for a Christian to maintain enthusiasm when he observes dangerous directions the country is headed, when he observes the church abandoning the Truth in many places, and after simply being bruised by the general hardships of life. But our focus is not on the occurrences of this world—our focus is on the hope of the life yet to come (cf. II Corinthians 4:18; Philippians 3:20). When our focus remains there, we will be enthusiastic about preparing ourselves and others for that hope. When we appreciate the unmerited favor that God has bestowed upon us, we will be enthusiastic about serving him any way we can. Let us begin this week with enthusiasm for the Lord!

“. . . be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).      

Lee Moses