It may be argued that adultery has even more devastating consequences to family life, and mankind in general than burglary, and even rape or murder.  Yet in Australia, adultery carries with it no punishment by law.   For example, I know of a husband and wife who had worked hard for many years building a business together.  They had a nice family, and had become quite wealthy and self sufficient.   After many years of marriage the husband had an affair with an employee, and the wife was forced out of the luxurious house they had raised their family in.   The adulteress moved into her house, taking over her husband, and her possessions (even using many things that they had received as wedding presents).   Because the husband was a clever business man, he managed to tie up all the business, and house, in his name.  His wife received nothing. she was therefore  forced to live a miserable life on Government assistance, staying in small units or with family.   This man had destroyed his family, robbed his beautiful, innocent wife of her possession, plundered her home, humiliated her, and destroyed her life.   Yet he has never come before the courts as a criminal.   Not only this, but according to many religious people today, this man could, with God’s blessing, marry the adulteress and live in sinless marital bliss.  We ask, is this right? and answer with a resounding No!

GOD ORDAINED MARRIAGE AS HIS ONLY AUTHORIZED MEANS OF SEXUAL COHABITATION.  From the very beginning of time, God ordained that man and woman would become husband and wife,   live together and produce a family – Genesis 1:27-28.   When God brought the woman to Adam, and he accepted her as his wife, marriage was instituted.    Genesis 2:24 says,  “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  The “leaving and cleaving” refers to the  marriage covenant  which joins the couple together as husband and wife,  and  “one flesh” refers to the intimacy of the  sexual union which  God expects to be practiced within the marriage.   This special bonding together of their bodies is designed to be   shared only by the married couple throughout their life together.  Neither couple is permitted to allow a third party into the marriage union.   Children who came forth from this union could therefore enjoy a loving and secure environment in which to be nurtured to adulthood.  This is God’s way.

GOD HAS NEVER TOLERATED ADULTERY.   Biblical history indicates that God has always demanded strict punishment for adultery.   Even the pagan king Abimelech   recognized that it was a crime worthy of death.  When he took Sarah (Abraham’s wife) into his harem, God appeared to him in a dream and said    “.., Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.”  — Genesis 20:3     It was only the fact that he had not actually committed adultery with her that His life was spared.   We notice also that The Law of Moses demanded the death penalty for adultery “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”  — Leviticus 20:10.  The book of Proverbs, gives many warnings about adultery.   for example, Proverbs 6:29-32   “So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. {30} Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;  But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.  But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”

Even in the Christian dispensation, although the church cannot rule politically and execute perpetrators, Governments are authorized by God to execute malefactors  – Romans 13:4.  It seems certain therefore that adultery would be among those things which Paul said, under inspiration,   are “worthy of death”  – Acts 25:11.

GOD HAS ALWAYS PUNISHED ADULTERY.  An extra marital sexual union breaks this one flesh relationship, and adulterates the marriage bed.   – Hebrews 13:4; 1 Cor 6:15-17   Fornication is singled out by the Holy Spirit, as being different, to all other sins  – 1 Cor. 6:18-20.  Within the marriage bed, it constitutes the only ground for divorce and is therefore, in the Lord’s eyes, a worse crime against a marriage partner than any other sin in the world.   Jesus said in Matthew 19:9 — “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”  The word “except” forcibly makes   the sexual defilement of the marriage bed by one’s spouse,   the only ground for divorce and remarriage. This is significant when you consider terrible crimes against marriage such as drunkenness, violence, and mental abuse.   Bad as these sins are, none of them constitute ground for divorce and remarriage.

THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON ADULTERY IS CLEAR.    There are many today who apply for divorce, hoping that the certificate will grant them the right of marriage. It does so in the eyes of the law of the land, but the reader of God’s law should know better.  Governments do not have either the right or the power to invent their own conditions of divorce and remarriage  – Matthew 19:6.      Paul said   “So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man  —– .Romans 7:3.   This and all the other verses in the New Testament relating to divorce and remarriage show that a marriage authorized by the law of the land is not automatically authorized by God.   Any sexual union  – whether it is within, or without marriage) which involves the spouse of another is divinely defined as adultery.   – Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18.  The only exception to this rule is the remarriage of one who is the innocent victim of a guilty fornicator  – Matthew 19:9; 5:32.

MISCONCEPTIONS OF ADULTERY.  There have been attempts by Bible students to try and modify the Lord’s teaching on adultery.  below are some of these.

THAT LUST IS ADULTERY AND THERFORE CONSTITUTES GROUND FOR DIVORCE.   In Matthew 5:27-28 Christ said: “ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery:  but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.    The sin Christ is talking about here takes place in the mind, and committed by a lustful man alone.   The ground for divorce mentioned by Christ is FORNICATION which means illicit sexual intercourse, therefore adultery “in the heart” is not a reason for divorce.  A man who lusts after a woman in his mind has no more literally committed an immoral sex act, than  one who hates his brother has committed murder actual murder  – 1 John  3:15. Fornication and adultery can only be committed physically by two parties.  In the Lord’s illustration, the woman who is the object of the man’s lust is not involved in the sin.    It all takes place in his imagination.   Think for a moment.   Could a man divorce his innocent virtuous wife, if another lustful man committed adultery with her in his heart?  Obviously not, yet this would be so if “mind adultery” constituted a Scriptural reason for divorce.

THAT ADULTERY IS SIMPLY COVENANT BREAKING AND HAS NO REFERENCE TO THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP.   A great error in this heresy is two fold.  First of all it is claimed that the expression “marrieth another”  – Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Luke 10:11-12, Luke 16:18 etc.  refers only to the marriage covenant and has no reference to sexual cohabitation.  It is true that in the figurative sense people of God commit adultery with the world when they forsake the covenant they make with God (c/f Jer 3:8-9).   It is also true that marriage is a covenant, and that when adultery takes place, the marriage covenant is broken.  However in Prov. 2:16-17 where covenant breaking is mentioned in relation to marriage, sexual unfaithfulness is specifically inferred.

The second error is that although it is admitted that it is sinful   to divorce and remarry, God still accepts the unscriptural covenant and thus blesses the sexual union of the couple.  This is obviously a wrong concept of repentance.    Even if the  term “marrieth another”  meant simply  “Make a covenant” without reference to the sexual act, it would still infer that the couple were not Scripturally married, and would therefore have no sexual rights to each other.

The fact is however, the expression “marry” infers a sexual right of the couples involved.  The Greek word is GAMEO which means “to take as a wife, to marry, enter the marriage state” (Bullenger’s Lexicon)

THAT BAPTISM SANCTIFIES ADULTERY.  It is generally admitted by those who hold this view that a married person commits adultery when he divorces his wife and remarries, but when he is baptized, the adultery is forgiven and the couple can remain in the marriage.  The inference is that baptism sanctifies a sinful union.  Believers in this idea have little concept of what baptism is about.   Baptism does not sanctify sinful unions.   If a homosexual for example is baptized he must leave his homosexual union for ever in order to remain forgiven of the sin.  If a thief enters the waters of baptism he remains a thief unless he repents of his stealing previous to baptism, and ceases stealing after his baptism.

One way to illustrate error is to bring a proposition to its obvious conclusion.   In the position above, what if only one of the parties in an adulterous marriage is baptized?   Would this make the baptised partner’s sexual union holy, but his marriage partners union adulterous?  Of course not!  However, this would be the obvious conclusion to such a theory.   Adultery cannot be participated in alone.

Concerning Herod’s unscriptural marriage to Herodias John plainly told him: “It is not lawful for thee to have her.”  — Matthew 14:4. If baptism sanctifies an unscriptural union, then why did  John not  suggest this to Herod?

THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ADULTERY TO BE CONTINUED IN AFTER DIVORCE.   It is argued that when a spouse is divorced for fornication that both parties revert to “single” status and therefore both parties have the right to marry.  This view is false for many reasons. One of these is because it is falsely assumed that the divorced fornicator reverts back to the same single status as one who has never been married.  The fact is, the scriptures do not say that such a person is “single” but is “divorced”, and the Lord clearly states that a sexual union with a divorcee constitutes adultery.  (Matt 19:9b; 5:32b).   May the Lord help us to hold to his teaching on the subject of adultery.  Let us always hate the sin, but love the sinner.  Let us also be diligent to keep ourselves pure and avoid fornication

Ian McPherson

At first glance, the Bible appears to contradict itself when dealing with the drink question. Drinking of wine is both forbidden and approved of in the Bible. It is described as both a curse and a blessing. The answer to this dilemma is simply that the word wine is a generic term in the Greek as well as the Hebrew. Therefore only the context can determine whether or not they refer to alcoholic or non alcoholic wine. In Isaiah 65:8 for example we see that the juice of the grape, while it is still in the cluster is described as wine. Also wine was part of the first fruits that were offered to the Lord in Old Testament times (Neh. 10:37).  Ignorance of this generic use of the word “wine” has led many to think that drinking alcohol is acceptable, and sometimes even encouraged in the Bible. However, a close study shows that this is far from true.

Under the influence of alcohol Noah fell asleep, naked and shamefully sprawled out in his tent (Gen 9:20-21). Ever since this first mentioned incident of drunkenness in Scripture, alcohol has been associated with shame and sin. Lot for example committed incest with his two daughters while under its influence (Gen 19:30-31). This is something that was completely out of character for him, yet he had not even any recollection of the detestable act he had done while drunk.

Some will argue that these incidents cited above only prove that drunkenness is wrong, and have no application to moderate social drinking. Many other Scriptures however will be cited in this article to prove God’s displeasure towards those who become involved in the drinking of alcohol, even in moderation. Let us first of all notice some of these from the Old Testament.

WINE IS A COMMON   SOURCE   OF EVIL.  ”Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things”- Proverbs 23:29-33.

In this verse, as in most examples, God warns about the evil influence of the substance itself.  Notice He says,   “At the last it biteth like a serpent.  God is warning His people about its end. Moderate drinking may appear to some to be harmless, but its end results in sorrow, faction, sickness, and perversion. Solomon therefore in this verse admonishes Israel not to even to look upon alcoholic wine.

WINE IS DECEPTIVE   “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise”. — Proverbs 20:1. Here Solomon warns of its deceptive influence. Deception is an attribute of Satan, 

WINE HINDERS MAN’S ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG. God forbade the priests to drink alcohol before officiating at the altar. He said in Leviticus 10:9-10  “Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation,  lest ye die:  it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And  that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean”   This command to priests was given after Nadab and Abihu had offered  ”strange fire before the Lord”  and were burned to death by God in punishment (Lev 10:1-2). It is most probable that these two priests were under wine’s influence when they offered worship, and therefore could not think clearly.

Some have said that this prohibition only forbade the priests from drinking when they entered the tabernacle, and not at other times.  The context however only shows that the death penalty was imposed for having a drink before entering the tabernacle.  It does not say that it was O.K. to drink at other times.  The fact that priests were forbidden to drink at all times as indicated in Isaiah 28:7 -”But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink they are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.  For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.”  How could anyone conclude after reading a passage like this that God approves of alcoholic consumption?

WINE CAUSES MEN TO FORGET THE LAW AND PERVERT JUDGMENT. “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted”   — Proverbs 31:4-5. Notice again that none of the above verses mention the amount of alcohol, they condemn the drinking of the substance itself because of its evil influence.

THE LAW OF MOSES FORBADE MEN   GIVING   THEIR NEIGHBOUR A DRINK.   “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”  — Habakkuk 2:15. .    How could anyone declare that God approves of drinking alcohol when God’s people were not even able to offer their neighbour a drink? Those who do not drink alcohol themselves, but keep it in the fridge for visitors should think about this verse

We have seen what the Old Testament teaches about alcohol; now let us consider what the New Testament teaches

DRINKING ALCOHOL TRANSGRESSES BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.  Can anyone truthfully claim that alcohol can be drunk to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)? Could we truthfully say it will never cause a brother to be offended or become weak (Romans 14:21), or that those who drink it are setting a good example (1 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12). Obviously these principles alone show that drinking alcohol is wrong. The Bible does authorize anything that it condemns in principle.

BEING UNDER ANY INFLUENCE OF WINE IS SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN.  The New Testament commands the Christian to be sober.  There are two basic words in the Greek that are translated as sober. One of these is SOPHRON which means to be of sound mind, and refers to one who follows sound reasoning and restrains his passions. The other word is NEPH0. This word means “To be free from the influence of intoxicants” (W.E. Vine), “To be sober, temperate, obstinate,  esp. in respect to wine”  (Bullenger). It is used twice in contrast to drunkenness in 1 Thessalonians 5: 8-11. It is also used in 1 Peter 5:8 as an admonition to be in a fit frame of mind to resist the influences of Satan. In the K.J.V. it is translated as  ”vigilant”  in 1 Timothy 3:2 in reference to the qualifications of elders, and as  ”sober”  in reference to church leaders wives (1 Timothy 3:11). Since all these verses infer a continuous state of mind it stands to reason that God wants his people to abstain from alcoholic wine.

ALCOHOL IS THE SOURCE OF DRUNKENNESS. No one doubts that drunkenness is sin. The Bible plainly tells that drunkards will not enter into the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21). The church is commanded to withdraw from drunkards. (1 Corinthians 5:11). Alcohol is intoxicating, it is therefore undeniable that the first drink must make a person at least moderately drunk, and therefore those who say that we can drink moderately must claim that God approves of moderate drunkenness.  Can the reader think of any sin that can be rightfully be practiced moderately?   For example, how many would say that a man of God could engage in “moderate fornication” or “moderate lust”?

Surely we can all see that sin must but be cut off at its source.  Would any married Christian who believes that the Bible approves of moderate drinking and only condemns drunkenness, let another man kiss and fondle his wife on the argument that “the Bible only forbade adultery”? Suppose that this imagined offender argued that there was nothing to worry about because he could control himself, and his actions would never lead to adultery? Would the husband be satisfied with that argument? The fact is that as foreplay goes hand in hand with adultery, so does social drinking go hand in hand with drunkenness. All drunkards began as social drinkers. It is also extremely rare that a social drinker will never become visibly inebriated at certain times.   Adultery begins in the heart (Matthew 5:28, 15:18-19); and so does drunkenness (Prove 23:29-23).

THE PROCESS OF BECOMING DRUNK IS SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN.  Several times in the New Testament the Greek word translated “drunk” is in the form of an “inceptive verb”. The word “METHUO” simply means to be drunk with wine but “METHUSKO” “signifies to make drunk or to grow drunk” (an inceptive, marking the process of the state expressed in No. 1 (Methuo) (W.E. Vine). This inceptive verb is seen in Luke 12:45; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess 5:7a). These verses all teach that drunkenness begins with first glass. 

ARGUMENTS THAT SEEK SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL DRINKING HAVE NO FOUNDATION.  Some blasphemously accuse the Lord of making alcoholic wine in his first miracle (John 2:1-11). If this was alcoholic wine then the Lord would have not only broken the Law of Moses which forbade giving alcoholic drink to your neighbour (Hab. 2:15), but, since the text says that the people at the wedding were “well drunk” (John 2:10), it would mean that the Lord, who is the greatest example of pure living that has ever lived, supported drunkenness. The only logical conclusion that can be  drawn from this incident is that the wine mentioned here is the type that was non-alcoholic, which is the type of wine most often referred to in Scripture, and was consumed by all. 

 One of the main passages used to support moderate social drinking is 1Timothy 5:23 in which Paul encourages Timothy to “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”  Another passage is 1Timothy 3:8 where deacons are to be not given too much wine”.  Those who use these verses must consider the fact that the context of these verses relate to the good example of influential church leaders.   They would also be in the unenviable position of trying to define how  ”little”  Timothy could drink before being defined as drunk, and how  ”much”  the deacon could drink without losing his qualifications.

We conclude this article with asking the reader a question. If you were to undergo a crucial and intricate operation that was a matter of life or death, would you want the surgeon to have even one drink?  If not, then why would the Lord want his people, who are to be alert at all times in dealing with the souls of men, want the judgment of his people impaired by alcohol?

Ian McPherson

Christ established His church  in the New Testament era through the power of t he Holy Spirit  on the Jewish Day of Pentecost just fifty days from his death.   When people were baptized the Lord added those who were saved  to His church (Acts 2:41, 47).  The Apostle’s doctrine formed the basis of its teaching (Acts 2:42).  The church continued to grow in Jerusalem, and when persecution came it scattered.   The gospel spread from Jerusalem to Judea and then Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).  Ultimately, within the first century the gospel was preached to every person under heaven (Colossians 1:23)

The church that was established was not a denomination, but it was planned in the eternal, omnipotent  mind God (Ephesians 3:10), purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) and brought into force through His resurrection from the dead and exaltation into heaven ( Ephesians 1:19-23).

Denominations came into existence as a result of preachers losing their love for the truth, and the courage to preach sound doctrine. Over centuries the church of the Bible fell away  from its original form which resulted in hundreds of sects, or denominations, being formed.   This falling away is described in detail in   1 Timothy 4:1-5 and  2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Apostasy  happened gradually, but came about because people lost their love for the  truth and preferred to have their ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:4.).   This short lesson is a description of how the church became divided into denominations and  how diligent Bible scholars found their way back to the truth.

DEVELOPMENT OF CATHOLICISM: The first area of apostasy was in organization.  Local  congregations of the New Testament church were fully organized when they had  “elders in every church” (Acts 14:23).  This system went unchanged until an elder from the church at  Antioch by the name of Ignatius felt that it would be more advantageous to call the chairman of the board of elders a “bishop”.  “Elder” meant an older distinguished person, and “bishop” meant “overseer”.  These both refer to the same office. (1 Timothy 3:1-8,  Titus 1:5-4-9). The Greek words which describe them are used interchangeably (Acts 20:28). After the trend introduced by Ignatius,  the church gradually became centralized.

Firstly, Bishops from local congregations began meeting together and making decisions on behalf of their allotted areas known as diocese.

Secondly,  people began trying to trace a fictitious line of bishops back to the apostolic era, and power hungry bishops began pointing to Peter as the Chief Apostle and to Rome as the seat of religious power in the Church.   In A.D. 606, Boniface III was the first  to successfully claim to be Universal  Bishop of the church.   The   pope eventually took on the title of “Most Holy Father”,  which is a title that only belongs to God.  The Bible forbids men using religious titles (Matthew 23:5-11). Christ’s is the only head of the church (Ephesians 1: 20-23, Col 1:18). 

The trend towards papal power  and the apostasy of the church was originally  generated by Emperor Constantine.  He was  sympathetic with Christianity and  did good things of which we, as a church,  reap the benefit today. For example he stopped persecution of the church by issuing the Edict of Milan in  AD 313.  He also made  Sunday a holiday, thus enabling Christians more liberty to meet for worship through the day instead of in the night after work (Acts 20:7).  However over all,  Constantine had a disastrous affect on the church.

His influence caused it to become a political institution instead of a religious one. It also became materialistic instead of evangelistic.  Constantine gave a lot of state money to build  beautiful buildings, thus putting the emphasis on the meeting place of the church instead of the assembly itself. He said “My most intense desire  is to erect  beautiful edifices upon that consecrated spot ….  Take every care and precaution that these edifices may not only be magnificent, but that they may be incomparably superior to all the most beautiful structures in the world”

Another detrimental thing he introduced was the first human creed. This was composed in 325  by Alexander, Athanasius and Constantine, with the  purpose of settling a dispute between bishops on the nature of the Godhead.  From this time onwards, the church could not function without creeds.  These authoritative statements eventually were enforced  by acts of parliament, and those who did not agree with them were called heretics.   The debate on the Godhead,  and the nature of Christ eventually led to authoritative statements such as  Mary being unscripturally called “Mother of God”.

Popes eventually became even  more powerful than Emperors.  Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)  claimed he had the power to depose any emperor  on earth whether they were Roman or not.  During his reign papal power was at its strongest point ever.  Popes were able to exert this power for three reasons.  Firstly, because of the belief that God had established a line of authority from Peter, and that the pope sat in Peter’s chair.  Secondly,  the pope could excommunicate Emperors if they did not yield to their wishes, and thirdly, the  pope could order priests to refuse “priestly duties” to emperors such as serving mass, performing marriages or burying  the dead until the ruler repented  Emperors believed that they would be doomed to hell if these privileges were withheld.

Throughout history many Ecumenical Councils met and many  began to enforce doctrines foreign to the Bible.  Some of them were,  temporal power of the Pope (A.D.730), Adoration of Mary and other saints (A.D. 788), Instrumental Music (A.D. 666) (Adoration of the cross, images and relics (A. D. 788), Marriage of priests forbidden (A.D. 1079), Rosary Beads A.D. 1090, Sales of Indulgence A.D. 1190,  Sacrifice of Mass (A.D.1215), Transubstantiation  of bread (A.D.1215), Auricular confession to the priest (A.D. 1215), Purgatory proclaimed (A.D.1438), Tradition held equal with the Bible (A.D.1545), Apocryphal books added to the Bible (A.D. 1546), Immaculate conception of Mary (A.D.1845) and the infallibility of the Pope (A.D.1870)

PROTESTANT REFORMATION:  This movement  began with Martin Luther, a Catholic monk in  Germany,  who,  in Oct. 31 1517 challenged to  debate the Catholic Church  on  ninety-five  areas where they had strayed from the Bible.  He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church and thus the first Protestant denomination was formed. He did much good for Christianity.  He translated the Bible into German, thus putting the Bible in the hands of the people, and he opposed Papal authority.  Unfortunately, he did not go far enough. The  Augsburg confession which was a summation of Luther’s beliefs was drawn up and men continued to follow creeds instead of the Bible.

Although Luther, in his writings pleaded with men not to call themselves Lutherans, this is exactly what his followers did. This was in direct contradiction to 1 Corinthians 1:10-12 which forbids the following of men.  This trend continued for centuries,  and stopped men’s search for truth.   Dozens of different leaders emerged after this, starting different churches and drawing up different creeds. They called their groups by different names to distinguish them from the others.  This resulted in hundreds of sects (denominations) being formed.

