CREEDS: GOOD AND BAD

"Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness; to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! (Isaiah 10:1-2)

In an article entitled “CREEDBOUND MINDS”, Robert F. Turner asked “What is a creed?” He then stated that the word comes from the Latin “credo” which means, “I believe”. He then observed that creeds are concise statements of belief, or doctrine, which identify the ‘position’ of the maker.

Mr. Turner wrote: [It may be that the first creeds were formulated in an effort to combat what was believed to be error; to state with clarity some matter that was being questioned; or simply an unashamed affirmation of principles upon which certain ones stood.]

Not all creeds are wrong. Decrees were made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15). These decrees were in essence, a creed. They were stating the convictions of the apostles and elders. These decrees were formulated and written down to be presented to Christians throughout the world at that time. They were delivered by Paul and Timothy in their preaching and in their epistles. “And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.” (Acts 16:4).

The interesting thing about these decrees was that they established a standard for all churches to follow. These were divinely inspired decrees, not mere ‘statements of faith’ that identified differences of beliefs on the Bible. These decrees were not designed to establish a church other than the one Christ built (Matthew 16:18). They were not for the purpose of establishing ‘another faith’ but were intended to be “the faith” for all to strive together to defend (Philippians 1:27). These decrees were not “another gospel” but THE gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). These decrees were the standard for faith and practice.

However, as was true before, during, and after Isaiah’s time, there are those who decree ‘unrighteous’ decrees. It continues today. The decrees Isaiah was referring to were man-authored creeds. As Mr. Turner observed, [The error of “man-written creeds” is (1) man’s presumption to shorten, lengthen, alter, or better arrange God’s revelation of truth; and (2) the setting up and acceptance of some man’s “I believe” as a standard of right and wrong.] God’s word is a sufficient creed. It is the only creed that has authority to save (Romans 1:16). It is also the only creed with the authority to pronounce anathema on all other creeds (Galatians 1:8-9).

A statement of belief does not guarantee that the gospel decrees are being practiced. For example, notice the following quotes/admissions from the past:

Martin Luther – “We must not explain the Scriptures by the Fathers, but explain and judge the Fathers by the Scriptures.”

Lutheran Creed – “The only way to settle doctrinal questions is to show what the Bible teaches.”

Methodist Creed (1948) – “The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be taught requisite or necessary to salvation.”

Presbyterian Creed (1949) – “The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in the scripture, or by good and necessary consequences may be deduced from scripture; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit or traditions of men.”

Baptist Creed (1950) – “We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instructions; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its content.”

Alexander Campbell (1839) – “We take the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible as the foundation of all Christian union and communion. Those who do not like this will please show us a more excellent way.”

In view of the statements above, Mr. Turner concluded: [Now these quotations all seem to agree that God's Word is all sufficient as the Bible teaches it to be. It’s evident that each of these has drifted from where they first began, and that is to stand firmly on biblical authority (2 Peter 1:3). Any doctrine that requires more than the Bible or less than the Bible denies the all-sufficiency of the Bible, and is proof that the doctrine derives from man, and not from God. Anyone who abides NOT in the DOCTRINE of CHRIST has NOT GOD (2 John 1:9). And if we have NOT GOD, we don’t have SALVATION (John 14:6; Romans 6:23).]

5/29/22

ETERNITY: BEFORE ‘IN THE BEGINNING’

Eternity may be described as the time BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), and the time FOLLOWING the destruction of the heavens and the earth (2 Peter 3:10). Let us consider the period of time PRIOR to the Creation in this article. We might ask it this way: “What was ‘created’ before the CREATION”? 

God had an Eternal Purpose: There are several passages that mention or allude to the “eternal purpose” of God. It is from these texts that we find the answer to what transpired prior to the Creation. First of all we find that only God existed. Let it then be asked, “What was God’s purpose for creating?” We find from Romans 1:20 that God’s existence and His nature are declared in the things that were brought into existence. “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity…”. However, the physical creation does not reveal WHY God created, nor does it reveal why God created man IN HIS IMAGE. Those answers are found only from what God communicated to man (Psalm 25:14; Amos 3:7; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:10-12).

