The Falling Away that Brought on the Dark Age – Part 2

The Falling Away that Brought on the Dark Age

By: Gene Lyles – Part 2

In spite of the division within the church in those early centuries, the Roman government continued persecution of those who were identified as Christians. This persecution continued until the time when Constantine became the emperor. Constantine was among the high-ranking officials within the Roman government, and witnessed the persecution of Christians. He strongly disliked what he saw. Furthermore, his mother was said to be a Christian. When he won a decisive battle over the army of Maxentius in 312 A.D., he stopped the persecutions of Christians, and soon declared himself to be a Christian. Furthermore, he gave Christians special privileges and used great sums from the Roman treasury to build magnificent structures for Christians to use as places of worship.

Also, in the early days of his reign, he declared Christianity to be the state religion, which was a crucial blow to paganism. Even though this appeared to be a great victory to Christianity, it proved to be a hurt rather than a help. Making Christianity the state religion caused many to become Christians (?) who were not truly converted to the faith of Christ, thus they were easily led to follow the apostate leaders in the church.

As emperor, Constantine had those who ruled under him in the various provinces within the empire, and not all of them were pleased with his favor toward the Christians. One ruler in particular named Licinius, who ruled in the Byzantine province, rebelled against his rule, and continued severe persecution against the Christians in that area. Constantine took his army, and defeated Licinius and executed him for his revolt in continuing his persecution of Christians. He rebuilt the city of Byzantium on a magnificent scale, and re-named it Constantinople. In the year 324 A.D., Constantine moved the seat of government from Rome to Constantinople, and became very involved in the religious controversies among the bishops. Since Christianity seemed to be stronger in the East, his leanings were more in favor with the bishops of the East. This was the beginning of a spiritual war between the high-ranking bishops, especially between the bishop of Rome and the bishop of Constantinople.

The spiritual war between the high-ranking bishops of the apostate wing of the church continued about two hundred years. It was not so much a war over doctrinal issues as it was over power and control. Since there were five major provinces within the Roman Empire, there were now five provincial bishops, and each of them wanted to be the chief bishop, yet each was reluctant to make such an exalted claim for himself. These five bishops were located in the seats of each province: Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexander. Of these five cities, the bishop of Rome and Constantinople were without question the most powerful. So the power struggle finally narrowed down to the bishops of Rome and Constantinople. Since the seat of the Roman Empire was now located in Constantinople rather than Rome, the bishop of Constantinople naturally felt he should occupy the preeminent position. So in the year 588 A.D., with the encouragement of the emperor, he declared himself to be bishop over the church universal.

As you can imagine, this didn’t set very well with the bishop of Rome, who at that time was Gregory the Great. He was very upset over this ambitious claim by John the Faster, so he wrote him a very lengthy letter of rebuke, but John did not relent. Without question, Gregory proved by his letter that he knew the idea of a universal bishop was contrary to the scriptures. The following brief quote from Gregory to John will show that he clearly understood this.

You know it, my brother; hath not the venerable Council of Chalcedon conferred the honorary title of universal upon the bishop of this Apostolic See, whereof I am, by God’s will, the servant? And yet none of us hath permitted this title to be given him; none has assumed this bold title, lest by assuming a special distinction in the dignity of the episcopate, we should seem to refuse it to all the brethren (Church History by Klingman, page 18, Par. 2).

From this quote it is clear that Gregory did not make this claim to himself. Yet the Roman Catholic Church today lists him as one of their greatest popes. Furthermore, it proves that there were no such offices as universal bishop prior to 588 A.D.

In the year 601 A.D., the centurion, Phocas, rebelled against the emperor, slew him and his family in an atrocious manner, usurped the throne, and moved the seat of the empire back to Rome. Shortly thereafter, Boniface III, bishop of Rome, persuaded Phocas to transfer the title universal bishop to him. Phocas agreed to do so, thus in the year 606 A.D. Boniface III was declared bishop over the church universal. Please observe that Roman Catholics cannot claim a pope prior to 606 A.D. Furthermore, they will have to admit that the murderous emperor was the one who appointed him, not God.

