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• WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
• WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF MAN?
• FAITH WITHOUT WORKS?
• HOLINESS IN THE STREET
• LETTER ON MODESTY
• GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU
• THE JUDGMENT
• TESTING PROPHECY

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June 2023

 

 

 

 

WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS

PRIDE MONTH

Alfred King

        Another June has come and another opportunity for the gay community to promote their perverted and evil lifestyles. It is a sad day when people are actually proud of debauchery and so much so that they arrogantly parade it by marching down America’s streets without shame. In the days of Jeremiah when the citizens of Jerusalem had grievously departed from the Lord, the Lord warned through Jeremiah that the abominations done in Jerusalem had reached a point in which God’s judgment hung over the city. In Jeremiah 6:15 the Lord expressed His displeasure with these words, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.” Could it be that the judgment God brought upon Jerusalem because of their sins will eventually fall upon our present generation in America?

        Back in the early seventies I remember a pastor told me that he thought sexual sins would be the sin that would bring God’s judgment upon America. I thought it strange at the time being in my twenties and while observing the sexual revolution of the sixties, I did not see the utter abandonment of all sexual restraints into which America would eventually fall. I have observed over the past few years in person and online the attire that our female youths presently wear for proms, and thinking back to those days of the sixties, dress of that nature was considered pornographic. Being raised in a Christian home, I was never to be found with such in my possession. Today, however, young “Christian” girls proudly dress in attire that used to be termed “immodest” or even “pornographic”.

        One cannot read the news today without reading about rape, sexual assaults, and lewd and deplorable acts of sexual misconduct. Not only our universities, but our high schools are filled with sexual perversion that has seeped down to our junior high and is rapidly spreading into our elementary, kindergarten and preschool. It is sinful enough for adults to consent to sexual immorality but grooming children and instructing them in immorality instead of allowing them to live those young years in innocence and in the joys of childhood where the world is a wonderful place, full of exciting and amazing things, is most deplorable. Instead of allowing them to live their childhood fantasies, their little minds and natures must be corrupted and defiled. Scripture forewarns of these days, for God said, “For darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isa. 60:2). Has there ever been a world so dark as today’s America?

        Where we are today is because we started down that dangerous path sixty years ago. It seems we have learned nothing as we continue to spiral downward just as scripture forewarned, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 3:7). One wonders how so many big companies are taking the path of “wokeness” even though they see what such a path has done to other companies. The recent boycott of Bud Light is a prime example of the fact that most Americans do not want to see political agendas pushed by companies supplying goods to consumers. Anheuser Bush has lost over five billion dollars since they foolishly decided to promote the gay lifestyle. And now Target is selling toys, clothing, books, jewelry, pet accessories, party supplies, etc., all promoting the gay rainbow and gay pride. If you go to Target’s website and look under “Pride Kid’s & Baby Clothing” you can see for yourself where this company has gone woke and subtly slipping the gay agenda into our children’s future. Will America boycott Target? We should.

Scriptures That Warn Against Homosexuality

        Every Christian needs to know why homosexuality is evil. Today we are bombarded by those that say things like: “The gay people I have met are such good people”, or “If they love each other; what is wrong with them being married?” (“and even adopting children?”) I have read where some pastors have changed their positions on gay marriages and ordaining homosexuals and lesbians into the ministry because they thought the perverted were such nice people. Satan comes as an angel of light scripture says (II Cor. 11:14). What makes it wrong is the word of God, which states that any type of fornication is sin. Many heterosexuals who condemn those who are gay, at the same time live themselves in fornication, living together out of wedlock or living in adultery. So I feel it good that I list a few scriptures here to give us scriptural reasons for our stand on the homosexual lifestyle.

        While the New Testament has taken precedence over the Old, the Old leads into the New and many of the sins condemned in the Old have been carried into the New and apply to us today. Let us therefore consider first a few scriptures from the Old Testament and then we will see what the New Testament has to say.

Scriptures From The Old Testament:

        Lev. 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

        Lev. 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

        1 Kings 15:12: “And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”

        Genesis 19 records the account of God’s judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of their homosexual permissiveness. Some will claim that this was not the cause of God’s judgment. Surely there were other gross sins in Sodom. Yet, we can be certain that homosexuality was prevalent in Sodom, for the account recorded in Genesis clearly reveals that this abomination was prevalent. And we must remember that all fornication and adultery is sin, not just homosexuality.

Scriptures From The New Testament:

        Rom. 1:24-28: “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

        Jude 7: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

        Mark 10:6-8: “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.”