John Calvin,  another reformer, became the town dictator of Geneva in 1541.  He was a puritan.  Under his dictatorship,  people were not allowed to swear, play dice, gamble or sing indecent songs.  No one was allowed out in the streets after 9.00 at night except spies.   He also introduced doctrines that are now called “Calvinism” which placed God as the supreme Sovereign, to the point where men could do nothing whatsoever for their salvation.  This led to him to believe that  some people are “predestined to be lost” and others to be saved, and there was nothing at all that they could do about it.  He was so powerful that he could force people to accept his teachings or be put to death.   Between 1542-1546 he executed 57 men and banished seventy-six others who did not follow his theology.

ENGLISH HISTORY: Although the  established church had apostatized, there is good evidence that  original apostolic church continued to grow and thrive  alongside the apostate church. As a result of the great commission,  churches of Christ were planted throughout Europe and all over the inhabited world in the first century (Colossians 1:23).    In his excellent book “Traces of the Kingdom”, the late brother  Kieth Sisman, showed how faithful Christians, in-spite of extreme persecution from the established church,  had existed in England from apostolic times, and that the church of Christ was still  thriving in England in the 1500’s. He also made this observation as to why the true church finally almost went out of existence’  He said,  “Despite the terror, torture and burnings, all the efforts of the Roman Catholic, and later Protestant and Anglican churches could not exterminate the churches of Christ.  What led to its near extermination in the seventeenth Century was not persecution, but apostasy from inside—The spread of Calvinism and the resulting Baptist movement and Quakerism” (P 422).  Thus, the remnant of the apostolic church had almost  corroded away.  Apostate denominationalism reigned supreme.

RESTORATION:  With the introduction of the printing press, the Bible became much more available to the common man.  This caused many to question Calvinism and many other human philosophies.  Men began to hunger for truth.  This resulted in men in different places desiring to go back to the Bible alone for religious authority. They desired to restore the New Testament church which had become lost in the confusion of denominationalism.  Restoration principles  began in England and Scotland, but ultimately took solid roots in USA as people migrated from England looking for freedom in the new land.

RESTORATION IN USA:  A preacher by the name of  James O’Kelly left the  Methodists in 1799.  He  introduced three primary restoration principles into the North Carolina area.  (1) The use of the name “Christian” for God’s people, (2) the Bible as the only creed, and (3) the right of private judgment.  Another  man, Elias Smith in 1802 began a group with five members. It was called “The church of Christ” and the members were called “Christians”.  He began an influential journal called “The herald of Gospel Liberty” which contended for restoration principles.   Barton W. Stone: (1772-1844)  denounced the Westminster Confession,  and denominationalism.  He then formed a group called “The Springfield Presbytery”, but soon realized this was just establishing another sectarian body. This body was soon dissolved by the writing of  “The Last Will And Testament of the Springfield Presbytery” One item of this document said: “That the people henceforth take the Bible as the only sure guide to heaven, and as many as are offended with other books which stand in competition with it, may cast them into the fire if they choose, for it is better to enter  into life having one book than having many to be cast  into hell”

Independently of Stone, Alexander Campbell and his son Thomas had migrated from Ireland and had begun a sweeping movement to restore the church of the Bible.  Later the Campbell’s met up with the Stone movement and  together, began establishing churches after the New Testament pattern  throughout USA, and ultimately throughout the world.  These churches met for worship each Sunday (Acts 20:7), were independently ruled by elders (Acts 14:23) and baptized by immersion for remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

RESTORATION IN AUSTRALIA: The churches of Christ in Australia are a result of the restoration principle.  These came originally  through brethren migrating to Australia from the  British Isles.  There was also an indigenous movement begun by Stephen Cheek (1852– 1883) whose family came from England and settled in Launceston Tasmania when he was two years old.   He came out of the Congregationalist Church and began a completely independent  group of churches which eventually found they were identical to other churches of Christ. The two groups then merged together. Unfortunately most of these,  deserted the restoration plea through influences of liberalism  and eventually joined main stream denominationalism. There are however  several churches in Australia who continue to worship and serve the Lord according to the ancient order as autonomous self governing congregations.  They often call themselves Church of Christ (non-denominational) to distinguish themselves  from their more liberal ancestors.

PRINCIPLES OF  RESTORATION: Nondenominational churches of Christ  today exist according to the same principle.  It is important to realize that neither Stone, nor Campbell established the church. All these men did was sort through the confusion of denominationalism and plant the pure New Testament seed in  the hearts of men of their generation.  The principle of restoration is seen in the parable of the sower and the seed.  When Christ explained this parable to his disciples he said “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).  Therefore, whenever the word of God is planted in human hearts it produces only Christians who are members of the church which Jesus established through the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Seed always produces only after its kind. Why not join hands with us in the planting of the pure New Testament gospel in the community where you live?  If the gospel  seed germinates in the hearts of men, it will not produce members of a denomination, but simply Christians, nothing more and nothing less.

Ian McPherson

STUDY SOURCES

The Eternal Kingdom,  F.W. Mattox, Gospel Light Publishing Company Delight Arkansas

“Voices Crying in the wilderness”, David Roper, Restoration Publications, PO Box 623, Salisbury (Adelaide), South Australia 5109 1979

“Traces of the Kingdom” Keith Sisman  The Second Edition Forbidden Books, Ramsey Huntington PE26 2YZ United Kingdom

“History of The Lord’s Church”  Jule Miller, Visualized Bible Study Series” Lesson 5 Gospel Services Inc Houston TX 77207-2302

The doctrine typically termed in the religious world “original sin” has influenced the majority of Christendom today. The doctrine states that the sin of Adam is passed down to mankind through procreation. Mankind, therefore, inherits the moral guilt of sin from birth. Many add to this the doctrine of “total depravity”: the belief that not only do we inherit sin, but we also have a total inability to do good from birth. The implication is that infants, as soon as they are conceived, are wicked, morally corrupted sinners. Many of this persuasion have adopted the tongue-in cheek phrase “vipers in diapers” to refer to the wickedness of infants.

The History of Original Sin and Total Depravity

Original sin was unknown to early Christian writers. Early Second-century apologist Aristides of Athens (C. 124-125 AD) wrote, “And when a child has been born to one of them [Christians], they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happens to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins.” Centuries later, the theologian Augustine of Hippo popularised the doctrine of original sin (5^th century). Augustine was incredibly influential, and the doctrine became mainstream in the Western Roman Empire. From here, it would become an inseparable part of the doctrinal teaching of the Roman Catholic church. A millennia later, the influential John Calvin, a Swiss reformer, developed the doctrine of total depravity from Augustine’s teaching. Consequently, the doctrine is now mainstream in many denominations today.

It may be shocking to know many people think babies are sinners. While it may be difficult for us to process that an infant could be a sinner, we must not rely heavily on the emotional argument, but consider what the scriptures have to say about this matter.

Infants Inherit Death, not Sin

In the first few chapters of Genesis, one is taken on a wild rollercoaster. The world begins “very good,” and man begins his existence in a perfect paradise. Things quickly go wrong, however, when Adam and Eve decide to partake of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, a fruit that God had forbidden them to eat (Genesis 3:3). Creation is cursed, and death enters the world. God’s chilling words to Adam remain the fate every human must face today: “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (v. 19).

The original sin committed in Eden had immense implications for the whole world. We all face its consequences, but do we inherit the sin and guilt of Adam and Eve? Romans 5 is often used as a proof text for the doctrine.  However, upon careful reading,  all it reveals is that Adam introduced death into the world through sin. Anyone can suffer from the consequence of sin, even if it is not their own (E.g., a drunk driver hits someone who is perfectly innocent, but the innocent party suffers). We suffer the consequences of Adam’s sin through death, though we did not commit nor are we held accountable for Adam’s sin. Any interpretation of Romans 5 cannot come into conflict with other clearly stated biblical teachings. Here are three of those teachings…

The Innocence of Infants

At the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy, we have a generation of Israelites who were not permitted to enter the promised land because of their constant rebellion against God. The Israelites thought their children would be prey to the same fate. Moses says otherwise, “Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them, I will give it, and they shall possess it” (Deuteronomy 1:39). God was not going to punish those children, because at that point they did not have a knowledge of good and evil. The phrase “knowledge of good and evil” is the exact phrase used to refer to the tree in the Garden of Eden. They were, therefore, innocent before God, just as Adam and Eve had no knowledge of good and evil before partaking of the forbidden fruit.

The prophet Ezekiel has much to say about our responsibility for personal sin. Ezekiel 28:15 reads, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.” Earlier in Ezekiel, we have the prophet explaining God’s justice: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20). Each person is responsible for their own sins; no one bears the guilt of the sins of their fathers. To gel the doctrine of original sin with this passage is to fit a square block in a round hole – it is impossible! If a child has no knowledge of good and evil and cannot inherit the sins of their parents, then we cannot inherit Adam’s guilt.

God compels us to Return to our Childlike Innocence through Christ

In scripture, there are many places where we are encouraged to return to our original innocent condition. If scripture teaches that children bear the guilt of the original sin, we must conclude that there are serious contradictions in the teaching of Christ and the Apostles. Matthew 18:3 reads, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Lord makes this comment in a discussion about rank in the Kingdom of Heaven; he is talking about the humbleness involved in conversion. We must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This implies that little children have certain attributes that enable them to be automatically justified before God. The Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthian church, “in malice be babes” or in some translations (NASB 1995, ESV), “in evil, be infants.” (1 Cor. 14:20). What does this mean? According to proponents of original sin and total depravity, an infant is a guilty sinner. Surely the Apostle would not be encouraging his brethren to be evil. The obvious meaning is that Paul wanted the brethren to be free from evil, as an infant is free from sin.

 In consideration of the Scripture’s view of the innocence of infants, it is no wonder that the conversion process is likened to a new birth.  Consider John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Therefore, if Scripture compels us to return to our infant-like innocence, we must necessarily assume that infants are indeed innocent before God and have not inherited sin or guilt.

All Men Go through a Process of Straying

The scriptures show that all eventually stray from their infantile innocence. Ecclesiastes 7:29 reads, “Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” Mankind begins upright, I.e., in good standing before God, but is later pulled away by sin. Isaiah says to Israel, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). You cannot be separated from something that you were not joined to in the first place, in the context this was not just a general condemnation on mankind from the fall but was a specific plea to the Israelites of his day. Paul writes in Romans 7:9, “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Just two chapters after Paul supposedly taught original sin, he refers to the fact that he was once alive without the law, but when sin came, he died spiritually and was now in debt to Christ for salvation. If man was created upright and later separated from God, he must have been unified with Him at one point.

The doctrine of inherited sin and guilt cannot be meshed in with these passages without doing violence to their context and meaning.

Conclusion

The doctrine of original sin and total depravity come into conflict with many scriptures that explicitly and implicitly affirm that babies are innocent before God,  and cannot make moral decisions between good and evil. This is consistent with God’s just and holy character, who will only bring into judgment those who can discern between good and evil and understand what it means to come to Christ. It would be reasonable and necessary to infer that humans with severe mental disabilities that prevent them from this knowledge and decision-making are also unaccountable to God due to their child-like state. Thanks be to God for His justice and goodness!

– Mitchell Rutherford

The Promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. John mentions three baptisms in Matthew 3:11: (1) the baptism of fire; (2) the baptism of the Holy Spirit; (3) the baptism in water. However, no one person received all three baptisms that John mentioned. For example, not all who John addressed were baptised in water unto repentance of their sins. There were some among those to whom John spoke who were there to spy on him. This latter group is referred to as the “offspring of vipers”. These “vipers” would receive the baptism of fire. The baptism of fire clearly refers to immersion in the fires of Hell (Revelation 20:1-5). It is just as true to say that not all of John’s audience were going to receive the baptism of fire, as it is to say that not all of those who heard John’s address would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When other scriptures connected to the baptism of the Holy Spirit are considered it is clear that only a handful of God appointed men would receive it.

Who Received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? When John made his promise that some in his audience would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit it is obvious that he was addressing those in that group who would later be appointed to the apostolic office by Christ. These received the fulfilment of that promise on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus. Shortly before the Lord ascended bank to heaven, he promised the apostles “…that ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:5). Statements in Acts 1:5-8 and Acts 1:26 make it clear that those who received the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1 were the apostles.

The immersion of the apostles by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was a fulfilment of the promise that Jesus made only to the twelve. During the course of Jesus’ ministry He told the apostles that they would receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:1-26; 15:26; John 16:13). Jesus had told the twelve, and only the twelve, that they would be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

What was the Purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? When the Holy Spirit immersed the apostles they were given “all things” (John 14:6). It is evident that among those “things” that the Holy Spirit gave to the apostles was an accurate recollection of the teachings of Jesus. The Holy Spirit would also confirm that Jesus was the Christ, and that He would be the centre of the message the apostles would receive (John 15:26, 27). The Holy Spirit would also guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13; I Cor. 2:10-13). If all of those who were converted to Christ received the baptism of the Holy Spirit then there would be no need for them to study since all who received the Holy Spirit would be guided into all truth. This is why the early converts observed the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:47). They had not all received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the baptism of the Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to perform miracles to confirm the word (Mark 16:17-20). They were also given the power to pass on the ability to perform miracles to others (Romans 1:11; Acts 8:12-18; 19:1-5).

What About Cornelius and His Household? While Peter was preaching to the members of Cornelius’ household the Holy Spirit FELL on all those who heard the word (Acts 10:44). Peter stated that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was issued in the same manner as it was given to the apostles when the church began (Acts 11:15). The difference between the apostle’s Holy Spirit baptism and the immersion of Cornelius in the Holy Spirit was in the purpose; not the application.

Why were Cornelius and His Household Baptized with the Holy Spirit? The purpose of the immersion of Cornelius’ household in the Holy Spirit was to show that the Gentiles were accepted by God (Acts 11:15-18). It demonstrated that the Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be accepted by God. Peter used the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius as an argument to baptise them into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 10:47, 48; 11:15-18). No where in scripture does Peter state that Cornelius and his Household were giving “all things (truth).” This latter benefit was only promised to the apostles when they were immersed in the Holy Spirit.

Final observations. Only two groups of people ever received a baptism of the Holy Spirit: (1) the twelve apostles on Pentecost; (2) the household of Cornelius. The circumstances that created the need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit on those two occasions do not apply in our present age. There is only one baptism that is applicable to man today (Ephesians 4:5). The baptism is applied by men (not God) (Acts 8:38). It is the baptism in water for the remission of sins. Not all men needed to receive the baptism of Holy Spirit, but all men (including the apostles and Cornelius) need to baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48). 

Brett Rutherford

Water baptism is clearly part of the gospel that is to be preached to the lost (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16).  Yet most of the religious world believes that baptism is not essential to salvation, saying it is an outward sign of an inward grace”. Below, however, are some reasons why baptism is an essential part of the gospel plan of salvation.  

BAPTISM COMES BEFORE SALVATION. It is generally believed that sinners are saved by accepting Christ into their heart, and are then baptized to show they have been saved.  However, every time that baptism and salvation are mentioned together in Scripture, baptism comes before salvation. Here are some examples:

Mark 16:15-16.     “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”   In order to be saved, a person must believe the message of the gospel and respond to it by being baptised.   

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”     Both repentance and baptism precede remission of sins.    The verse does not say “repent for remission of sins and then be baptised as some affirm. It was not until they were baptized that they were saved and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47).  

Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”    Paul’s sins were not washed away until he was baptised.   We must realize that it is the blood of Christ that washes away our sins, not the water. (Revelation 1:5, Matthew 26:28). Our sins are therefore washed away by the blood in the water’s of baptism.  

Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Baptism is the only way in Scripture to get into Christ. The new life in Christ does not begin until  after we are baptised.

Galatians 3:27-28 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ…”   No one can “put on Christ” or get “into Christ” without being baptised.

1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)…”  Those who believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation must add a “not” to this verse by saying “Baptism doth also now NOT save us”. 

BAPTISM IS THE POINT OF CONVERSION.   The Book of Acts is the only book in the Bible that records believing, repentant sinners responding to the gospel message.   In every case they responded to the gospel by being baptised. Those on Pentecost  (Acts 2:38-41), The Samaritans  and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:12-13), The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:35-38), Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48), Lydia and her household  (Acts 16:14-15); The Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-33), The Corinthians (Acts 18:8)  The Ephesians  (Acts 19:1-5), Paul the apostle (Acts 22:16).

BAPTISM IS THE WAY WE ARE BORN AGAIN.  John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” The water in this verse is clearly the water of baptism. Galatians 3:26-27 says “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We are therefore born into God’s family through faith when we are baptized.  

BAPTISM IS TO GET INTO THE CHURCH.  1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” “The body” here is the church of which Christ is the Saviour   (Ephesians 5:23).

There is only one valid baptism in God’s word (Ephesians 4:5).   When the Apostle Paul met some people who were not baptized correctly he baptized them again (Acts 19:1-5).  Surely this is what should happen today!  

Ian McPherson

Dear beloved friend. Please take time to read this material and think upon its contents. All will surely have to accept the fact that the religious world is divided. Unfortunately, the Bible often gets the blame for this division. People say, “If the religious leaders cannot be united, what hope do we have of understanding the Bible”?

It may be surprising to many however, to realise that there are many beliefs that are almost unanimously believed by the community, and most religious leaders, concerning the Bible that have no biblical basis whatsoever. For example, most believe that the fruit which Satan tempted Eve to eat was an apple. The Scriptures however do not reveal what type of fruit Eve ate (Genesis 3:1-4). If apples were not the type of fruit, then she could have eaten apples to her hearts content. Another error commonly believed is that three wise men visited baby Jesus in the manger. The Scriptures however do not say how many wise men there were. The Bible also teaches they visited “the house” (not the manger) when He was a “young child” (not a new born baby) (Matthew 2:11). It is true that neither of these two examples relate to our souls salvation, but they do illustrate how poorly the Bible is examined by religious leaders, and how easy it is to be led astray. The fact is there are many, much more serious errors than these that are being traditionally handed down, and zealously propagated in churches today that do affect our salvation. There are a vast amount of expressions and concepts that the  religious world confidently believes to be true, but in fact have no Biblical basis whatsoever. Satan has filled their heart to believe that these expressions have their origin in the word of God. Some of these vain doctrines of men (Matthew 15:9) are mentioned below. Please take time to consider them, and to search your Bible to see if you can find a Scripture to support these views. We believe confidently that no Scripture can be produced. Each one of them is a vain doctrine, merely the product of man’s mind, having no Biblical foundation whatsoever. Space is provided for the reader to write the Scripture reference to support the claim. If no Scripture can be found, then the concept must be rejected.

“WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH ONLY” If this is so, then surely there is a verse that says so? There are many verses that say we are saved by “faith”. However the only time that “only” is put after faith in the Bible is in James 2:24 — “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”. Although most denominations teach salvation by faith only, we must conclude, that unless a Scripture can be found in support of it, that this doctrine is the words of men and not of God. Any who believe that salvation is by faith only are obligated to find a Scripture reference to prove it.

“BAPTISM IS JUST AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD GRACE” This statement is made because  it is believed that baptism  has nothing to do with salvation.  This is taught constantly and believed by practically all churches. If we examine Scripture however it says that baptism is necessary for “remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), to “get into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27), to ”:save us” (2 Peter 3:21); to “be saved” (Mark 16:16), to “wash away our sins” (Acts 22:16). Baptism is also part of the gospel that must be preached to all the world (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16). If baptism is simply “an outward sign of an inward grace” and nothing to do with our salvation, then proponents of this view are obligated to give a Scripture which proves that baptism is separate from the gospel plan of salvation.

“IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT CHURCH ONE BELONGS TO, THERE ARE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES” None can deny that this is commonly taught. In fact it is the basis of denominationalism. The modern theologian considers that one can be a Catholic, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, an Anglican or a member  of any denomination and still be living as a faithful Christian. The Bible however speaks of only one church. The church of the Bible was not in existence until after Christ died because it was  “purchased with His blood” (Acts 20:28). While on earth however, He promised to build it (Matthew 16:18). After He died on the cross, rose from the dead and was exalted by the Father to his right hand, He was placed as head of “all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22). All those who are saved are “added by the Lord to the church” (Acts 2:47). The Bible declares there is but “one body” (Ephesians 2:16; 4:4; Colossians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13,20  Romans 12;4). The writer is confident that there will not be a Scripture produced that promises salvation in any denomination, for no denominations existed in Bible times. Christ never died for any denomination. The whole concept of denominationalism is contrary to Scripture.

“PREACHING DOCTRINE IS WRONG BECAUSE IT ONLY DIVIDES PEOPLE” Those who contend for the fact that obedience to doctrine is necessary for salvation are often branded as “legalists”. People say “give me Jesus, but do not preach doctrine to me”.  Yet the Scripture very plainly says “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”  ( 2 John 1:9). 2 Timothy 4:3-5 says — “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”  Here is an inspired answer as to why there are so many different churches. Men are divided because many cannot endure sound doctrine, and therefore turn away from it. Doctrine does not divide, but unifies us in Christ. Notice Romans 6:17-18 — “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Here we see that there is a “form” of doctrine that everyone must obey in order to be saved. The word “form” means a “pattern” or a “model”. Doctrine therefore is essential to salvation, and all Christians must preach the same doctrine. Those who do not teach and obey Bible doctrine cannot be “made free from sin” Those who claim that we can be saved without obedience to doctrine are obligated to prove it from the Bible.

“IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE SO LONG AS YOU ARE SINCERE”  We have all heard this statement haven’t we? Yet where is the Scriptural evidence? Notice Matthew 7:22-23 — “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” These were sincere believers in Jesus Christ, and actively working for Him yet were lost. Cornelius is another example.   He was a sincere, religious and upright man. He believed in God, helped the poor, and prayed continually (Acts 10:1-4). The Scriptures teach that he was not saved in this state. He was to go and see Peter  “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” — Acts 11:14. Sincerity is therefore not enough to save anyone. It is necessary to be sincere, but unless one hears and obeys the gospel he cannot be saved.

“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHRISTIANS TO ALL BELIEVE THE SAME THING”  If this statement is true, then why did Christ pray for unity on the basis of the apostle’s word?  “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word ; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” — John 17:20-21 Not only did Christ pray for unity on the basis of the apostles word, but Paul commanded it. Notice  1 Corinthians 1:10 — “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.” The only reason that men do not reach the unity demanded in the Bible is because they blindly cling to man made ideas. If the reader is among those who believe that doctrinal unity is impossible, a “thus saith the Lord” is needed to prove it.

There are many other  commonly held beliefs that are not in the  Bible.  For example,  many say that the Bible teaches that  “Money is the root of all evil”,  It says however that it is  the “love  of money” (1 Timothy 6:10).    Many quote “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”.   It is also falsely believed that  “Christ was born on Christmas day”.

The author is also confident that no genuine Scripture supporting any of the above mentioned doctrines of men will be found by sincere searchers.

Dear reader. Would you like your best friend to withhold the truth from you? This article is not written to  try and trap or offend anyone.  It is simply designed to show that the Bible (The most important book in the world)  is not examined as closely as it should be.  We  of the the church of Christ care for souls of men. We want to go to heaven ourselves, and we want you, our beloved friend to go with us. Please make enquiry now about what the Bible says concerning your eternal salvation. 

Ian McPherson

In Revelation 14:13 we have one of the seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation mentioned. The text says “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them!”.

The book of Revelation has at its theme victory in Christ. One of the main key words in the book is overcome or in some translations conquer. The idea is that to the one who overcomes, he may come over. The book is about enduring hardships, persecutions even to the point of death in order to be faithful to God (Rev. 2:10-11).

Let’s take a closer look at our text with this theme of the book in mind. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord”. Are all the dead blessed? The text says only those who die in the Lord. Those who die outside of Christ have a different end entirely. They will partake of the second death (Revelation 2:10, 21:8). However, the faithful in Christ will not be harmed by the second death (Revelation 2:10-11). The faithful in Christ are indeed blessed.  However, to those outside of Christ, the opposite is true of them when they die. We are told in the later part of the verse that those who die in the Lord may rest from their labours and their works follow them. Those who die in Christ may rest and they have rest.

One of the most comforting verses to me in all of Scripture is Revelation 21:4 which says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” One of the best comforts in all of the world is after a long day’s work to be able to just go home and rest. However the opposite is said of those who are outside of Christ and the unfaithful. Revelation 14:11 says “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Those who die outside of Christ or those who are not faithful unto death will never find rest but only misery.

Those who die in the Lord are truly blessed. They find rest, comfort and are home with God. They will never know pain again. They will have their tears wiped away by their God and Saviour. I cannot think of a better existence than to be with God for eternity. However the opposite is true of those who die outside of Christ. They will find no rest. They will not be comforted but will find torment. I cannot think of a worse existence than that of being in hell for eternity. With these things in mind, what sort of people ought we to be as we grow nearer to eternity.

– Sam Lawrence

In 1618 the Dutch Council of Dort drew up an acrostic (TULIP),  which was designed to summarize the main tenets of the teachings of John Calvin.  The doctrine of Calvinism rests on a false assumption that the sovereignty of God automatically infers that man can contribute nothing at all towards his salvation.  This theory is clearly expressed in each of these five points.   Let us briefly consider these.

TOTAL HEREDITARY DEPRAVITY   This theory teaches that from Adam all mankind has inherited a completely fallen nature, and is without ability to make any response whatsoever to the gospel, unless he is one of the elect who have been chosen before creation for salvation.  According to Calvin, those who are chosen have no choice in the matter, they cannot resist God’s desire to save them, and once they are saved by God it is impossible for them to fall from grace.  On the other hand those who are chosen to be lost cannot reach out to God.   Salvation is absolutely impossible for them.  They are destined to spend eternity in hell without having had any hope while on earth of hearing God’s call or responding to His message.

It is  true, as Calvinists claim, that, as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin,  death has passed upon all men  (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:22).  However physical death is the only thing everyone unconditionally inherits from Adam.   It is also true that fallen man needs the intervention of the Sovereign God in order to be saved. Sin has separated man from God (Isaiah 59:2).  Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23), it requires the divine intervention of God to save man.  God however does not intervene in a direct way, but does so indirectly through the gospel (Romans 1:16)

Man is not born a sinner but becomes a sinner.  Calvinism says that a man’s soul is dead from birth, They quote Scriptures such as   Ephesians 2:1 which says “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:”  They then argue “How can a dead man raise himself”.   In using the above argument, Calvinists make two false assumptions.

Firstly, they assume that those who are spiritually dead cannot hear. “Death” however, does not mean extinction, it means ”separation”. The whole purpose of the Gospel is that dead souls will hear the word of the Lord and live. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. – John 5:25.  When our body dies it becomes separated from our soul (James 2:26, Genesis 35:18). When our soul dies it becomes separated from God (Isaiah 59:2). Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism  have been “Made alive together with Him, having forgiven all our trespasses.” — Colossians 2:11-12.  The dead soul therefore is made alive again  when it hears and obeys the gospel through baptism (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)

Secondly, They assume that man’s soul is dead from birth. The Bible teaches however   that man’s soul is given to him in a pure state and that he becomes spiritually dead through his own transgression.   Notice Ezekiel 18:4 — “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”  Sin is therefore something that man does, not something that he inherits.  Man is accountable for his own sins, and not for the sins of others. We are told in Genesis 8:21 that “… the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (therefore not from infancy or conception). This verse indicates that we reach an age of accountability.

The Lord said that   the children’s angels “do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Mat 18:10).  How then could they be born in sin? This age of accountability is clearly described in   Romans 7:9, where   Paul said:  “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”  Paul explained further in   Romans 7:11 “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”   It was Paul’s own sin that slew (killed) him, not the sin of Adam.  Another verse that proves categorically that sin enters man after they are born is Psalms 58:3 —  “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”  This verse says that “they go astray”.  Calvinism teaches that they are already astray.   The expressions “from the womb” and “as soon as they are born” obviously do not refer to infancy, for an infant cannot speak, let alone tell  lies.  In this text the psalmist is simply explaining how swiftly man seems to drift into sin after he is born.   All of us observe this.  A pure young baby in the cradle quickly grows into a rebellious youth.  Let us now look at the “U” in the acrostic. 

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION   Just as Total Hereditary Depravity distorts the doctrine of death through sin, “Unconditional Election”  distorts the Biblical doctrine of predestination, as taught in  Ephesians 1:4-5 —  “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

Since Calvinists believe that man is born in sin, and cannot contribute anything whatever towards his salvation,  and since they have to accept that not all will be saved (Mat 7:13-14)  the theory of Unconditional Election is the next logical step of Calvinism.  This theory advocates that God predestined certain individuals to be saved directly by God without any conditions whatsoever. Likewise, (they claim)  He has foreordained that some  (the majority) would be lost in hell without any hope whatever of changing their destiny.  They falsely deduce that if man was required to do anything whatsoever to be saved then that would take away the Sovereignty of God. 

There is no doubt at all that God is the Sovereign ruler of the universe, and can do with us as he wills.  Romans 9:21 says concerning God:   “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor?”   God’s sovereignty in the Bible however is not expressed by granting salvation unconditionally, but rather in the providing of an authoritative  plan of salvation by which He will save all those  “Who work righteousness and fear him” (Act 10:35).   From the beginning, God  devised a plan by which man would be saved.  As our Sovereign Ruler and Creator, God authoritatively and unalterably laid down the conditions for salvation.  God’s  authority is placed in His law (The New Testament).    Man cannot change in any way the  rules which God has laid down. If man  wishes to avail himself of God’s grace, he must obey the gospel (2 Thess 1:8-9, Gal 1:8-9)

The predestined individuals mentioned in Ephesians chapter 1  were  certainly chosen by God from the foundation of the world, but they are chosen neither directly,  nor unconditionally.   God  chose to save man indirectly  through the gospel (Romans 1:16: 1 Cor 1:21).   It was the gospel (the word of God)  that was in the mind of God from the foundation of the world, and the work of the inspired  apostles and prophets to  reveal that gospel to man (Ephesians 3:1-5). When one, of his own free will hears and obeys the gospel he is added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:42:47), and becomes one of God’s elect. Calvinism rightly concludes that God is Sovereign, and that our salvation is entirely dependent upon  God’s will.  However it wrongly deduces that  man contributes nothing towards this.   God clearly lays down conditions for man to obey before he extends his grace to them.    Man first of all must HEAR the word of God   in order to exercise biblical faith (Romans 10:17).    Biblical faith cannot be expressed without obedience  (Romans 1:5), and cannot be  complete without works of obedience (James 2:22).  Man is not saved by works of merit (Romans 4:3-4), neither is he saved by works of obedience alone.   God in His wisdom and Sovereignty  has decided to blend His work of atonement and man’s voluntary response to the conditions of salvation together.    He has decreed that  if a sinner wishes to be saved he must hear the  gospel preached (Romans 10:14), believe it (Mark 16:15-16),  repent (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and then be immersed in water  to contact the blood of Christ (Acts 2:38; 22:16, Revelation 1:5).  He then must remain faithful until the end  in order to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

LIMITED ATONEMENT.  This theory teaches that Christ died only for the elect.  For example,  they believe that  when Christ prayed “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:43, he was only praying for his elect, those who were fore ordained to salvation.  Let us however   notice the following truth concerning Christ’s sacrifice.

God does not want any to perish:  2 Peter 3:9    says  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”   Calvinists argue that if it was God’s desire to save all men  then it would be impossible for God to allow any  to be lost.   In putting forward such arguments they face the horrendous inference of  having God desire that some of his creation spend eternity in hell.     This presents God  as  being sadistic and cruel. The fact is, the Scriptures very clearly say that God does not desire  that any be lost.   This thought is not only expressed in 2 Peter 3:9 above but also in such Scriptures as Ezekiel 18:32 —  “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.’. Another verse of significance that shows that it is quite possible for man to walk against the desires of God is Genesis 6:6 —  “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”   The inference of Calvinism is that God desired the death of all those in Noah’s time, and that Noah and his family were the only ones God desired to save.

Christ’s death was for all men   1 John 2:2 –  says  “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  How much plainer could the Lord reveal his will than this? “Our sins” in this context are the sins of  those already in Christ.  The sins of “the whole world” therefore must refer to those outside of Christ.   This verse (as well as many others) teaches that Christ died  both for the saved and the unsaved.

IRRESISTIBLE GRACE  This is the next logical step. The theory teaches that a sinner cannot resist God’s desire to save him.  This is easily refuted by Acts 7:51 where Stephen was preaching to lost Jews. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”  Calvinists claim that these Jews were among those who were predestined to be lost, and therefore could not help resisting the Spirit.   The inspired Stephen however was preaching to them hoping for a response.  It is obvious therefore that their resistance to the Spirit was voluntary.

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. It is almost incomprehensible for one to believe that once one is saved, there is nothing he can do to lose his salvation.   Yet this is the basis of this false doctrine.  It categorically denies such plain statements as “Ye have fallen from grace” (Gal 5:4), “Take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God“ (Heb 3:12),  “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away” (John 15:2),   “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,”  (1 Timothy 4:1).   The passages that indicate the possibility of apostasy are manifold.

From the above article, surely all of us can concur with what the inspired Peter said “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” — Acts 10:34-35

Ian McPherson

Who is Jesus Christ?  Few deny that He possessed all the attributes of humanity.  He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4).  He was able to be tempted (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15), feel hunger (Luke 4:2), and thirst (John 19:28).  As a man, He also subjected Himself completely to God (John 12:50), to His parents (Luke 2:51), and to the law of the land (Luke 2:52). The greatest proof of His humanity was the suffering and death He experienced on the cross (Hebrews 2:9).  However Jesus was more than a man, He was also Deity. This is easily seen from an examination of John 1:1-4 and verse 14.

“In the beginning was the Word”. (V1)   The word “was” is used here and six other times in the first four verses.  In every instance it refers to Christ and is in the perfect tense which refers to continuous linear action in the past.  Thus Christ has always existed. He was not created as the Jehovah’s Witness’ teach, but was: “without father without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of life nor end of days” (Hebrews 7:3).  Christ is Eternal; He had no beginning and will never cease to exist.

“The Word was with God. (V1) The expression “with God” shows that He was in association with, and in fellowship with God throughout eternity.   Jesus Himself prayed “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”  (John 17:5).  Thus, He and the Father were not the same person but both shared the same place of Glory together.  This same thought is emphasised in V2 “The same was in the beginning with God.”  

“The Word was God”. (V1)  “Theos” (God) in this phrase has no definite article before it indicating that the writer was not referring to Christ as an individual but that He possessed all the attributes of Deity.  The word “man” is often used in the same way.  A man can be either an individual or simply a member of humanity. 

Notice Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  In this verse neither “God” nor “man” refers to individuals but to the type of persons they are.   When John says   “The Word was God”, he wants the reader to realise that, although Jesus is not the only person who possessed Deity, HHHe did in fact possess all the attributes of Deity and was therefore God.  Jesus spent His eternal pre-existence with the rest of Deity which consisted of the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; etc.).

“Without Him was not anything made that was made”. (V3)  The entire universe came into existence through Christ.  It was His voice that thundered “let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). And His voice that said “Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27).  The fact that He is the originator of all things is seen in Colossians 1:16-17 — “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”.   

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men”. (V4) Jesus not only formed the physical universe but is also the source of the life that makes man a spiritual being in the image of God. (See Genesis 2:7; 1:26-27).   A translation of the Bible called “God’s Word” gives the meaning of this verse by saying   “He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity”. 

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (V14)  His fleshly appearance on earth as a man in no way divested Him of His Deity.   He is the same “yesterday, today and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).  Even after His incarnation He still wore all the titles of Deity.  He was called “God” (Hebrews 1:8); “God with us”, (Matthew 1:23), “Over all, God” (Romans 9:5) “The Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) and “The Almighty” (Rev 1:8). Paul said, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”.  (Colossians 2:9)

In order to be saved, we must believe in both the Humanity and the Deity of Christ. Christ said —   “I say therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24).  If you believe that Jesus has “come in the flesh “(1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7), and are willing to repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), then you can be baptized for remission of sins and added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:38-47).

Ian McPherson   

The miracle of turning water to wine took place at a marriage feast in Galilee which Jesus attended with His mother Mary, and His Disciples. We read of this in John 2:1-10. At the feast, the wine ran out, and Mary, Jesus’ mother, tells Him about the problem: (John 2:3-6).

This furnished an opportunity for Jesus to perform His first miracle. He went to the servants and told them to fill six water pots containing two or three firkins apiece with water (V6). (A firkin was about 9 gallons). Thus the pots contained a combined amount of about 164 gallons. Jesus then changed water into the best wine, which the servants took it to the governor (V7-10).

This miracle has been the most prominent text that is used to justify the acceptance of social drinking of alcohol. It is argued that if Jesus made wine at a wedding feast which He attended, then surely He does not object to Christians drinking wine today.

Christian advocates of social drinking are very reluctant to support drunkenness, because they know full well the Bible condemns drunkenness (1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21). However, if the wine that Jesus made was alcoholic wine, then the text teaches that Jesus supported drunkenness, for it says that the guests were “well drunk” before the Lord made the extra 160 gallons of wine (John 2:10).

Unbelievers have no problem with this text supporting drunkenness because they picture Christ as “one of the boys” and the wedding feast like a worldly wedding today. (I.e. a drunken feast), with people losing their inhibitions, beginning to be rowdy and flirting with the women at the feast.  Some of them even staggering around in a drunken stupor, and eventually either are passing out on the road outside, or vomiting all over the floor.  If Christ made alcohol, then this pictures the wedding feast in the text. The author of this article however does not believe that this is the case. The wine the Lord made was without a doubt non-alcoholic wine (i.e. grape juice)

“WINE” IS A GENERIC WORD THAT CAN REFER TO EITHER ALCOHOLIC OR NON-ALCOHOLIC WINE. Vineyards were extremely prevalent in Palestine, and the wine from them was a part of the staple diet of the Hebrews. Generally when wine is mentioned in the Bible, it has no sinful connotations. Wine could be drunk freely by the Israelites. It was to be offered to the priests as a drink offering (Exodus 29:40), and an abundance of wine was considered to be a great blessing (Deut.7:13). The prosperity of the Land of Canaan was measured by the size of its grapes (Numbers 13:23). In His parables, Christ often likened the church (kingdom) to a vineyard (Luke 20:9; Matt 21:28). He even likened Himself to a vine, and His father to a vine dresser (John 15:1-4). Non alcoholic wine (grape juice) is referred to in many contexts. It made the “heart glad and face shine” (Psa 104:15). It was among the “first fruits” (Neh 10:37), it was even called “wine” while still in the cluster (Isa 65:8), and was “gathered” with summer fruits (Jer 40:10). It was also called “wine’ while it was in the wine press (Isa 16:10). In these examples it is clear that the wine was non-alcoholic.

Sometimes wine was a blessing, other times it was a curse. Intoxicating wine is never used in a good sense in Scripture. Evil is always associated with it. Wine is a mocker and deceiver, (1 Prov 20:1). It is a deadly poison that men of God should not even look upon, and “It biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Prov 23:31-32). The death penalty was imposed upon the priest who drank any of it before entering the Tabernacle (Lev 10:9-10). The priests and prophets erred in judgment and vision because of wine (Isa 28:7). Israel were not even permitted to give their neighbor a drink of wine (Hab 2:15).  Notice in all the above verses it is the consumption of the wine itself that is condemned, not just the amount. Thus the bible admonishes us to abstain completely from alcohol.

It is not suggested in this article that God’s people in the Bible never drank wine. It is only claimed that drinking alcohol is never condoned. Many of God’s people erred through wine. Noah displayed his nakedness (Gen 9:21), and Lot committed incest (Gen 19:32-38).  The context of Leviticus 10:11, indicates that wine was most probably the reason why Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire before the Lord” and were consumed by fire from God.

Many sincere Christians abstain from drinking alcohol themselves, but say they cannot teach that the Bible condemns consumption of alcohol. This philosophy, which comes from a misunderstanding of Scripture, makes it impossible to stop the drinking problems in the church.  After all,  if Christ who is our perfect example, made wine for a drunken feast , then what right would we have to preach  against it or even have it supplied in abundance at Christian gatherings?  Let us look at some Scriptural reasons why Christians should abstain from drinking alcohol.

ALCOHOLIC WINE ASSOCIATED WITH EVIL “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:22). It is undeniable, and statistically proven that alcohol is the root cause of the majority of crimes against society: such as road accidents, rapes, murders, broken homes, poverty, and divorces. It brings misery and shame to all those who become addicted to it. “Abstain” means “hold ones self from”. Since alcohol is associated with evil, the Christian must abstain from it.

ALCOHOL IS WHAT CAUSES ONE TO GROW DRUNK Eph. 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. “Drunk” in this verse is the Greek word METHUSKO which “signifies to make drunk, of grow drunk (it is an inceptive verb which marks the process of the state of being drunk” (W.E. Vine). The New Testament therefore,  not only forbids drunkenness, but also beginning the process of becoming drunk. It therefore forbids drinking, even in “moderation”, because the first glass is the beginning of the process.

IT DESTROYS YOUR HEALTH. Overwhelming evidence is available from various sources to show that alcohol does irreparable damage to the body. Especially affected is the brain and liver. Pregnant women are advised by many sources to totally abstain during pregnancy lest they send toxic (poison) to their baby. A Christian’s body belongs to God (1 Cor 16:19-20). Modern research shows that it is linked to at least seven types of cancer.  Thus a Christian who willfully destroys his body is destroying God’s temple!

ALCOHOL DESTROYS THE CHRISTIANS INFLUENCE FOR GOOD. The disciple of Christ is to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt 5:13-16). What would others think of our “Christianity” if they knew we partook of alcoholic beverages? Even those in the world can see the inconsistency of a Christian drinking alcohol.

ALCOHOL INTOXICATES YOUR BRAIN. The Bible commands us to be “sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 2 Tim 4:5; 1 Pet 1:13). The Greek word for “sober” is “Nepho, which means “to be, sober, temperate, abstinent, especially in respect of wine), sober minded, watchful, circumspect.” (Bullenger’s Lexicon). We can see by this that God wants us to be clear headed at all times. If therefore you cherish your health, your home, your influence, your soul, and your life; stay away from intoxicants!

let us notice in conclusion that the miracle of turning water to wine  “manifested His glory” and had the primary purpose of causing His disciples to believe in Him (John 2:12). If the wine made by Christ had been alcoholic, it could not have done this. Christ was sinless, and He is the perfect example for us to follow. It is inconceivable that He made an abundance of alcoholic beverage for a feast where the guests were already “well drunk”’.

Recently I saw a sign in a restaurant, stating the Australian law which places a heavy fine on anyone serving alcohol to anyone who appears to be drunk. I could not help but think how those who contend that Jesus made alcoholic beverage are charging Him with this offense.

Are you among those who have assumed that Jesus made Alcoholic wine for the feast at Cana? If so, then perhaps this article has helped you to see this in a different light. May God bless you in the further study of His word.

If you, the reader have any questions concerning the Bible, or wish to investigate the matter of alcohol further, please contact the author, or church of Christ shown below.

Ian McPherson

The world is constantly undergoing change. Language is changing. Styles are changing. Technology is changing.  Views on what is culturally acceptable are changing.  Because the world is changing so fast it is difficult to know how to speak, behave, and dress sometimes.

