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People of The Living God |
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November 2024
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
ELECTION MONTH
Alfred King
This year, the month of November brings a very important event for all who live in America, for it is the month and year we vote in the next president of the United States. Not only is the president to be decided but all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election and 33 seats will be determined in the Senate. In light of this, we must be informed of several critical facts as we decide whether to vote and who to vote for.
There are some troubling statistics, coming from several sources, that reveal that many church-attending Christians will not be voting this year. According to “The Economic Times” and “relevant magazine.com”, 41,000 Christians will not cast their vote this year. (Some other news reports the number varies to the low of 32,000) Some of the reasons that many do not plan to vote published by “The Jerusalem Post” are lack of interest in politics (68%) – “disliking all major candidates” (57%) – believing their vote makes no difference (52%) – and 48% believing the elections are rigged. According to George Barna, if the 32,000 Christians who did not vote in the 2020 election had voted conservative (as they usually do), the outcome would have been different. The voting block that Christianity holds can and does affect elections.
If these Christians had voted we might not have experienced many of the changes that have taken place over the last four years. I realize this might be somewhat offensive to some, but we need to be aware that the enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy and he does this in incremental steps. He did not change America in a day or even in a four or eight-year period of time. He has been working to destroy our religious freedoms since its genesis. Just in my lifetime I have seen prayer, which was an American custom, prohibited in America’s public schools. I have seen the Ten Commandments removed from the walls of our courts, schools, and other public places. I was alive when abortion was legalized and, since that time, I have been conscious of babies by the millions being butchered in the womb. I have witnessed public schools handing out condoms to high school students. Legalized same-sex marriage has been thrown in the face of every Christian and we have been forced to accept it as “normal.” And now I see in Minnesota that children can be given gender-altering drugs and other medical treatment with no parental consent and if parents protest, the children can be taken by the state. (Minnesota is the state where Tim Walz is present governor – the same Walz who is running to be America’s vice president.) Think about what we as Christians are facing if liberals gain the White House and Congress. Where will America be in four years or possibly eight years at the present rate of moral decline?
With this important election standing before us, Christians must begin to take more interest in politics, for these people who are in Congress and the White House and governor’s mansions across this nation began their “careers” in our city councils, judges in our courts, and moved progressively through the channels to where they are today, sitting in the most important positions in our nation. The power is vested in them to change our nation for good or for evil, and we as Christians have an effect upon which direction this country moves. I realize many have already voted in early voting, but for those who have yet time to cast your vote, I encourage you to do so. We are trying to get this month’s publication out as soon as possible so you will receive it by November fifth. May God give each of us wisdom and divine counsel and may we strive to return America to her roots as a truly Christian Nation.
THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MORAL AGENCY
Harry Miller
The law of being did not originate in the will of God any more than His own existence had its beginning in His own will. The law of moral being is suited to, and founded in the nature, relationships, and circumstances of all moral agents. The Creator, who is the perfect pattern for every moral creature in the universe, is also subject to the laws of moral nature. It is written that “God cannot deny Himself.” That is, He cannot contradict the laws of His nature. The very nature of a perfect being demands His highest respect for the law of His nature. If the Creator were ever to deny or to violate any law of His nature, He would be doing violence to Himself. So the first law of heaven is that God is obligated (by the demands of His own nature) ever to uphold and defend the perfect law of His being.
Since God is a being of love, His benevolent nature required that He share with others the glory that He possessed. Love is a social relationship and can only be satisfied when it is possible to contribute to others, and this desire to share with fellow-beings was what impelled the Father to plan a family. He could easily have created beings who would serve Him like so many devoted animals, but the dignity of deity required that the associates of the Eternal One be on an intellectual and spiritual plane equal with Him. The God of glory could not be satisfied in ruling a universe as an all-powerful puppeteer: He must vest other beings with the same character and qualities of nature which He possessed. In other words, the state of free moral agency (a divine attribute) must be vested in His creatures.
This awful power of eternal and absolute CHOICE had to be placed in the frail hands of the unpredictable creature IF God was to have a family. No power in heaven could perfect the character of a free moral agent by passing a wand over the vast number of subjects chosen for the divine family. Even God Himself could not create character in another free moral agent by mysteriously saying, “presto,” or making some other equally enigmatic utterance. The divine nature and Godly character which may develop in a free moral being are products of time, and the result of great acts of Providence in co-operation with a willing subject.