        1 Cor. 6:9: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,”

        1 Tim 1:8-10: “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

        Heb. 13:4: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

        1 Cor. 7:2: “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

        I mentioned earlier in this article the sexual revolution of the sixties. Did any of those participants understand where this revolution would take America? Did the drug addict of yesteryear who today is strung out on heroin and lying in the filth of a city’s ghetto realize that this is where he would be when he took that first drug? If he had; would he have taken it? Would Judas, the betrayer of the Lord Jesus, have begun his thievery if he had realized where that would lead him? Jesus said that it would have been better for that man if he had never been born. If the nations surrounding Germany in the early thirties had realized where Hitler was going to take Europe, surely they would have stopped him early on. But ignorance is not bliss and denial is not wise. American wokism will destroy this nation if it is not curbed in its infancy. One can only wonder: Is it already too late?

 

 

 

 

WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF MAN?

Alda Scullin

        Require? you may ask and say, “Only that one confess Him as Lord.” Some may add, “Repent and be baptized and thou shalt be saved,” or “We have been redeemed by Jesus’ death on Calvary. Jesus paid it all.” These elementary sentiments are still quite satisfactory to the churchmen of the western world. Almost everyone knows “God so loved…that He gave His only begotten Son.” Because of the knowledge of this great love, many have a wonderful experience of the new birth and are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13).

        What then? Is it sufficient gratitude to “Join the church of your choice,” occupy a pew regularly, or even join in all the religious programs, and pay your tithes and offerings? Should not God receive a more bountiful return on so great an investment as was the price heaven paid to redeem man from his fallen state? Many new converts are not well enough acquainted with the Bible to realize they have only taken one step on the road to spiritual maturity, and not all pastors tell them otherwise.

        The Father waits patiently, and the earth groans for a particular product (James 5:7). Not church goers, not tithe payers, nor Pharisees, not popular orators or magnificent edifices. Man’s standards or traditions are unacceptable substitutes for the characteristics God looks for in His people. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, nor are our ways His ways (Isa. 55:8).

        What sort of person, then, is the Father looking for in hope (Rom. 8:20)? What qualities can a man have that will favorably impress the living God? Isaiah 66:2 might be a good place to start. “...to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and TREMBLETH at my word.”

        If we tremble at His word, we will surely reverence it and seek to please Him by putting it into action. How else can we hope to reach the goal “to be like Jesus”? Jesus did always those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29). The Word of God is rife with instruction for “apprehending,” as Paul wrote, that for which we have been apprehended. God does expect a harvest.

        “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God REQUIRE of thee?”

        …to fear the Lord thy God

        …to walk in ALL His ways

        …to love Him

        …to serve the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart and with ALL thy soul

        …to keep His commandments and statutes which are for thy good (Deut. 10:12,13).

        Micah 6:8 adds:

        …to do justly

        …to love mercy

        …to walk humbly

        It is not safe to reject these qualifications just because they were first spoken to Israel and are found in the Old Testament. Remember! In the New Testament it is stated that “ALL these things happened unto them for ensambles and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Cor. 10:11).

        Strangely, it would not be difficult to find many Christians who would tell us that their lives meet these requirements. So many times we hear it said, “I love the Lord with all my heart,” yet their actions belie their testimony. What do they mean by “I love the Lord”? Usually they do not have a scriptural definition. True love serves (Gal. 5:13); all else called love is merely affection or sentimentality. I John 5:13 defines love of God very succinctly. “This IS the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” Obviously, few “Christians” accept that definition because they have been taught otherwise. The main hallmark of almost every major denomination and most of the lesser ones is their utter rejection of any law. They refuse responsibility to obey God’s commands. They teach only to love God, not to obey Him. What a contradiction!

        Jesus made it very plain that those who love Him are those that obey Him. “He that hath my commandments AND keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21). Those who do not keep His sayings DO NOT LOVE GOD (John 14:24) regardless of whatever else they do to try to prove otherwise. “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say?” (Luke 6:46)

        Many people have made great sacrifices supposing that they are pleasing God but, according to I Corinthians 13, it is possible to do many great works unprofitably as far as God is concerned. One may have great spiritual manifestations, or do great works such as heal the sick, feed the poor or give their body to be burned and not find favor with God. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22,23). Why were these people so deceived? They thought they were serving God. There are many self-led and self-exalted religious workers in our society today who may even have supernatural manifestations, but they do not have a love for truth nor will they teach the truth. They deal in the souls of men and all will go down together. To avoid such deception and confusion, Paul advises us to judge ourselves that we be not judged and to examine ourselves whether we be in the faith. “Prove your own selves” (I Cor. 11:31; II Cor. 13:5). Undoubtedly, it is possible to protect ourselves from being deceived. God’s word is the only safe standard by which to measure our standing with God, not men’s edicts.