Not only does the year 606 A.D. mark the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church, but it also marks the beginning of a great division between the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, neither of which by this time bore any similitude of the true church of the Lord. Truly the great falling away spoken by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 had occurred and a very dark age for the church was fully present. It all started with the desire of church leaders to seek a position of preeminence within the church. The grounds on which they moved to attain this unwarranted position was to claim direct guidance of the Spirit; a claim they could not substantiate by any God given miraculous power.

In conclusion we would like to point out that present day religious division and confusion can be traced to the same problem that occurred in the early days of the church. Just as religious leaders claimed direct guidance of the Spirit then, there are many religious leaders today making the same claim. Rather than being guided by the divinely inspired word of God’s divinely appointed apostles and prophets of the first century, they make a false claim which they cannot substantiate by any miraculous credentials. Just like the bishops in the early church who taught conflicting ideas, these today who make the same claim are teaching conflicting ideas. The only solution that God will accept is for men to quit making a claim which they cannot substantiate, and be guided solely by the scriptures which were given by the men whom God gave the necessary credentials to substantiate their testimony. Until this is done, there can be no religious unity among those professing to be Christians. It is this course to which this writer appeals.

Now back to our main thoughts. Since the bishop of Rome now had the backing of the emperor as being universal bishop over all the churches, and since Christianity had been made the state religion, any person, or group who did not submit to the authority of the Roman bishop was either slain or excommunicated by his command. This is why we read in the history of the bloody inquisition in which literally thousands were put to death if they didn’t submit to the authority of the Roman pontiff. This bloody persecution continued until the time of the great Protestant Reformation which finally broke the power of the Roman pontiff.

Even though the Protestant Reformation broke the power of the Roman pontiff, and gave the scriptures back into the hands of the common man, the different Protestant churches retained much of the false teaching that was brought on the scene by the various bishops of the early church who claimed direct guidance by the Spirit. Thus Protestantism fractured into a multitude of denominational churches. Each church drew up its own creed rather than allow the scriptures to be their guide. It is these creeds that keep these Protestant churches divided, and as long as these creeds are kept intact, religious division will continue among them.

It should be clear to any thinking person that God alone can give to man a perfect creed. This he has done in giving to the world his inspired word. If we really want religious unity, we must discard all these human creeds, and by guided solely by His divinely given creed. For us today that is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ, the New Testament scriptures.

It is utterly foolish to say we cannot understand what the Holy Spirit directed the apostles and prophets to write, but that we must have the Holy Spirit to guide us to understand what he guide them to write. This is as foolish as saying that the Holy Spirit directly guides me, but now must explain what he meant when he guided me. If one believes this foolish notion, he needs to read again 2 Corinthians 1:13, and Ephesians 3:3-5. Since God by the Spirit is the author of the written word, it is blasphemy to say that God could not give to man a written record that he cannot understand without additional guidance of the Spirit.

It is the conclusion of this writer that if the Christians of the first century could understand the oral message of inspired men, and become members of the church of Christ without being a part of any man-made denomination, then men today are able to understand their inspired written word, and become members of the same church of Christ without being a part of any manmade denomination. If we today continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine in every phase of the faith and practice they handed down to us, then we are indeed members of the true church of the Lord.

The writer of this article not only believes it is possible for one to be a member of the true church of the Lord, but is fully persuaded that he has been for the past sixty-four years. He sees no reason why anyone would want to stay in a denominational church that was founded by men, when he could be in the church founded by the Lord that is governed by his divinely given creed, the New Testament scriptures. One would be truly a Christian, wearing a divinely given name that would glorify the one who died in his behalf. Friend, why not follow this safe and only course?

                                                                                                                