Because of the Father's ability to look down through the amazing labyrinth of time He was able to foresee every eventuality in the history of the whole proposed human and divine family. He foreknew the joy and the glories which would be enjoyed by those who would attain unto the state of Sonship. He also foresaw all of the appalling loss, the desperate suffering, and final disintegration of those who would fail to accept His grace.
No argument of mercy for the sake of the willfully lawless could possibly have forestalled God's plan of creation. The infinite happiness for the law-abiding, and the full expression of the Father's attributes of love, mercy, wisdom, patience, and hope more than justified the cost of producing the divine family.
As we look back into the misty ages of the beginning of time, it is possible for us now to see the stupendous and almost insurmountable problems that faced the Lord in this proposed creation. The difficult task of impartially bestowing immortality upon created beings was to be an accomplishment that would put to test even the powers of the Most High. Bear in mind that God cannot create CHARACTER: He can only create conditions that are conducive to the development of this quality of nature in free moral beings.
Adam was created a free moral agent. He was holy before he transgressed, but he failed to subject himself to the conditions of voluntary surrender to the will of God which subjection would have gradually developed divine character within him. God provided the conditions for development, but non-cooperation of the free moral agent thwarted the Creator's effort on his behalf. Adam's failure, however, was not the first breach against the will of God: millions of angelic beings had also fallen victim to carnality by the same method of rejecting the Divine will in preference for their own.
But the inevitable ravages of sin had been carefully considered and weighed in the foreknowledge of God, long before either men or angels were ever brought into being. Since the spirit of the law is to reclaim and rehabilitate transgressors, it became the Sovereign to provide a means for the salvaging of a fallen human race.
The salvage operation of mankind presented certain legal problems of an extremely serious nature: the demands of justice decreed that nothing could be done to disturb the influence of the law. And the very nature of the Creator required that the solemnity and sincerity of His legal enactments must always be so impressive and awe-inspiring that they could never for an instant be interpreted as a weakness of divine jurisprudence. Nor can any act of mercy ever be of such nature that there could be even the slightest possibility of its being construed as a compromise with evil or a connivance with sin. For God to set aside, or make void, the legality of the laws of free moral beings was unthinkable: the LAW must ever remain in force. So, the only alternative solution to the problem was to change the nature of the creature. But that CHANGE must be accomplished in such a way that the matter of free moral agency would not be disturbed.
The first step in rehabilitation was the matter of pardon: the transgressor must be forgiven. But justice demanded a legitimate reason for this act. Even the death of Christ “for the sins of the whole world” was not sufficient REASON of itself to justify PARDON for every transgressor. How, then, could His death be made efficacious for even one transgressor, UNLESS THE LAW BREAKER did something to justify the act of pardon?
We often hear it said that Jesus “PAID the debt of sin.” But actually, this is not true in any sense of the word; for if it were true, then all men of all ages would be free from the guilt of sin. The atonement, of itself, does not secure salvation for anyone. Even the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God is not sufficient, in itself, to justify the pardon of anyone who stands in rebellion against the holy government of God. The atonement is efficacious only as the repentant transgressor avails himself of the required means of rehabilitation.
The sacrifice of Christ is of infinite value to the universe in many more ways than that of being the chief factor of THE MEANS to the end that man can receive salvation. His suffering for the redemption of God's rebellious creatures is one of the most glorious revelations of the character of God ever made. Even if all men had rejected God's means of salvation, the atonement would still stand as the most astonishing testimony of the absolute faithfulness of the Father, both to His law and to His creatures. God's integrity and faithfulness to just principle, no matter what the cost, was forever established by the sacrifice of His only Son.
Instead of the atonement diminishing the honor of the law of God's throne, its value has been enhanced and both devils and angels have been made to respect His immutable counsel. All creation (man excepted) trembles at His word. The creatures KNOW that He means what He says. The death of God's Son on the cross was positive proof to demonstrate that it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
Just as the death of Christ was not sufficient in itself to alone justify the pardon of the transgressor; so also is repentance alone not sufficient. The sinner would have the power to save himself at any time he so willed it if his repentance were the only necessary factor in his coming to Christ. Repentance is also a factor of reconciliation, but not an all-inclusive factor.