        We are not measured or judged according to God’s love for us, but by the proof of our love for Him. The proof is obedience to His word. That is God’s requirement. It is taught from Genesis to Revelation 22:14. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

        Jesus said that anyone who tries to go in another way is a thief and a robber (John 10:1).

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!

 

 

 

 

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS?

Randall Walton

        Faith is one of those items which is essential to salvation for “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6)

        The importance of faith was discovered by Martin Luther when he found the verse which stated that “the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17). The long list of saints who were faithful to God (in Hebrews 11) is a vibrant testimony of those who not only believed God and believed in God, but who also proved their faith by the things which they did: “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection…” Heb. 11:33-39.

        Theirs was not a blind nor a dead faith, but a faith which produced results in accordance to their faith. These “results” are better classified as “works,” a fact which indicates the close relationship of faith and works.

        Faith, though it is absolutely essential to salvation, is less important than love – love for God and for other humans – for Paul stated that “now abideth faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love” (I Cor. 13:13). He also affirmed that “though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing” (I Cor. 13:2).

        We wonder, then, why faith is proclaimed so highly among evangelicals today. It receives top billing in sermons, seminars, and religious schools. “Just believe that Jesus took all your sins away and you’re saved,” they declare. Believe, only believe. (But what about the more important factor, love?)

        And great emphasis is placed on Paul’s announcement in Ephesians 2:8,9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” While this is completely true, its application is only to initial salvation, or conversion. It does not apply to post-conversion experience.

        Man is not born again (or converted) because of good works. No amount of high moral standards can save a soul. Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ is able to wash away the guilt and degradation of a poor lost sinner, and this takes place at the moment of true repentance when the heart cries out in faith to God for forgiveness of the past.

Post-Conversion Faith

        Man is not saved by works, period. Man is saved irrespective of works, but once he is saved, his faith must be backed up by works. In truth, in order to maintain his salvation he is obligated to produce works as an affirmation of his professed faith! Faith without works is dead!

        Since faith (it is the gift of God, Eph.2:8) is an integral part of salvation, it must be kept alive and operating, else it dies. And when faith dies, the person dies also (spiritually). Dead faith is worthless. It is a corpse which is buried under a mound of worldliness, pleasure, greed, carnality, and self; in short, it smells!

        But what is meant by works? James vividly describes the term in his letter in chapter 2, verses 14 through 26. There, he speaks about giving to the needy those things which are “needful to the body.” He also refers to Abraham whose faith impelled him to obey God’s command to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. And he spoke of Rahab who “was justified by works” when she aided the Israelitish spies in their escape from Jericho.

        Faith alone is insufficient for the sustenance and well-being of a Christian. There is no life in dead faith. It matters not how strongly and vociferously men insist on “once saved, always saved,” faith without demonstration (works) is stone cold – dead!

        Simply put, works are acts of obedience to the words and commands of the Lord. They are the active response of the soul who, because of his faith, determines to please God by positive deeds, not to impress people nor to be seen of men, but to glorify the living God. They are the natural product of a person who fervently loves God and other people. Because this is true, God is justified to hold mankind accountable for his works and will judge him accordingly.

Faith – Works – The Judgment

        The Bible tells us that God has set aside a certain day when He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). Nowhere are we informed that men will be judged on the basis of their faith, or the lack thereof; but there are many instances in the Scriptures where the Lord declares that God will judge mankind according to his works, or actions. For example:

        * Matt. 16:27: “then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

        * II Cor. 5:10: “that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to

        that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

        * II Cor. 11:15: “whose end shall be according to their works.”

        * Rev. 2:23: “I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

        * Rev. 20:12: “the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the

        books, according to their works.”

        * Rev. 20:3 “and they were judged every man according to their works.”

        In the light of the above, we wonder why ministers insist on telling their congregations that works are unimportant and inconsequential. Such teaching is outright false doctrine which is responsible for the destruction of thousands of souls who never question the validity of such dogma. When God says He will judge men according to their works, that is precisely what He means.

        Consider, for example, Abraham who is considered the prime master of faith, or as Paul stated it in Gal. 3:9, “faithful Abraham.” James declared, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT?” (James 2:21,22) What did James refer to as Abraham’s works?

        First of all, Abraham believed God (verse 23). He fully believed that God spoke to Him and told him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. But he didn’t merely believe that God spoke to him: he OBEYED God! Those were his works!! Had he not obeyed the Lord’s word, his faith would have been dead. Believing God, or believing in God, is in itself a worthless sentiment. So what – if a person believes God? Only a fool could disbelieve Him. Even the devil and his demons believe in God, but they are rank rebels against the Most High. Faith without WORKS IS DEAD.

