“THAT YE MAY KNOW…AND FEAR”

 

There are many warnings in the bible against altering God’s message. A few such passages are Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19. Perversion of God’s word can occur in many ways. The word can be perverted in the manner in which the serpent did in Genesis 3:4 when the word ‘not’ was added to God’s message to Adam. The prophet Balaam perverted the message of God in a more subtle manner when he gave counsel as to how God’s people could bring God’s wrath upon themselves through disobedience (Revelation 2:14). Yet another way of perversion is seen from the example of the old prophet at Bethel in 1 Kings 13 who lied about receiving a message from God that resulted in the death of a younger prophet. A common thread in all these examples was that of impure motives. Impure motives are not always behind the perversion of God’s message. It often occurs through simple neglect and carelessness. It is unintentional, yet the damage is just as great.

In Joshua 4:4-7 the people are about to enter the Promised Land. They cross the parted waters of the Jordan and the Lord directs the people after they have crossed with these words: “Then Joshua called the twelve  men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them, ‘Cross over before the ark of the Lord your GOD into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, “What do these stones mean to you?”  Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when it crossed over the Jordan, the water of the Jordan were cut off.  And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever”.

In Joshua 3:10 and 4:24, we have the significance for these procedures stated by Joshua: “Hereby ye shall know that the living GOD is among you...that all the peoples of the earth may know that hand of Jehovah that it is mighty; that ye may fear Jehovah your GOD forever”.

God wanted the men to take time to make a memorial, for the purpose of drawing their children’s attention and questions.  When the children asked, “What do these stones mean to you”, God wanted the grownups to take the time to answer the question with wisdom and knowledge. The significance of these stones needed to be passed down to future generations. If not, the worship of God would lose significance. Carelessness in teaching is also a form of perversion. It is mishandling God’s word. It will reap what it has sown— disrespect toward God. 

The greatest opportunity for the parent to teach the child about the SIGNIFICANCE of serving God comes from the child’s questions. A careful reply will remain in the mind of the child throughout his life. It will be the determining factor in times of decisions about obedience or disobedience to God’s will. Be prepared to answer with diligence so the child will “know…and fear” God. Remember, the time is opportune THEN. To delay or defer an answer is to lose that opportunity. It may never come again. The reply needs to bring out the significance of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice. Don’t diminish the significance of God’s will with a careless answer.

Let us return to the story of the twelve stones. How would the children’s worship be affected if, over time, the story was carelessly related?  What if, instead of stating the proper reason for the stones, another version was told? Then, to spread it out further, what if those children who had been told the ‘altered’ story, related only what they had been told?  What if this kept happening over a period of generations…?  For instance, let’s say that a child was told that some river other than the Jordan, or a number of stones other than twelve were used; perhaps more or less than twelve men were involved, or something other than the ark of the covenant was involved.  What would happen to the significance of the event?  What if the story, in years to come was like this: “A long time ago, Joshua had some of the people get some rocks out of a river and erect an altar like they did when they crossed the Red Sea years earlier. I forget exactly where they are, and why they did this, but it had something to do with how they worshiped back then. That is why we have an altar today in our worship, because that’s the way mom and dad and grandma and grandpa did.” I believe the effect would be obvious. 

However, consider the effect on a child nurtured “… in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

8/21/21

“PREPARING THE CHILD’S HEART”

 

I want to share with you a typical situation found in many homes. It describes the life of a grandfather, a father, and his son. It tells of a problem faced by many. The purpose is to show from the scriptures how to deal with such problems in our life.

The story is a phone conversation between a man and a preacher. The man on the phone was a Christian. It seems he had attended services and Bible classes as a youth. His parents had taught him the truth and made sure he was present whenever the church assembled. As a youth his tender heart was touched by the gospel and he obeyed it. He was eager to serve the Lord and grow closer to him. But, sadly, soon that enthusiasm waned. As he grew older as a teen and then a young adult, the pleasures of this world enticed him and, as Demas, he forsook the Lord because he developed a love for this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

While in apostasy, he married and started a family. A son came along. A son whom he loved and who was his pride and joy. A son upon whom he rained blessings and gifts. There was nothing he would not give or do for him. Nothing, that is, except what his parents had done for him – “bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

After his son had finished college and went out on his own, he said his mother, the son's grandmother, became ill and needed special care. She moved in with her son so he could attend to her needs. She, in spite of her infirmities, was determined to remain faithful to the Lord. She asked her son to take her to the services of the local church. He did. Worried about her well-being while there, he decided that instead of just taking her, he would go with her to make sure she would be all right. Surely, he thought, he could endure it for her sake.