Even though many aspects of our society are constantly undergoing a transformation, it is important to remember that some things will always remain constant.  It will always be wrong to lie and steal.  There will never come a time when it will be acceptable to take another’s life.  A man will always be respected who gives assistance to a neighbour in need.  No matter how much society changes the gospel of Jesus Christ will never change.  Though men may mistranslate, mutilate and twist the Scriptures to suit their present lifestyle, God will hold firm to the standard of righteousness that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Those who suggest that the gospel that we preach should always reflect society’s standard of righteousness, make the mistake of assuming that man has somehow managed to transcend the need for following God’s original plan.  Technology and culture may have changed since the Bible was written, but the needs of man have not changed since the days that Peter preached on the necessity of repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).

Man is still in need of social interaction and love.  He still desires peace and happiness.  He still has problems controlling his greed, hatred and pride.  Man is still guilty of hurting his fellow man and offending His God.  The only true guide to overcoming the self-destructive behaviours that still afflict man is the untainted word of God.

Do we need a new gospel for a new age?  Absolutely not!  If anything, humanity is now in more need of the timeless teachings of the New Testament then we have ever been in the course of our history.  The Bible is still perfectly suited for man no matter where he may live or how he may live.

The pure gospel of Christ is the only thing that offers us the key to true happiness, true liberty and eternal salvation.  Throw the gospel away that the Holy Spirit delivered to the apostles and you throw away your soul.  Remember the warning  of John in Revelation 22:19, “…if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Paul told the Galatian Christians that by changing the gospel to suit their cultural demands, they stood condemned before God (Galatians 1:6-9; 5:4).

Cultural norms or political correctness is not going to be the standard by which we will be judged by the Lord.  Jesus Christ will judge us by His word which the Holy Spirit delivered to the apostles and prophets in the first century (John 12:48; Ephesians 2:19-22). Brethren, do not be tempted to change the worship, doctrine or practice to suit the demands of this world.

Brett Rutherford

I am frequently challenged by questions relating to drug use.  Some of the people who ask me about their use sincerely want to know what the Bible teaches concerning the consumption of drugs.  Others use the issue as a weapon against Christianity.   They point out that the Bible does not specifically condemn recreational drugs. Some may actually be arguing that occasional drug use is okay because they have friends or family who are using.

It is true that the Bible does not condemn specific drugs. There is not a verse that includes the phrase “thou shalt not do cocaine.” You will not find a passage that specifically condemns the use of crack, heroine or ice.  However, the Bible does forbid their use through principles that are laid forth throughout Scripture.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul commanded all Christians to not “…sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be SOBER.”  In verse eight the apostle wrote that “… we who are of the day be SOBER, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”  The Greek word that is translated as “sober” in these verses is “nepho.” According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, “nepho” “signifies to be free from the influence of intoxicants.”  According to noted Greek scholar, Wesley J. Perschbacher, “nepho” means “to be sober, not intoxicated.”   This command by Paul is repeated in II Timothy 4:5. Peter also used the word “nepho” in I Peter 1:13 to discourage Christians from taking any substance that would affect their judgment, and harm their bodies. These inspired commands by Paul and Peter are an obvious condemnation of the use of alcoholic beverages. Liquor and beer are well known intoxicants that affect our judgment and hurt our bodies.  However, alcoholic drinks are not the only drug condemned by Paul and Peter. Taking any drug for recreational purposes would be a violation of the apostle’s commands.

If it is wrong to take drugs that affect our judgment and harm our bodies, is it wrong to take powerful drugs that our doctor has prescribed? The answer to that question is “no”. Prescription drugs are given to counteract a serious condition. Although there may be harmful side effects to prescription drugs, they are given to fight a worse condition that may be affecting our body. Prescription drugs are not designed to harm the body, when implemented properly. They help the body recover from illness. That does not mean that one should not be careful when taking prescription medications. For example, certain pain killers are highly addictive, and can cause a patient to strongly desire these medications long after their condition has been treated. These drugs go from being helpful to being harmful to those who take them without medical guidance.

What about coffee and chocolate? Coffee contains the stimulant caffeine.  Should Christians abstain from the consumption of coffee?  I am not aware that coffee affects our ability to think clearly.  If anything, coffee makes us more sober. Our judgment may actually be heightened by a sip or two of java.  Drugs like cocaine, heroin and alcohol can cause car accidents, encourage violent acts, and lead to general criminal activity.   Caffeine in coffee has never been the cause of a car accident, violent acts or other criminal activity.  I am also not aware that coffee will cause lasting damage to the body.  Alcohol, cocaine, crack, ice etc. will damage the body even in the smallest amounts. Remember our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and they need to be treated with the respect that this demands.   

Brett Rutherford

God initially created everything in a pure and perfect state. After the creation week God surveyed all that He had made and “…saw that it was very good” (Genesis 1: 31). The Hebrew word that is translated as “good” in English is the word “towb.” James Strong defines “towb” as “beautiful, the best, fair” etc. (Strong p. 59). In other words, God could not have improved on His creation. This statement in Genesis 1:31 especially applies to the crowning glory of God’s creation – mankind. We have been made with a body, brain and mind that could not get any better.  However, our body, brain and mind can be diminished (damaged) through our actions and thoughts. When we get bogged down in the affairs of this world then our mind and brain are not functioning as they were designed to function. God created us to focus on “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS” (Philippians 4:8).

Neuroscientists like Dr. John B. Arden are beginning to discover that their research on the brain is revealing some surprising results. Dr. Arden reveals in his book, Rewire Your Brain that the brain is physically damaged by anxiety and focusing on the negative. However, Dr. Arden has revealed that the damage done to the brain through negative thinking can be repaired by focusing your brain on positive things. Dr. Arden has revealed though his research that many people who are receiving medication for depression do not need it. They simply need to turn their minds to positive things and shut out negative influences. For example, it is recommended that people suffering from depression need natural sunlight. He goes on to say that those who are susceptible to depression need to stop watching the news.  Almost every news story is negative.  According to Dr. Arden, sunlight (God’s medicine) has a positive chemical effect on the brain that creates a sense of euphoria in our minds. Open up your window shades and let the sun stream in whenever you get down.

Turn off the news if you find yourself getting down from time to time. The negativity that is a feature of nearly every story on the evening news creates unnecessary anxiety and fear.  These are two emotions that we must master and suppress. Also, don’t fill your mind with dark, disturbing content that is a feature of so many television shows.  Remember that God has made man to benefit from following after His instructions, not the instruction of the world (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Furthermore, God has stated that it is good for a man to find gainful employment (II Thessalonians 3:10). God commanded Adam and Eve to tend the garden in Genesis 2:15. Even though Adam and Eve were placed in a perfect garden paradise, God knew that giving that first couple employment was important for their overall well-being.  In other words, God designed man to work. It is no surprise to find out that many people who suffer from depression are unemployed. When the great prophet Elijah became depressed, God told him to get up and get back to work (I Kings 19:1-8). Not surprisingly, neuroscientists are now telling us that the brain needs to engaged in positive, constructive activity in order to be healthy.

The recent discoveries by neuroscientists is just another case of science catching up with the Bible. The Bible teaches that the brain is designed to focus on good things. The Word of God also tells us that we should refrain from negative thoughts. For example, Jesus taught us not to worry in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul told us to focus on the things of good report (Philippians 4:8). Controlling our thoughts is a part of bringing our bodies under control.

Finally, it is important to note that faith is fueled by good, positive thinking. The woman who had an issue of blood believed that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment she could be healed. She did touch the hem of His garment and she was healed (Luke 8:43-48). It was the power of positive thinking that led that woman to be healed that day. If our hearts are filled with fear and anxiety then there is no room for faith. Fear condemns while faith saves (Revelation 21:8; Remember we can accomplish great things when Christ is on our side (Philippians 4:13).

Brett Rutherford

References

John B. Arden, Rewire Your Brain (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2010)

James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Iowa Falls IA: World,  1976)

Marriage was instituted by God in the garden of Eden.  Being our Creator He knows the formula for happy marriage.  This formula is revealed only in the Bible, the greatest of all marriage manuals.    Let us first look at some of the mutual responsibilities of husbands and wives that are revealed in the Bible.

HUSBANDS AND WIFE ARE TO MUTUALLY LOVE EACH OTHER  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” — Ephesians 5:25    “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” — Ephesians 5:28       “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children” — Titus 2:4  Some husbands have made the mistake of saying  “I told you I love you when we married, you should be able to see that I love you”, others can easily say “I love you”, but their words are hollow, because they  are not backed up by action.   All of us need to tell  our spouse  verbally and constantly that we love them, but this needs to be a love that is without hypocrisy.  We must back it up by genuine affection and care. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth” — 1 John 3:18.

HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE MUTUAL SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITIES  1 Corinthians 7:4-5 is addressed equally to both parties.   “The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinence.”    This verse is sometimes selfishly misapplied in marriage.  Some feel that it means that their marriage partner should  be “available” at any time of the night or day to fulfil their fleshly desires.  Although this passage prohibits the deliberate withholding of conjugal rights from a spouse, it does not mean that our spouse is commanded to be responsive under all circumstances.  The sexual relationship is very intimate and delicate, and should always be engaged in with gentleness, concern and consideration.  The best climate for sex is created when it is preceded by romantic wooing throughout the day.

SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES ARE BASED UPON MUTUAL TRUST.  In  Proverbs 31:11 we see the type of trustworthy relationship the virtuous wife had with her husband:  “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil”.   The emphasis here is on the word “safely” the marriage relationship was such that they could trust one another.   The feeling of security and trust is essential to a happy marriage.  Bear in mind that we must deserve and earn that trust, we should never deliberately place ourselves in situations that could cause our spouse to be suspicious.  Remember the Christian is to “abstain from all appearance of evil. –– 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

GENUINE PRAISE FOR YOUR SPOUSE IS A MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY.  Genuine praise produces proper self esteem.  It is unfortunate that some marriage partners are extremely unkind and critical, they often ridicule and belittle. “who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words” — Psalm 64:3.   Our spouse is our most important and beloved earthly friend. We must seek to build one another up, not tear them down (2 Corinthians 13:10).   Our spouse loves to be verbally praised for genuine achievements or virtues.  Notice how the husband of the virtuous wife in proverbs praised his wife in public:  “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” — Proverbs 31:28-29.   Notice also how the wife of Solomon praised her  husband to the daughters of Jerusalem   “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love. …  My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefs among ten thousand” —  Song of Songs 5:8-10.   A young man once visited the church where my wife and I worshipped.  He asked my wife which one of the men present was her husband, and she said “just look for the most handsome man here”.  Now anyone who knows me will realise that much more information would have to be supplied to find me in a crowd!!  If she had said “Its the bald bloke down the front” he would have identified me instantly!!  The point is, it showed him that Mabel loved me,  and it made me feel good when he told me about it many years afterwards.  You would never guess it, but that young man eventually became our son in-law!!   We must be willing to verbally  express praise,  gratitude and admiration both to our spouse, and to others. 

MARRIED COUPLES MUST SPEND TIME TOGETHER: Marriage is not always a bed of roses.  There must be some “give and take”, and often we must be willing to compromise and sacrifice for the other’s well being.  It is impossible to have a happy marriage unless much constructive time is spent in consideration to one another.  It is an extreme insult for example if a husbands spends more of his spare time fishing or playing golf than wooing his beloved wife.  Marriages where either party spend most of their spare time apart from their marriage partner can never be truly fulfilling.  Surely none of us can misapply the clear meaning of  1 Corinthians 7:33-34   “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”   “The things of the world” in this text include such things as time alone together talking, and going on a romantic night out at a restaurant, or motel or going for a quiet walk or picnic.  It also includes being home for meals except in extreme circumstances, working in the garden together,   or even snuggling up to together as you watch a TV show.   These extremely enjoyable aspects of marriage are often neglected to the detriment of marital bliss.  The explicit statement from the mind of the Holy Spirit in the above text is equally applicable to preachers and elders as it is to other Christians. Contentment in marriage is a vital ingredient of a church leaders success (1 Tim 3:4-5). No preacher or elder is therefore permitted by God to be so completely absorbed even in “church work” as to neglect the emotional and physical needs of his wife.

Having briefly considered some MUTUAL obligations of husbands and wives, let us now ask the husband and wife individually to reflect upon their own responsibilities in the marriage.   HUSBANDS, please ask yourself these questions.

DO I PROVIDE THE RIGHT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP FOR MY WIFE?   “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body”. — Ephesians 5:23.  Some husbands unfortunately consider that this means they can just snap their fingers at any time and their wife is to obey.   It is an absolute sin for a husband to consider that he has a right to “lord it over” his wife (1 Pet 5:3).   The responsibility of being head of the wife is great indeed.  It involves not only being responsible for the orderliness of the home, but also for giving the home  spiritual and moral direction.  Christ taught and demonstrated that one of the greatest aspects of a true leader was servant hood (Mark 9:45; 10:44).  A truly successful husband will lovingly and faithfully serve his wife.

DO I UNDERSTAND HER AND TREAT HER WITH DIGNITY AND HONOUR?.  “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” —  1 Peter 3:7.  Husbands need to realise that they are married to someone who is as delicate and precious as an expensive and fragile vase and thus treat her with gentleness, and extreme respect.   To live happily with her he must do his best to enhance her feminine characteristics.  Husbands need to heed carefully the words of Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them”.    “Bitter”  means “irritated or frustrated”.  Men often become this way with their wives because they fail to understand them and selfishly expect more from them than what they are able to give.

DO I PROVIDE FOR HER?  The concept of husband being the bread winner and the wife the homemaker is not simply “traditional” but it is biblical (1 Timothy 5:8; 14;  Titus 2:4-5).  The woman’s “equal rights” movement is extremely damaging to marital happiness because it fails to understand the different roles of husbands and wives. 

Now let us turn briefly to the WIFE and ask her to examine herself alongside the word of God.

AM I ABLE TO SUBMIT MYSELF TO MY HUSBAND?  “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” — 1 Peter 3:5-6  Any woman who is not willing to do this cannot hope for real happiness in marriage because she is walking against the very way that she is designed by the Creator.

IS MY MANNER OF LIFE CHASTE AND RESPECTABLE  “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” — 1 Peter 3:1-2.  Whilst outward adorning is important, wives must pay more attention to their inward feminine adorning.

DO I DRESS MODESTLY AND DISCREETLY  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” — 1 Timothy 2:9.  A wife’s body is for her husbands eyes only.  She is not to dress in such a way as to attract the ogling eye of other men.

DO I NAG AND BE CONTENTIOUS?  “It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house”. —  Proverbs 25:24.  How can any one ever expect a husband to treat her nicely  if she is nagging and complaining all the time?  Remember “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones — Proverbs 16:24.

The Scriptures and principles discussed in this article are but the hem of the garment, but good marriages can deteriorate by  neglecting these commands and principles, and bad marriages can improve by applying them to our lives.  Remember marriage is for life (Matthew 19:6-9, Romans 7:2-3),  Therefore anyone who does not diligently seek to make their union better is foolish.  Never let the romance go out of your marriage, and if it is fading, then why not renew it.  Someone once said to his friend that the most beautiful sight to him is seeing young honeymooners walking hand in hand.  His friend replied “the most beautiful sight to me is to see OLD MARRIED COUPLES walking hand in hand!

Ian McPherson

One would have to be God in order to fully understand the nature of God. Admittedly, it is difficult for finite beings to come to grips with the Bible’s claim that there is one God, and yet, there are three Persons who share that divine nature (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Zechariah 14:9; I Corinthians 8:4; James 2:19; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26).

Rather than accepting the Bible’s clear teaching that there are three Persons who make up one God, many have tried to simplify their view of the Creator by suggesting that the Son and the Holy Spirit are not God, but the product of God. To hold the view that the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are creations (or expressions) of Jehovah is to ignore clear statements in Scripture that the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit are all distinct Persons who possess the common bond of the Divine Nature.

The Father is referred to as God in Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 5:16; 6:14-32; 23:9 etc. The Son (Jesus the Christ) is also referred to in Scripture as God.  He was described as God who dwelt among us (Matthew 1:23). Paul wrote that the Son was equal with God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11). Isaiah called Jesus the Messiah the “Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah’s statement is consistent with Jesus’ own claim that He and the Father are One (John 10:30).  Paul and John made it clear that Jesus (the Word) was the Creator of all (John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:2). If God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1), and Jesus is called the Creator, then Jesus is God!

The Holy Spirit is also referred to as God in Acts 5:3,4. Peter condemned Ananias and Sapphira because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter makes it clear that lying to the Holy Spirit was synonymous with lying to God. Further proof that the Holy Spirit is God lies in the fact that He can be blasphemed just like the other Persons of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is clearly not just the force of God, but a distinct Person of the Godhead. Furthermore, the three Persons of the Godhead are said to hold equal authority (Matthew 28:19,20).  If the Holy Spirit was simply the expression of God’s power, and not a distinct Person, why would this force (a non-living thing) be mentioned on equal footing with the Father and the Son in Matthew 28:19, 20?

How can mankind, with our limited intellectual power come to some understanding of the Godhead? Perhaps the most common way scholars have attempted to illustrate the Godhead in terms we can understand is to compare it to marriage. The Bible states that a man and a woman become “one flesh” when they are married (Matthew 19:1-6). In marriage the husband and the wife do not lose their distinct identities. However, the husband and wife are essential components of ONE institution that is greater than them. There is ONE marriage but two distinct persons who are equal partners in that marriage. The husband and wife have different roles, but the role of the wife is not more important, or less important than the role of the husband. In the same way, one can say that the Godhead is ONE institution (if you will) with three distinct Persons who are a part of that ONE institution (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Of course, any means that mankind has formulated to help us understand the Godhead is always going to be an inadequate way of trying to explain the complexities of the Divine Nature. For example, a husband and wife may be one in marriage, but their goals and objectives may differ from time to time. The three Persons of the Godhead never waver in their unity of purpose. Where a husband and wife may at times work against each other, the persons of the Godhead never come into conflict with one another (John 17:1-26). The kind of unity the Godhead enjoys is simply not found among any people or institution on earth.

No man can say that he can fully understand the nature of God. We must simply learn to accept what the Bible says about God. The Bible clearly teaches that there is ONE GOD, but there are three Persons who share that Divine nature.

Brett Rutherford

Ephesians 4:1-6 says “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, {2} With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; {3} Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; {5} One Lord, one faith, one baptism, {6} One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”   From our text we can see the following things about unity.

UNITY REQUIRES THE RIGHT ATTITUDE   (V1-3) Although unity cannot be obtained without contending for sound doctrine, it cannot be maintained without proper attitudes. The church, to which the admonition in this text is given, the church at Ephesus, is proof of this. About thirty years after the text was written, the Ephesians church was called on to repent by the Lord.   They were contending for sound doctrine, but had lost their first love (Rev 2:1-5).

The text indicates that biblical unity is not easy to obtain, it must however be diligently sought.  The church consists of brethren from many different backgrounds, and with different temperaments. Unity must be sought in love, with an attitude of lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and forbearance. Nasty attitudes and remarks during conflict can result in unnecessary division and loss of souls.

UNITY IS NOT OPTIONAL. Some people misunderstand V3 to infer that truth must give way to unity. However, there can be no compromise with truth. The “Unity of the Spirit” spoken of, is that which is revealed to us by the Spirit of God in His inspired word. (the gospel).   The “endeavoring” refers to “the bond of peace”, not to the unity of the Spirit.  Sometimes, even if truth is sought in an attitude of forbearance and love, division may still result.  When division occurs in a church because error is being taught, let us always be on the side of truth.  Paul said of the divided Corinthian church “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Corinthians 11:19).  In this statement he indicates that division amidst heresy may be impossible to avoid.

Verses 4-6 contain what we commonly call the “seven one’s. All of these are real, identifiable and distinctively different.  V4 begins with the phrase “There IS one”.   It does not say that there should be one, nor that God wants there to be one, but there “is” one.  Let us examine the seven one’s.

THERE IS ONE BODY. The one body here is the church of which Christ is the head   (Eph 1:22-23). Many want to accept hundreds of churches, but God says there is just one. Christ is its only head, and it is He who coordinates His spiritual body.

The one church does not consist of denominations, which depict the church as a monstrosity with several heads, and bodies. Denominations according to dictionary definition are sects. The equivalent word in the Bible is “heresies” which are a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20).  The Bible church is a body, and just as a physical body works in perfect coordination with its head, so the church works in perfect harmony with its head which is Christ.  This church has been built by Christ (Matthew 16:18), and purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). The universal body of Christ consists of local congregations called “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16).  These all teach the same thing, because they share the same pattern of teaching which was taught to every sinner and in every church (Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 4:17)

THERE IS ONE SPIRIT.  Notice that the Spirit is just one of the seven units. The Spirit, Christ, and Father are mentioned as separate “ones”.  This does not contradict the Biblical concept of “one God”.  “The Godhead” (Romans 1:20) consists of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit”.  “God” is not a personal name, but rather refers to the Divine Nature that is possessed by all three members of the Godhead… Christ is God because in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead (Phil 2:9).  To illustrate the point, consider the word “presbytery” (1 Timothy 4:14). This refers a board of elders, or “eldership”.   This “presbytery” consists of more than one person (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).   The presbytery may be composed of Jim, George and Jack but there is still only one presbytery, with “The fullness of eldership dwelling in each member. Thus, the three Divine Persons known as “God” are not three Gods but one Godhead consisting of three Persons who all possess the fullness of the Godhead.

The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will.  “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  (2 Peter 1:21), and it is only through the Spirit’s witness that we can know we are God’s sons (Romans 8:16).  No one could even call Jesus Lord, unless the Spirit had revealed Him as such in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 12:3).   The Holy Spirit, through the word, leads us into the waters of baptism, whereby we enter the church.  (1 Corinthians 12:13).  When we are baptized we receive the “gift of the Spirit” (Acts 2:38), and our body becomes His temple (Corinthians 6:19).