Gene Lyles   

The Falling Away That Brought On the Dark Age - Part 1

The Falling Away That Brought On the Dark Age
By Gene Lyles – Part 1
God, through the apostle Paul, warned that among the very leadership within the church, perverse teaching would occur that would lead disciples away from the faith (Acts 20:29-31). He further stated that there would come a falling away (an apostasy) within the church in which the man of sin, the son of perdition, would exalt himself above all that is called God: even declaring himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:1-4). Even at the time the apostle Paul recorded this prophesy, the mystery of iniquity was already at work (2 Thess. 2:7). Thus it should not surprise us to learn from history that many churches had a single bishop over them even before the end of the first century, rather than a plurality of bishops as the scriptures so clearly teach (Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
It was this change in God’s divine arrangement that finally led to a universal bishop over all the churches. Out of this unscriptural arrangement came two powerful religious bodies – the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church –neither of which bore any similitude of the church described in the New Testament. In this article we shall trace the pyramiding of authority which gave these bishops the ability to take the scriptures from the hand of the common man. Even though this was not fully accomplished, it became extremely difficult for the common man to acquire a copy of the scriptures. Had the scriptures remained in the hands of the common man, it is very unlikely that this hierarchical system would have every fully developed. But it did develop, and it is the purpose of this article to tract this falling away step by step to the point which finally led to the dark age at which time the light of God’s word was virtually taken from the common people.
It is difficult to believe that the world could ever go through another dark age, but such is actually taking place at the present time. Even though the scriptures are readily available to all, Satan, through the influence of Atheism, Humanism, feminism, Calvinism, and political liberalism (which has been catering to these satanic organizations), the minds of most people have been taken off of spiritual matters, and put on secular matters. Thus they no longer have a desire to study the scriptures. As far as divine truth is concerned, it seems they couldn’t care less. Even the religious bodies, which seem to be thriving, are doing so by secular enticements, not by the teaching of God’s holy word. Only God can turn this situation around, but you can be sure he will do so in due time.
Those acquainted with history know that the church of the Lord was established in the days of the Roman empire as prophesied in Daniel, chapter two. The Roman empire was deeply rooted in pagan idolatry. Even the emperor was an object of worship. As Christianity began to spread throughout the empire, pagan idolatry began to dwindle. This set in motion a great persecution of Christians by the Roman government. It was during this period of time that many Christians were thrown into the arena to be devoured by wild beasts. Rather than halt Christianity, this ungodly persecution only caused it to grow faster due to the unrelenting faith of the early Christians. The Roman empire began to crumble under the leadership of the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands as prophesied in Daniel 2: 44-45.
Even though Christianity flourished under Roman persecution, there was another problem that raised its ugly head as this persecution was taking place. This was the problem that the apostle Paul warned against in Acts 20:29-31 that among the leadership of the church men would arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. It involved the desire for preeminence among the leadership within the church. A good example is seen in Diotrophes as recorded in 3 John 9-10. Even while the Lord was still on the earth, James and John sought for a position of preeminence in the Lord’s kingdom. However, the Lord quickly corrected them for having such a desire as recorded in Matthew 20:20-27. Also, at a later date, the apostle Peter warned against the leadership of the church having a lordship attitude toward their brethren (1 Pet. 5: 1-3). This should have settled the matter of preeminence, but it didn’t. With the help of Satan, certain ones in leadership positions sought to gain dictatorial control over their brethren.
At this point in our study, we need to carefully examine what the scriptures teach concerning the organizational structure of the church in order to better understand how this corruption set in. After churches were well established by the apostles and their co-workers, it was God’s will that each local church have a permanent office of leadership. This is clearly described in Acts 14: 21-23 and Titus 1:5-9. There are three Greek words used to describe this office: presbuteros, an older man of knowledge and wisdom; episkopos, one who has proven himself capable of leadership; poimen, one capable of feeding or tending a flock. These three terms describe three different aspects of the same office, and are used interchangeably in the scriptures. From these three Greek terms we get six English terms. From presbuteros, we get presbyter and elder. From episkopos, we get bishop and overseer. From poimen, we get pastor and shepherd. To some this is a little confusing, but for one who studies the scriptures carefully, it presents no problem. We not further from the scriptures that each local church was to have a plurality of these men, and each were equal in their responsibility toward leading the congregation. A one-man leadership is totally unknown in the scriptures. Furthermore, the scriptures describe this office to be one of service and leadership, not one of lordship and dictatorial rule, the latter of which brought on the corruption that followed. 
To any student of the scriptures, it is clear that the apostles, and those on whom they laid their hands, were guided directly by the Spirit. This direct guidance of the Spirit was designed of God to give to man a complete and perfect revelation in written form. Once completed and on permanent record, the need for direct guidance of the Spirit had served its purpose. God gave to these inspired men miraculous power to establish beyond question that these men were His appointed spokesmen (Heb. 2:1-4). So then, after the death of the apostles, and those on whom they laid their hands, men were no longer directly guided by the Spirit. The written word is now the perfect guide to Christians for all times to come (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Jude 3). As the apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 14:37, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or a spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” 