God created with Purpose: In the entire vast universe, God purposed for life to be on earth alone. Furthermore, out of the entire creation, we find from Hebrews 2:6-7 that man was “crowned with glory and honor” and “set over the works of thy hands” (cf. Genesis 1:26, 28). Because of this, man can explain the creation as well as his own purpose for existence. We read in Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.” The ‘world’ that God purposed eternal life for (John 3:16), was not the planet but humanity, those made in His image. He calls to us through His Word saying, cease from living in sin and be conformed to the image of My Son. This was His purpose in making us in His image (Romans 8:28-29). For those who will accept this offer of eternal life with an obedient faith (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38: 3:19), eternal life will be their inheritance (Matthew 25:34).

God prepared a KINGDOM: “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34). It has been stated that ‘heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people’. If this be true, then WHEN did God prepare, or rather purpose this people? The answer is found in a statement by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:4: “…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…that we should be holy and blameless…”. These for whom the kingdom of Matthew 25 was prepared are called by a variety of terms in scripture. In Romans 9:22-24, they are referred to as “vessels of mercy”.

God prepared an ETERNAL FIRE:  “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41). Jude stated of the angels who sinned that God “…cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…” (2 Peter 2:4). Jude likewise wrote, “And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 1:6). Peter would sum it up in this way: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment…” (2 Peter 2:9). This eternal fire was as the kingdom in that both were purposed from the foundation of the world.

God purposed SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS: The apostle Paul mentioned this in two of his epistles. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…” (Ephesians 1:3). “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (2 Timothy 1:9). Those who will inherit this prepared kingdom are NOW said to be ‘in Christ’ wherein are all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). These are the saved here on earth and their salvation was purposed through Christ prior to the Creation (2 Timothy 1:1, 9). They are called the ‘elect of God’ (Titus 1:1-2), to whom eternal life was promised. One such spiritual blessing was adoption as His spiritual children through His only begotten Son, Jesus.   “…having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved…” (Ephesians 1:5-6).  Again, in Romans 8:28-29 we read that this adoption was purposed prior to the Creation. “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren…”.

These are the ones who will inherit this prepared kingdom. This ‘conforming’ to the image of Christ is accomplished proportionately to continued obedience to the gospel. This is what is meant in the scriptures when we read of God’s eternal purpose. “Who hath saved us and called us according to his own purpose…which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal…” (2 Timothy 1:9). 

5/15/22

“A NAIL FROM GOD”

“And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” (Ezra 9:8)

Strange wording? On the surface, yes, but with study, a beautiful description of thankfulness from a suffering, repentant people. To understand the words of Ezra, one would need to read this entire chapter, however verses 13 and 15 really help in explaining verse 8. “After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this...” (v. 13); “...for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day...” (v. 15).

Ezra acknowledged to Jehovah the transgressions of His people, yet Jehovah had punished them ‘less than they deserved’. The Babylonian captivity had ended and a small remnant had returned to the ‘promised land’. Yet it is discovered that one of the same behaviors that had CAUSED the captivity, had been repeated – intermarriage with non-Israelites. Jehovah had forbidden this in Moses’ day (Deuteronomy 7:3). Jehovah had destroyed them as a nation, yet not totally. A remnant had been spared and returned to the land of Abraham’s sojournings.

The prophet Isaiah was one of many prophets who described this less-than-deserved punishment. He wrote in Isaiah 1:9, “Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah.” Jehovah showed grace to the nation, in the midst of punishing them for their sins. Isaiah would again state in Isaiah 10:2, “For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.” Although they were no longer intact as a nation, would the past be repeated?

The ‘grace’ was seen in that Jehovah did not punish His people, Israel in the manner that He punished Sodom and Gomorrah. A remnant of the nation was spared. This was in keeping with His eternal purpose to redeem all His people through Jesus. In fact, the creation of the nation of Israel was a bestowal of grace…not because of what Israel had or hadn’t done, for it was a gracious choice Jehovah made PRIOR to the nation’s existence (Exodus 33:19). The apostle Paul quoted this in Romans 9:15, in explaining that God’s grace toward the Gentile peoples was according to God’s choice just as it was to the Jews. His people Israel had been shown grace ‘first’, but for the purpose that all would later be shown His grace for the same purpose: redemption for their sins. Jehovah would hold the nation of Israel accountable just as He did all nations, punishing and blessing without respect of persons. But Jehovah always acted in accordance with His eternal purpose: to provide salvation to all nations through His Son. The remnant was not spared without respect to their ways. The spiritual blessing of forgiveness will be in accordance with Jehovah’s word – blessings for any who fear Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13); punishment for any who fail to treat Him with reverence (Leviticus 10:3).