        It is an indictment against the majority of professing Christians today that, while they claim to love Him and have faith in Him, they soundly refuse to obey Him. They fight the law and commandments of God as if they were some fierce contagious disease. They allude to obedience to God’s word as bondage and call His law a curse. They refer to those who respect God’s word and obey it as legalists.

        Let me tell you, there is no bondage in obeying the words and commands of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for those who do honor Him by conforming to His word are exhibiting their faith in Him through their obedience (works). Those who fight His word/will/law are testifying that their faith is dead: no works = dead faith.

        The Great Commission as outlined by Jesus in Matt. 28:18-20 began with the following words: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Revelation 1:18 says He has the keys of death and hell). So, Jesus possesses SUPREME authority in heaven, in the earth, and in hell. This means, of course, that all power in the universe is under His control and dominion. No person, entity or being has any power or authority except that which is delegated to him/or it by Jesus Christ (The Father is excepted, I Cor. 15:27).

        Now, He ordered: “Go ye therefore,” or because of this fact – because “I have all power in the universe,” or “because I rule and reign,” you go and teach all nations (literally, all races of people, not just the Jews, nor Israel, but everyone, everywhere). This word “teach” is most important. It is the Greek word for disciple. His command, then, was to go and disciple or discipline all the nations of the world.

        He did not tell them they were to tell everyone about His death on the cross. This, of course, would be a part of the message, but not the fullness of it. They were to discipline. And they were to teach all of these nationalities of people to OBEY (observe) everything He had commanded them to do! Furthermore, this commission was to continue on until the end of the world (or age).

        Now, you and I know that this is not the teaching which is prevalent in “Christian” circles today. The words and commands of Jesus have been laid aside as if He, Jesus, didn’t know what He was talking about. It is a sad commentary that the “church” has rejected the message of the One who founded it. Yet, its members claim to love Him. Astonishing, but true.

        Too many people want Jesus as a good friend or a buddy, someone who lends a shoulder to cry on when disappointments come their way. They cannot conceive of Him as an all powerful monarch who has issued a set of orders and commands for His subjects to follow. But He, Himself, describes the limits of His friendship: “Ye are my friends, IF ye do whatsoever I command you”! (John 15:14)

        Of course, if you do whatsoever He has commanded, you will be guilty of works, a condition which modern D.D.s tell us borders on blasphemy, but which the Bible informs us is proof of our faith.

        We urge you, yes, we beg of you, to study and obey the blessed Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5,6,7) as well as the other words, sayings and commandments of our glorious king, Jesus. It is only as we conform our lives to His divine order that we can achieve happiness, satisfaction, and true liberty.

        “Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18)

 

 

 

 

HOLINESS IN THE STREET

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

        Horace Greeley once said, “Fame is vapor. Popularity an accident. Riches take wings. Only one thing endures; that is character.”

        Looking at character from a biblical point of view, such is spelled HOLINESS. The highest level a human being can reach in this life, spiritually speaking, is the level of purity of heart and life. That produces the sterling character.

        Do you have character? In other words, do you have “holiness in the street” - out there where people are? Are you living at your height in the Spirit of God?

        When we become saved by divine grace, the Lord forgives us of our sins. But when we become sanctified in His Spirit, the Lord cleanses the carnal nature - inbred sin - the old man. Call it what you will, it is that rebellious nature against God’s way in order to demand our own way.

        There is the fact of the need for two operations - surgery upon the soul for cleansing of sins and surgery operation upon the soul for cleansing of the sin nature. Then the Christian becomes complete in God - to go into moment-by-moment completeness, always arriving and yet never arriving.

        What happens if a person does not permit the Spirit to have control over the old man, the self-centered life? Then you have a stinking tree in the backyard of the soul. You have a foul odor. You have the beginning of soul rot. It works its way out in pettiness, contrariness, selfishness, egotism, devilishness, gossip, wrangling, fighting, bickering, childishness, undercutting, spending energy on self rather than spending energy on the Spirit’s agenda.

        You end up with an in-grown, stunted character, a dead end street, a sore that festers, a wound that never heals, a runny seepage that is repulsive on the body of Christ.

        Jesus called such a state a white-washed tombstone - looking shiny on the outside - going through the motions of being right, carrying the Scriptures, knowing the sacred language, looking pretty - but on the inside there is death, stinking carcasses, decaying souls, spirits that have an awful stench to them, darkness, worm-eaten personalities, maggot-infested spirits. Is that too strong a terminology? Hardly; not when comparing the language used by Jesus.

        Man may see the shiny exterior, but God sees the inside, and that is why Jesus said to the hypocrites of His day: “On the outside the cup looks clean; but on the inside you are all dirty.”

        Human nature has not changed. There are still those who, on the outside, look okay; they look like they are living out the doctrine of their orthodox theologies. But on the inside they are dirty; they are double-minded; they are devilish.