Man's pardon for sin must involve reconciliation and reformation. Pardon is contingent upon the condition that there will be no recurrence of the transgression: “Go and sin no more”; then the penalty, if God's mercy is imposed upon: “lest a worse thing come upon you.” Reformation must precede reconciliation. Not until the transgressor has had a definite change of heart, can it be said that he has reformed. With the change of heart must come a positive intent of will to comply with the will of God. Upon the basis of the transgressor forsaking his own “wicked way” and “turning unto the Lord” with honest intent to do God's will, the powers of Providence are invoked to restore the man to fellowship with his Maker.
There is positively no Scriptural foundation to substantiate the popular idea that all any rebellious sinner has to do in order to become reconciled with God is merely to “accept the Lord Jesus Christ.” If God began handing out pardons to any old rebel, just for the asking, the inevitable result would be the dissolution of His whole Kingdom, for what sinner in rebellion wants a pardon, anyway? For Providence to pardon the rebel and take him into the confines of the kingdom of love would be equivalent to inviting a rattlesnake into the children's play room.
Peaceful coexistence of righteousness with unrighteousness is absolutely impossible. God is holy; those who fellowship with Him must also be holy, and there can be no exceptions. Holiness is that state of existing in complete harmony with the DIVINE LAWS OF FREE MORAL BEING.
In this lawless generation, many ministers are teaching that the curse of this world is THE LAW of God. They tell us that Jesus came to “fulfill” the law, and thus it was abolished. The doctrines of grace have been distorted by modern law haters until few men of the cloth actually have a full comprehension of the matters of law and grace. The warped idea many people have is that the grace of God is manifest because God abolished all law and set men free of all divine restraint, duty, or obligation. Such is not a Bible doctrine: it is a “doctrine of demons.”
“The law of the Lord is PERFECT, converting the soul.” Apart from the law of God, no soul could ever be converted. This may sound like heresy, but all sin is BY LAW condemned, and the sinner's fall is the result of the legal action of the law. In like manner, there must be legal action to bring about pardon for the sinner. Only upon the basis of the legal council of the Most High can the transgressor be restored. The law, which is the Word of God, condemns the transgressor. By the Spirit, the sinner is convinced of the justice and righteousness of the divine precept, and if he is honest of heart he will be driven to seek the Lord in contrition of spirit, and with a definite change of purpose he will cast himself upon the mercy of heaven's court which will bring about the conversion of his soul. If there had been no law of the Lord to convict the sinner, he would never have known about his undone conditions: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good” (Rom. 7:12).
The work of the atonement was not to destroy the eternal legal enactments of divine government; neither did Christ's sacrifice become a waiver for the accepting of lawbreakers: “Do we then make VOID the law of God through faith? God forbid: (notice that the apostle was shocked even at the thought) yea, we ESTABLISH THE LAW” (Rom. 3:31). If Christ did not make the law void, nor give men license to transgress its precepts, then in what way did His atonement have any bearing upon the demands of the eternal precepts?
He did not CHANGE THE LAW – it “was perfect” – He made possible the change of the NATURE of the creature. The grace of God was especially manifest in the gift of a “new heart” and a “new Spirit” (Ezek. 11:19). This is now “the day of salvation” in which “the Comforter” (the divine helper) is given to aid and assist every pilgrim in acquiring the divine nature.
With the advent of special divine Providence in this “day of salvation” there also was imposed upon the human race a greater responsibility, relative to God's holy law, than there was in former days: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” was never spoken to men before the days of Christ. Listen to this declaration of Jesus: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20). From His followers, Jesus DEMANDED MORE RESPECT FOR THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD than was required of the followers of Moses!
The law said: “Thou shalt not kill,” but Jesus said – “He that hateth his brother is a murderer.” Again the law stated: “Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:27,28). As spirit-endowed men become more conscious of the righteousness of the commandments of God, they also become more liable, and more is required of them. Of this new generation in Christ, the Father requires that they shall HONOR HIS LAW to a greater degree than did the legalists of ancient days: “The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (Isa. 42:21).
Jesus Christ, by His atonement, made it possible for Providence to justifiably provide an assistant or helper for wayward man; the divinely appointed “assistant” is the “Spirit of Christ” in the form of the Holy Ghost. He is the indispensable adjutant (assistant) for a successful voyage through life. By the fall of one man, the whole human race was made the servant of sin. Men's natures were warped, and they had a definite bias toward evil; this bias was not of the creature's making, it was a direct result of the fallen Adamic nature. “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19) – PROVIDED THOSE WHO WERE MADE RIGHTEOUS JUSTIFIED THEIR ELECTION. All men were not made righteous by the atonement, but a MEANS was made for men of faith to become the recipients of the benefits of the reclamation project.
