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People of The Living God |
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June 2026
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
NO SECRET RAPTURE
Randall Walton
One of the most illusory doctrines to have befallen the Christian church is that grandiose scheme which states that Jesus may return to earth at any minute (maybe before you finish reading this) and secretly catch away His bride (the church) without notice, fanfare, or disturbance among those who aren’t so fortunate as to be caught away. Only after these privileged ones are safely ensconced in heaven will the remaining earthlings realize that the world has a smaller population.
Exciting; thrilling, isn’t it? Known in some circles as the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), this rapturous event is said to be most imminent at the present time because of all that is going on in the world. The Great Tribulation which Jesus predicted would take place is supposed to begin just after these saints have been snatched away to glory. For some inexplicable reason these raptured saints have acquired a Most Favored Status among earth’s inhabitants and may suddenly disappear before the worst trouble in earth’s history begins. (Some claim it will be 3½ years after the reign of terror has begun.)
This attractive and flesh-pleasing doctrine would be easy to accept if only it were mentioned in the holy Scriptures. But Jesus did not teach it, Paul and the other writers of the New Testament did not allude to it, and it is nowhere to be found in the Book of Revelation!
The lone passage of Scripture which is so ardently grasped by the promoters of this gross error is found in I Thess. 4:16-17 which plainly refutes all possibility of Jesus returning in secret at any time. “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL AND THE TRUMP OF GOD.” It is no secret, that’s for sure! Brother Paul makes sure that we all understand that when Jesus returns everyone will know about it.
Paul also sounded an alert of finality (or the end, the last day) with the pronouncement – “to meet the Lord in the air; and SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.”
The words “caught up” are highly significant for God’s people. They come from a Greek word, “harpadzo,” which means to seize or grasp. It is from this word that some certain Bible scholars derived the word rapture. It is a rather poor interpretation of “harpadzo;” a better word would be “translation.” The translation of the saints, of course, will occur at the end, in concurrence with the resurrection of all that are dead (John 5:28,29), and the Judgment. These events take place at one time, not in bits and pieces over an extended period of time, but as Paul explained it in I Cor. 15:51 and 52: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (remember that trump in I Thess. 4:16), for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised…”
There is no confusion in the word of God: confusion about Scriptural teachings is the result of manipulation by those who hold to pre-conceived notions and ideas. To explain this further, it is a fact that the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture was declared before any Scriptures were used in support of the idea.
A young Miss Margaret McDonald in Scotland claimed to have had a revelation From God that the church would escape the great tribulation by being secretly carried up to heaven. After she had circulated this information among the people in her denomination, then her pastor, Mr. Edward Irving, searched the Bible to find substantiation for her claim.
The only way to derive a pre-or-mid-tribulation catching away of the saints is to read into the Scriptures some things which are not there, or to ignore some of the words and phrases which are there. This is, of course, a very unhealthy way by which to arrive at truth. And the truth is that there is not one verse of Scripture anywhere in the Bible to support this erroneous idea of a secret “pre-trib” rapture.
For over 150 years the rapture teaching has dominated pulpits throughout the evangelical world, so much so that today the word rapture is used as if it were a proven fact. It goes unquestioned by millions of people who glibly accept the lie without once searching the Scriptures to see if it could be true or not true. It is really strange that people will listen to a minister expound this false doctrine and never challenge him to produce Bible evidence for his teaching.
Such statements as Paul’s in I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath,” are ripped right out of context in an effort to support the rapture theory. Paul was comparing the wicked with the saved regarding salvation. The thought of tribulation and/or troublesome times is not a part of that statement. This is a good example of what Paul was referring to concerning “handling the word of God deceitfully” (II Cor. 4:2).
As with all lies, when they are repeated over and over and over they become believable; so it is with the rapture doctrine. People believe it even though the Scriptures plainly refute the idea of such a thing occurring.
The upshot of this is the profound effect it has upon the stability and perseverance of those who expect to be raptured at any moment, perhaps today, even. It generates a spirit of slumber and sleep and serves as a blinder to the true spiritual condition of the people – the church. They accept the notion that everything is up to standard and that their relationship with God is all right.
But they overlook God’s assessment of the church of the Laodiceans: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).