The matter of continuous inspired guidance of the Spirit is the matter that caused the great falling away spoken by Paul in 2 Thess. 2:1-7. After the apostles were all dead, rather than solve religious problems within the church by the written word, certain ones within the leadership of the church claimed direct guidance of the Spirit. If they could persuade those within the congregation to accept their claim, they could lead the church in whatever direction they wanted it to go. So very shortly after the death of the apostles, in many churches, one man became a presiding bishop, and his word, not the scriptures, was to settle all controversies within the local church.
From a book entitled THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS by Edward Burton, we read the account of one outstanding bishop named Ignatius, who, according to history, was the bishop of Antioch between 98 A.D. AND 117 A.D. He identified himself as Theophorus. This term signified a person carried by God. Without any historical foundation, he claimed he was the child that Jesus set in the midst as recorded in Matthew 18:1-6. Thus he assumed to himself a special position of authority and preeminence among the churches. Because of his unwarranted claim, he wrote letters to several churches in which he especially admonished them to fully submit to the rule of the bishop and the presbyters among them. Please not that he makes a clear distinction between the bishop and the presbyters. In his epistle to the Magesians, a church located on the river Meander, about fifteen miles from Ephesus, we give the following quote:
“Wherefore it will become you also not to use your bishop too familiarly upon account of his youth, but yield all reverence to him according to the power of God the Father – as I also perceive that your holy presbyters do – not considering his age, which indeed to appearance is young, but as becomes those who are prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It will, therefore, behoove you, with all sincerity, to obey your bishop in honor of Him whose pleasure it is that ye should do so, because he that does not do so deceives not the bishop whom he sees, but affronts Him that is invisible: for whatsoever of this kind is done, it reflects not upon man, but upon God, who knows the secrets of our hearts. (This quote comes from pages 84 and 85 of the above-mentioned book.)
As one can clearly see from this quote, Ignatius laid the groundwork for a one-man bishop over all the churches. As strange as it may seem, many of the churches accepted Ignatius as a special bishop among the bishops. To many of the Christians during that time, Ignatius confirmed his unwarranted claim by willingly offering himself as a martyr when he insisted that he be cast to the wild beast in the colosseum at Rome. The Christians of that day greatly erred by putting their faith in the words of this uninspired man rather than putting their trust in the inspired word of God as given by the true apostles and prophets of Jesus Christ.
The unsciptural arrangement of a one-man bishop occupying a preeminent position within the churches quickly created a serious problem. In their claim of direct guidance of the Spirit, we find that the decrees of a bishop in one local church would often conflict with the decrees of the bishops in other churches, thus causing great confusion. In order to solve this problem, a meeting was called to gather the bishops of a particular region into a certain metropolitan city to try to iron out their differences. But since all claimed to be directly guided by the Spirit, they found it impossible to come to a meeting of the minds. So they decided to select one bishop from among them to settle their differences. This called for another office totally unknown to the scriptures, but since one departure from the faith calls for another, they proceeded to call this new office a metropolitan bishop. He now occupies a preeminent position over all the bishops in a metropolitan area. By mutual consent they all agreed to abide by his so-called divinely guided decree.
However, this did not solve the problem of disagreement between the bishops of other metropolitan areas, thus it was decided to call all the bishops within a province together to try to settle their differences. The same procedure was followed, and one bishop was selected from among them to settle their differences. This called for yet another office unknown to the scriptures, which they called a provincial bishop, more commonly called at a later date a patriarch. He was now classed as the preeminent bishop over a province, and all the bishops within a province agreed to abide by his ruling on various matters of difference among them.
As one can easily see, the ordinary Christian’s understanding of the scriptures was not even given consideration. All interpretation of the scriptures must be left to the newly formed hierarchy within the church. It was during this period of time, somewhere between the second and third century, that the clergy-laity system was devised. The clergy consisted of the newly formed hierarchy, and the laity consisted of Christians who occupied no office within the church. This was the beginning of the dark age which sought to withhold the knowledge of the scriptures from the common Christian, and was accomplished with great success.
Even though the so-called clergy now had a powerful control over the churches, they did not have control over the minds of many Christians who were students of the scriptures. Many Christians saw what was taking place, and refused to submit to the rule of these uninspired men. This accounts for the division within the church in the second and third century. It might be compared with the situation in the church at Sardis as recorded in Revelation 3:1-6. The main body of Christians in Sardis thought they were much alive, but were told by the Lord that they were dead. Yet there were a few in Sardis who had defiled their garments, and walked with Christ in white, and were counted worthy. So in the years that followed, the same situation existed: some were faithful to the Lord, and some were not. However, history records very little concerning the faithful, for most history was written by the apostate leaders. Even today most historians record what they consider main stream Christianity, though it in no way conforms to true Christianity. Therefore, people in the future, as they read present day history will have great difficulty finding those of us who remain true to the scriptures.