THERE IS ONE HOPE  This hope is heaven itself:  “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:23)  Heaven is not a figment of imagination.  It is the dwelling place of God, and the place where each faithful Christian will spend a happy and joyful eternity with God.   Jesus said to His disciples:  “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2).   This hope is the motivation of Christians to live faithful lives in Christ (Colossians 1:5).

ONE LORD.   This is Jesus Christ Himself.  The one who has “All authority in heaven and earth (Matt 28:18).  He existed in eternity with God and was God and is still God (John 1:1-3).  He became a man by putting on human flesh (John 1:14), being born of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14).  As a man He lived a sinless life on earth (Hebrews 9:28), was crucified, died, was buried, and raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). After appearing on many occasions in His resurrected body,  to the disciples and others over a period of  forty days,  He was exalted to the right hand of God to rule in his church (Ephesians 1:20-23, Luke 24:50-51).  He will one day return to Judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31), and at the end of time all will bow their knee to Him and confess Him as Lord (Philippians 2:6-10).

ONE FAITH — This is the New   Testament message (the gospel). It is this faith that we must “contend” for (Jude 3)  The faith was not devised in the human mind, but it was revealed by the  revelation of God,  to the apostles and prophets in the first century who wrote it down for us to read and understand (Ephesians 3:1-5).  The one faith is actually a law (Romans 3:27-28), which must be obeyed (Romans 1:5).

ONE BAPTISM This is the baptism of the great commission.  (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16).  It is immersion in water (Acts 8:37-39). It gets a believing sinner into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27), it saves us (1 Peter 3:21) and is “for remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  It adds us to the church (Acts 2:47)

There are other baptisms mentioned in Scripture which are not the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4.  John’s baptism for example, was valid only till the cross (Acts 19:1-5).  The Holy Spirit baptism was a promise, to the apostles( Acts 1:5) and  happened when the Spirit came upon them with power,  on the day of Pentecost, and revealed the New Testament message  (Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-5).  The baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11), is also to be administered by Christ but probably refers to a future time, when Christ will cast the wicked into the lake of fire.  (Rev 21:15)

ONE GOD AND FATHER. “God” and “Father” is the same person here.  Hence only one item of the seven units.   As God He is Deity (He is the Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor of all things).   As Father He is our heavenly parent.  He is the Director and controller of our lives.

It is strange that most today accept the One Spirit, the one Lord, the one Father and the one hope.  Yet they reject the one church, one faith and one baptism.  If one body is as good as another why in not one God as good as another, or one Christ? If one baptism is as good another, then why is not one destiny as good as another?

We cannot compromise with any of the seven “ones”.  If we fail to accept or adhere to any one of these, we do not have the type of unity that God commands.  It is like saying that a house is finished without a roof or walls, or a car without wheels.  All the components must be fought for and upheld before we can experience the joy of Christian unity.

Ian McPherson

The greatest tragedy to strike the nation in modern times has been the break down of the family unit.  Satan is entering home after home and It is evident that the world is still  doing nothing to promote family happiness and stability. We of the “older generation” can all remember when divorce was almost unheard of. Families consisted of “Mum, Dad, and the kids”. It was usual for Dad to go out into the work force to support the family, and for Mum to stay home, doing the housekeeping. Although sex outside of marriage, and adultery within marriage did occur, it was considered very wrong and society did not   accept it. Today however, things are different, all types of “homes” exist. “Defacto” relationships are now common place, and divorce and adultery are rampant. Society is becoming so depraved that many are even accepting homosexuality as an “alternate life-style”.

Also instead of staying home to care for her children, the modern woman is being taught that a profession is far more noble, and that “child minding centres” are an acceptable alternative.

It is time to wake up to ourselves. Society, as well as the church, are suffering, and millions have had their life ruined by following worldly standards. The only solution is to accept God’s way for the family. God is our Creator, as such He knows what is best for us.

Since we are His creation, it is important that we respect His laws. In the Garden of Eden He made man (male and female) in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). He made Adam first, and recognizing his need for a companion, He made Eve and then joined them together in marriage, and commanded the husband and wife to go forth and multiply. Marriage then, is not just something that was “fashionable” in the “old days” but is a divine institution, ordained by God. The Lord still condemns sex outside of marriage, adultery, and homosexuality. He also “hates divorce” (Malachi 2:15). He allows divorce only under sufferance to a spouse who has been wronged by sexual unfaithfulness (Matthew 19:9, 5:32).

Notice Hebrews 13:4 .. ”Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”  These worldly standards are therefore not acceptable to God, and those who practice them will be lost eternally in hell. The world has no solutions to family problems, but God certainly does have. Let us look at “God’s way for the family”.

GOD’S WAY FOR THE HUSBAND AND FATHER. The man is designed, and decreed  by God to be the head of the house. He is the head of his wife (Ephesians 5:23), and is charged with ruling his house well, and having his children in subjection” (1 Timothy 3;4). With headship comes responsibility. He must make the final and important decisions of the house. He must spend time with his wife and children, making them the centre of his life and keeping the household secure. “Husband” actually means ”House binder” because he is the one who binds the household together, and gives it security. One great lie that is propagated today is that headship means “domination”. Quite the opposite is true. A Godly husband is kind, considerate, affectionate, romantic and gentle. Notice this beautiful passage in 1 Peter 3:7  “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”  You can see that God does not want romance to go out of marriage. If all men treated their wives with this type of affection, there would be no “Women’s Liberation Movement”. Men need to heed the words of the  Proverb writer who said … ”Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour  of the LORD” — Proverbs 18:22.

GOD’S WAY FOR THE WIFE AND MOTHER. The Bible says that married women should stay at home and care for their children. The housewife has an extremely important profession. “House Wife” actually means ”House Weaver” for it is she who weaves the family together. Being a Wife and Mother is the most valuable service that any woman can render to her family and to society. Child minding centres cannot, and must not, take her place. If stability is to be restored in society, our girls need to be trained and educated to make their homes the centre of their lives. One Scripture that summarises her position in the home is Titus 2:4-5 … “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” If women of today made this their objective, what a remarkable change for good there would be in society.

GOD’S WAY FOR CHILDREN. Children are to respect their parents and obey them in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-2). It is their parents who brought them into the world and reared them to maturity. Children who are disrespectful and rebellious to parents bring very grave reproach upon their parents. Also to God and society.  Children often rebel however, because their parents have not given the right type of discipline and instruction.  The author of proverbs says:  “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” (Proverbs 29:15-18)

In  closing, let us consider that husbands and wives can never enjoy the real bliss of marriage unless they are both Christians. In order to become a Christian one must hear the word of God (Romans 10:17, repent of past sins (Luke 13;3), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptised into Christ for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism must be followed by faithful service in the church of the Lord (Revelation 2:10, Matthew 16:18). May The Lord help you to have a truly great family.

Ian McPherson

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 has brought about much confusion in the mind of Christians and commentators.  The author himself has suffered the same confusion for many years. This is because he has followed the generally accepted premise, that the text was written as a rebuke to the Christian women for not following the traditional custom at Corinth that required women to cover their heads in public. This view however denies the context, and leads to many contradictions and false assumptions. After much study and prayer, the author has reached a conclusion that fits both the context and the aim of the Holy Spirit who is  the  real author. The following  points are submitted for your consideration.  The text fits into the following categories.

THE CONFLICT. Paul began, not by criticising the Corinthian women, as many teach, but by  praising the Corinthians  for following the apostolic traditions they had learnt from him when he planted the church (V2). A close examination of the text will  show that the conflict was caused by Judaisers at  Corinth who were opposing Paul’s authority as an apostle, and objecting to the way that both men and women at Corinth were praying or prophesying.

The fact that Corinth was troubled by Judaisers is beyond dispute.  In fact  Paul spent all of 2 Corinthians  chapter three defending his apostleship, and  establishing the fact that the 10 commandments and the Law of Moses was abolished by Christ  and replaced by the more glorious New Testament that was established by Him (2 Cor 3:7-8, Eph 2:14-16, Heb 10:8-9) 

These agitators  are identified by Paul as “Hebrews” and “Israelites of the seed of Abraham” (2 Cor 11:22). He also calls them “false apostles” and “deceitful workers” (2 Corinthians11:13).

Paul’s discussion on head coverings seems to be  in answer to  questions asked by sincere Christians at Corinth who were  seeking an inspired solution to a problem caused by these false teachers who were objecting to the way the prophets and prophetesses exercised their gift of prophesy. These answers  began at  Chapter 7:1, and continued to the end of the book.

THE COMMENCEMENT.” But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God”. Since Christ did not become the “head of man”  until after He came to earth and was exalted to God’s right hand, we can clearly  see Paul’s argument  is set in the New Testament context.  We can also see that the phrase “the head of woman is the man” does not specifically refer to marriage, as some seek to apply it, but simply to the general order of woman to man that has existed from creation. This is  explained clearly  in V8-12 our text.  

THE CONTEXT.  “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head ” (V4-5). From these verses  we see that the problem relating to head covering was limited to  when the  prophets and prophetesses were actually praying and prophesying.  The context is therefore  limited to the   prophetic era of the New Testament.

The Greek  word “propheteuo” which is used here can only apply to speaking under inspiration. Strong’s lexicon says that it means “to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office”.  If the Holy Spirit meant it to equally refer to both inspired and un-inspired teaching and preaching, as many teach, He would have used either “didasko” (teaching) or “kerusso” (preaching).

In the context, the words “praying” and “prophesying” go  together. The identical phraseology applies to both men and women, and are both linked to the miraculous reception and delivery of prophetic messages by the prophets and prophetesses.

There are many examples in Scripture where both praying and prophesying are linked uniquely to the  miraculous era of the New Testament. One of many examples we see of this is when Peter received  a prophetic revelation while he was praying on a roof top. Acts 10:9-10 says “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: ¹⁰ And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance”.   Here we see that his prophetic message was received when he was praying and fell into a trance.  There are multiple references to these types of prophetic visions. (Acts 2:17, Acts 9:10, 10:10,19, 11:5, 16:9, 18:9, 22:17, Luke 1:11, 2 Cor 12:1, and Rev 1:10). These types of  prayer and prophetic visions  are unique to the prophetic era. Since no one  can pray or prophesy in this manner today,  the requirements of head coverings faded away with all the other gifts (1 Cor 13:8-10).    Therefore, the most logical application  to our text is that both praying and prophesying refer exclusively to the miraculous era, which was the era the Corinthians and Paul were living in. IE The time when the New Testament was being written down.  In light of this observation let us consider the following

THE COVENANTS. “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head (V4). Many do not realise that  coverings were an integral part of Old Testament symbolism.  In fact there is strong indication that it would have been extremely dishonourable for Old Testament prophets to pray or prophesy with their heads uncovered.  Everything  that dealt with God’s glory was symbolically covered.  For example, priests had to wear special hats (or bonnets) whenever they went into the tabernacle (Exodus 28:40-43, Leviticus 10:6), and the High Priest was never to be seen in public with his head uncovered (Lev 21:10). Also, all the religious articles and instruments of the tabernacle were covered (Numbers 4). This included the ark, which represented the glory of God. It was to be hidden from view and never looked into (Num 4:5-6, 1 Sam 6:19, Ex 40:21, Heb 9:8-9).

THE COVERINGS. The history of symbolic coverings began on Mt Sinai when the Old Testament was first introduced. On that day the Lord spoke through  a thick cloud (Exodus 19:16-18).   Also Moses’ face shone miraculously when he started reading the Law of Moses to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai.  It shone so brightly,  that Moses had to veil his face when he spoke to them  (Exodus 34:29-35).    Paul used this incident to show the inadequacy of the Old Testament.  He said, “Unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.  15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.  16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away”   (2 Cor 3: 13-16).  Here the veiled face of Moses symbolised the darkness of the Old Testament, and his shining face symbolised the glory of the New Testament which was hidden from the Israelite’s view until Christ came and revealed the light of the Gospel through the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.  All that the Old Testament prophets could see in their prophetic Messianic  visions  was a mere glimpse of the Redeemer who was coming in the future to save them from sin (Isaiah 59:20-21).  His veil therefore symbolised that God’s glory was not yet revealed, and that Israel were still in their sins, (Rom 4:7).

So far as prophets are concerned, we see that they followed Moses’ example.  Elijah wrapped his face with his mantle when God spoke directly to him (2 Kings 19:13), also David covered his face when he wept over the death of his son (2 Sam 18:33). Head covering in times of mourning also became a strongly entrenched custom (2 Sam 15:30).

Every Jew was commanded to wear a four cornered outer garment with blue tassels on each corner which were to remind them to keep God’s commandments. It was given to them “for a covering”. (Deut 22:12, Num 15:38-41). In fact, Jews today wear a “Tallit” which is a fringed shawl, to completely cover themselves when they pray. This custom is very old, and something similar  may well have been practiced by Jews in apostolic times.

We can easily see why Jews were disturbed about prophets not covering their heads when the prayed or prophesied. For hundreds of years their ancestors had been covering their heads when they prayed.  They would see covered heads every time they went to the synagogue or the temple.

However, when Paul was writing the New Testament, Christ had come.  Man no longer lived in the shadow of the Old Testament, but dwelt in the full light of the gospel. The temple veil was torn down (Mat 27:51),and the priesthood along with it veils, turbans and coverings  was   removed. Also prophets removed their veils.  

 Why did prophetesses not cover their heads when they prayed or prophesied?   The answer to this is seen in V10   “For  this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head because of the angels” 

The first reason Paul gives is that they were a  “Symbol of authority”  The Greek word here for authority is “exousia” which means to have “delegated influence” or to have the right or the authority to do something.  Grammatically the covering on her head  symbolised the  authority which belongs to the woman herself. It refers to  her own authority, and not the authority exercised by another over her. Paul frequently uses the word  in the same sense in many other passages (see1Corinthians 8:9; 1Corinthians 9:4-5; 9:12, 18).

Therefore, the artificial cloth coverings worn by  prophetesses distinguished them from all other women. They showed that they had authority to prophesy even though they were woman.   

We know from Old Testament examples, that prophetesses had authority beyond that of the general women. For example, Deborah dwelt under a palm tree and “all Israel came to her for judgment” (Judges 4:4, 5). Also, Huldah dwelt with the prophets and gave authoritative prophecies even to priests and kings (2 Kings 14-20). We also see that Anna prayed and prophesied continually in the temple (Luke 2:36-38). Therefore the coverings showed that although prophetesses were woman, they had authority from God to prophesy. This authority was unique to prophetesses. 

These coverings also, indicated that their authority was limited and temporary.  There are no examples of women (even prophetesses), ever being given any other gift.  They could not perform miracles, or be public proclaimers of the word.  Since praying and prophesying both required speaking, they could not lead  in public worship or usurp the authority of man (1 Corinthians 14:34,1 Timothy  2:11-12).  They could only use their gift therefore in a very limited capacity.

The  second reason is  “because of the angels” (V10).  Many claim it is the most difficult  passage in Scripture.  However it is given here as the conclusion of Paul’s argument on prophetess’s head coverings. Peter gives insight into the meaning in his first epistle.  He wrote, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:, Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10-12).

Notice that the phrase “desire to look into” is in the present tense. The prophetess’s head coverings therefore symbolised that the miraculous era was still in progress,  and the angels were eagerly looking to its fulfilment. 

We must realise, that the work of the angels was still in progress in the miraculous era. In fact angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament, and 175 times in the New Testament. The reason for their prominence was that their work was not finished.

Although the New Testament revelation of the gospel was committed to men and not to angels (Heb 2:14-17), the Old Testament was ordained by angels (Gal 3:19), and therefore their work was not  complete  until the prophets had completed their work. The angels  also knew that the prophets work would eventually result in Christians being exalted above them through Christ  (Hebrews 2:8-10).

THE CONTRAST.  What about women’s hair? “Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” V13-15. In these verses Paul leaves his discussion of the cloth coverings that  the prophetesses wore, and contrasts these with her hair that was given by God to all women for a natural covering.

The Greek word for covering used before this point is katakalupto which is  used in the verb form  and therefore  does not define the type  of covering. However the word he uses in V15 is   “peribolaion” which is a noun that describes the symbolic covering worn by the prophetesses. It means “something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil” (Strong’s enhanced dictionary)

The preposition used in the phrase “for a covering” is the Greek word “anti” which means  “instead of”. Darby correctly translates the verse as  “for the long hair is given to her in lieu of a veil.   Thus, in this verse the Holy Spirit is contrasting two different types of coverings that are referred to in the text.   This  verse is also in the “present infinitive passive” tense which means that long hair was and always has been a glory to women. Therefore long hair has always served as a natural covering for women, but the cloth covering was temporary and worn only by prophetesses.

In fact every example in the  New Testament that mentions women’s hair shows it was not shameful for women to expose their hair to men and in public  (Luke 7:38, John 11:2, 12:3, 1 Cor 11:15, 1 Tim 2:9, 1 Pet 3:3). In these verses we see  that Jesus’ friend Mary as well as the immoral woman, both exposed their heads  in public humility by wiping the feet of Jesus with their hair.  Since 1 Tim 2:9 specifically mentions women’s hair being publicly exposed in church assemblies, we know for sure that  that women were not required to cover their heads in worship.

Prophetesses have been the only women in history,  who have ever been asked by their Creator to cover their heads for any reason, and even then,  only when they prayed or prophesied. It is true that Rebekah covered her head with a veil when she saw Isaac (Gen 24:65). But  this was only a custom and only temporary while being given in marriage. Women today do the same thing. 

The shame involved in women having short hair is seen in V5-6 of our text.  “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered (V5-6).  Here Paul is saying that it would be just as shameful for a prophetess to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered as it would be to walk around with her head shaved.  The reason why her shaven head would be shameful is because it would dishonour her head (the man) and bring shame on her gender. Short hair was given to men  to glorify God, and the woman was given long hair to show her glory to man. Shaven hair on a woman would be equivalent to “cross dressing” which is condemned in the Bible (Deut 22:5)

What about men’s hair?   The word “shame” attached to men’s long hair in V14 is a very strong word in the Greek.  Bullenger’s dictionary uses the following words to describe its meaning: “deformed”, “ugly”, “offensive to modesty”  “impurity”, “indecent”, “indecorous”, and “immodest”. Long hair on men was very common in the Old Testament. Absalom polled his hair yearly (2 Sam 14:26). Samson was never to cut his hair (Judge 13:3). It would also seem that Ezekiel had long hair (Ezek 5:1). Long hair was typical for the shadowed era of the Old Testament, but after Christ came and established His New Testament it became shameful. For a man to wear long hair is just as shameful to his head (Christ) as shaven hair is to a woman (1 Cor 11:6) which brings shame on the man.

CONCLUSION.  Paul concludes his discussion by establishing his apostolic authority and rebuking his critics. ^“But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (V16).  Most commentators  concentrate  almost entirely on the word “custom”. Not only this, but it is generally used in a sort of ‘anti climax” sense  that reduces Paul’s discussion to a mere opinion.

This verse is not criticising Christian women for not  following the  customary practice of pagan women at Corinth, but was rather a rebuke to those Judaisers who were criticising the prophets and prophetesses for not following the customs of the Old Testament.   This ending is an authoritative and powerful statement by Paul to establish his authority as an apostle, and remind his critics  that neither the apostles or any of the other churches of Christ had any such custom as they were advocating.

In this study we have seen that Prophetess’ coverings were the last surviving symbol of the Old Testament. There will never be another prophet or prophetess walk the streets.  Prophesy has ceased for ever (Zechariah 13:2).  We now live in the era that Christ spoke of when He said, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2). Paul also said, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as  by the Spirit of the Lord”. (2 Cor 3:18).  The only covering that remains today is the woman’s hair that was given to her by God himself as a natural covering for her glory and  to distinguish her from the man who has short hair.

Ian McPherson

The third commandment engraved in stone was a warning not to take the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7). This directive is followed by a warning that God  “…will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”  The word “vain” is defined as “unreal, flippant, empty, light or profane.” Even though the Christian is no longer bound by the Law of Moses, it is clear from a study of the Law of Christ that God expects any references to His name, and character, to be expressed in a manner that brings glory and honour to the Almighty. This article contains just a few of the many ways the Lord’s name is used in a profane manner. Let us take great care when, and how, we use the name of God lest we find ourselves among those on the day of judgement who are not found guiltless. Therefore, every Christian must strive to make a conscious effort to avoid using the name of God in the various ways that are discussed in this article.

In the first place, the use of God’s name in jokes and secular songs deprives God of the reverence He deserves.  Paul warned that “foolish talking” or “jesting” must be avoided (Ephesians 5:4). One would be hard pressed to think of anything more foolish and disrespectful than to ridicule the Lord, or make light of His directives. In Matthew 12:36, 37, Jesus declared that man shall give an account for every idle word that he has spoken.  Think twice before you are tempted to tell a joke, or sing a secular song that incorporates some reference to God, His disciples, or His word.

In the second place, when one uses the name of God in a flippant manner, he is guilty of invoking the name of God in a vain and empty oath.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:34, “But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne…” Jesus was forbidding the practice of calling upon God to witness an oath that one has no intention of keeping. This command forbids one from calling upon God to witness some silly or frivolous action. One violates this command when he uses phrases like “Oh my God,” “Heavens above,” or “Hallelujah” (praise to God) to express his emotions of surprise or shock.  These constitute empty appeals or prayers to God. One is not any less guilty of vain oaths, or empty appeals when he employs a euphemism for God’s name like “Gosh,” “Golly,” “Gee,” or “Geez.”