The teaching of the rapture has made a major contribution to the above-described condition. It leaves people with no incentive to prepare either spiritually or physically for a time of trouble and disaster which is sure to come. “Noah…prepared an ark to the saving of his house” (Heb. 11:7). But suppose Noah had done nothing for preparation against the flood which destroyed the rest of mankind. Not only did he build a huge, monstrous boat “by which he condemned the world,” he also walked with God and found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8,9). He was fully ready when the first raindrops began to fall.
What a contrast that was from the modern situation where people have closed their eyes and ears to the truth and are content with fables (II Tim. 4:3,4). The rapture theory, like most fables, makes no demands upon its believers (one reason for its popularity). It costs nothing and gives people a blissful feeling: “Just think, He may come any day now and take us up to heaven to be with Him!” No wonder they call it the “blessed hope.” But, a rapture was not what Paul was talking about.
“Be Ye Also Ready”
Matt. 24:44
These words from the lips of our blessed Redeemer should be sounded forth throughout the earth. If there were ever a time when these words have an appropriate message, it is now, right now. Time is rapidly running out; that is, time to make the necessary preparation to meet the challenges of these last days. We urge all who will hear the truth to seek God as never before and let Him speak to you concerning these things, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
THE DIVISION OF THE SCRIPTURE
Harry Miller
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (I Timothy 2:15). “Rightly dividing” is not a haphazard process; nor is it a work for novices. Scholars down through the ages have probed and dissected the Scriptures in their attempts to unlock the mysteries of God. But man has never been given the power to pry apart the word of the Living God by means of human understanding.
Sages and profound thinkers have concocted many ideas and scholarly dissertations concerning the word of the Lord, but speculation does not reveal truth; and “man by wisdom knoweth not God.” God is known only by the spirit, and He reveals Himself only to those who seek Him according to the rules of divine law. Before any man can understand the written word, he must know the Living Word. To know the Living Word, is to be a person approved of God.
Here is the paradox of proper scriptural understanding: in order to properly divide, one must be an approved person; and in order to be approved one must have been able to rightly divide! In other words, approval and understanding must be simultaneous developments. As we hear His voice (by obedience) we begin to understand. Such understanding is growth, a development in character. This is pleasing to the Lord and we are rewarded by His favor, or approval.
The words of Jesus: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” are a declaration of this very process. To know truth is more than to be merely informed. Many have been informed that Christ died for their sins, but they have continued to remain in their sins. Why? Because they refused to accept the truth. It may be that they did not willfully resist the message, but they did not put forth any effort to embrace the gospel. Obedience hears, and then acts: this is faith with works. Such action is pleasing to the Lord and He approves, and with His approval knowledge is perfected in the obedient heart.
You may have often wondered why it is that there is so much confusion among Christians concerning the meaning of God’s Holy Word. Take particular notice of this one thing: confusion is among men, it is not in the word of God. Certain scholars interpret the scriptures to mean one thing and others claim something completely different, all from the very same words. The same passages of scriptures in the hands of different interpreters are often given violently opposing meanings.
The basic cause for doctrinal confusion is misinterpretation. Interpretation implies construction. Something is added. When man interprets God’s word he humanly supplies props, or crutches, to substantiate what he says the word means. Any man who presumes to do such a thing is in actuality claiming to shed light upon that which the Holy Spirit was not free to illuminate. Surely, if the Lord had so desired He could have made “The Book” so plain that even a moron could understand. But this masterpiece of literature is also a work of supreme wisdom. It is written so that “the wayfaring man though a fool shall not err therein,” but to those who are worldly wise God has allowed the sacred book to become a perfect snare and a trap.
Consider the unique construction of the Holy Writings: Sixty-six different books, the authors of which lived many centuries apart. Some of these were learned men, but others were “ignorant and unlearned.” Each author had his own individual style, but all “wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Some of these books are records of mysterious visions; some are filled with allegories, parables, symbols, signs, metaphors, and dark sayings; others are composed of nothing but poetry, with all of the figurative sayings of the poet; and others contain the plain direct statements, which have not the slightest taint of mystery. This is our Bible.
It is not surprising that many of “the stout in heart” have become confused over the “stones of stumbling,” but the Spirit has miraculously led the obedient through the confusing maze of seeming contradictions into the “green pastures” of the glories of the Lord all down through the years. This is a fulfillment of the scripture: “He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The very simplicity of God’s ways and methods has caused many high-minded people to stumble and fall. The key to rightly dividing the word of truth is so simple and so easy to understand that one is astonished at the blindness of those who are prone to wrest the scriptures to their own destruction.