to be continued...
Gene Lyles

The Manuscript Bubble

Many books other than the books of the Bible were written before and after the New Testament.   A number of these writings survive to this day.  Quite a few of them are religious, but none of them is inspired of God.  There has been a renewal of interest in these ancient documents in our time.  Unbelievers try to use these books to discredit the Scriptures.  Skeptics say they raise serious questions about the reliability of the Bible.  Some Bible readers almost treat them as new revelations from God.

One group of these writings comes from the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  During this 400 year period certain Jews recorded their history.  These books are now commonly known as the apocrypha.  Since the Bible does not say much about this period, these books have some value because they help bridge the historical gap between the testaments. 

These books are not inspired.  The writers themselves do not even claim they are inspired.  One of them says there were no prophets in this time (1 Macc. 9:27).  Inspiration had ceased.  Besides, those books bear none of the marks of the divine inspiration and are not cited in the New Testament as inspired writings.

These books appear in Catholic bibles.   In fact, they were in the 1560 Geneva Bible and in the original 1611 King James Version.  Why?  I cannot answer for Catholics, but the preface of the Geneva Bible says they were not inserted because they were inspired and authoritative like the 66 books of the Bible but because they have historical value.  The 1611 King James Version contained them for the same reason.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are hymns, commentaries, manuscripts of Bible books, and other religious writings of a community of Jews who lived near the Dead Sea during and even before the first century.   They had no prophets.  They wrote no books of the bible.  These scrolls are not “lost books of the Bible.”  Some of them are copies of Old Testament books, and this is their contribution to our time.  They do not change the Bible.  They should not be viewed as a discovery that changes the message of the Scriptures.  Yet some Bible scholars and their unwary disciples act as if we cannot understand the Bible as we should without the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The list of these ancient books keeps growing as the public becomes more aware of them.  The “Gospel of Judas” and other heretical books have been publicized in our generation for the sole reason of creating doubt and confusion in the minds of believers.  Bible “experts” with the aid of an all-too-willing media have inflated the value of these ancient documents.  Unlearned religious people hope these books will give them special spiritual insight and skeptics hail them as a victory in their cause.  The sad thing about the hysteria is that some of these people talk about these writings as if they are extremely important but they don’t even know what they are.

God gave us the Bible—all of it.  He preserved the books of the Bible—every one of them.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16).

When Jesus talked about the Scriptures (John 5:39), the Jews knew He was talking about the books of the Old Testament, not the apocrypha or the Dead Sea Scrolls.  When Peter spoke of Paul’s epistles and the “other scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:16), his readers knew which books he meant.

The curse of God rests upon anyone who adds to or takes away from the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19).  The same condemnation applies to all who try to bring the Bible down to the level of human books.

Kerry Duke

God’s Wrath in Relation to Justice

There are many examples in the Bible where God’s wrath came upon man.  

Romans 1:18 – “…For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…” 

Un-righteousness is non-righteousness and since righteousness comes from God thru His commandments, un-righteousness is disobedience to God’s commandments.

Un-righteousness is therefore iniquity; lawlessness; it is to commit sin.

Ø  John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Ø  Eph. 5:6 - But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Ø  Col. 3:5-6 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Moses exhorted them throughout the book of Deuteronomy.

Joshua exhorted them; in chapt. 24:31 - And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:7, 10-15 – 

⁷And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel...

¹⁰And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

¹¹And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

¹²And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

¹³And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

¹⁴And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

¹⁵Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

The children of Israel persisted in ungodliness until they were destroyed.  

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 – “And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

God’s wrath comes because of disobedience; which is the opposite of faithfulness.