In the third place, a Christian who uses the name of God in an inappropriate context is displaying hypocritical behaviour. He declares the blessings of the gospel, but out of the same mouth he blasphemes, curses, and swears vain oaths to God (James 3:10; Luke 6:46). He claims to honour, respect and obey God, but then employs language that treats the name of God as something that is common or base.

The one who uses the name of God in a profane manner is one who does not have complete control of his mind. Aside from showing that he has no respect for the Almighty, he is also demonstrating his ignorance. There are over four hundred thousand words in the English language yet many people cannot even utter a half a dozen words without employing the use of offensive terms and the vain use of the name of God.  Our language is a sign of what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34; Ephesians 4:29).  Do we truly love and respect God? If we do respect God, as we claim, does our language reveal a truth that contradicts that claim? In our speech and in our conduct we must strive to bring God the honour that is due to Him. Always keep in mind that the name of God is “hallowed” (holy, sacred) (Matthew 6:9).

Brett Rutherford

It has been said that an organisation is only as strong as its leaders. Secular organisations pay huge salaries for persuasive and dynamic leaders.  However Paul emphasized the danger of church leaders having “persuasive words of man’s wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:4).  It is good for leaders to be able to persuade men, but sometimes such men are a great danger to the church.   There are many examples of persuasive leaders drawing God’s people into error.  In Ezra’s time, the leaders and rulers were foremost in taking foreign wives and mixing their seed with foreigners (Ezra 9:2).  It was the shepherds who led Israel astray (Ezek 34:7-8).  We also see how Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, used his talent as a leader to draw Israel into a false religion (1 Kings 12:25-33).  In the New Testament, Paul warned the Ephesian elders that apostasy would come from among themselves.  He said;  “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). 

Unlike secular organisations, the church is not free to arbitrarily select its own leaders.   Notice our text for this article:   “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:11-12).  The context of this verse shows us that when  Christ went to heaven He gave gifts to men to bring the church into the fullness of Christ  (Ephesians 4: 8-10).   Although the miraculous gifts ceased when the church was brought into full knowledge, the positions of leadership mentioned in the text remain in the church.  

THE apostles and prophets RULE the CHURCH       The apostles and prophets received the word through the power of the Holy Spirit  and wrote it down (2 Peter 1:19-21; Ephesians 3:1-5).   Although the apostles and prophets no longer live, the church is built on the foundation of their teaching   (Ephesians 2:20).  The New Testament which they revealed is also called “the apostles doctrine”.  This  remains the only standard of authority  for the church  (Acts 2:42).   This is how the church today still has apostles ruling over it.

THE EVANGELISTS PREACH FOR THE CHURCH    Evangelists  were charged with  preaching the word (2 Timothy 4:1-5).  They were to do this with “all authority” (Titus 2:15).  Some of them like Paul and his travelling companions planted churches, (they went into communities and began congregations). Others, like Apollos, were waterers (they edified established churches) (1 Corinthians 3:6).   Evangelists do not oversee the church, their job is to reprove, rebuke and exhort (2 Timothy 4:1-5). They are also involved in helping churches ordain elders (Titus 1:5).

THE PASTORS OVERSEE THE CHURCH (Acts 20:28).  Pastors are also called elders (older men), and bishops (or overseers) (1 Peter 5:1-3).  Their function is to watch over the souls of the local church (Hebrews 13:17).  They had to be married with faithful children, be skilful teachers, and be a good example both in the church and the community.  (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9).   Each local church, when fully organized, is to be led by a plurality (or board) of elders called “the presbytery” (1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 14:23, Philippians 1:1).  There is therefore no authorisation for one  pastor to rule a church, or for any person to be called “the pastor”.  In fact no one in the church, except the Lord Jesus has authority to wear a title (Matthew. 23:5-12).  The rulership of elders is restricted to the local congregation of which they are a member. 

THE TEACHERS EDUCATE THE CHURCH.  All the men listed in the text must be teachers. However one can be a teacher without holding any of the positions mentioned in the text.   Those who teach in the church, however, must realize that the souls of both themselves and those who hear them are at stake (1 Timothy 4:16).   Unfortunately, many desire to be teachers but have no understanding of what they say or affirm (1 Timothy 1:7).  Those who are teachers must realise that they will be judged more strictly.  “My brethren, be not many masters (Teachers ImcP) , knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1).

It is interesting that “deacons” are not mentioned in Ephesians 4:11.   Deacons are assistants to the elders in carrying out their duties.   Like elders, deacons must also be married men who rule their children well.   But unlike elders their children do not need to be old enough to believe.  The reason that the Lord did not put them in this list of leaders is probably because they are not required to teach (1 Timothy 3:8-13).   May God help each church to select qualified  leaders in accordance with His will.

Ian McPherson

On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when the church began, we see about three thousand people being baptized and added by the Lord to the church.  From that day on we see remarkable growth taking place. Two chapters later we read how it grew to about five thousand men (Acts 4:4).  On four different occasions after this we see that the church at Jerusalem multiplied (Acts 6:1, 7; 7:17; 9:31).

Although the culture and mindset of people today may not be as conducive to church growth, the characteristics that caused Jerusalem to grow and multiply apply to all time.     Below are some of these characteristics that caused this remarkable growth.  They are taken from Acts 2:42-47

STEADFAST: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and in prayers.”    (Acts 2:42).   This shows that the church had many different assemblies which provided opportunity for the church to grow in knowledge of God’s word, and strengthen their relationship with each other and with the Lord.  The members were present every time the church assembled, whether it was for teaching, fellowship gatherings, taking the Lord’s Supper or prayer meetings.

Can we imagine how poorly a football club would perform if its players only turned up for the game, and never attended practice sessions, or other communal activities of the club.   In the same way, how could we ever expect a church to grow whose members only turn up for morning worship and never, or rarely, for Bible class and other assemblies.  The assembly is the “heart throb” of the church.  Enthusiastic assemblies are the main springboard of evangelism.

FEARFUL “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles”. (Acts 2:43).  The church cannot grow without each member having a healthy fear of God.  For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.    It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  (Hebrews 10:30-31).  We often think of only the people of the world being judged, but these verses concern the judgement of “His people”.   God’s wrath was a powerful motivator to Paul in his evangelism.  He said “ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men …”  (2 Corinthians 5:11).  Churches will only grow when members have a healthy fear of God.

CARING  “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;    And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.“  (Acts 2:44-45).  The church is more than an institution, but a family.  The Jerusalem church had  an acute interest in the welfare of its members.   Benevolence alone will not convert souls, but without it a church is dead (1 John 3:17; Revelation 2:4, James 1:27, Galatians 6:10)   

UNITED “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:46).   David said long ago  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.“ (Psalms 133:1). There is nothing that stifles church growth more quickly than disunity. 

INFLUENTIAL   “Praising God, and having favour with all the people”  (Acts 2:47a).   The church cannot grow in isolation, its light must be seen by the community (Matthew 5: 13-14).   The Jerusalem church were living as “peculiar” people in the community (1 Peter 2:9),  showing Christ to the lost world.

EVANGELISTIC And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”  (Acts 2:47b).  The members were busily preaching the gospel. Even after being scattered by persecution, the members of the church were still soul conscious, planting churches and preaching  and teaching  God’s word (Acts 8:4).

If the church wants to grow today, these same things that motivated the Jerusalem church must motivate us.   Millions are dying each day without the gospel.

Ian McPherson

More and more error is being presented from our pulpits as the church of our Lord in Australia moves closer to the denominational view that the Scriptures are only a basic guideline for the governance of the church. Political correctness, convenience, and personal preferences have replaced plain directives in Scriptures. Clear Bible teachings on marriage, divorce, the woman’s role, instrumental music in worship, and alcohol have often been dismissed as only being applicable to those in the first century.  Perhaps the most frequent casualty of this trend is the Bible’s teaching on the structure and qualifications of the leaders in the local congregations.

Why are Biblical directives about the way the local congregation is to be governed so frequently overlooked? Reasons for this oversight can be attributed to the rise of the feminist movement, personal ambitions, and the desire for leadership at all costs. The errors that are taught relating to congregational leadership vary greatly.  Some of those errors will be addressed in this article.

The Scriptures make it clear Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:15-23), and that QUALIFIED MEN are to be appointed as elders in every congregation to guide and protect the church from error (Titus 1:5; Acts 20:17-31). The qualifications of elders are given in Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Our assessment of who is qualified to serve as an elder in the local congregation must be based upon the directives given in these two passages of Scripture.

Any faithful man can serve as an elder…I believe this is the most common mistake that congregations make when they appoint elders.  Despite what our Mormon friends may teach, a single man (though faithful) may not serve as an elder (I Timothy 3:2).  A married man who is faithful, but does not have faithful children also cannot serve as an elder (I Timothy 3:4, 5). A young, faithful Christian is also not qualified to serve as an elder (I Timothy 3:6). A qualified man must have an extensive knowledge of Scripture in order to serve.  He must be capable of accurately expounding upon the Word of God, and know enough Scripture to identify threats to the local congregation (Titus 1:9; Acts 20:28-30).

Women can serve as elders… This idea that it is acceptable for woman to take on the office of an elder was unheard of in the churches of Christ a few years ago. The rise of feminism, and ignorance of the Scriptures, has opened the door to this idea that women can serve in leadership positions within the church.  Women cannot be elders because the Bible specifically excludes them from taking this office.  In the list of qualifications for elders in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 the Greek masculine pronoun “andros” is used in reference to those who are allowed to take on the office of an elder.  “Andros” is a pronoun that is used only to refer to the male of the species. Furthermore, a woman cannot serve as an elder because she cannot scripturally be the “husband of one wife” (Titus 1:6). Women are excluded from taking any leadership role in the local congregation because she must not be placed in a position of authority over a man in the church or in the home (I Timothy 2:12-15; Ephesians 5:22, 23).

An elder does not need to be in control of his household… A man who is not able to manage his wife and his children has no Scriptural right to serve in a capacity where he must manage the affairs of the local congregation (I Timothy 3:4, 5). Even the innocent party in a divorce must dismiss himself from the selection process.  He has not proven that he can control and manage his own household.  A successful home life is an essential qualification for the role (I Timothy 3:4a).

Brett Rutherford

National Israel thought that being a fleshly descendent of Abraham was sufficient to warrant them being heirs of the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).  However Paul gave an allegory saying that Abraham had two sons, one by a bond woman and one by a free woman.  The sons of the bond woman (Hagar), represented fleshly Israel who was in bondage to the law.  The sons of the freewoman (Sarah) represented spiritual Israel.   To prove his argument that the promises to Abraham were not for national Israel but for the faithful remnant,   Paul appealed to Scripture.  He said:  “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman” (Galatians 4:30).    Every false doctrine can be refuted by putting it to the same test as Paul did. “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?”   Below are some examples. 

“It is not possible for all Christians to speak the same thing”: Those who say that all Christians can come to a united understanding of Scripture are called “arrogant” “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?” “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).

“Baptism is not necessary for salvation”:   Almost the entire religious community rejects the necessity of baptism for salvation.   “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?” “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

“God accepts instrumental music in worship”:  Many accuse the church of Christ as being legalistic because they do not play mechanical instruments in worship. “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?”  The New Testament says nothing concerning the instrument music in worship. Therefore no Scripture can be given to support its use.

“Women can be church Leaders”:  Many are advocating that churches can have women leading in the assembly and having leadership roles in the church. “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?” “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

“Two Homosexuals can marry”:  Modern advocates are saying that government has a right to redefine marriage laws to include same sex marriage.    “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?”  “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:4-6).  “Marriage is honour-able in all, and the bed undefiled: but whore-mongers and adult-erers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Many believe that men, governments and churches have a right to change modify and improve Scripture according to culture and social acceptance.  “Nevertheless what saith the scripture?”  “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9).

Ian McPherson

Those who advocate the use of one cup in the Lord’s Supper fail to take into account the inconsistencies in their own practice of implementing this action. In the first place, they violate this directive by having a separate cup in every congregation. This makes them multi cuppers. Furthermore, if we are to take Jesus’ statement in Matthew 22:16 to mean  that we are to literally take the ONE CUP then we must logically find the very cup that Jesus used when He instituted the Lord’s supper. Surely, we are not going to be advocates of a new crusade to find the “holy grail”? Clearly the emphasis is on the content of the cup, not on the vessel.

Another argument employed by One Cuppers comes from Luke’s version of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Luke incorporates the phrase “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). One container advocates have used this statement in Luke to promote their argument that the actual vessel that held the fruit of the vine represents the new covenant. Clearly, those who hold this view have failed to interpret Luke’s account in light of Matthew and Mark’s version of this event. In Matthew’s account, Jesus commanded His disciples “to drink from it, all of you.” For this is the BLOOD OF MY COVENANT.” It is the contents of the cup (not the actual vessel) that represents the blood of Christ.

It is the blood of Christ that was shed for the New Covenant. The shedding of Christ’s cup was not the thing that ushered in a new covenant (Hebrews 9:12-18; 17-20). When we apply common sense, and the laws of context, to Jesus’ statement, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” we come to the conclusion that Christ placed the emphasis on the contents of the cup (not the actual vessel that held the fruit of the vine).

Furthermore, ancient Jewish tradition regarding the distribution of beverages during Jewish feasts sheds some light on this dispute.  During the Feast of the Passover the Jews would pass around a large container from which four smaller cups would be filled. It would be said that the cup was being divided as each of the four cups were filled from the larger vessel. It is evident from Luke’s account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper that Jesus followed this custom. Luke 22:17 states, “And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and DIVIDE it among yourselves.” The word “divide” in Luke 22:17 is the Greek verb “diamerizo.” According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words the verb “diamerizo” denotes an action that “divides through completely, parts, cleaves asunder, or parts asunder” (p. 39). It is evident from Christ’s statement that the disciples were to divide the contents of the larger cup into smaller vessels before consuming it. In other words, they were multi cuppers.

The two implements that are memorialised in the Lord’s Supper are the body and blood of Christ (I Corinthians 10:16; 11:27). The bread clearly represents the body of Christ and the fruit of the vine represents His blood. The actual vessel that Christ used represents nothing. The material cup that Christ used played no part in securing our salvation  and had nothing to do with the implementation of the new covenant. Certainly, the number of cups that we use today when we partake of the Lord’s Supper is not significant. It is the contents of that vessel that represents the redeeming blood of Christ and stands for the element that sealed the new covenant.

Brett Rutherford

In Matthew 13:24:30 we read the Parable of the Wheat and Tares.  In this parable, Jesus spoke of a man who planted a crop of wheat in a field, but while men slept, his enemy came and planted tares among the wheat.  Since, in their early stage, tares were difficult to distinguish from wheat, by the time they were discovered, the tares had become so deep rooted that they could not be pulled up without uprooting some of the wheat.  The Lord therefore said   “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”  (Matthew 13:30).    Jesus later explained the meaning of the parable to His disciples (Mathew 13:36-43).   Let us briefly examine His interpretation.

There were two different sowers and two different seeds.  “He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” (Mat. 13:37-38). 

The “good seed”,   which was planted by the Lord, represents the “children of the kingdom”.  These were Christians, members the Lord’s church which began after His death on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.  On that day 3000 people were added to the church, after hearing the gospel preached and being baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:41, 47).   As the gospel was preached, the church spread throughout the world in the apostolic era (Acts 1:8, Col 1:23).  This church was not a denomination, but the true church which Christ built (Matthew 16:18).

The “tares” were planted by Satan. They represent the “children of the wicked one”.      Since the wheat represents Christians, members of the true church, the tares can represent nothing else but the thousands of different denominations that we see in the world.   They came into existence as the result of false teaching that was gradually sown throughout the years by Satan, while men slept  (2 Tim. 4:1-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Thess. 1:1-11).    Denominationalism is so deeply rooted in the DNA of Christendom that the only way society can define a Christian is by asking them what denomination they belong to.   Anyone who says that they belong to the true church of Christ is often laughed to scorn.  

The fact is, however, the wheat and tares in the parable are mutually exclusive.  They represent two distinctly different plants.  They came from different seeds, were planted by different sowers and have different destinies.   Since all saved people on earth are in the church that belongs to Christ (Acts 2:47, 20:28; Ephesians 5:23), we are left with the logical conclusion that there are no saved people in any denomination.  Every denomination has its own founder, its own creed and began centuries after the original church was planted in Jerusalem in AD 33.

The parable teaches that wheat and tares will coexist on the earth until judgment day.  This, thankfully, indicates that the true church still exists.    When the pure gospel seed is planted, it can produce nothing but a Christian, a member of the Church of Christ (Luke 8:11).  When any other seeds are planted, they can produce nothing else but “children of the wicked one”

We all need to think carefully about the Lord’s words on the Sermon on the Mount when he said “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (Matthew 7:22-23).   These sincere people lived their life thinking they were children of the kingdom, but found that they were actually tares.  We must remember the sobering words of the Lord who said:  “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13).

Ian McPherson

Proverbs 20:29 reads, “The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair” (ESV). When we are young our bodies are stronger, our minds are sharper and our energy lasts longer; however, our lack of experience leads us to fall short in many regards. Young people often only know things “in theory” rather than from authentic life experiences. In fact, everything younger people know but have not experienced most likely came from the mouth or pen of someone who was older than them.

It is a great tragedy when younger people seek advice only from their peers and not from those who have lived on this earth longer than us. The foolish king Rehoboam made this mistake and the consequences of it were dire (1 Kings 12). Rehoboam was the king who caused the civil war between the northern and southern Kingdoms of Israel. Early in his reign, he was confronted by some people complaining about the heavy taxation that Solomon had left on them (1 Kings 12:4). Rehoboam did not know what to do and consulted two groups of people. First, he consulted the elders of Israel who had experience in Solomon’s court. They wisely advised that he win their loyalty by softening the burden on those who had complained. Second, he consulted the “young men who grew up with him” (1 Kings 12:10). These men encouraged him to express his power by increasing the burden on them.

Foolishly, Rehoboam followed the advice of his peers, and the consequences for his kingdom were great. The men who complained, led by Jeroboam, rebelled and formed their own kingdom in the north of Israel. Wise men, whatever their age may be, seek counsel from men wiser than themselves.

While it may be tempting to consult only our friends and peers, to ignore the aged is to miss out on a great deal of wisdom, both practical and spiritual. Ultimately, we measure all wisdom and truth against what God has given us, who is, of course, the oldest and wisest of all beings.

Mitchell Rutherford

In Genesis chapter six the Lord commanded Noah to build an ark for the saving of his family and representatives of all the earth’s creatures. The dimensions, design and materials to be used in the construction of the ark were specified by God (6:14-16). The Divine pattern for the ark included instructions to make the vessel out of gopher wood (6:14). Even though we know nothing of the value of gopher wood as a ship building timber, this has not stopped some from speculating that gopher must have been chosen by God because of its superior buoyant properties. However, these scholars are missing the point. It does not matter whether gopher wood was more buoyant than pine or oak. Gopher wood was the type of timber that God specified in His pattern for the ark, and that settled the matter. Therefore, Noah had no choice in the type of timber that he would use to build the vessel that would carry his family to safety. If Noah used a type of timber in the ark’s construction that was not authorised by God, then one would expect Noah to have suffered dire consequences for his disobedience.

Is it possible that Noah and his family would have survived the Great Flood if Noah had not respected the pattern that God gave him for the building of the ark? Does God reward disobedience? Noah knew that he served a God who meant what He said. Therefore, Noah constructed the ark according to the Divine specifications. Because Noah concerned himself with the details of God’s pattern, the great patriarch was saved from the wrath of God.  Noah knew that attention to the details of any Divinely issued pattern was a salvation issue.

Today, God has issued a pattern for His church. He expects us to give attention to the details of that plan. God’s design requires the church recognise Christ as its head (Ephesians 1:15-23). The Divine plan for the church also states that QUALIFIED MEN are to be appointed as elders to ensure that each congregation follows the holy pattern (I Timothy 3:1-7; Acts 20:17-35).

The Lord’s design for the church also requires each congregation to worship together on the first day of the week (Acts 2; 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1,2). The Divine pattern for the worship of the church includes singing without the mechanical instrument (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), prayer, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, preaching (Acts 2; 20:7), and giving (Acts 2; I Corinthians 16:1,2). God’s instructions also state that men are to lead in the worship of the church (I Timothy 2:8-12). The purpose of the church is also given by the Holy Architect. The church is to evangelise (Matthew 28:19,20), encourage one another (Galatians 6:1,2), and assist those in physical need (Matthew 25:31-46).

If Noah used a timber other than gopher wood in the ark’s construction, then the ark would not have been recognized by God. Noah and his family would have been lost. Keep in mind that the architect claims ownership for a project – not the one who executes the plan. If a building contractor altered the plans of the architect in any way, the architect would not recognize that building as his design, nor could he be held responsible should that building fail to fulfil its desired purpose. God created the church. He designed the church. If men alter God’s plans for the church in any way, it ceases to be recognized by God. The Great Architect will not claim ownership of a congregation that has strayed from the Master’s design. We need to keep in mind that none of the details of God’s design for the church are superfluous. We must give attention to the details of the pattern for the church or suffer the wrath of God.

Brett Rutherford

Shortly before His earthly ministry came to a close Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19, 20). This command of Christ is sometimes referred to as the “great commission.” Some would rather refer to this command as “mission impossible.” Many might think it is unlikely that the church will ever be able to give every person in the world an opportunity to hear the gospel. Therefore, they often lose their zeal when faced with a commission, that to them, is impossible to carry out.

Others try to excuse themselves from the obligation to meet this global goal by suggesting this command was issued only to the apostles. They turn back to verse sixteen of Matthew twenty-eight to try and prove that the “great commission” was given only to the eleven. Of course, these Christians are failing to take into account the details of the commission bestowed upon the apostles. Though it is true that Jesus was only addressing the eleven in the context, the command to the apostles states that they are to teach their new coverts “… to observe all things that I [Jesus] have commanded you” (28:20a). In other words, those that the apostles converted to Christ were commanded to obey the same directives as the apostles. Therefore, if the apostles were expected to work toward reaching the lost of all the world then so were those who were converted to Christ by obedience to the apostle’s doctrine.