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children” (Deut. 29:29). The scriptures contain many “hidden things” and many things which are “sealed.” Even the most casual observer must realize that the cryptic things of the word must be interpreted. To take every statement of the scriptures to be a literal fact would strain the imagination of even the most gullible. Almost all Bible scholars agree that the mysteries of the word need interpretation; and it is the vain attempts to unlock these mysteries that result in so much confusion.
A favorite pastime of some men is trying to discover a plausible explanation for the secret things. Many teachers have specialized on the books of Daniel and Revelation, and they have come up with all manner of odd conclusions. Since the Lord of heaven made the statement that “the secret things belong unto God,” even the angels must have been astonished when men were so foolish as to attempt to pry into His secrets.
When the sons of Adam make a rank display of the impudence of their proud hearts in vain attempts to build a human construction on Holy Writ, they not only deceive themselves: they also become deceivers of other men. To such people the word of the Lord is a constant snare, and their entanglement constantly becomes greater.
The “hidden,” “the sealed,” and “the secret things” all come under one category: They “belong unto God.” This is one “division” of the word of truth. Find and mark these things that “belong unto God.” Let such things remain in His keeping until the time that He sees fit to give you the proper understanding.
Another division of the word of truth is that of the plain statements. There is much instruction in the Word that needs no man’s interpretation. There are many commands that are so plain that even a small child can understand their full meaning. Such things are the plain statements. The “Sermon on the Mount” is packed with plain statements which no man needs to explain. In the plain statements there is no mystery. If any minister wishes to be “called great in the kingdom of God” he does not need to bring forth some high-sounding interpretation of these plain words. All that is necessary is that he “do and teach” other men to believe and practice the Saviour’s plain commands.
With the exception of the book of Revelation, the New Testament is written mainly in plain statements. The parables of Jesus are plainly stated as such; or their nature is such that any one can recognize them as parables.
In rightly dividing the scriptures of the New Testament, Christian obligation is set forth in the simplest and plainest of language. Any person who honestly desires to do the will of God will have no trouble finding his duties plainly written on the sacred pages. But woe to the individual who tries to find an easier way, a path of escape from duty, a wide gate and a broad way. Such people invariably revert to the mysteries! They become devout interpreters of the secret things, and eventually they have answers for everything.
“And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes” (Deut. 10:12).
“MORE THAN THESE”
James Sanderson
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30). In this command, the first and greatest ever issued to mankind, the Lord reveals the extent to which we are to manifest our love for Him: with all our heart soul, mind, and strength. In other words, the love of God must fill every fiber of our being. Some may contend, “Is not God expecting too much?” In return, I would ask, “Is not this the same intensity of love that He has showered upon us, and that undeserved?” The Apostle John writes, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19”). No one has ever loved us to the extent that God has loved us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...” (John 3:16a). No one has ever done for us what Christ has done for us. Jesus Christ paid an immeasurable price that day when He trudged up Golgotha's Hill and willingly handed Himself over to the executioners – a price that we could never pay.
After His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, Christ Jesus appeared to His disciples by the Lake of Galilee. There He approached Simon Peter with this question, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Peter steadfastly responded, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:15). It is “more than these” or nothing at all. He demands our steadfast love because He is worthy of our love. Our love for Him must transcend all earthly attachments. These three little words, more than these,” may seem unimportant, but they make all the difference in the world as related to our lives as Christians. “More than these” is an imperative, not an option.” “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37).
Love is a divine attribute that God desires to kindle within each of us. By nature we are not loving creatures. Selfishness and pride have etched their twisted marks into the very fabric of our hearts. The wonderful truth is that God has made a way for this ungodly nature to be replaced with His divine nature through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Love cannot be measured. One will not be able to analyze love in a test tube nor weigh it on a scale. You will not be able to pick up a pound of it at the local grocery store. It would be nice if one could place a Bible under his pillow one night while the angel of the Lord waved a heavenly wand over him. The next morning, he would then awaken to be the most loving person that walked the earth. The problem is that it doesn't work that way. God has not thus ordained it.