Faithfulness doesn’t just happen; it requires effort.  As this relates to the work of a congregation of God’s people, it requires a COLLECTIVE effort. It requires:

Good leadership: Joshua 2:7, 10 - Joshua; all the good kings of Judah (cf. Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Josiah, Hezekiah, etc.)  

Good (qualified) elders will keep sin “out of the camp”; while individually there may be “idols in the heart”, there will be peace within the camp; the work of evangelism, edification, and benevolence will not be hindered; the collective will be deemed “faithful” as was the nation of Israel at Joshua’s death.

In the home; in the gov’t, good leadership must be in place; there must be LEADERS!

Willingness to follow: those under good leadership will feed off the leadership. Respect & honor is to be esteemed upon good leaders.  This too comes naturally.  Leaders who lead after the Lord’s example draw people to honor and respect God, and the Lord.

Philippians 2:3 -Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Thess. 5:12-13 - And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

James 4:6 – “…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Obedience – It has been said, ‘the road to hell is paved w/good intentions’; willingness has to do w/attitude; there MUST be a following-through. 

2 Cor. 8:11 - Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

Patience & perseverance – How long did it take to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan?  Was the work ever going to be over?  Would there come a time when no heathen nation would not seek to conquer and re-take control of Canaan?  They would ALWAYS, have to be in a position to defend their land, for their faithfulness MUST continue.  Each generation would need to be taught so as to be ready.  Each generation was to develop future leaders.  

So w/us as a church and as parents = our teaching is NEVER going to be over; but our task of preparing our children to grow up to be leaders is ever before us; it must take top priority, or our children will be the generation who grows up to “forget”.

- - - Young people…purpose to lead, not follow! Learn the Bible message of God’s eternal purpose, or you will suffer the plagues that the majority of the children of Israel suffered.

The point is, this was an on-going effort for the children of Israel; it would NEVER end; so it is in our life; temptations; trials; persecutions will NEVER cease; we need to have patience and perseverance to remain faithful.

Encouragement & prayer: Joshua 24 is an entire chapter of encouragement from Joshua to faithfulness.  Two verses stand out: spiritual encouragement: 15 & 23

15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Spiritual encouragement is the most needed encouragement to ensure faithfulness.

Cooperation & fellowship: Israel demonstrated this at times (2 ½ tribes helped the 9 ½ tribes – Joshua 22); at other times they suffered through civil war (Divided Kingdom era). They were brethren and as such, they were family.  The responsibilities of living in the land required cooperation and sharing (fellowship) in the responsibilities of faithfulness.

So it is today; in a church; cooperation and sharing(in responsibilities), are necessities for faithfulness to continue.

We are brethren; we are God’s family.

We must give up “self” for the body (of Christ).

Phil. 2:1-5 –

¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

God’s wrath is beyond anything known to man; our children will suffer worse things because of our negligence in preparing them to be leaders among the nations/societies of their adult life.

Let us resolve to be as we read in Psa. 78:4-8 – 

⁴We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

⁵He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

⁶that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,⁷so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;⁸and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

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The Failure of Creeds: A Voice From The Past

The Failure of Creeds: A Voice From The Past
by (preacher) Benjamin Franklin


[Not the Benjamin Franklin from American history, this gospel preacher lived from 1812-1878 and preached primarily throughout Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. It is estimated that he lead approximately 7000 people to be baptized into Christ. Listen to his words...jsl]


"But there are so many creeds, all claiming to be right, that I should not know which to take. They were all made by learned men, and if they can not agree on the kind of a creed, how am I to decide which is right?" says one. It is a matter of great moment and of much relief that, aside from all these conflicting, clashing, and erring creeds, there is one book that all parties concede is right. They all agree that the Bible is right -- that it came from God. They all further agree that it contains the law of God -- that the law of the Lord is perfect. The only wonder is, that man ever attempted to make any other creed or law for the Church. Such an undertaking could not have commenced without two wicked assumptions:


1. That the law of God, as set forth in the Bible, is not sufficient -- is a failure.
2. That the insufficiency or failure can be remedied by weak, erring, and uninspired men.