Isaiah called this act of punishing the disobedient, while at the same time extending grace to the obedient a, “…destruction…overflowing with righteousness.” (Isaiah 10:22). Jehovah was not only gracious TO His people, but gracious AMONG His people. God is righteous in all His ways. Even in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God did not destroy any righteous in those cities while punishing the wicked (Genesis 18:23). So Ezra would say that, “grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape...to give…‘a nail in his holy place’.”(Ezra 9:8). A “NAIL” has reference to a stable abode (Isaiah 22:23); a ‘secure hold’ in His holy place. As a nail, a peg, or a stake would secure that which is attached to it; a ‘nail’ in His holy place refers to the security provided for those who are enlightened by the knowledge from Jehovah’s word. As Jehovah promised to Eliakim, He would “...drive him, like a peg, into a firm place. He will be a throne of honor for his father’s house.” It is a figurative way of describing spiritual blessing. Isaiah worded it this way, “...the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness” (Isaiah 10:2). Let us give thanks to God for similar grace for the same reason: to be made secure in Christ, being punished LESS than we deserved.

5/7/22

“LEST THE INCREASE BECOME DEFILED”

 

“These are the words of the covenant which Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.” (Deuteronomy 29:1).

From the verse above, there is the mentioning of two covenants: one made at Horeb (Sinai); and one made in the land of Moab. The first covenant was made at Mt. Sinai and is described in the book of Exodus. The reason for the other covenant was because the generation that entered into the first covenant died in the 40 year wandering in the wilderness. Their children were the one’s to whom Moses is addressing in the passage above.  When the covenant was made with their parents they were children so young that Moses described them as having “…no knowledge between good and evil…” (Deuteronomy 1:39). They were now of age and were going to inherit the land of Canaan. The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain the many statutes, laws, and ordinances that Moses gave to this generation of the children of Israel. The words of this second covenant were in addition to the covenant that was made at Mt. Sinai (Horeb). Among the “words of this covenant” were these words: “You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed...” (Deuteronomy 22:9).  The reason given for this statute was, “...or all the produce of the seed which you have sown and the increase of the vineyard will become defiled.”

Abraham had physical descendants and he had spiritual descendants. Abraham’s spiritual descendants (Romans 9:7-8), are those who have been born anew (John 3:3, 5); they make up Christ’s church (Galatians 3:26-27). Spiritual Israel was given the same advice as physical Israel in regard to sowing two kinds of seed in the same vineyard.

The connection between these two groups of descendants (physical/spiritual) is seen in the command regarding sowing seed. The seed with physical Israel was a physical seed whereas the seed with spiritual Israel was the word of God (Luke 8:11). If the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), is mixed with “doctrines and commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9), the increase of the vineyard (the church) will become defiled.

This is why teaching must be “the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). There are God’s oracles (scripture); and then there are interpretations of what God meant by what He said in His oracles. God’s oracles are the spiritual seed that must not be mixed with man-made traditions or human philosophy. Scripture is the standard by which theology is interpreted. Sadly, theology has come to be the standard by which scripture is interpreted.

Scripture, (God’s oracles) is truth. Scripture is the word of God. As with physical seed, this spiritual seed produces after its kind. When truth (spiritual seed) was sown into the hearts of people, the result was the conversion of sinners to saints. When people died to sin, they were buried, then arose as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

This new creation collectively comprises the church on earth. This church is called the body of Christ and he (Christ) is its head (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). Jesus not only came to die for our sins, Jesus also came to sow the spiritual seed of God’s will (John 12:49). He stated in John 7:16, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me.”

Jesus’ desire was for all believers to be united (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 12:13). This can only happen by sowing one kind of seed…God’s oracles. This unity existed initially, because first century Christians “continued stedfastly” in the same doctrine...the doctrine taught by the apostles (Acts 2:42). What happened? Please read the warning from the apostle Paul in Acts 20:28-30. If you read this text, you will understand why there are the divisions in the religious realm today.

Remember the warning from the apostle Paul to the pastors of the church of Christ in Ephesus: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” ~ Acts 20:28-30

Christ’s body, the church has been severed by corrupt seed (false doctrine). The result is, “the increase of the vineyard” has “become defiled”. Is there a cure; a remedy to this religious division? Certainly so; teach (speak) the same things as the apostles spoke. That was what they urged: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all SPEAK THE SAME THING, and that there BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

“WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?”