We contend that divine election determines who is to be eternally saved and who is to be eternally lost, and we further contend that the election justifies the acts of Providence, and in its disposition it is in full agreement with both justice and mercy.
WHEAT OR TARE?
Shelia Rankhorn
Matthew 23: 23-28: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
Luke 11:39-42: “And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.’ “but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
One type of hypocrite is someone who feigns virtue or religious devotion. There are two distinct forms of such deceit. The first is the intentional deceiver, a malicious hypocrite who deliberately misrepresents themselves to create a false impression and achieve ulterior motives. The second type of hypocrite, which may pose a greater danger, is the individual who first deceives themselves and consequently misleads others. This individual can be termed a sincere hypocrite, as they genuinely believe in their own sincerity. The Pharisees exemplify this category. The most important aspect of this is the awareness that we may harbor hypocrisy while believing otherwise. We examine these "woes" to assess, gauge, and contemplate our own lives. Each of us has the potential for these issues. The objective is to recognize them now and confront and resolve them.
The Pharisees adhered strictly to numerous customs, traditions, and laws, prioritizing external appearances over internal integrity. The Pharisees were deeply invested in the workings of the Law, engaging in debates over the permissible distance one could walk on the Sabbath, the definition of work, the proper way to attach tassels to garments, and various other trivial matters. In their fervent discussions and preoccupation with legalistic details, they overlooked the fundamental purpose of these laws, which was to guide individuals toward a deeper relationship with God and to foster mutual honor and respect among one another. They disregarded the teachings of Jesus and failed to recognize Him as Lord and Savior. This behavior remains relevant to the modern church, and I don’t mean any specific church denomination or building. God’s people everywhere are His church. We have established specific times for church, meals, work, and other activities. While having a schedule is beneficial for knowing when to be present, it raises a question about our responsiveness to the Holy Spirit. In our relentless chase for personal goals, we often overlook Him. It is common to express a brief "thank you, God," yet our relationship with Him tends to be shallow.
The demands of our careers, family responsibilities, and various activities leave little room for spiritual engagement. We profess to have accepted Jesus as our Savior and often prioritize our appearance for church. We may find ourselves attending church sporadically, perhaps once or twice a month, if our hectic schedules allow. During these services, we might sing hymns without genuine enthusiasm, listen to the sermon, engage in light conversation with friends, and offer a quick nod to God before swiftly returning to our daily routines. At times, we may neglect to attend church altogether. Jesus says in Matthew 13:27-30, “So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Which one are we going to choose to be? A tare or wheat? Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” I want to be wheat and an overcomer. I seek the Holy Spirit's assistance, direction, and guidance, as I recognize that I cannot accomplish this without His help.
How frequently do we resist the Holy Spirit's leading, adhering strictly to our customs and traditions instead? The Spirit may have urged us to kneel and pray, yet we resist this call due to our own plans or desires that take precedence over the Spirit's invitation. Are we attuned to the guidance and calling of the Holy Spirit in our lives? More crucially, do we demonstrate obedience to the Spirit by acting upon those promptings? If we do not, what are the reasons for this? When someone reaches out to us in need, we may hastily end the conversation because of other commitments or a lack of interest. At times, we might not even respond to the call, simply due to a lack of interest. That is forgetting “the love of God.”
Many individuals are fortunate to work with fellow believers; however, the significance of their work often overshadows the opportunity to pray together. How many take advantage of their breaks and lunch hours to serve God? While sustenance is essential, there are times when we can forgo a meal or two in response to God's call. Those who do not share this sense of urgency may quickly criticize and react with anger, reminiscent of the Pharisees. In today's world, the risk of losing our jobs due to answering a call is significant; however, during our free time, do we take the initiative to listen and respond to that call?
Harold Scullin, a precious brother now deceased, once advised that when we sense the urge to pray, we must pause and engage in prayer. This act embodies our response to the call, demonstrating obedience, submission to God, and commitment to Him. Let me repeat part of those verses: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Ouch. How many times have I not obeyed the call? I hang my head in shame and pray for forgiveness. When we respond to the call of the Holy Spirit, the rewards extend beyond those we assist; we also receive blessings in return. Especially when we’re called to pray and we answer… oh the joy that fills our soul!