No man of intelligence will affirm, in plain terms, that the Bible is not sufficient for the government of the saints; or that man -- uninspired man -- can make a creed that will serve a better purpose than the Bible. Still such affirmations are implied in every attempt made by uninspired men to make a creed. If you admit, as all are bound to do, that the law of God is in the Bible; that nothing may be added to it, nothing taken from it, and that no part of it may be changed, there is not an excuse in the world for making another law. The law of God in the Bible is the law, the divine law, the supreme law, in the kingdom of God; and it is a treasonable movement to attempt to get up another constitution, law, name, body, or officers, apart from the constitution, law, name, body, and officers as found in the Bible.


But the matter now in hand is to find a safe course to pursue. Can this be done? All admit the Bible is right. All admit that the law of God in the Bible is right. All admit that those who follow the Bible honestly and faithfully, in faith and practice, will be saved. All admit that wherever any creed differs from the Bible is wrong. Then it is infallibly safe to take the Bible and follow it. When men undertake to prove that a human creed is a good one, they argue that it is like the Bible. If a creed like the Bible is a good one, why will not the Bible itself do? If the Bible will not serve the purpose -- is insufficient and a failure -- a creed like it would be equally insufficient. When men make a creed to do what the Bible would not do, they should certainly make it different from the Bible, or it would serve no better purpose than the Bible itself.


~ excerpt from "The Infallibly Safe Course," New Testament Christianity, ed. by Z.T. Sweeney

Father's Day

'Father's Day' is a day of recognition for fathers. It has been on the calendar longer than I have been in existence.  To my knowledge, it is not celebrated in a religious atmosphere by society however that is not the focus of today’s article.  I would like to briefly notice what GOD has told us in His Word about fathers.  As with Adam, GOD has given instructions and responsibilities to all fathers.  For those who carried out their responsibilities per God’s instructions, God blessed them. How well man has listened to his Creator since then is really the purpose of today’s article.

We know that from Adam to Noah, wickedness increased until God purposed to destroy all humanity. Obviously fathers were among the wicked. Yet we read of Noah in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” It begs the question, ‘why’? What was different about Noah? Our answer can be found in the following passages:

Genesis 6:9 – Noah was “...a righteous man and perfect in his generations...” 

Genesis 6:22 – Noah did “…according to all that GOD commanded him, so did he.”  

Genesis 7:1 – Noah was told “…come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation...” 

As a result, it is recorded that God, “…preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 2:5).

We then read of a father (Abraham) in Genesis 12. Abraham, like Noah, was different from those of his day. GOD told Abraham, “...and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed”. (Genesis 12:2-3). GOD sent Abraham far away from his family to make a covenant with him.  GOD’S instructions to Abraham in regard to this covenant are recorded in Genesis 17:9, “...and as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations”. Again, it begs the question, why Abraham? We are given the answer from God’s own words. GOD said of Abraham in Genesis 18:19, “...for I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him”. 

Two things stand out in these two great patriarchs.  First, they were faithful to their Creator.  Secondly, their effect upon their families.  In particular, was their effect in commanding their children and their household to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’, to ‘do righteousness and justice’.  In order to do this, both men had to be righteous.  This speaks of the example that they set before their children and their household.  Both these men are held in the highest esteem for their faithfulness to GOD.  I wonder if we were careful in our reading of their faithfulness to take note of how that in being faithful to GOD they had to command their family “that they may keep the way of Jehovah”?   As a father, they had this responsibility.  It would never have been recorded of these two men of their great faith in Jehovah had they not taught their children and household to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’.  This command of fathers has not changed since the days of Abraham.  Throughout the remainder of the Old Testament and the history of Abraham’s descendants we have record of godly fathers and ungodly fathers.  The same two characteristics were present in all godly fathers of Abraham’s descendants. 

1) They were faithful to GOD as seen in keeping His commandments. “...and it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Jehovah our GOD, as He hath commanded us” (Deuteronomy 6:25). [See also Deuteronomy 6:17-18; 11:13] and,

2) They commanded their children and households after them to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’. God had also given this command to them. “...and these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 

The results and consequences were always the same whenever these instructions were not followed. GOD’S laws were forgotten, idolatry was practiced, and punishment came from GOD. Today, fathers, still have the same two responsibilities.  First become righteous themselves by rendering obedience to GOD’S will today as found in the gospel of Christ, and ‘bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord’. (Ephesians 6:1-4)  The first must precede the second for without it, there will be no godly example to follow.