Love abides in the heart. The condition of our hearts can only be changed by the blood of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit with our cooperation. God will never force or coerce us to become loving people.
Love is neither a feeling nor an emotion. Although feelings and emotions may be involved, love is really a choice. We are actually commanded to love God and to love others, including our enemies. (Didn't God love us even when we were His enemies, going our own ways?) It helps me to understand love and to examine myself in this area if I break love down into 3 components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. This method is not perfect; however, it is quite helpful. One may be weak in one area and strong in another; however all three must be present to have true love. Case in point, the church at Ephesus was strong on commitment but weak in the other two areas. They had left their “first love.” When Jesus walked the earth, He exhibited every component of love. He was lacking in none. Christ's band of disciples were a far-from-perfect group of men. When their Leader was facing the most difficult trial of His life, the Bible tells us “they all forsook him, and fled” (Mark 14:50). Nevertheless, the Bible declares, “Jesus...having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). His love was steadfast and unshakable.
Intimacy
Intimacy is close familiarity or friendship, closeness from a spiritual standpoint. Intimacy involves a deep, close relationship with God. Jesus had such a relationship with the Father in Heaven. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel’” (John 5:19-20). “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matt. 11:27). Jesus Christ confided in the Father in heaven in all things, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which sent me” (John 5:30). Abraham, also, enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. He was called “the Friend of God” (James 2:23).
Christ invites each of us, His children, to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29). He grants us the privilege of pouring out our hearts to Him: our fears, our concerns, our sins, our sorrows, as well as our thanksgivings, our praises, and love for Him. He has even declared. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37b). James wrote, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).
Intimacy is the spark that maintains a loving relationship. Our relationship with the Almighty is the most important and most valuable relationship that we will ever have. Jesus Christ Himself admonishes us to cultivate and maintain that relationship lest it should deteriorate, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6).
One can measure one's depth of intimacy with the Lord by his trust in Him. As this intimate relationship blossoms and grows, one's level of trust in God grows, also. We must remember, at this point, that intimacy is a component of love. The more we love someone, the more we long to be with that person. Intimacy is one way to cultivate a relationship and enlarge one's love for another. Without intimacy love will grow cold. The Psalmist declared, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). To enter into the presence of God is the greatest privilege that a child of God can have.
Many Christians have often opined, “If only I could have walked the shores of the Lake of Galilee with the Savior just as the disciples of old walked.” The good news is that He is still just as much available today as He was in days of yore, and, in some ways, He is more available. We can abide in His presence, delighting in sweet communion wherever we may be both in good times and in difficult times. The invitation is extended. The choice is ours. As we experience this intimate fellowship with Him, we are able to rise above many of the temptations of this life; furthermore, we position ourselves, with our spiritual antennas aloft, ready to hear what instructions He may have for us.
Passion
Passion is the driving force of love. It is the flame that burns within the human heart for God. Passion is the life blood of love. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). Psalm 42 is a song of passion as the psalmist yearns for fellowship with the Almighty. The Word of God calls out to us, “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 38:8). The passionate have tasted and discovered that nothing else in this world offers the satisfaction that God brings to the soul of man.
Unlike the gods of other religions, our God, the Christian God, is a personal God. Every soul is valuable to Him. He longs to have fellowship with man. He even offers a special blessing to those who have a passion for the things of God, “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).. It is the passionate who seek after and find God. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). A term often used as a synonym for passion is devotion. Charles Finney defines devotion, ”Devotion is that state of the will in which the mind is swallowed up in God as the object of supreme affection in which we not only live and move in God, but for God. In other words, devotion is that state of mind in which the attention is diverted from self and self-seeking and is directed to God – the thoughts and purposes and desires and affections and emotions all hanging upon and devoted to Him.” (emphasis in the original)
Many of the saints of old were passionate for God Samuel did not allow any of the words of the Lord to fall to the ground ( I Sam. 3:19) The Lord Himself testified of David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (I Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). The Apostle Paul, fervently devoted to the cause of Christ, wrote, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:8).
Lukewarmness is a roadblock to passion. The church of the Laodiceans in the Book of Revelation had become lukewarm. Since their passion for God had disappeared, they were now “neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:16). They had become spiritually satisfied and even declared that they had “need of nothing” (vs. 17). They had lost their hunger and thirst for the things of God. That unquenchable desire for God was no longer present. The Lord declared that they were blind to the fact that they were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (vs 17). The cares of this life and the trinkets of this world can easily rob us of our most valuable possession, our love for the Most High. When we realize that our hearts have strayed, we must vigorously repent, renounce all that stands between us and God, and humbly return.