        No wonder Thomas á Kempis of the Middle Ages cried out: “I beseech thee, Lord Jesus, thou crucified one, cleanse my heart from all that is worldly.”

        What did he mean by “worldly?” Pornography, drug misuse, cursing, promiscuity, theft? He meant all that is worldly within the sins of the Spirit - not only the sins of the flesh but also the equally damning sins of the Spirit.

        There are two main categories of sins: The sins of the flesh and the sins of the spirit. The sins of the flesh are outward; they are usually the ones that make the headlines: murder, rape, incest, robbery, adultery. But the sins of the spirit are just as deadly. Paul lists both kinds of sins alongside gossip, for gossip is murder.

        I have run into some people who would not put a literal knife into another person’s back but who have killed the reputations of plenty of people. They would not think of killing with a gun for fear of being put in jail; but they have killed other’s characters and reputations. They have sliced up and down the good names of other people.

        These persons have yet to be sanctified. They may testify to the experience and know how to spell the doctrinal terms. But that does not mean anything if there is not the life of “street holiness” to back it up.

        In fact, it means much in reverse, for it brings shame upon the church. It is also an embarrassment to those who are genuinely holy before God.

        There are those who would not commit adultery. They would not even smoke a cigarette, let alone dabble in harder drugs. But these pious folk will spend long periods of time on the phone gossiping about innocent persons, finding fault, having an unruly attitude, cutting up the work of the Lord in fine fashion.

        Yet, ask these same people to visit the ones in the convalescent homes or weekly call on a person who is bedridden or come to the aid of others in distress, and they do not seem to have the time for it. Why? Because they have to spend their energies on the things of the devil - plotting, scheming, and undermining. They do not have time for the things of eternal good because they have to maintain their own selfish games.

        It is frightening to see such persons within the church. I have a hunch that Jesus was thinking of these people when He said candidly: “On judgment day there will be those who will say: ‘Did not we sit in a Sunday school class, were not we there with our thick King James Versions in hand, did not we stay away from the drugs and lustful license, did not we keep our refrigerators free from liquor, did not we keep our tidy skirts clean?’”

        “And then they will hear the Judge say: ‘Depart - away from me - you who work sin, for I never knew your name. You did not do the Father’s will. You did your “own thing” in the name of religion. You saw through YOUR plans and did not take time to seek out the FATHER’S plans.’”

        Now you explain why Jesus has the right to tell those “good people” that they were committing sin? They were; that is why. It is that simple.

        They committed sins of the spirit over and over again. They bucked the heart of God the Father. They came into the organization called “the church” in order to set loose their own petty, conceited aims. And with determination they did work their carnal goals to fruition.

        No wonder Thomas á Kempis prayed: “O how needful for me is purification - the cleansing from my sins! Whatever thou findest in me that is carnal, cast it utterly away. Remove from me all that thou seest unclean in me. That being inwardly cleansed from sin and adorned with the beauty of holiness, I may have a perpetual love of thy holy name, and be found a meet partaker of thy heavenly kingdom.”

        Give us more prayer like that one today!

 

 

 

 

LETTER ON MODESTY

        Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

        I am writing this to the Church. I have been saddened and appalled at the way our young ladies are dressing these days. Especially for special occasions such as Prom Night this year. These girls come from Christian families. I have been in some churches where women and men have not been modest. I think it is time to preach and teach against SIN.

        I was in Bible study with some ladies and we were talking about being modest. Several of the ladies stated: “My husband likes for me to dress like this (I will not describe how some were dressed) so it is acceptable.” I said to the women, this is not what the word of God says. I Corinthians 6:19-20 states: “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

        People have become so used to seeing men and women not being modest, that they don’t even blush anymore. It is just accepted as a normal way to dress. The sad thing is when you go to purchase a prom dress or any other dress most of them are not modest. In Jeremiah 6:15-17 it states: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

        Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your soul. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”

        The word “blush” is to experience the reddening of the face due to feeling shame. The reason God says that they did not even know how to blush is because they had come to a point of utterly rejecting the morals of the Word of God, and had become complacent.

        There are 26 Bible verses on Modesty. I am only going to quote a few of them.

        Proverbs 11:22 NLT: “A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”

        I Timothy 2:9 KJV: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.”

        Romans 12:1-2 KJV: 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. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

        I do believe modesty is something we need to take a very close, careful, prayerful look at in the Body of Christ. We need to ask the Lord, as it speaks in Jeremiah 6:15-17, for the “old paths” where is the good way and walk in them so we can find rest for our soul.

        We are called to be a Holy People, to not be conformed to this world. As II Corinthians 6:17 KJV states: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

        My prayer is that our preachers and teachers in the pulpit will not be fearful of talking about SIN.