How much time do we dedicate to God’s Word? That is a call from God and not just the, “Ok, I read a few verses and said a quick prayer. That’s sufficient.” I have been guilty of that more often than not. 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” God's call extends to all of us, regardless of whether we are pastors, evangelists, or hold any other title. This directive is clearly outlined in His Word, which we are all expected to follow.
I have been blessed to have been asked to help lead an online women’s Bible study. The blessings I have experienced through immersing myself in His Word and responding to His call are profound. The joy derived from heeding the Holy Spirit, engaging in the study of Scripture, and connecting with like-minded women is beyond expression.
Do you understand the benefits of adhering to His teachings and engaging with His Word? Have you considered the value of dedicating time to prayer, even if it extends to an hour or longer? I long to express in writing the immense joy I have experienced, hoping to convey it to you through these words. Each individual needs to undertake this responsibility independently. The question I pose to myself is whether I will adhere to the call and remain committed to His Word, even if I am no longer assisting in the Bible study. If I wish to continue experiencing the blessings of the Holy Spirit, my answer must be yes. I have dedicated numerous hours online and, on the phone, to assist women seeking my support in Christ. I have often been awake late into the night to provide help to some of them. Although it is tiring, the experience is immensely fulfilling. It is also a call that is placed upon each of us: Philippians 2:3,4: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Ephesians 4:1-7: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” We are to walk in humility, meekness, and patience, enduring one another with love. We are to endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” There is supposed to be only one God above all and in us all, leaving no room for letting ourselves or the lust of the flesh be our gods. We are given grace by Jesus Christ, which doesn’t mean it is ok to do our own thing and go our own way. Whether we are denominational or non-denominational, discussions often revolve around various contentious topics, including signs of the end times, on what day church should be held, the appropriate amount of water for baptism, the frequency of the Lord's Supper, the organization of church governance, the political affiliations of Christians, the significance of different gifts of the Holy Spirit, the most reverent style of music for worship, and whether there even should be music. Acts 2:1: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Our lack of unity hinders the Holy Spirit. When we are not aligned in purpose and spirit, we create barriers that prevent the indwelling of His presence. Achieving harmony and agreement is essential for welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives and community. I earnestly desire to change, become faithful, and yield to His guidance. I pray that the Holy Spirit works in us and through us to become a people devoted to Him with singleness of mind. Romans 12:2: “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.”
Goettsche, B. (2017, October 29). The Nature of Hypocrisy – Matthew 23:23-28. Sermons by Logos. Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/601051-the-nature-of-hypocrisy-matthew-23:23-28
THANKSGIVING 2024
Alfred King
November is a month that most Americans look forward to because it is the time of year when we are reminded of the many blessings we have and in which we look forward to our family gatherings for some leisure time and that being topped off with Thanksgiving dinner. We, in America, have many things to be thankful for, especially if we are aware of the poverty, privations, lack of freedoms, and government oppression that multitudes in our world experience daily. If we consider the freedoms we have and remember that many in other nations know nothing of the blessings Americans have, it should make us eternally grateful. Many other countries are continuously engaged in civil, ethnic, and religious wars, where fear is experienced daily, and peace is something only hoped for. It is vividly clear to all who will study American history that God has blessed this nation because it was established upon principles and concepts drawn from the Bible. Many of the founding fathers were believers and, although some professed no religious convictions, yet they understood that freedom could only exist among a moral and ethical people. The Bible was found to be the best source of moral principles for a government of freedom.
The Thanksgiving tradition is generally considered to have come into practice in honor of the Pilgrims, who gathered together to give thanks to God for their safety in coming to America and for God’s blessings upon their harvest. However, giving thanks for the blessings of a good harvest is an ancient custom and was commonly practiced by Christians before, during, and after the Protestant Reformation. It is very probable that the giving of thanks among the Pilgrims and Puritans was a tradition brought with them from the old country.
George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as the first national Thanksgiving Day. Although it was observed by most states afterward, a specific date was not established nationwide until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln set the day for its observance to be the last Thursday in November. This was later changed to the fourth Thursday in November by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.