Commitment
Commitment is the responsibility of love. Love without commitment is hollow, becoming something other than true love. Commitment is the sure evidence that we truly love. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Christ did not merely say, “I love you.” He demonstrated that love by offering Himself as the ransom for our sins. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor 5:21). The Apostle Paul states it another way, “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25). The Apostle John words it this way, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (I John 3:18).
The question remains: how shall we, the recipients of God's magnanimity, demonstrate our gratitude and love for Him in return? In other words, how shall we fulfill our responsibility of love to God just as He took responsibility for His love to us? What is my commitment and your commitment? The Apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again” (2 Cor 5:14-15). The tremendous love that Christ showed to me by giving His life for me compels me, presses me, and moves me to live my life for Him. My highest priority in life should be to please Him in all that I say and all that I do. This commitment is biblical and only reasonable: “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” (Rom. 12:1-2).
Christ equates love for God with obedience to God. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The evidence that we truly love God and appreciate all that he has accomplished for us is our obedience. Our obedience fulfills our responsibility to love; it is our commitment.
A Conduit of God's Love
Tertullian, a third century church leader and writer, wrote, “See how these Christians love one another.” This now famous quote emphasizes the fact that love for God and one's fellowman is a central teaching of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ was the supreme embodiment of compassion, sacrificial service, and divine love. We, as Christians, are admonished by the Apostle Paul to “walk in love.” “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour” (Eph. 5:2). We are to be conduits of God's love to those about us. Only as we abide “rooted and grounded” in His love (Eph. 3:17) can we remain channels of God's love to others. How can we develop such a steadfast love? (1) Continue to cultivate a more intimate relationship with Christ, the source of love, (2) Pray that He might increase our passion for souls and concern for the plight of others, and (3) accept responsibility for whatever God may place upon our hearts as a commitment to love.
REASON AND REPENTANCE
Curtis Dickinson
Back in the 1960s during President J.F. Kennedy’s “Camelot” administration, there began a trend in politics and education to denigrate reason and logic and find answers to all problems through emotion and sentiment. Joseph Fletcher’s concept of “Situation Ethics” was popular, and even used as a study in some churches. Debate and serious inquiry gave way to polls on popular opinion.
The churches, always trying to be “relevant,” took up the same trend and abandoned hard thinking and discipline to adopt sentiment and entertainment. Church growth took the place of evangelism. Church leaders became more concerned with what is practical than with what is true. The slogan became, “Do whatever works,” which meant follow whatever program fills the pews, never mind that it leaves people spiritually empty and fails to produce a body of disciplined members committed to follow Jesus. Money and time went for aerobic classes, yoga instructors, entertainment and sports. Majestic and classic hymns gave way to short repetitive choruses accompanied by primitive rhythm.
Under the government-controlled schools, everyone is taught that there are no absolutes. (University professors are absolutely sure of this claim!) This has resulted in religion being based on sentiment rather than on faith in revealed truth. To reach the young people, who have been indoctrinated in school to think that absolute truth is non-existent, churches now aim at appealing to their sentiments. The music and sermon are designed, not to focus on truth, but to stir feelings.
What is obvious by its omission in today’s religious mix is the one thing that was emphasized by Jesus and His forerunner, John the Baptist. The message then was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Whether addressing the religious hierarchy or the common man on the street, Jesus insisted that repentance was necessary. Jesus not only announced that God loves the world, He also said, “Except you repent you shall perish” (Luke 13:3).
The first sermon of the New Covenant order was delivered by Peter at Pentecost, and his message was, “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). According to Luke, the final message of Jesus to the apostles was that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached” to all nations (Luke 24:47).
Biblical repentance is never motivated by mere emotion or sentiment, but is generated by a process of reason based on facts of the gospel. John the Baptizer stirred people to repentance by laying before them the facts of God’s Messiah and the judgment to be faced. Multitudes responded because there was propositional truth to reason with, and not because of John’s charisma or oratorical ability.