He felt uncomfortable sitting there. Yes he had sat in pews many times but that had been long ago. He had not frequented a church building since before he was married. Yet, in a strange way, there was a familiarity and a feeling of belonging. At each service he grew more interested in what was going on, more comfortable with his surroundings but more uncomfortable with himself. He finally realized he needed to come back to the Lord. He, to the surprise and joy of his elderly mother, answered the invitation and, with tears, penitently told the preacher how sorry he was for his years of neglect. Prayer was offered and he was restored to his Lord and Savior.

How wonderful he felt. “How great to get my life back on track,” he thought. He sensed a peace that he had not experienced in years. He now attended services with glee. He avariciously read his Bible daily. He started telling everyone about what he had done, how it had made him feel and how they could have that same joy and peace that he was experiencing. He told his son what had happened and invited him to come to services.

But the son would have nothing to do with it. He had his own life now. He had the responsibilities of job and family and he had neither time for nor interest in such things. His father was heartbroken. He repeatedly tried to get his son interested in his spirituality all to no avail. Finally his son let him know very plainly that he did not want to discuss the matter again.

So that is why his father called me. His son lives in our city and he thought maybe, just maybe, I might be able to do what he could not -- get his son to listen to his need for the gospel and Christ. I knew that the years when his son could have been easily touched by the gospel were past. They were the formative years when he was under his father's control when his father neglected to teach him the ways of the Lord and set a proper example before him. Yes, the gospel still has its power to convert but not in a heart that is hardened to it or in a person who sees no need for it. The father agonizes over the lost opportunities he had to teach his son as his godly parents had taught him.

Parents, remember that when you neglect your service as Christians, you are impacting the lives of your children. Do not let your neglect contribute to your children being lost. Do not let this sad story be repeated in the story of your life. Please read at this time Psalm 78:3-8.

8/14/21 

"MY" blood..."MY" church... ~ A PARALLEL

"MY" blood...                     MY" church...

Christ shed His own blood (Matthew 26:28a). We may properly refer to it as the blood ‘of’ Christ. Let us consider some lessons from this phrase ‘the blood of Christ’ as it applies to Christ’s church. Jesus said the shedding of His blood was going to be for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28b). Paul stated that Jesus shed His blood to purchase the church (Acts 20:28). These purposes are one and the same because those in His church are those who have had their sins remitted. To have one’s sins remitted is to be “in” Christ’s church. There is a connection between the two and lessons to be learned from that connection, one of which is proper/improper concepts of Christ’s church.

 

Jesus foretold of the shedding of His blood by saying that He was going to ‘build’ His church (Matthew 16:18). This ‘building’ was also connected to the remission of man’s sins, because His blood had to be shed before sins would be remitted (Hebrews 9:22); and before the church would be purchased (Acts 20:28). The church being ‘built’ and being ‘purchased’ mean one and the same thing because the blood was shed for that purpose.

 

If Christ was to speak beforehand of the shedding of His blood in the manner in which He spoke of building His church, He would have said “I will shed My blood”, as He said “I will build My church”. We know this to be accurate, because He spoke beforehand of the purchasing of the church with His blood in this way. If we were to refer to Christ’s blood, we could express it in a number of ways: “Christ’s blood”; the “blood of Christ”, or “the blood belonging to Christ”. Since Christ was God in nature (John 1:1); it would be proper to refer to His blood as the blood “of God”, as long as we understood that it was the Son, not the Father, who shed blood.

 

There are lessons to be learned about Christ’s church through an analogy of the church and the blood. Christ shed his blood for “the world”, [‘for God so loved the world’ ~ John 3:16]. But would it be proper to refer to Christ’s blood as the “blood of the world”? The church began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 41). But would it be proper to refer to Christ’s church as the “Pentecost church”, naming the church after the day? There was a response from those who desired remission of sins on this same day (Acts 2:38, 41). That response was repentance and being baptized in water. But would it be proper to refer to Christ’s blood as the “blood of repentance”, or the “repentance blood” simply because those on the day of Pentecost responded in repentance (v. 41)? Likewise, does it seem proper to refer to the Christ’s blood as the “baptism blood”, or the “blood of baptism”, because those on the day of Pentecost submitted to baptism?