There is certainly nothing wrong with having a special day each year when we all pause from our busy lifestyles, consider the many blessings we have, and turn our hearts to God in appreciation and praise. We tend to get so wrapped up in our daily activities that we sometimes forget to remember Him Who “daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). Scripture admonishes us to be continually thankful, always rejoicing in the Lord, for it is in Christ that we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
Let all of us who consider ourselves “Christian” give thanks to the Lord in a special way this Thanksgiving Day. May God bless each one.
TO KNOW HIM
Randall Walton
“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
LIFE ETERNAL, also known as immortality, is the ultimate goal and hope of every believer. There are those who teach that man has an immortal soul, but the Scriptures do not support such an idea. Immortality is reserved only for those who know and follow Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:51,52; I John 2:25).
Here in John 17:3, Jesus equates life eternal with knowing God; not just knowing about God, but knowing Him in a personal, ongoing relationship. While the attaining of life eternal has a future fulfillment, knowing God is a present active reality. Knowing Him, then, is a foretaste of that divine state of immortality! Every believer can and should know the joy and bliss of knowing Him in this present life.
There are three levels or stages of knowing, or being acquainted with, God. He has made Himself accessible to mankind so that man can fellowship and communicate with Him and thus deepen his relationship with Him. “For through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph 2:18). And under the terms of the new covenant, “they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest” (Heb. 8:11).
Let us therefore consider the various levels of knowing the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
1 – By faith. A true believer has appropriated his salvation through faith in the word of God. He believes that the words of Jesus in John 3:16 are true (Also read Romans 10:8-10). Through his faith in the word, he understands that he has passed from death unto life and is now a new creature (John 5:24; II Cor. 5:17).
According to Ephesians 2:8, this faith “is the gift of God.” It is a divine quality which enables a person to believe that God is real, that he, himself, is a lost sinner who can reach out with this new-found faith and be reconciled to God. If the person will nurture, exercise, and feed this measure of faith, it will grow and become the means of developing a living dynamo of strength and fortitude in his walk and knowledge of God. Said faith will cause the believer to embrace the Word, and by so doing will draw him closer to God. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7).
2 – By obedience to the word. “And hereby we do KNOW that we KNOW him…if we keep his commandments” (I John 2:3). This, obviously, has relevance only to a person who has progressed in his relationship with the Lord past the conversion stage. Sad to say, relatively few believers seem to advance to this level of spiritual being. They love to cling to their little alibi – “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Little do they realize that said statement only applies to the unsaved, or the lost. There is nothing that a sinner can do to merit or deserve salvation. No amount of “good works” can make a person worthy to be saved; however, once a sinner is “saved by grace through faith,” then works have a definite value. In fact, it is upon the basis of works (not belief) that men will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; Matt. 16:27; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12,13). Furthermore, faith without works is dead (James 2:3).
Why would John make such an issue out of obedience to the commands of Jesus? He said that by keeping the words and sayings of Jesus we would have proof (KNOW) that we know Him. And he further said, “He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (verse 4).
To know God is to love God; these two divine qualities are inseparable. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The more one loves Him, the more he knows Him, and the more he desires to please Him by obeying His word. The very fact that a person will exercise himself in obeying the words of the Master is proof positive that he knows and loves Him. Notice, also, that his obedience stems not from fear of retribution for disobedience, but it springs forth from a heart of love for Him, and because he knows the blessedness of His divine presence. He will do whatever is necessary to preserve that glorious relationship.
It is amazing that when one speaks about “keeping his commandments,” many Sabbath keepers think that the subject is the Sabbath. But that is just not so. While keeping the Sabbath holy is important, it is but one commandment among many. Jesus in His ministry issued more than 150 other commands which are generally disregarded, overlooked, or rejected.
It is these words of Jesus to which John referred in I John 2:3. He had just been writing about Jesus being the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, then he sounded off with the statement: “Hereby we do know that we know him, IF we keep his commandments.”
Knowing God on this level is not very popular. It seems that the majority of believers are content to remain on level one where they seldom bump into such hindrances as commands and restraints. This no doubt accounts for the great apostasy which has overtaken the greater part of Christianity. It also helps to explain why the Laodicean church is lukewarm and is about to be spewed out by the Lord.
3 – By experience. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom. 8:16).
Every true believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Cor. 6:19). “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9b).