Preachers need to forget their books of illustrations, the tear-jerking stories from the latest book by the popular writers, and concentrate on the rich gold mine of the Bible. Yes, Jesus did tell stories. But His parables were to challenge thinking and expose truth, not to evoke sentimental feelings nor arouse emotions.
His story of two sons gives the essence of repentance. One son agreed to work in the vineyard, but never went. The other at first refused to go, and said, “I will not,” but “afterward he repented himself and went” (Matt. 21:28-30).
The church, as the salt of the earth, should ever be exposing the sins and idolatry of society, but, instead, it seeks to be contemporaneous and acceptable to that society. Instead of repudiating the pagan culture, it imitates it, tries to look like it, sound like it, and go to extremes to avoid offending it. It boldly displays the cross in conspicuous places and spends a few minutes with the communion service, but these symbolic gestures offer no challenge to the pagan world.
To a large extent we have exchanged reason for emotion and sentiment. The emphasis is on one’s experience and feelings. These may be mistaken for faith, but when circumstances change, so does the faith. Emotional exhortation may stir people to feel that they are having a religious experience, but if it is not grounded in a reasoned belief in the gospel it is devoid of power.
Millions now agree with Joseph Fletcher that, “Nothing is inherently good or evil.” Without absolute truth and definite standards of good and evil, there is neither basis nor motivation for repentance. It is the gospel that is the power of God to change a person. This gospel is the good news of facts to be believed and understood, which requires reason, not sentiment and emotion.
Repentance can take place only when the penitent one is convinced that a wrong has been committed. This requires reason and logic. “Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow…” (Is. 1:18). Luke records that it was the apostle Paul’s custom to reason with people from the scriptures (Acts 17:2). “So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him” (Acts 17:17). He considered it his task to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:5). The power of God to bring man to repentance is in the gospel, when understood and believed.
When “faith” is not based on reason one is led by what is felt to be right. Such feelings often result from the influences of the non-Christian world. Without objective reason, good and evil are only sentiments. If morality is based on such sentiment – how one feels about it – then there is no sense of guilt toward God and no need for repentance. Evangelists seek to get a response by arousing one’s emotions, to make people feel guilty. As one who for years led the singing in evangelistic meetings (or revivals) I was continually made aware that my part was to prepare the audience by establishing the proper emotional setting for the sermon. Although the message might be based on Biblical truth, the closing words and the invitation hymn were usually designed to appeal to emotion.
Response that is based on sentiment and emotion can hardly be considered repentance. Repentance must be based on the reality of a consciousness of sin in the face of the reality of God’s perfect nature and purpose for His creation. One may weep bitterly over some serious action that has brought grief to oneself and to others, and it might be defined as repentance, but not necessarily repentance toward God. Godly repentance is a sorrow for having offended God and a reasoned change of mind and heart. It is a change that involves all of one’s life.
The prodigal son of Luke 15 is a classic example of true repentance. He had torn himself away from his father and lived in pagan revelry until he realized he was in desperate circumstances. Jesus said that he “came to himself” and began to reason that he was about to perish, and needed reconciliation with his father. He admitted that he had sinned and was now willing to submit to his father’s will as a humble servant. All of this was part of his change of mind, but that wasn’t all there was to his repentance. Jesus said, “And he arose, and came to his father.” He left the pagan lifestyle, where he was feeding swine, and actually journeyed home to face whatever shame or punishment might be waiting. His father, in extreme mercy and grace, received him in love.
Repentance means that one will no longer take part in the practices of the pagan people around him, that he will separate himself from the common pagan beliefs and lifestyles of today. Turning to God our Father means turning away from the modern idols of society and seeking to please God rather than the fashion of the hour. “If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). This means that a Christian will not feel at home in the popular culture of the unbelieving world, but will be as a stranger and sojourner (Heb. 11:13-16; Rom. 12:3).
Such a Christian might not even feel at home in the modern church, as many church leaders strive to keep the church from appearing different from the world’s institutions. The person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness (Matt. 5:6) may be seen by others as a religious fanatic or oddball, but Jesus said that he will be blessed and satisfied.
It only takes a few moments of real thought for one to change his mind. As the light and salt of the world, it is the Christian’s place to awaken people from their media-induced stupor and tell them the truth of Christ and the gospel. It is this truth that will produce repentance and make them free, free from sin, free from death, and free to live.
DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
FIRST AND CHIEF NEED OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
Andrew Murray
The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God. The Divine life within us comes from God and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, so it is only in direct, living communication with God that my soul can be strong.
The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God. (“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” Job 23:12)
To this end let your first act in your devotions be a setting yourself still before God. In prayer, or worship, everything depends upon God taking the chief place. I must bow before Him in humble faith and adoration. God is. God is near. God is love, longing to communicate Himself to me. God, the Almighty One, who worketh all in all, is even now waiting to work in me and make Himself known. Take time till you know God IS very near.
When you have given God His place of honor, glory and power, take your place of deepest lowliness and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature, it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner, you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self-abasement. As a saint, let God's love overwhelm you and bow still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you! Oh, take time to get very low before God!
QUESTION FROM A READER
I have been a subscriber to The Testimony of Truth for many years. I am writing to ask for a reply to this question: Why in the New Testament are the following titles used regarding Jesus?
The Tiles are:
Jesus as the Son of God?
Jesus as the Son of man?
Jesus as the Son of David?
Please, explain how the above titles relate to Jesus’s humanity versus divinity.
Sincerely, T.R.
OUR REPLY
It seems best to me to first define the word “Son,” and it is used in scripture in different ways and, thereby, causes some misunderstanding to many people. As the primary use of the word, a son is the male offspring of his parents. However, in scripture it often refers to the offspring of one’s ancestral lineage. Thus, Jesus is called the Son of David and also the Son of Abraham as seen in Matthew 1:1: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
This fact is very important when reading the promises given, both to Abraham and to David. Let’s consider a couple of examples:
In Genesis 15, God promised Abraham that his offspring (called “seed”) would come a great nation and would inherit the land of Canaan.
Let’s read three verses in this chapter where this promise is recorded.
Gen. 15:5: “And he (God) brought him (Abraham) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Seed referring to Abraham’s descendants)
Gen. 15:13: “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.” God told Abraham that his “seed” (descendants) would be afflicted in a foreign land. This was fulfilled when his descendants were enslaved in Egypt and who were, after 400 years, delivered by the hand of Moses, all of which is recorded in Exodus.
The third mention of Abraham’s seed is Gen. 15:18. “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Each of these verses speak of Abraham’s offspring. From this we find that Jesus was also the Son of Abraham because He came from the descendants of Abraham.
The importance of biblical genealogy, especially in regard to Abraham’s seed must not be underestimated, for God promised Abraham that the Seed that was to come as the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham. The genealogical record is just one of many proofs that Jesus was the promised Messiah that was to come.
Consider the other promise given to Abraham in Genesis 22. In Genesis 22, God had called him to go to a certain mountain and offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. One can only imagine the pain Abraham must have gone through as he took Isaac and journeyed for three days to Mount Moriah. After Abraham had secured Isaac to the altar, he raised the knife to slay his son when an angel called to him and stopped him.
It was then that God spoke to Abraham again and gave him a tremendous promise, “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed (Israel) as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed (Jesus)shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Gen. 22: 17-18). This was a dual promise, the nation of Israel that possessed the land of Canaan and the Seed that was the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In this promise, we see the word “seed” used three times. The first time, Abraham’s seed is clearly plural. The second time could be either singular or plural; but notice that God said his seed would “possess the gate of his enemies.” God’s choice to use the pronoun “his” seems that God uses the word “seed” here in the singular rather than plural.
The third time the word is used most obviously throughout the remainder of scripture, speaks of Jesus. Paul solidifies this point in Galatians 3:16. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” So while the word “seed” is used in the plural, speaking of Israel, in Genesis 22:18, the promised Seed is Jesus Christ.
The same logic applies to the seed of David. Again, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:2-4, “(Which he (God) had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Take special note of the seed of David as that of the “flesh” (the natural or physical) in contrast to the “Son of God” with power according to the “spirit” of holiness and by “resurrection”.
Jesus’ physical birth was through Mary, who was herself, a descendant of Abraham and David, but His spiritual birth was through God the Father. This is just one reason the virgin birth is a critical truth of the Gospel. If there was no virgin birth then Jesus is not the Son of God and, therefore, there is no redemption and no salvation. Jesus, as God in the flesh, came as the propitiation for mankind: He was the atoning sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world.