        By Melody Ax

        Brush Creek, TN

        5-6-2023

 

 

 

 

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU

Curtis Dickinson

        Is there hope for today? Is society collapsing, as many tell us? Is the human species “just a ghastly biological blunder” as some evolutionists have declared? What is God trying to do? Why am I here, and what am I to do about it?

        The question is: Is there a purpose for life? If there is, wouldn’t it be the greatest of follies to live out one’s life only to miss the reason for it, and thus to have lived in vain?

        It would be hard to conceive of a holy and just God who did things to no purpose. It would be harder to imagine that God has a purpose, but refuses to reveal what it is to His creatures.

        The Bible speaks of God’s “eternal purpose” (Eph.3:11). Not only does He have a purpose, but He has expressly revealed it, as recorded from the beginning: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen.1:26)

        This, then, was the original purpose; that man should think, feel, and act like his Creator. He was created with the potential for character like that of God: righteous, wise, loving, merciful, and pure. As long as man reflected that image, as long as he thought God’s thoughts and acted in harmony with God’s design, he fulfilled the purpose of his being, and no problems existed. It was not until man chose to think and act in opposition to the Creator that he ceased to fulfill the purpose of his life, and on that day his troubles began (Gen.1:26; 2:17; 3:3, 17-19).

        Jesus, “who is the image of the invisible God” (Col.1:15), gave a demonstration of one who fulfilled this purpose perfectly. This means more than the fact that Jesus is the literal Son of God. It means that He did everything according to God’s desire. He could truthfully say, “I do always the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). This is what God expected of Adam, but when Adam was tempted, he abandoned the purpose of God in order to please himself. Jesus, who was “tempted in all points like as we are,” never once chose to follow some course that displeased God, and He received the Father’s commendation: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt.3:17).

        We all must admit to failure when it comes to truly reflecting the image of God. Jesus is the only one who succeeded perfectly. However, it is not the total completion of that purpose in this world that God requires of us, but rather that we embrace that purpose. This is what it means to “follow Jesus,” to seek to fulfill God’s purpose just as Jesus did. Paul wrote, “Seek the things that are above where Christ is …” “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus …” Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Col.3:1; Phil.2:5; Matt.6:33). We know that when He shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is” (I John 3:2). This will be at His coming, the resurrection, and the glorification of all the saints. But notice that John further writes, “And every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure” (vs. 3). Since the believer’s hope is to be “like him” he makes it his daily purpose to attain that goal. A Christian must be one intentionally; that is, he does not follow Christian principles just because it is part of his culture, nor because it is his church’s teaching, nor because it is what is expected of him. Being a Christian means purposing to learn of God in order to do His will. If there is a cultural change, as we are witnessing in our nation today, the Christian still is mainly concerned with pleasing God, and will measure all trends and concepts with the yardstick of God’s word.

        There are some who may have advanced a long way toward reflecting God’s image, while many of us can see it only as a far distant goal, but what we are concerned with is purpose, the fact that our purpose must be the same as God’s, that we should be like Him.

        This is what is meant by “repentance.” One who is pursuing his own goal, or, like Adam, following the tempter’s advice, when he hears of God’s purpose and the sublime goal of being transformed to God’s own glorious image for eternity, he turns from the meaningless path of sin and starts in pursuit of God’s purpose. That’s repentance.

        It gives meaning to baptism. The penalty for sin (pursuing the wrong purpose) is death. That penalty is met by Jesus who died for us. When we are baptized into Christ’s death we rise from the baptismal grave of water to live a new life; a life that follows God’s purpose (Rom. 6:3-11).

        It provides motivation for prayer. We ask God to help us because we are trying to do what He wants us to do. It is useless to ask God to help us pursue a course that is the very opposite of the one He set for us, but what could be more important to Him than the accomplishment of His purpose? The heart of prayer is that His will be done in our lives.

        Here is the reason for the assembly, the ekklesia which we call church. We have a common purpose, and not only need one another’s help but have the desire to encourage and help each other in fulfilling that purpose. Unfortunately, many churches have turned their assembly into a performer/spectator program rather than one in which members may interrelate with each other for mutual edification. God is glorified, not in great edifices built for comfort and convenience of His people, but in the way His people reflect His image in their daily intercourse with each other and with the world.

        The express purpose of God stands directly in the way of the current religious movement which aims to blend all religions into one. It does not seek unity in Christ, but is a religion that excludes the binding commands of Christ. It is a creation of man without any revelation from God nor access to Him. God’s purpose is not just ignored, but rejected by the denial of His word as the absolute and final purpose for mankind.