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of well-known book, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”, was sought out for commentary in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He wrote about that time in his book, “Conquering Fear”, devoting a chapter to the fallout. He found that the attacks left people across the U.S. with a deep sense of vulnerability. Kushner explains terrorism and its power: “Terrorist math is simple. Kill one person, frighten a thousand. Kill a few thousand people, terrify an entire population. ... The power of a terrorist act, the secret of its effectiveness, lies in its randomness.” But he also wrote of conquering the power of terrorism: “We will have to hold on to our faith that God has given us a world where evil is possible but evil will ultimately consume itself.”

Mr. Kushner’s statement that “our faith that God has given us” is key to understanding why bad things happen to good people as well as understanding how to conquer fear. HOW HAS GOD GIVEN US FAITH; AND WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THAT FAITH? While faith is personal, this does not mean that each person can determine the kind of faith that he desires. Man has no authority or freedom from God to develop his ‘own unique, personal’ faith without regard to what the word of God declares about faith. 

Faith, while “like precious” (2 Peter 1:1); is also said to be ‘common’ (Titus 1:4). This means that it is shared by all who are in Christ (cf. Acts 2:44; 4:32). Yet, faith is individual in that each person must ‘come to’ his own knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4), before he can be saved. In this sense, repentance is ‘common’ as each must turn from his own sins (2 Peter 3:8). Even sin is ‘common’ in that sin is a transgression of God’s will; and every accountable person has done so (Romans 3:23). 

Salvation is also ‘common’ and ‘like precious’, but personal (Jude 1:3). Furthermore, salvation is only as God has decreed. Peter acknowledged this saying, “…in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:35). Peter further acknowledged that God purifies Jew and Gentile in a ‘common’ way, “purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9). It was God’s purpose from eternity for all the saved to be united in one body, through a ‘common’ faith, thus having a ‘common’ salvation (Ephesians 2:16). 

Salvation is based upon love…God’s love for us and our love for Him. His love for us is stated in John 3:16. God’s love is also seen in giving us guidance and purpose for living through the teachings that came by inspiration of His Spirit. Jesus’ teachings on love were by commandment from God and according to the word that His Father gave Him (John 12:49-50). Thus, what man knows of love, he has learned from God.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends…” (John 15:13). Man would never have known the concept of love had God not shown man how to love. This did not come from creation, but from His revelation to man. But neither would we know how to love God in return had God not taught us. Jesus told the apostles in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In John 14:15, 21, He taught these words: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

But we also learn how to love one another from what God has taught us. In 1 John 3:16 we read, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Having learned how to express love back to God and to our fellow man, we overcome fear.

Because man has failed to express love AS GOD ORDAINED, bad things happen to good people. This is the spiritual lesson to be learned from the tragedy of 9/11 and any other tragedy. Life is not random, but according to God’s eternal purpose. The lesson we need to learn is, “…Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2).

3/20/22

“OUT of UR, EGYPT, and SIN”

 

“Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham.” (Nehemiah 9:7).

While it is stated in the verse above that God brought Abraham out of Ur, it doesn’t explain the manner in which God did so. However, there are other texts that do explain how, and these passages will be the focus of the article. As we examine these additional texts, we will find that both God and Abraham had active roles. If it were to be asked, ‘Did Abraham DO anything’, then the answer is clearly ‘yes’. We find that God gave a command to Abraham to leave Ur and Abraham obeyed (cf. Genesis 12:1-4; Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8). God promised an inheritance to Abraham and Abraham believed God would fulfill His oath (Hebrews 11:9-10).

Abraham’s faith was not dead, like his own body was said to be (Hebrews 11:12). His faith was strong, fully trusting that God would accomplish whatever God declared. The apostle Paul stated the following words of Abraham: “Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21).

Apart from declaring His will to (and for) Abraham, would Abraham have chosen to leave Ur? What reason(s) would have sufficed for Abraham to even consider such a move?  In giving commands and promises to Abraham, God would know whether or not Abraham feared Him above all else. God did not force Abraham to leave Ur. That is an important fact to recognize. God gave Abraham a choice in regard to the matter. We see his faith made perfect by his obedience. THIS was how God ‘brought’ Abraham out.

What was true in the case of Abraham coming out of Ur was also true with the children of Israel. We see this from Stephen’s words in Acts 7. In v. 36, Stephen said that God ‘brought’ them out of Egypt. Yet in vss. 25 and 40 we find that God did so by the hand of Moses. God promised the blessings of Abraham to the people of Israel through Moses and gave them commands. They believed and obeyed (Exodus 3:21-22; 12:35). God fulfilled His promise. The psalmist declared, “He brought the Israelites out with silver and gold, and among His tribes, there was not one who stumbled.” (Psalm 105:37). THIS was how God ‘brought’ them out of Egypt. As with Abraham, so likewise God did not force these people to submit. He gave them evidence whereby they could choose to believe in His power to fulfill His promises if they so desired.