Further evidence of the responsibility of the entire church to work towards evangelizing the world is found in Acts chapter eight. Luke begins this chapter by relating how the message of the gospel was spread by Christians who were driven from Jerusalem into the Judean and Samaritan countryside by their Jewish persecutors (8:1-4). In verse four the inspired prophet wrote, “…those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” The early church grew because they understood well the prime directive of the church. They understood that God designed the church to be a benevolent, self perpetuating institution. It was God’s intent that the church be the “pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15). In other words, the church is to function as a beacon of the truth. Each one of its members must have a good understanding of the gospel of Christ and a willingness to share the truths of that message with others (I Peter 3:15).

God did not authorize men to establish their own institutions to take the place of the church in reaching the lost. However, today it is popular to create “church planting” societies that do the work of the church. These organizations are usually run by a board of members who come from a number of congregations. These institutions collect funds to support their members and those they send out. They make decisions about the future of the church in their area. Congregations they establish are encouraged to join their society, and are asked to report to the board of the church planting collective. These “missionary societies” have become a poor substitute for the church. They have established an organization that God did not authorize, and they are governed by an ecclesiastical body that God did not ordain.

Some time ago on the Johnny Carson Show, a deep sea diver being interviewed said that sometimes they had to kill sharks, and that the poison they used killed them in about 8 seconds.  When Carson asked him what sort of poison it was his answer was beeped out.  It was tobacco.  When we smoke, we breathe in carbon monoxide which prevents red blood corpuscles from picking up enough oxygen to feed body tissues.  The carbon monoxide reaches 640 times the level considered safe in industrial places.  The continual jolt from Nicotine causes the heart to beat perhaps 20 extra beats per minute.   These examples are just a couple of the many evidences of the harmful affects of smoking.  In spite of this, many people continue to smoke.

Some justify the habit by saying “smoking calms my nerves”.  What they do not realize is that the nicotine they inhale is the actual cause of the agitation.  Others (the majority) admit the problem but say , “I know it is damaging to my body but I can’t stop.”   Thus, they live their life with a sense of failure, guilt, and inner conflict.  Here are some hints as to how to give up smoking.

ADMIT THAT IT IS WRONG.  I used to be a smoker, so I realize that it is very difficult to stop.  It was not until I convinced myself that it was wrong that I had the strength to overcome the addiction.    There are many reasons other than its health hazard that make smoking wrong for the Christian.  It is bad stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:2), it is damaging to others comfort and welfare (James 2:8; Philippians 2:3), and dims the Christian light (Matthew 5:16).

DRAW STRENGTH FROM GOD.    God promises  that  “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” —- 1 Corinthians 10:13.   To say that the addiction is too strong to conquer is to deny God’s ability to do what He says here.  Remember “… greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17).  If we have Christ dwelling in the inner man, Paul assures us that we are “… able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think …” (Ephesians 3:20). 

APPLY THE WORD.   Be like the Thessalonians who allowed the word to work effectually in their lives.    “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

DETERMINE TO STOP.  Be like Paul who was determined not be controlled by any thing that would draw him away from Christ.   “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

SEEK HELP AND PRAYERS FROM YOUR BRETHREN.  “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. (James 5:16).  Many smokers try and handle their addiction alone, but they should realize that there are brethren who want to pray with them and help them to overcome their addiction.  

Fellowship time with Christians is vital to the building up of the inner man.  Instead of leaving the church services as soon as the sermon is finished, stay behind and draw strength from fellowship with God’s people. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24).

DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN TEMPTATION’S WAY.  If you are serious about giving up smoking you should remove all your smokes from the house.  The Lord said to pray “Lead us not into temptation”.  Another way to avoid temptation is to keep away from other smokers.  Smokers are inclined to congregate together and offer smokes to one another.  

All of us who have been smokers realize that the smoking habit is difficult to stop.   But with God’s help it can and must be done.  Let us continually say with Paul “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me”. (Philippians 4:13).  With God’s help you can say “No!” to nicotine. 

Ian McPherson

Generally when we think of death, we think of  physical death,  the time when our life on this earth finishes and our bodies return to the dust.   However the Bible also speaks of spiritual death.  This is far more subtle because it happens while we are still living on this earth. 

THE DEFINING OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.    In his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words”, W.E. Vine  defines  spiritual death as,  “The separation of man from God.”  He then explains,   “As spiritual life is conscious existence in communion with God,  spiritual death is conscious existence in separation of God”.  In physical death, our soul is separated from our body (Ecclesiastes 12:7, Genesis 35:18; James 2:26).  In spiritual death, however, our soul is separated  from God through sin (Isaiah 59:2, Ephesians 2:1).   When we sin, therefore, we die spiritually.  Ezekiel 18:4. says: “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

THE WAGES  OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Romans 6:23).  Spiritual death is what we deserve in payment for sin.    Unless we receive the gift of eternal life, we will die in our sins  and be lost in hell for eternity (John 8:24,  Luke 16:23, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 25:30, 41, 46).

However, Jesus paid the price of spiritual death on the cross and is therefore able to give us the gift of eternal life.   “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. “  (2 Corinthians 5:21).  The sending of His Son to die for our sins is the greatest act of love ever seen (John 3:16).  Sadly, most people live their life out without giving God a thought and go to their grave in a lost condition.

THE granting of  ETERNAL LIFE  “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).  This is what happens at conversion.   We praise God that dead souls can be made alive when we accept the gospel. Jesus said,   “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”   (John 5:24).  He also promised   “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keeps my saying, he shall never see death”.  (John 8:51).  Obviously this does not mean that we will not go to the grave.   It means that those who are converted to Christ in this life have nothing to fear because we will never have to experience the terror of being separated in eternity from God.

The beginning of eternal life.    “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?    Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)   This makes it clear we pass from death to life when we are baptised.  Baptism is the time when a believing repentant sinner has his sins washed away by the blood of Christ  (Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38; Matthew 26:28).  When we are baptised the Lord adds us to the church (Acts 2:38-47).  If we remain faithful to the Lord we will spend eternity with God in heaven. (Revelation 2:10)

Sadly many people believe that new life begins at repentance and therefore place little significance on baptism.  However, although repentance may produce a new life style, it is not until our old man of sin is buried in the waters of baptism that our new man rises from the dead.   If we die without being baptized we can never escape the eternal consequence of our sin.

Ian McPherson

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”  (John 17:20-21)

Jesus offered this prayer for unity just before He went to the cross.  How disappointed He must be today when he sees divisions in His church, and thousands of denominations teaching different things all claiming to be His church.  An examination of His prayer reveals three important facts.

1. THAT UNITY IS POSSIBLE: The Lord did not pray for something that is impossible. His prayer indicates that He desires all Christians everywhere in the world to be united in one body. The beauty of such unity is expressed by David when he said “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

This type of unity cannot be accomplished by creeds and Articles of Faith etc.  Creeds only cause people to divide into denominational sects of human origin.  After Christ died and the New Testament was established, the apostle Paul under inspiration wrote: “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.)  If unity among believers was not possible, then why would Jesus pray for it and Paul command it?

2. THAT TRUE FAITH IS THE BASIS OF UNITY: In His prayer, Jesus assumed that all those who believed on Him would be one. To express true faith, we must not only believe that He is who he claims to be (John 8:24), but we must also believe what He says and obey His word.  “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

The conversion of the jailer illustrates this point.   When he asked Paul and Silas what to do to be saved they said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house” (Acts 16:31).  However, it was not until he had heard the gospel and obeyed it by being baptised that he was declared to have believed (Acts 16:32-34).   In Matthew 7:21-23, we see an example of believers who were lost because they did not do the will of the Father.  They called Jesus Lord, but did not do the Father’s will. Like most in the religious world, they were deceived into thinking an emotional belief was all that was needed to save them. 

3. THAT THE APOSTLES’ WORD IS THE STANDARD. Jesus did not only pray for His apostles, but “for them also which shall believe on me through their (the apostles’) word”. In this prayer Jesus endorsed the authority of the apostles. (see also Matthew 18:18).  Paul, who was an apostle, said “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37)

There are no living apostles or prophets today, but the words they spoke are preserved for us in the New Testament.   What they received directly from the Holy Spirit, they wrote down.  When we read what they wrote, we can have the same insight into God’s word as they had (Ephesians 3:1-5).  The apostles’ word is therefore the authoritative standard for church unity.  

Unity must have an authoritative standard.   Anyone who attempts to build a house, or to play a game of football, without obeying the rules laid out by an authoritative standard, is doomed to failure.  This is the same with the church.  Christ left His word so that His believers would have a standard that would unite them in one body. Unfortunately, mankind in general has been disobedient and invented their own standards of faith, which is sinful. (Matthew 15:9, Jeremiah 10:23).   Paul made it clear.  He said, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism, {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:1-6). May God help us all confine ourselves to the perimeters of God’s word and not go to the right or left, thus fulfilling Christ’s prayer for unity.

Ian McPherson

The church of Christ, which is the kingdom of Christ, is the greatest institution in all the world! It was built by Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 16:18). It was purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). The church is made up of all the saved (Ephesians 5:23). It will be given back to God, the Father, at the second coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). Therefore, only those who are in His church (kingdom) will be saved.

The church was planned by God from eter­nity! False teachers tell us that Jesus came to establish a kingdom on this earth. They say He failed because the Jews rejected Him. There­fore, He set up the church as a substitute. He will come the next time to set up His kingdom. This is not true! Christ came at the right time (Galatians 4:4, 5). He set up the church (kingdom) as God had planned before the earth was created: “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10,11).

The church was promised by God to the great men of old. God told Abraham He would make a great nation from his seed. All the earth would be blessed by his seed (Genesis 12:1-3). Christ is the promised Seed of Abraham Who blessed all nations by dying for our sins (Galatians 3:16). Christians

(Members of the church and citizens of the kingdom) are the true children of Abraham (Galatians 3:26-29).

God also promised David that He would raise up his son to sit on his throne and rule over his kingdom: “When your days are fulfilled, and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12, 13). This promise to David was fulfilled in Jesus Christ Who came of David’s seed (Luke 1:30-33; Romans 1:3).

The church was prophesied by men of God in the Old Testament! God told Isaiah: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be estab­lished on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusa­lem” (Isaiah 2:2, 3).

Please notice four things in this prophecy: (1) The Lord would build His house; (2) It would be built in the “latter days;” (3) All nations would come into it; (4) It would be built in Je­rusalem. God’s house is His church (1 Timo­thy 3:14,15). The “latter (or ‘last’) days” is the period of time from the first to the second coming of Christ (Hebrews 1:1,2).

Daniel also foretold the coming of God’s king­dom. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a great im­age which had a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and legs  and feet of iron and clay. Daniel interpreted the dream for him (Daniel 2:31-45). The head of gold represented Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. The breast and arms of silver represented the Medo-Persian Empire which conquered Babylon. .The belly and thighs of brass represented the Greek Empire estab­lished by Alexander the Great. The feet of iron and clay, the fourth kingdom, repre­sented Rome. Of Rome, Daniel said: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed . . . and it shall stand for­ever” (Daniel 2:44). The kingdom of God would be set up when Rome ruled the world. The prophet Joel foretold the coming of the kingdom also. He said that God would pour out His Spirit in the last days. Whoever called on the name of the Lord would be saved. There would be deliverance (salvation) in Je­rusalem (Joel 2:28-32). Please notice four things in this prophecy: (1) It would take place in the last days; (2) God would pour out His Spirit; (3) It would be in Jerusalem; (4) Those who called on the name of the Lord would be saved.

The coming of the kingdom was prepared by John and Jesus! John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Christ (Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 11:14). John was not in the king­dom, but prepared for its coming (Matthew 11:11). John preached that the kingdom was “at hand” (Matthew 3:1,2). This means it was very near.

Jesus also prepared for the coming of His kingdom. He too preached it was at hand (Matthew 4:17). He taught His disciples to pray for the coming of the kingdom (Matthew  6:10). He sent His disciples out to preach that the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 10:7). He promised to build His church and to give the keys of the kingdom to Peter (Matthew 16:18,19). This passage shows the church and the kingdom are the same. Keys are used to unlock and open. Therefore, when we see Pe­ter use the keys we will know the kingdom has come.

Jesus made a two-fold promise to His disci­ples: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). Please notice two things: (1) Some of those who were living when Je­sus was on the earth would see the kingdom come; (2) The kingdom would come with power.

The church came in perfection on the first Pentecost day following the ascension of the Lord (Acts 2). Jesus commanded His apostles “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4,5). He also told them: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

When Pentecost came, the apostles were to­gether in Jerusalem. They were all baptized in the Holy Spirit. When a crowd gathered, some heard the apostles speaking in tongues and said they were drunk. Peter pointed out that Joel’s prophecy of the pouring out of God’s Spirit had been fulfilled (Acts 2:1-21). Peter then preached the crucified Lord. He showed how that God had raised Jesus up to reign with Him on His throne (Acts 2:22-36). The Jews were “cut to the heart” and cried out “What shall we do?” Peter then used the keys of the kingdom by announcing the means by which one enters the kingdom: “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins …” (Acts 2:38). That day, three thousand souls obeyed the Gospel and were added by God to the church (Acts 2:41; 47). The church is spoken of as being in existence for the first time. After this, it is no longer future. It is present ( Acts 8:12; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9).

The prophecies of Isaiah 2, Daniel 2, and Joel 2 are fulfilled in Acts 2: (1) It was in the last days; (2) God built His house (church or king­dom); (3) It was during the days that Rome ruled; (4) God poured out His Spirit; (5) Salva­tion was available to those who called on the name of the Lord; (6) It was during the life­time of Jesus’ disciples; (7) The power came when the Holy Spirit came; (8) It was in Jeru­salem.

The church of Christ, which is the kingdom, was planned by God before the foundation of the world. It was promised to Abraham and David. It was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. John and Jesus prepared for it. It came in perfection on Pentecost. Men en­tered it by hearing and believing the Gospel, repenting of their sins, and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

The kingdom has come. You can be a member of it today if you will be born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). When Jesus comes again, He will deliver His kingdom back to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). Will you be in it?

Rod Rutherford

In the introductory remarks to what is often called “The Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus gives the keys to true happiness. The word that is often translated as “blessed” can more accurately be translated as “happy” according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.¹ In the first twelve verses of chapter five Jesus gives us elements that we need to add to our character if we want to find true peace and contentment. Many of these characteristics that Jesus encourages us to adopt are the opposite of what the world would view as necessary ingredients to living a happy life. The problem with the world is that they are confusing the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of pleasure. If you make it your life’s goal to pursue pleasure then you will never find lasting happiness and contentment.

Unfortunately, the Christ’s statement in verse five of Matthew chapter five has caused people a great deal of confusion. The source of this confusion is a misunderstanding of the way this phrase “the meek shall inherit the earth” is applied by Christ. Jesus’ Hebrew audience would have no trouble understanding His meaning, but modern man is often dumbfounded by the use of this phrase. Why do we have difficulty understanding Jesus’ meaning?

There have been many who have taken this phrase literally (as it is translated), and believe that God is going to create for us a “paradise earth” that the meek shall enjoy throughout eternity. This idea is clearly not the meaning of the phrase because the Bible elsewhere contradicts that view. Peter wrote concerning the second coming of Christ that the physical earth will “…pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (II Peter 3:10). However, God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” where the righteous shall dwell throughout eternity (II Peter 3:13). This “new heaven and new earth” is clearly a reference the spiritual realm that Christ has prepared for all the righteous in heaven (John 14:1-4).  John uses the phrase “a new heaven and a new earth” to refer to the eternal spiritual realm in Revelation 21:1.

If Jesus didn’t mean that the meek and righteous will inherit a literal, physical earth then what did He mean? In order to answer that question we must understand the phrase as the Hebrews understood it. This phrase is used elsewhere in the Bible as a general description of God’s blessings. It is found in Psalm 25:13: 37:9, 11, 22. In those passages the psalmist uses the Hebrew word “erets” which is translated as “earth” in many of our modern translations. Certainly, “erets” can be translated as “earth” in some contexts, but in this context it is not the best translation. The word “erets” can also be translated as “soil, land, country field or wilderness” according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary of the Bible.² For example, the word “erets” is translated as “land” when it is used to refer to the land of Canaan in Numbers 13:32; 14:3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 23, 24 etc. The land of Canaan represented God’s ultimate reward to the Jews. It was the culmination of all of God’s blessings and rewards to the Jewish people. It is no wonder that the phrase “inherit the land” became a common phrase in Jewish literature to refer to the blessings and rewards of God. The Jews could think of no greater blessing that God had given them. Jesus used this phrase in this sense. He meant those who are meek shall inherit the blessings and rewards that God offers. The righteous shall inherit the spiritual land of Canaan (i.e. heaven).

It is my belief that the phrase “the meek shall inherit the earth” should be more properly translated as “the meek shall inherit the land.” It should be understood that this is a symbolic reference to the blessings and the rewards that God offers the righteous. This is how the Jewish audience of Jesus’ day would have understood it.

– Brett Rutherford

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References

¹ W.E. Vine, A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with Their Precise Meanings for English Readers (Macdonald Publishing Co., Mclean, VA, ND)

²  James Strong, Strong’s Concordance of the Bible (World Bible Publishers, Madison, NJ, 1986).

Ever since Jesus promised His disciples that He would return to take them to a prepared place, men have been speculating on when His return would occur (John 14:1-3). Some have even suggested that Christ has already returned. Of course, we are not interested in the opinions of men regarding this subject. We want to know what the Bible has to say about the time and manner of Christ’s return.

The first thing we need to consider regarding the second coming of Christ is the time of His return. Countless books, papers, tracts have even been written predicting the exact day of Jesus’ return. Tragically, many have chosen to consult these documents instead of considering what Christ had to say on this subject.

One thing we can be clear about the time of Jesus’ return is that as soon as someone predicts the time of His return, that prediction is wrong.  Jesus made it clear that only God the Father knows when Christ’s return will be. The Lord told His disciples, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36, 44). One needs to be wary of any religious organization that claims they know when Christ will return. They are making a claim to know something that even Jesus did not know during His ministry.

One must also be warned that there are some who teach that Christ has already come. From what the Scriptures teach about what will happen when Jesus returns it is obvious that He has not yet returned. For example, the Bible teaches that the second coming of Christ will be associated with the Lord’s final judgment on the world (Matthew 25:31-46; II Thessalonians 1:5-10).  Obviously, Christ has not yet sat in final judgment upon all men.  Therefore, He has not yet come.

Secondly, it is clear that Jesus has not yet returned because His coming will be associated with great fanfare that will be witnessed by all men (I Thessalonians 1:7,8; Revelation 1:5-7).  Clearly, Christ has not returned for no man has heard the great trumpet sound, or witnessed the angels descending with the Lord in fiery vengeance upon the disobedient. There is certainly nothing in Scripture to suggest that the Lord will return in secret.

In the third place, the second coming of the Lord will be associated with the resurrection of all the dead (the righteous and unrighteous) (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 17:31). It goes beyond the ridiculous to believe that the resurrection of the dead is a past event.

In the fourth place, when the Lord returns the earth will be destroyed (II Peter 3:7-10, 12). I think that I can confidently assert that the universe has not yet disintegrated.  With an equal level of confidence I can safely assert that the Lord has not yet come again.

 In the fifth place, when Christ returns our bodies will be transformed from a physical body into an incorruptible spirit (I Corinthians 15:24-57). Because there are still men whose spirits are still confined to a mortal, corruptible body we can safely assume that the Lord has not come.

Finally, it is clear that the Lord has not yet returned because when He does so He will take the righteous to Heaven, and will condemn the unrighteous to an eternity in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; II Thessalonians 1:5-10). Keep in mind that the unrighteous will spend just as much time in Hell as the righteous will spend in Heaven (Matthew 25:46). There is nothing in Scripture that suggest that the unrighteous will simply cease to exist (Revelation 21:8). “Death” is not defined as the end to one’s existence. It is defined as “separation.” At Christ’s second coming the unrighteous will be eternally separated from God (II Thessalonians 1:9).

The Scriptures teach that Jesus will return suddenly, and unexpectedly to judge mankind, therefore we should heed Christ’s warning to “keep watch” (Matthew 24:27; 42). Christ’s warning “to watch” is used in the sense of being prepared, vigilant. One certainly does not want to be caught unprepared when the Lord returns (Matthew 25:1-13; II Corinthians 5:10-11; Hebrews 10:23-25).

Brett Rutherford

The name Christian is known by all and understood by few. It is one of the numerous designations given to God’s holy new covenant people in the bible (Saints, disciples of Christ, followers of the Way, Nazarenes, are just some of the many designations found in the New Testament). In scripture, the word Christian occurs three times: Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. In Acts 11:26, the term was first used to refer to the saints at Antioch. In Acts 26:28, Agrippa is almost persuaded to become a Christian; he is obviously familiar with that designation as he uses it. 1 Peter 4:16 gives us the first example of the word being used by an Apostle. Peter tells us that to suffer as a Christian is something we should not be ashamed of.

In light of this passage, it can be seen that the name of Christian is a lofty responsibility that should not be worn lightly. Ultimately, to be a Christian means to be of Christ. That is, we incorporate Christ into such a fundamental part of identity that we designate ourselves with his own name. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Do we measure up to the lofty heights of our first-century brethren who also called themselves Christians? Are we willing to suffer for Christ without shame as Peter exhorts us to? Ultimately a Christian life is a life that must be lived in imitation of Christ; therefore, we need to constantly measure ourselves up to the one whose name we bear.