        One may follow religious traditions and yet never come close to the purpose of God. Jesus was opposed because He continually broke the traditions which had been substituted for God’s will (Mark 7:7-9). He warned: “because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). One has to decide whether he wants to satisfy God’s purpose or man’s, and when he rejects the revered idols of man he must be prepared to face man’s bitter opposition.

        What Jesus taught us is that worldly values and treasures are temporal and perishing. What tragedy for one to get to the end of life only to find that the great success or wealth attained had nothing to do with God’s purpose; that all is wasted and there is no hope of eternal life. Why would the Creator give immortality to one who all through life showed that he loved the perishing things of the world more than he desired the life God offers? Therefore, our hearts are to be set on that which is eternal and in harmony with the eternal purpose of God.

        Not all can pursue the same occupation, but all CAN pursue the same purpose, that of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and being conformed to His likeness. It is the ONE thing that all CAN do, for there is nothing in the world that can stand in the way of it. You don’t have to be wealthy, nor in perfect health, nor have a high I.Q., nor live in any particular place, nor have any outstanding talent. Neither sickness, poverty, accident, opposition, persecution, nor anything else can keep you from choosing God’s purpose and pursuing it all your life.

        In contrast to the uncertainties of the world, which is passing away, God offers a certain future, when each child of His will be transformed into a perfect person in His image. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). It is our privilege to humble ourselves before Him so that He may work His purpose in us, which includes the resurrection to immortality and glory in the last day.

        “We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:26).

 

 

 

 

THE JUDGMENT

George Scullin

        Judgment day. Every man, woman and child from Adam to the end of time will be there. The rich and the poor, the king and the beggar - all races, tribes and nations will be there to face the Great Judge to receive eternal rewards.

        How will we be judged or what will be the basis that will cause the Judge to pronounce the sentence of life or death? What does the Bible say concerning this question? What will men use to plead their cause on that day?

        Some are going to say that they have prophesied in His name and cast out devils in His name and even done wonderful works in His name (Matt. 7:21-23). He does not deny their claims; He merely calls them workers of iniquity and condemns them.

        There will also be those that plead speaking with tongues of men and of angels and may even have great knowledge and understanding of mysteries, and they will still be turned away (I Cor. 13:1,2).

        Some will think that their ability to quote many scriptures and even explain them is what is needed, but that is not what the Judge is looking for (John 5:39).

        Many will be certain that belonging to the right denomination will give them life only to sadly learn that they, too, have missed the mark (I Cor. 1:12 and 3:4).

        Many are placing their hopes on believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God only to find that they had not read the whole contract (John 8:31).

        Most are going to plead that they were and are saved by grace, only to find that they did not really know what the term means. Most of these poor folk believe that grace means, “God’s undeserved favor,” and it is very true that none of us deserves God’s favor or mercy.

        They may not have been taught the important definition of grace as found in Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, which says “...the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.” Every born again Christian has received the divine influence in his heart, but that is only part of the definition. It must be reflected in the life to truly be saved by grace.

Consider These Two Definitions Of Grace

        1 - God’s unmerited favor speaks of all that God has done for man - all of His blessings. The Judge is not going to look at what God has done for man, but what man has done for God. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Whether this is material rain or spiritual rain matters not; it will not justify man on judgment day, else God would be obligated to save all mankind, for His blessings come to all men every day.

        2 - The second definition puts the onus on man. The divine influence is God’s undeserved favor, but the reflection in the life is where man becomes obligated. He is not to hide his light under a bushel. Also, the fulfilling of this obligation must be according to God’s order. Man cannot serve God any way he chooses. This will make the difference when the Judge comes to bring man to account.

        Consider the following scriptures: John 12:48 - Jesus said that the words which He spoke would judge us. What have we done with His words? Have we obeyed them or ignored them? In Matthew 16:27, Jesus said when He comes that every man will be rewarded (judged) according to his works.

        Matthew 25:31-46 - All nations are separated into two groups. This is not a parable but a prophetic picture of the judgment. Notice what kinds of works the Judge looks for - the manifestation of love, not the manifestation of supernatural things.

        Matthew 5:28,29 - All of the dead will be judged - but how?

        Revelation 20:13 - according to their works.

        Romans 2:6 - Paul said the righteous judgment of God would render to every man according to his deeds, and in II Cor. 5:10 he said, “according to that he hath done.”

        I Peter 1:17 - Peter said “The Father…judgeth according to every man’s work.”

        Revelation 22:12 - “My reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.”

        How do we reconcile all of these emphatic statements about works with Paul’s declaration that we are not justified by the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28)? What law was he talking about? In Romans 2 and 3 he is talking about circumcision which is from the law of Moses. It is part of the commandments contained in ordinances and they were nailed to the cross (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14).