This same thing is true with us in regard to our salvation from sin. We are not forced to stop committing sin, however we have the resurrection as proof of our eternal inheritance (Acts 17:30-31).

In view of this, we can choose to repent or perish (2 Peter 3:9). This eternal inheritance was the same promise God made to Abraham and to the children of Israel. These promises are related. God’s bringing Abraham out of Ur and Israel out of Egypt was with a view to bringing us out of sin. This was what He purposed from eternity. God ‘brought’ Abraham out of Ur to “bless ALL” in the future, in Christ (cf. Genesis 12:3; Acts 3:26).

The apostle Peter wrote that God has given us “exceeding great and precious promises” through Christ (2 Peter 1:4). Our blessings were promised upon the same conditions that were stated to Abraham and his descendants: faith and compliance. In this manner, God ‘brings’ us out of sin. We see the power of God’s word from this process. God’s word has the power to convict the heart to repent and accept God’s offer of salvation (Romans 1:16). The apostle Paul described our blessings this way, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, ‘In thee shall all the nations be blessed’.” (Galatians 3:8).

Let us learn from the example of how God ‘brought’ Abraham out and have hope “through patience and comfort of the scriptures” (Romans 15:4).

3/14/22

“THE TASSEL”

“The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a violet thread. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes, which led you to prostitute yourselves, so that you will remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God.” (Numbers 15:37-40).

There are two interesting words in the text above that will be the focus of this week’s article. These words point out what is necessary for every Christian. The first word is ‘fringe’. Some versions have the word ‘tassel’. We are familiar with a tassel as it is prevalent in graduation ceremonies in our culture. The children of Israel were given a command to wear tassels on the borders of their garments throughout their generations. The purpose being a reminder of something which was most important: Be obedient to Jehovah’s commands! While we are familiar with a similar act of tying a string around one of our fingers, such is not done as a reminder to obey God. While we are not commanded to wear tassels, we are given other commands from God which serves as reminders to be obedient.

For example, the command to assemble is our “tassel” reminder. We assemble to be reminded of the commands of the gospel to keep them; to be holy. We also assemble to be reminded NOT to follow after the lusts and desires of our own heart. Our ‘coming together’ can be for the better, or for the worse (1 Corinthians 11:20); depending upon how well we remember.

There is no greater event to remember than the sacrifice of Jesus. The purpose for which He shed His blood was for the remission of our sins. Therefore we have been given a command to proclaim His death. We find from all the records of the observance of the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:117-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28), that disciples are to be together when partaking. Yes, we are to come together! It should be no surprise to find a “tassel-reminder” in connection with this memorial. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we read, “…let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”

It is ironic that this most significant event is the very one that is least remembered by those who have been taught human traditions and human theology. Satan’s deception of how to observe this memorial has been the springboard for all other deceptions. Therefore, a few words regarding the manner in which this remembering is to be done is in order. Must we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns?” ‘Of course’, you might reply. How then shall we proclaim it? Do we have any inspired language from the Holy Spirit as to how we are to remember, or may we decide this according to our own wisdom? We find that practices vary from weekly, to monthly, to yearly. Some partake on Thursday night, some on Saturday, and others on Sunday. Some now do it from home without any regard to the command to ‘come together’ in Hebrews 10:25.

The variance in practice is indicative that either no divine guidance exists, or the divine guidance is simply not followed. Which is it? The answer lies in a brief study of the second term. It is the word ‘follow’ or ‘seek’ (KJV). The Israelites were told to ‘not follow’ something (re-read v. 39 above). The word ‘follow’ means to follow much as the hind leg of an animal follows the front leg. It goes wherever the front leg steps. There is no decision made regarding whether the path is a path of danger, it just follows without thinking. What God was then meaning was to NOT follow your heart’s desire without any consideration of whether your heart is following the Lord’s commandments; remember THEM! We need to remember what God spoke to Noah when He gave the reminder of the rainbow: “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…” (Genesis 8:21).

Attaching a tassel to their garments was such an insignificant act, yet it had profound purpose. How important was it? Assembling is a very insignificant thing for many, yet it likewise has an equally profound purpose. How important is it to you? Remember, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

3/6/22