How many fathers today keep the way of Jehovah themselves?  How many fathers command their children and their households to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’?  How many fathers force the second without giving thought to the first?  It will never cause anything but resentment from those under your care if a father does not exemplify what he demands of others.  How many children and other members of a household attend, study, and offer worship unto GOD without a father present?  How will your children turn out…idolaters or Christians?  Chances are they will follow in your footsteps.

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6/14/2011

Following the Apostles -- Teaching as they Taught

"Go teach all nations" was the command they had received from the Lord (Matt.18:19), and before his ascension he said, “You will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth…” (Acts 1:8).  In Jerusalem they stayed and on the day of Pentecost they received the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2:1‑4), who was to guide them into “all truth" (John 16:13) and that day they began that seemingly impossible task of preaching the gospel of Christ to all nations.  Let's observe what they told men to believe and do.

In Jerusalem – When they preached that God had made “...this same Jesus whom you have crucified to be both Lord and Christ…” (Acts 2:36), the cry came from that multitude, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  For the first time they told men what to do for the remission of their sins. Listen to their words: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...." (Acts 2:38).  My friends, if you have trouble understanding this, read it again and again.   Later, in Jerusalem, Peter reminded them that they had "denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, " and even though they had done it in ignorance, they were guilty.  Then he commanded: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your sins be blotted out" (Acts 3:19).

In Samaria – Persecution caused the disciples to be scattered abroad and they "went every where preaching the word."  Philip went to Samaria to preach, "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).  A preacher in that city, who had been deceiving the people, making them think that he was some great one, heard Philip and "Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip... " (vs. 13).  Philip preached the gospel, they believed and were baptized.

A Nobleman Converted – The conversion of the Treasurer of Ethiopia is one of the most simple.  He was a religious man, who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his home when Philip was sent by the Lord to teach him.  When Philip first saw him the man was reading Isaiah the Prophet and invited Philip to explain what he was reading.  The record says, "Philip began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. "  We are not told all the things he said about Jesus, but as they rode along in that chariot they came to a certain water and the eunuch said, “Here is water; what hinders me from being baptized?”  Now, notice what Philip said: "If you believe with all your heart, you may. "  Then the man said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still.  And both those men went down into the water, and he baptized him.”  (Acts 8:36‑38).  Do you have any difficulty understanding that?  What did that Treasurer believe?  What did he do?

An Enemy Converted – In Jerusalem young Saul of Tarsus was a leader of those who persecuted the disciples.  He obtained permission to go to Damascus to bind disciples and return them to Jerusalem to be punished.  Enroute,  the Lord appeared to him in a light brighter than the noon day sun and told him, “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” Saul asked, Lord, “What do you want me to do?”  The Lord said, "Go into the city, and you will be told what you must do?"  Saul had been blinded by that the light, but a friend led him into the city.  For three days he was fasting and praying, then the Lord sent a gospel preacher, Ananias, unto Saul to lay his hands upon him that his sight might be restored, and to tell him what he must do.  When Saul received his sight "he arose and was baptized" (Acts 9:18).  Years later, Saul (now called Paul, the apostle) told of his conversion as he made his defense before the Jews in Jerusalem.  He said, "Ananias came to me and stood and said to me, God has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.  For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).  What did he believe?  What was he told to do?  Read in your Bible. Is it too difficult to understand?

The first Gentiles Converted – Peter, was sent to preach to the house of Cornelius, the first Gentiles to receive the gospel.  He told them of Jesus and the things he did in the land of the Jews, and how the Jews had killed him by hanging him on a tree, but that God had raised him on the third day, and had commanded us to preach to the people that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead; that through His name whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.  And he commanded him to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:34-48).  What were the Gentiles to believe?  What were they commanded to do?

The Pattern – wherever the gospel was preached, men were commanded to believe, to repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ.  So Luke writes that in Corinth, "And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized" (Acts 18:8).  Each of us who hears the gospel must decide whether we believe, and if we believe, whether we will repent of our sins, and whether we will be baptized in the name of Christ "for the remission of sins."

Realizing the brevity of life, the frailty of man and the surety of judgment, we should believe and obey the gospel, the power of God unto salvation.

copyright 2011
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