 

Would these designations of Christ’s blood be proper? Again, WHOSE BLOOD IS IT? Christ DID speak beforehand of purchasing, or building His church. He said, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). As we would refer to Christ’s BLOOD in the manner shown above, we would refer to Christ’s CHURCH, in like manner. We would say, “Christ's church”; the “church of Christ”, or “the church belonging to Christ”.

 

Those who have had their sins remitted, are to follow a pattern or method in how they worship, and in how they are to work together in spreading the gospel and in the work of building and strengthening one another up. But is it in order for the church to be called after the method, i.e., the “method” church?

 

There is a pattern or method to follow in how those purchased by Christ's blood are to be fed and protected (Acts 20:17, 28); but is it in order for the blood/church to be called after its leaders, such as the “elders church”? Would these designations seem in order? Again, WHOSE CHURCH IS IT?

Let us remember the words of the apostle Paul:

 

“... in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” ~ Ephesians 2:13

 

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins...” ~ Colossians 1:14

 

“...if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” ~ 1 John 1:7

8/7/21

 

“IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE…”

Edward T. Hiscox, in his book, “Standard Manual For Baptist Churches”, said on page 22, under the heading of 'Church Membership': 

“It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church.’ Now, it is different. . .” 

I want you to notice this part of his statement:  “WHEN NO DIFFERING DENOMINATIONS EXISTED”. This admission of ‘no differing denominations’ is exactly what was true… “IN THE DAYS OF THE APOSTLES”! We read that Jesus built only one church…HIS church; not churchES (Matthew 16:18). The gospel even affirms that there is only one gospel. “I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7). Mr. Hiscox’s confession that in the Apostolic age there was only ONE, is indeed the truth! 

How then did the ‘differing denominations’ come into existence? The gospel is very clear in explaining how they began. One thing is obvious…they began AFTER the APOSTLES! They began as a result of men who preached a different gospel from what the apostles preached! That is why denominational doctrines (plural) differ, not only from the apostles' doctrine (singular); BUT FROM ONE ANOTHER. 

The early church continued steadfastly in the “apostles' doctrine” because that was the ONLY doctrine that was preached for a few years (Acts 2:42). It can be, and must still be preached today.

In order for a church to be “of Christ”; the same “form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17), that the apostles preached in the book of Acts must be preached about how a sinner is to “call upon the name of the Lord”. The gospel teaches that in baptism, a sinner puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27); that baptism is in order to receive remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19). Baptism was the door into Christ’s church. That is what the apostles taught! The apostles’ doctrine was one and the same as the gospel. It is not different now.       

The apostles’ doctrine regarding marriage as being between a man and a woman must be preached today (Ephesians 5:31-33). The same is true of divorce and remarriage (Romans 7:3; 1 Corinthians 7:11); of acceptable worship (Philippians 3:3); of church government being by a plurality of pastors rather than a one-man pastor over multiple churches (Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1); and of the exercise of, and submission to authority (1 Corinthians 11:3; 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:12; Titus 2:5). It is not different now.  

Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21 for all of His disciples to be UNITED, not DIVIDED! This is also true of unity in teaching! If the same doctrine is preached and obeyed, that division will end and unity will abound. Preachers have a responsibility to teach what the apostles of the Lord preached - - - ON EVERY SUBJECT!

Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus:

1 Timothy 1:3 - As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE...

1 Timothy 6:3-5 - If any man teach otherwise, and CONSENT NOT TO WHOLESOME WORDS, EVEN THE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH ACCORDING TO GODLINESS; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF.

Titus 1:10-11 - For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: WHOSE MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Titus 1:13 - WHEREFORE REBUKE THEM SHARPLY, THAT THEY MAY BE SOUND IN THE FAITH...

Remember, “differing” churches exist because of “differing” doctrines. In the Apostolic Age, there was but one doctrine (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23a; 14:37). 

8/1/21