One other important fact on this topic is that Jesus is God and, therefore, has always existed. Many people want to claim that since Jesus is a son, (in this case the Son of God), He did not always exist; rather He came about through God, the Father. This is not true. Jesus is called the God because He was born of a virgin. According to scripture, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Mary and Jesus was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:26-31 gives us a detailed account of Mary’s conception. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
In conclusion: Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning the Messiah. Jesus is the Son of David and Abraham. He is the Son of man. He is God incarnate. Jesus is God. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is man’s only atoning sacrifice.
I hope this will help clarify the questions you have concerning Jesus and His relationships to Abraham, David, and God as the Son of each. If you have further questions, feel free to write and we will try to answer them as best we can and as we understand scripture teaches.
The Editor
TRUE OR FALSE GOSPEL OF SALVATION?
Al Van Dyk
The time for easy believism is ending. The 21st Century requires a better commitment to Christ, and better preparation for unprecedented tribulation and spiritual warfare. Preparation begins with a solid and true salvation experience and commitment.
Modern evangelicals present a watered-down partial gospel that is more deceptive and dangerous than no gospel at all. They falsely tell people that all they need to do to be saved is “believe in Jesus” without explaining that the word “believe” means, “to have faith, to entrust – believe, commit,” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary #4100). The Amplified Bible explains the word “believe” to mean “trust, clings to, relies on.” Believing is more than intellectual agreement with the facts about Jesus. It means to entrust your entire life for the present life-time and for eternity to Jesus Christ.
Many evangelicals urge people to “invite Jesus into their hearts” to be saved, using John 1:12 as a proof text. But there is much more to being saved than just asking Jesus into your heart. Verse 13 of John 1 says that receiving Christ involves being born, not of our human will, but by the Spirit of God. Being born again is more than a superficial religious experience. It is being transformed from living by human life to living by the divine/eternal life of Christ in us (Gal. 2:20).
Many “Christians” including preachers fail to tell you all the Bible says about being saved. They leave important parts out of the gospel message. The Bible says we need to:
1. Repent – turn from self and sin to Jesus Christ – to be saved (Acts 2:38).
2. Follow and obey Jesus (John 10:27-28; 14:15; Luke 9:23).
3. Intimate relationship with Jesus Christ living in you (John 15:5; I John 5:11-13).
4. Believe (trust) in Jesus as Lord (Master, Commander) of your life (Acts 16:31), not just your Savior from hell like a fire insurance policy.
5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) – adult believer’s baptism.
Many people say they love Jesus, but loving Jesus is more than an emotional feeling of endearment. Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Also see verse 21.
Then many Christians make the error of telling people they have eternal life after a superficial presentation, and an equally superficial commitment such as raising your hand in a meeting or repeating a little prayer. I John 5:11-13 is used as a proof text, a good and proper scripture, but not to be used too quickly, and especially not when people have been manipulated into a “decision” or when people do not understand the full gospel and what it means to lay down our lives for Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23), turn from living for self and sin to live for the Lord (Master) Jesus. Let’s not inoculate people with a superficial commitment and false assurance of salvation that comes short of really being saved, that leads to hell instead of salvation and eternal life.
People often cite the example of the dying thief on the cross who made a simple request of Jesus without having time to mature in faith, and yet he was told he would be in paradise with Jesus. Jesus knows our hearts, and that is what really counts. The dying thief’s request shows an understanding and implies a commitment about the heart issue of the gospel, the kingdom of God that few Christians know anything about.
Today’s generation of so called Christians typically live for themselves instead of for Christ. They do not know the crucified, sanctified life in Christ. They are carnal sons of the world, not sons of God and His glorious kingdom. These false Christians are on the way to destruction in hell, having no part in Christ and His eternal kingdom which is only for His truly born again and faithful followers.
Beware of false religious preachers/teachers and churches of men who fail to tell you clearly all that the Bible says about being saved.
Read the Bible for yourself to find out what God says about the way of salvation and eternal life. Trust in Jesus, not a religion or church of man, to be saved. Turn from living for yourself and the world to live for Christ and His kingdom. Follow and obey the Lord Jesus as the Master of your life. Identify with Jesus Christ and His life, death and resurrection by being baptized, adult believer’s baptism. Prove your love for Jesus by keeping His commandments.