        We are justified by faith, but James made it clear that faith that does not produce works is dead. It is useless (James 2:20, 26). The grace that the Lord has graciously put in our hearts MUST be manifested in deeds - in works. The sheep produced works. The goats did not (Matt. 25).

        Since Jesus said in John 12:48 that His WORDS would judge us on that day, then we need to go to His words to find the works we are to produce. The Sermon on the Mount would be a good place to start, for it is loaded with commands that we need to be heeding. But the responding in obedience to Jesus’ commands must be generated by love; love for God and love for our fellow man. This is true grace. “If ye love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

 

 

 

 

TESTING PROPHECY

Harry R. Miller

        In matters of religion, many people act singularly strange and unrealistic. They try to close their eyes, lest they discover some discrepancy in their doctrine, their church, or their manner of devotion. It looks as though such people actually prefer to live in darkness and ignorance! God is THE GOD OF TRUTH. The Devil is the master of darkness, the artificer of the unquestioned. Truth can be examined, probed into, dissected and taken apart piece by piece; all examination will only clarify and make more evident the perfect qualities of the real, the genuine. Why should saints fear to examine their CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS?

        “Despise not prophesyings. PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good” (I Thess. 5:20,21). Some people would be shocked at the very thought of TESTING (proving) prophecy; but here we have an order to do it. These very words imply that there can be something questionable about the prophetic message. Don’t write it off as an evil (“despise not”). “Hold fast” to the words of Christ, which are GOOD: use His words to test (prove) the PROPHET and his MESSAGE.

        God speaks, but we must know the difference between His voice and the voice of the impostors: the latter-day false prophets who are said to be MANY in number.

        Brethren, consider these things: Every saint knows that our God SPEAKS, “I am He that doth speak” (Isa. 52:6); but we also know that He does nothing uselessly. When God SPEAKS there is definite purpose in what He says: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). The Father has now spoken unto the whole world BY HIS SON; and the words of His Son are far superior to the words of any other prophet.

        Nowhere in the New Testament are we told that we MUST OBEY Peter, James, John, Jude, or Paul; but we are told “This is MY beloved Son…HEAR YE HIM” (Matt. 17:5). We are also told that “every soul which shall not hear that prophet (The Son), shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). It is the rejection of the words of the Son that shall judge men “in the last day” (John 12:48). The Son has delivered unto man an unadulterated message of the WILL OF THE FATHER. We, the people of this most enlightened generation, have millions of copies of this message, WRITTEN by the Spirit and given to the Son, and then sent to us in writing by men inspired by the Spirit of God.

        If these written words explaining the will of the Father, authenticated by the Founder of Christianity, cannot be accepted as sufficient evidence of His Will, then of what possible use are the words of mere men, all around us, who claim to speak in His name?

        Christianity is not based upon the words of current living prophets. We have our foundation upon the BIBLE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. Men who dishonor (by rejection) the words of the Book are not worthy of words from the Holy Spirit. Would the Holy Spirit be honoring the Lord if he should speak words of guidance, help, comfort, and promise to men who reject the words of God’s Son?

        This writer, and every other God-fearing person, knows that the operation of the gift of prophecy belongs to the church of Jesus Christ: “He gave…prophets…for the work of the ministry” (Eph. 4:11,12). “God hath set some in the church…prophets” (I Cor. 12:28). But, let us not be confounded by the impostors who claim to be the prophets of Christ.

        Friends, let us accept this axiom: A TRUE PROPHET OF CHRIST IS IDENTIFIABLE. Our Lord was a SEER: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what He SEETH the Father do” (John 5:19). Is it not reasonable, then, that we should expect the prophets of Christ also to be SEERS? When the Father sent Jesus into the world as a prophet, He endowed Him as a SEER. Why should not Jesus also send His prophets into the world equipped as SEERS? Consider this: “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you” (John 20:21).

        Test number one, in the identification of a true prophet, is: DOES HE SEE – or does he just spout off at the mouth?

        Test number two is as important as number one: Does the prophet PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY? This means: does he obey his Lord? No man can be a holy prophet if he is not walking in complete obedience to the Words and the Spirit of Christ. The true prophets of Christ are informed persons who KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love” (John 15:10).

        As a fitting conclusion to this article on the subject of prophecy, we wish to say that God CAN SPEAK through the lips of an individual without the message being given in WRITING. Jesus said it was possible for “stones to cry out” (Luke 19:40). It also is a fact that the Spirit of the Lord once spoke through a long-eared ass (“Balaam’s ass,” Num. 22:30); but as a rule, the Lord does not speak through stones or asses; He speaks through SEERS. It is appropriate, then, for those who desire truly authentic information to get it from the Bible; or through genuine, accredited SEERS.