It is quite true that many saved people have not experienced the witness of the Spirit that they are saved. Their concept of God and things spiritual is based entirely upon faith in the word. They are no less saved than anyone else; they have never been aware of the indwelling of the Spirit into their bodies (temples). Yet some have been so overwhelmingly blessed of God when the Holy Spirit took up residence within them, that they can almost name the year, the month, the day, and the hour when this major event took place!
On this level, there is a greater understanding of the character and personality of Jesus the Lord. His presence is more greatly comprehended and appreciated because of the personal knowledge of the divine. This is perhaps better understood by reviewing the happenings that took place in the early church as found in Acts 1 and 2.
Jesus had told the disciples that in just a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5). He also said they would “receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (verse 8).
Then, in Acts 2:4 it is stated that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Three outstanding occurrences took place then and there: 1) They were all baptized with the Holy Spirit; 2) they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; 3) they received the power of the Holy Spirit. This was experience amplified! This drew them into a fellowship and communion with God that they had not previously known. Now they were able to understand the teachings of Jesus that, “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you”!
Of course, not every believer has been as blessed as were these saints, although many have received matchless blessings from the Lord after their conversion. We need to stress at this point that that company of people was under the dominion and power of the Holy Spirit. They did not attempt to conjure up the Spirit nor to work themselves into a spiritual frenzy. It is not recorded that they had a band playing nor even that they sang and danced and praised God. The most that was said of this group of about 120 souls, was that “they were all of one accord in one place.”
There have been many attempts made to duplicate that outstanding day of Pentecost, but the majority of them have turned out to be counterfeit. They were the efforts of mere carnal men to excite, overwhelm, and capitalize on poor gullible souls who don’t seem to know better and don’t seem to care. The Scriptures are loaded with warnings concerning deceivers, some of which even perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ name!
Nevertheless, there remains a genuine experience of glory and heavenly blessing for those who truly love God. This heavenly encounter opens up a channel within the believer that he never knew before. It is as if he just became personally acquainted with the Lord Himself. This level of knowing God is the supreme possibility available to every believer.
The Book of Hebrews expresses this divine state as having been, 1) once enlightened, 2) having tasted of the heavenly gift, 3) having been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 4) having tasted the good word of God, 5) and the powers of the world (age) to come (a foretaste of the glories of God) (Heb. 6:4-6).
Notice that anyone who has been so blessed as stated above is not free to apostatize or “fall away,” for if he does it is impossible to “renew him again unto repentance.” However, it is possible to enjoy the great and wonderful presence of the living God and remain faithful unto Him.
“Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). This divine relationship is the result of a person so in love with God that he is constantly praising, worshiping, and adoring the Lord of glory. In fact, we are commanded to do that very thing…Heb. 13:15.
“WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN”
(Jer. 6:16)
John Sanderson
These solemn words were spoken by a people who had totally rejected the leadership of the living God. Time after time God, through His servants, tried to warn the people of Israel of the consequences of disobedience to His way. They still rejected Him: “We will not hearken…” (vs. 17). By this statement, God was justified in sending judgment upon them.
The description of Israel’s departure from the ways of God is found in Jeremiah 6:10-16. Jeremiah could very well be describing our world today. When people refuse to listen to the word of God, let covetousness rule their lives, and reject the only possible way back to God, then those people need to take a closer look at the way they are going. Paul said that what happened to Israel was “written for our admonition” (I Cor. 10:11).
The word of God fell upon deaf ears. “To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach, and they have no delight in it” (Jer. 6:10). A very good definition of “hearken” is “to give respectful attention” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). The people had no desire to do or listen to what God had to say. Of these people, Isaiah said that they told the seers, “See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isa. 30:10). God’s way did not agree with their lifestyle. They wanted the easy life – not trials and tribulations.
Is our generation any different? “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4:3,4). Paul could not possibly be describing our period of time. After all, we have “loving” preachers who are more than willing to talk about our “eternal security,” the “rapture of the church,” and the “future reign of Christ in the millennium.” With this kind of preaching, who wants to hear about being a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9), loving our enemies (Matt. 5:44), and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33)? These things require action on OUR part. Think about it!
Materialism was too prevalent in their lives. “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one of them is given to covetousness…” (Jer. 6:13). Webster’s Dictionary says to “covet” means “to long to possess, especially what belongs to another; to desire unreasonably or unlawfully.” We don’t have this problem, do we? Shall we look a little closer?
Christ said that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Do we hear this in our present society or, how about in the church? We always hear that a person’s social stature is measured by the size of the bank account and amount of real estate. So, whom do we follow: Christ or mammon? Too many times we try both ways. It cannot be done. Allegiance must be paid to one or the other (Matt. 6:24).
Too many people work and work for material gain. In the end, what does it accomplish? I read in the Bible that when God told the rich man he was to die, He asked the man, “The things thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?” (Luke 12:21). Great wisdom is revealed in these words from Christ: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:20). This should be what we are striving for in this life.
Israel suffered severe consequences because of their materialistic life. Should we?
They rejected the “old paths.” “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 souls. But they said, “We will not walk therein” (Jer. 6:16).
Before Israel was given a king, they were ruled by God, through His prophets. There came a day when Israel wanted a king so they could be as the other nations. God told Samuel that they were rejecting His reign over them, not Samuel (I Sam. 8:7). They wanted nothing of God’s leadership – just the benefits.
Our generation is no different. The moral values of our present society have just about hit rock bottom. On every hand we hear from the pulpit it is permissible to commit sin if the situation calls for it. Webster’s Dictionary defines sin as “transgression against divine or moral law especially when committed consciously…” Sin is wrong for any situation. I have yet to find ONE scripture where Christ approved of sin.
With so many “fables” abounding in our “religious (?)” world today, we need “the old paths” in order to stay on the right way (Matt. 7:14). The best path for us to follow is the words of Christ (See: Matt. 5,6,7). His words do not meander in other directions. They deal with the way man lives from day to day.
As the church in Ephesus was told to “repent, and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5), so must we go back and walk “the old paths.” To reject the words of Christ can only bring condemnation in the last day (John 12:48).
Take the plea of Jeremiah seriously. “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein…” (Jer. 6:16). Clean out the spiritual ears; deal with materialism; and do not reject the way of the Lord. Israel’s answer sealed their fate: “WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN.” Must we follow the same path? (See: Heb. 4:7,11,16; II Chron. 7:14)
SET FREE FROM SIN
Charles Woodard
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22).
A local pastor made the following statement on a recent Sunday morning message: “The reason that we often return to wallow in sin is because we, like Paul, have a sinful nature, one that will never leave us until the day of our death.” It is obvious that this man knows nothing of the sanctification of the true believer.
The command of our Lord is to come out from among the unbelievers and be a separate people: “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (II Cor. 6:17). “Wallowing in sin” may be the state of some pastors and church members, but it is entirely opposed to the command of our Lord to come out and be separate.
The true believer is sanctified, or made holy, by God: “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1). Our sanctification, or holiness, is a continuous state: “For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified (set apart) are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Heb. 2:11).
We are made holy, or sanctified, by the blood of Jesus Christ: “Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Heb. 13:12). Sanctification, or holiness, is also affected by the Word of God, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
The pastor mentioned above, or anyone who has not died to sin, cannot teach others to be dead to sin. The apostle Paul asks a question, and then gives the answer: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:1,2). Because we are dead to sin, we walk in newness of life: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
The members of the Church of God in Corinth were sanctified in Christ, or using a present participle, they were being sanctified or made holy. One of the ways we know we have not received the grace of God in vain is because of purity (II Cor. 6). This is the true mark of the Christian walking in newness of life: in purity, in sanctification, and holiness. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). “Self” or “I” have been put to death that the living Christ might live in Paul and in the true believer. Self or the big I must die. The “old man” no longer exists but is dead. We appropriate the faith “of” Christ as the old man dies.
Just as Jesus came to do the will of the Father, so also we have come to do His will, and “by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:9,10).
We have a part in holiness by obedience to the Holy Spirit in cleansing ourselves: “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself…he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the master, prepared for every good work” (II Tim. 2:21). Complete sanctification, or holiness and righteousness, is being without blame, or blameless, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23).
Let us not be deceived by statements such as the above made by the local pastor. We can be washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:11). Christ does not give us sanctification, but is our sanctification, our holiness, our righteousness, our purity, and our redemption: “But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (I Cor. 1:30). We were redeemed from sin not by silver or gold but by the precious blood of Christ: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18,19).
The sinless Son of God dwelling in us affects our death to the old man, mortification of the old Adam, and the indwelling of the new man, the new Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.