Unfortunately, most people will not judge Christ by who he is: the Son of God and perfect Savior; rather, they will judge Christ by those who claim to be Christians. If we desire to please God, we ought to be obedient to Christ. God does not appreciate those who call themselves by their own name yet live lives of sin and rebellion. Imagine if someone called themselves by your name, but lived a life that goes against everything you stand for. You would be horrified! It is wrong to be embarrassed to be Christians, but sometimes we forget that it is also wrong to embarrass Christ by the way we live, especially if we tell people we are Christians.

Mitchell Rutherford

So many are deceived by the notion that remission of sins is bestowed upon an individual who utters a three minute prayer with an invitation for the Lord to come into their heart. There are no examples in the New Testament of anyone being added to the saved by a “sinner’s prayer.” Some have mistakenly concluded that John’s statements in the first chapter of First John are a promotion of this idea of a “sinner’s prayer” (I John 1:9). When John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”, he was addressing those who were already Christians (I John 2:12). John was writing to those who had already been baptized for the remission of sins according to the commandment of Christ, Peter and Paul (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21; Colossians 3:26; Romans 6:1-4). John was simply stating that those who are already in Christ have the privilege of directly accessing God’s forgiveness through prayer. This is the privilege of only those who have already been baptized into Christ. Simon the sorcerer is a perfect example of this principle in action (Acts 8:9-24).

Consider the example of the conversion of Saul. The conversion of Saul (Paul) is mentioned in Acts chapters nine, twenty-two, and twenty-six. Saul was on the road to Damascus in order to arrest Christians for the crime of blasphemy. Saul was firmly convinced that the Christian doctrine proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God was an act of blasphemy that warranted their arrest, and even their execution.

As Saul approached the city of Damascus the Lord appeared to Saul, and asked why Saul was persecuting Him. When the Lord identified Himself as the Christ, Saul realized the enormity of the error of his ways.  In response to the terrifying realization that he had been working against God, Saul cried out, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”  The instruction that the Lord gave in response to Saul’s plea did not include the directives on how Saul could be exonerated of the guilt of his sins.  Saul was instructed by the Lord to go into Damascus, and there Saul would be told what he needed to do to have forgiveness for his transgressions (Acts 9:6).

Saul was fasting and praying for three days in Damascus before Ananias was finally sent by the Lord to tell Saul what to do in order to have his sins removed from his charge (Acts 9:9,11).  Ananias asked Saul, “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Three days of sincere, penitent praying and fasting did not wash away Saul’s sins. If three days of sincere and humble prayer did not remove Saul’s sins why would anyone believe that a “three minute” sinners prayer is going to cleanse one from all unrighteousness?

Paul would later write in his first letter to Timothy that his conversion was to be viewed as a pattern to be followed by all who desired everlasting life (I Timothy 1:16). If we are to believe the words that Paul spoke to Timothy, then we will follow the same course of action that Paul went through in order to have his sins washed away. Inspired by godly sorrow Paul was baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).

Brett Rutherford

There are many things that are impossible to do. It is impossible for example, to lift yourself up by your own shoe strings, or to fill a round hole with a square peg. No matter how hard we try these things, all attempts will fail. Unfortunately there are many in the religious world who are striving to separate baptism from other essential aspects of salvation. This cannot be done, because all accountable people must be baptised. Let us examine some essential aspects of God’s plan of salvation and see some things that cannot be separated from baptism.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE SALVATION FROM BAPTISM. 1 Peter 3:21 says “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. Notice this verse does not say that baptism ALONE saves us, but it certainly proves that salvation cannot be reached without baptism. In the beginning of time, God told Adam that he could eat of any food in the garden “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” — Genesis 2:17. When Satan tempted Eve in the garden, he simply added a “not” to God’s command. He said to Eve “Ye shall NOT surely die” — Genesis 3:4. Many in the religious world are emphatic that baptism does NOT save us. When they say this they are adding SATAN’S “NOT” to 1 Peter 3:21.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE FAITH FROM BAPTISM. All Bible readers accept the necessity of faith in our salvation. The Hebrew writer assures us that “Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please him …” — Hebrews 11:6. The scriptures just as emphatically assure us that we cannot separate saving faith from baptism. For example Jesus said. “He that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” — Mark 16:16. Thus in order to be saved one must believe AND be baptised.

Another verse that shows how biblical faith and baptism are inseparably linked is Galatians 3:26-27 — “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” — Galatians 3:26-27. BAPTISM is therefore the point at which we become a child of God, and put on Jesus Christ. It is impossible therefore to divorce Biblical faith from baptism.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE BLOOD OF CHRIST FROM BAPTISM. All Bible students acknowledge that the shedding of Christ’s blood was necessary for our forgiveness. The sinner must come in contact with the blood of Christ for forgiveness to take place. This is because it is His blood which purges the conscience of sin. (Hebrews 9:13-14, 10:1-4). The Bible clearly teaches that a sinner contacts the blood of Christ at the point of scriptural baptism. Notice the following proof.

Christ’s blood was shed for remission of sins. . Jesus said; “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” — Matthew 26:28. Yet we see that BAPTISM is also for the remission of sins. “.. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins …” — Acts 2:38. Sins are therefore remitted by the blood of Christ when a sinner is scripturally baptised. This is not teaching “water regeneration”, as some say. It is not the water that remits sins, but rather the blood of Christ that is contacted in the water of baptism.

We are washed from our sins in Christ’s blood.  “Notice Revelation 1:5 “… Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood“. Yet with equal force we notice that sins are washed away at baptism. Saul of Tarsus was asked “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” — Acts 22:16. It is clear then that the blood of Christ washes away our sins in the waters of baptism.

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” — Hebrews 9:14. It is man’s conscience that makes him aware that he is a sinner. The blood of Christ is the only answer to a guilty conscience. It is the feeling of guilt that causes so many different psychological problems in men. Christ came to cleanse our conscience, and this can only happen when His blood is applied to our hearts.

The conscience is cleansed at baptism. Notice Hebrews 10:22 — “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” — Hebrews 10:22. Baptism by immersion in water is clearly implied in this verse. In the waters of baptism the blood of Christ is figuratively applied to our hearts, and thus cleanses our conscience. Another verse that teaches the same thing is 1 Peter 3:21. In this verse baptism is said to be “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” — 1 Peter 3:21. Thus, the conscience is cleansed by the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE CHURCH FROM BAPTISM. There are many who try to separate the church from both baptism and salvation. A careful study of Scriptures however shows that this is impossible. Even before He created the world, God planned that salvation would be in the church, which is consummation of God’s plan for the ages. (Ephesians 3:10-12). We have already shown that the blood is contacted at baptism, yet Acts 20:28 tells us the church is “Purchased with his blood.” It is therefore obvious that when the blood of Christ is contacted, membership in the church of Christ also begins.

At the moment a sinner is scripturally baptised he is added to the church of Christ. Notice Acts 2:41 — “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” — Acts 2:41. Unto what were these souls added when they were baptised? A look at V47 of the same chapter shows us clearly. …. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. — Acts 2:47. This verse not only links baptism with the church but also the church and baptism with salvation.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE NEW BIRTH FROM BAPTISM. Denominational people and modern liberals desperately try to separate these. To illustrate this point, let me relate an incident in my life before my conversion to Christ. Two men from a denominational church knocked our door and since my wife and I were searching for truth we enrolled in a Bible study with them. After our first study we were asked if we thought we were saved. After saying that we were not certain, they asked if we believed in Jesus. When we said we did, they were emphatic that we were saved. However, a peculiar thing happened. Further on in our study they stressed, as Jesus did that we must be born again (John 3:3-6). I asked what I needed to do to be born again and they said that I needed to get on my knees and refuse to get up until I felt the Holy Spirit come into my heart. A logical contradiction came to my mind and so I asked “If I was saved when I believed, why should I need to be born again? Their answer was “It will make you more saved!!” After this, an even more astonishing thing happened, they tried to encourage us to be baptised!! The fact is, these people could not see that consummated faith, baptism and rebirth all happen at the same time. A person is born again at the same time as he is scripturally baptised (immersed). The Bible nowhere teaches the concept of asking God to come into your heart and receiving a religious experience as the time of conversion. Notice the following proof that baptism and the new birth are the same:

The new birth is in water  (John 3:5). Baptism likewise is a birth in water. At baptism (immersion in water) we become sons of God (Galatians 3:26-27), a person becomes a son at birth.

The new birth comes through the Holy  Spirit.  (John 3:3,5). Baptism also comes about through the Spirit of God. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” — 1 Corinthians 12:13.

At the new birth, our souls are purged by the Spirit when we obey the gospel  (1 Peter 1:22-25).  Likewise  our souls are purified through obedience to the gospel when we are baptized (Acts 2:38, 22:16;).

WE CANNOT SEPARATE THE GOSPEL FROM BAPTISM. Paul warned us that if we preach any other gospel than the one he and the other apostles taught  it would result in condemnation in hell (Galatians 1:8-9). The gospel Paul preached included baptism. In every clearly defined example of conversion in the Book of Acts,  no one was saved until they heard and believed the gospel.  Notice this in the conversions of  (The Samaritans [Acts 8:12,13]; The Ethiopian Eunuch [Acts 8:35-38]; Saul [Acts 9:18; 22:16]; Cornelius [Acts 10:44-48]; Lydia and her household [Acts 16:14-15]; the prison keeper [Acts 16:27-34]; Crispus and the Corinthians [Acts 18:8] and also the Ephesians [Acts 19:5]). The Lord himself inseparably linked baptism with the gospel in the great commission, when he commanded that the gospel be preached to all nations, He said .. “He that believeth and in baptised shall be saved..” — Mark 16:16. Most religious people today put this the opposite way saying “He that believeth and is saved shall be baptised.” The concept of separating baptism from the gospel is a deceptive work of Satan.

WE CANNOT SEPARATE BAPTISM FROM JESUS. Jesus Himself set the example to all by being baptised of John (Matthew 3:13-17). In Acts 8:35-39 we see the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch. It tells us in that account that Philip “Preached unto him Jesus” (V35). The Eunuch’s response to this was ” ..see here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptised”. We cannot therefore preach Jesus without preaching baptism.

In order for a person’s  baptism to be scriptural they must first hear the gospel (Acts 18:8); Believe its message (Mark 16:15-16); Repent of  sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38); and confess Jesus as the son of God (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-37). Only after these steps are taken can anyone be Scripturally baptized.  and to be added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41,47). Baptism is an immersion in water (Romans 6:4, Acts 8:38). 

If you have not  been immersed, for remission of sins, into the Church of Christ (Christ’s own church) then you have not been scripturally baptised and need to be baptised again. The account of the Ephesians proves this. Their immersion did not get them into Christ, so they had to be re-baptised (Acts 19:1-5). If the reader wants to know more, or has any questions about this article please contact us. We are ever willing to help people find their way to Jesus.

Ian McPherson

Many realize that there is one true church (Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:19-23; 4:4-6; Col 1:18 etc.).   They spend years looking through various denominations and sects seeking for it.  Since there are thousands of these in existence, this could take more than a lifetime. An easier way would be to simply eliminate churches which make human traditions part of their commandments.  Jesus said of the Pharisees,    “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  (Matthew 15:9).  If a church has any of the following teachings of men, it cannot be the true church.

RELIGIOUS TITLES: The only time Reverend is used in the Bible is for God Himself “… holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalms 111:9).  There is no “clergy, laity” system in the true New Testament church, and religious titles were forbidden (Matthew 23:8-10). Christ is the only Master, and all Christians are brothers.  The local churches have people such as teachers, pastors, deacons and evangelists (1 Timothy 3:1-14, 2 Timothy 4:5, Ephesians 4:11).  However, these simply refer to their function, none of them are titles.  If any church addresses their leaders with titles such as “Reverend” or “Pastor” it cannot be the true church.

MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS: Musical praise in the New Testament is exclusively vocal (Ephesians 5:19). The sacrifice of praise to God is to come from the lips, not a mechanical instrument (Hebrews 13:15). History clearly shows that musical instruments were introduced into worship many hundreds of years after the church was established.   Since worship must be in spirit and truth (John 4:24), those who use mechanical instruments cannot be the true church.

WOMEN LEADERS:   In the New Testament women were praised (2 John 1).  They were not discriminated against, and were equally important in the body of Christ (Galatians 3:28).  However only the men could lead the church in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8), and the woman was not to “teach or usurp authority over the man” (1 Timothy 2:12).  Any church therefore that has woman leaders cannot be the true church

SABBATH DAY: The Sabbath was on the seventh day (Saturday).  It was given exclusively to the Israelite nation (Deut 5:1-5, 15).  It was to be kept as a reminder that they were freed from Egyptian slavery by God (Deuteronomy 5:15). The Sabbath Day was nailed to the cross along with the rest of the Old Testament ordinances. (Colossians 2:14-16; Ephesians 2:12-16).The New Testament church however, gathers together every first day of the week (Sunday) for worship (Acts 20:7).  Any church that does not gather together every Sunday for worship cannot be the true church.

EARTHLY HEADQUARTERS: Jesus Christ is the only head of the New Testament church. He rules the church from heaven at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20-23). Therefore any church with earthly headquarters cannot be the true church

MIRACULOUS GIFTS:  The New Testament message was delivered to us by inspired apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:1-5).  Miraculous signs were given temporarily to “confirm the word”, (Mark 16:20, Ephesians 4:7-15).   When the New Testament was complete, the miraculous gifts ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10,).  Any church that claims to have miraculous gifts therefore cannot be the true church.

SINNER’S PRAYER: Salvation has never been gained by “asking the Lord into your heart” or by saying “The sinners prayer”.  Jesus said “He that be believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).   Saul of Tarsus was asked to “Arise and be baptised and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).  The sinner’s prayer is therefore not a part of the true church.

The true church does exist today. It however does not embrace the teaching of men, but confines itself to what is written (1 Corinthians 3:6, 2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19).  May God help each one of us to find true church of Christ, because all the saved people are added to it (Acts 2:47).  The true church was built by Christ (Matthew 16:18) and purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28).

Ian McPherson

To justify the introduction of the mechanical instrument in worship, many began to reason that everything that a Christian does in life, that is not sinful, is worship. They argued that if a practice was not inherently evil then it was acceptable to God. Therefore, if an activity was acceptable to God then it could be employed in worship to God. Since strumming a guitar or playing the organ is not an inherently evil activity, it must be alright to incorporate the use of these instruments in worship. This kind of logic is flawed. In the first place, it is obvious that not all non-sinful activities constitute worship. If one takes out the rubbish he is not sinning. However, taking out the rubbish is certainly not an act of worship. Worship is not defined as any activity that does not violate the law of Christ. 

In the second place, an activity that is not sinful outside of worship can become sinful when God has not authorized its use in worship. For example, Nadab and Abihu used “strange” fire to light their censors.  God did not specify the source of the fire used by the Jews to cook their meals or to warm themselves in the cool of the evening.  However, it is evident that God did specify the type of fire to be used in Hebrew worship.  Nadab and Abihu used fire in worship that was not acceptable to God. They received a severe punishment for the way they casually introduced an element into worship that God did not approve. Acceptable worship is not defined by men (Matthew 15:9).

During the course of His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus spoke of two key elements that must be applied by any worshipper who desires to offer up acceptable worship to the Lord.  Those two elements are “spirit and truth.” (John 4:23, 24).  The “spirit” refers to the sincere desire of the worshipper to conduct himself in a manner that will be pleasing to his Lord. The one who worships God in “spirit” is the one who does not seek to please himself in worship.  The sincere worshipper will seek to worship God within divinely specified guidelines.

 It is the commandments of Christ that constitute “truth.”  They are the definition of truth.  One who holds to the truth is one who obeys the commandments of Christ (John 14:15,21). Therefore, one who hopes to worship God in truth is one who obeys the commands of God relating to worship.  He must be careful not to introduce into worship elements that he personally feels will enhance the service.  If he does so, he will be making the same mistake as Nadab and Abihu. The true worshipper must confine himself to praising God through the acts that the Lord has ordained. Furthermore, the true worshipper must perform those acts in the manner that the Lord has stipulated in the Law of Christ.  To do otherwise is to engage in vain (empty, useless) worship (Matthew 15:9).

God has commanded the church to worship Him through the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13). Prayer, giving and the presentation of God’s word are also elements that the Lord has ordained for worship (Acts 2:42; II Corinthians 9:7).  It is obvious, from a study of Christian worship in the New Testament that partaking of the Lord’s Supper (“the breaking of bread”) was the focal point of their service on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:23-29). When one applies the law of exclusion he recognises that anything beyond these five specified acts does not constitute true worship.  

Brett Rutherford

Today Christians are under extreme pressure to suppress God’s word.   Authorities are trying to force us not to speak against sin, or for righteousness.    Smear words such as “homophobic”, vilification” and “discrimination” are being used to try and stop the mouths of those who what to uphold Biblical standards.    The truth is however, that it those who are trying to uphold righteousness who are the ones being vilified.  Acts of parliament are even being passed to make speaking out against immoral practices such as homosexuality and adultery illegal.

Things are not really very different from the apostolic era.  The world hates Christians, because their life style and conviction of truth is a threat to them.  They love darkness and hate light (John 3:19).  In His prayer for His disciples, just before His death Jesus said:  “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”  John 17:14-16

True Christians are even vilified by denominational leaders when they advocate that there is only one church (Ephesians 4:4-5), or that baptism is for remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) etc.  This too should be no surprise, because it was the religious leaders in early times, who were the chief persecutors of both Christ and His church.  Let us look at two examples of vilification and how its victims handled the situation.

PETER AND JOHN BRAVELY CONFRONTED THEIR VILIFIERS.  The authorities took them aside and said, “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.    And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18).  However look at their reply   But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard (Acts 4:19-20).    What would have happened to the church if they did what authorities commanded?   The church owes its existence to bold men of the past like these.

THE PARENTS OF A MAN HEALED BY JESUS WERE AFRAID OF THIE VILIFIERS.   These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue (John 9:22-23).

If we are like the parents of this blind man and do not confess our Lord, even under fear of punishment, then we stop the Lord’s mouth, and give Him no opportunity to be heard.  Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:37-38). 

Are we afraid to speak out boldly for Christ when we are vilified for our faith?  To do anything less is to bring our Lord into open shame.  We must not only believe the word of God, but also boldly and fearlessly speak the truth in love at whatever personal cost to ourselves.  (Ephesians 4:14; Matthew 5:10-12, 10:32; Mark 8:34-38, Acts 5:29)

The author has been convicted by his own exhortation.  Living a Christian life in a hostile world is not easy.  But in order for the church to survive and our souls to be saved we must not yield to the pressures of the world.   “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:1).

Ian McPherson

The Corinthians perhaps had more problems than any church recorded in Scripture. The Book of 1 Corinthians records many of their sins.  They were factious and divisive (1:10-12), and were taking their brother to court (6:1-8).  They were tolerating immorality (5:1-4), their Lord’s Supper gatherings were irreverent (11:17-34), and their women were rebellious (11: 1-11; 14:34-35).   In spite of all this, the Corinthian church had many virtues that many churches lack today.  Here are some of them.

THEY OFFERED TRUE REPENTANCE For a while, the church at Corinth was turning a blind eye to a brother who was committing fornication with his father’s wife (1 Corinthians. 5:1-2). However, when they were admonished about sin they offered genuine heart felt godly repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).    In my 40 years of preaching the gospel, I have seen several individuals repent, but I have never witnessed a church repent of error.   Four of the seven churches of Asia were commanded by the Lord to repent (Revelation 2:5, 16, 3:3, 19), but there is no record in Scripture as to their response.  It is notable, that although many churches in the Bible were admonished for sin, Corinth is the only church in Scripture that had their repentance recorded and commended.  Imagine how many splits would have been avoided if erring churches were humble enough to admit error and have the courage to repent like Corinth did!  

THEY PRACTICED LOVING CHURCH DISCIPLINE The church at Corinth obeyed Paul’s command to withdraw fellowship from the immoral man (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).  As a result of this the erring brother was restored (2 Corinthians 2:3-8).  Withdrawing from the disorderly is not optional; it is a command “in the name of the Lord “(1 Corinthians 5:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:6).  If disorderly brethren are allowed to remain in the fellowship of the church, what hope is there for unity and purity to be achieved?   Discipline, if done in love is very effective.  It either restores the offender, or purges of the church from sin.

THEY SOUGHT A SCRIPTURAL SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS. “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:” (1 Corinthians 7:1).   The church took the time to write and ask Paul, an inspired apostle, for a solution to the problems that faced them. We are fortunate today to have all the answers in the fully revealed word of God.  “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”( 2 Peter 1:3). The apostle’s word is the only standard for unity (John 17:20, Matthew 18:18). Churches today must follow the example of Corinth and seek apostolic authority for the answer to their questions instead of appealing to creed books, feelings, and doctrines of men.

THEY HAD SOME WHO WERE STILL DEFENDING TRUTH AMIDST ERROR  “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you,that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).  Notice that Paul did not suggest that the faithful brethren at Corinth leave and start up another congregation down the road as many do today.  Instead he encouraged them to remain and hold fast to the truth. Christ gave the same sound admonition to the faithful brethren at Thyatira and Sardis (Revelation 2:24-25, 3:4-5).

THEY HAD A POWERFUL OUTREACH INTO A SINFUL COMMUNITY The Corinthian church had baptized people who had been drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, thieves, revilers and extortionists (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  In that immoral city they were surrounded by such people.  This is evidence that they took the great Commission seriously and lovingly reaching out to all people.  

We must remember that the church at Corinth did not deliberately get into the state it was.  The problems developed gradually. When their guard was down, Satan made his move. In the matters above however, the church today should copy the Corinthians. May God help us to follow the example of the Corinthian church in these.   

Ian McPherson

The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the Christ (The Word) was the first of God’s creation. They claim that Christ was endowed with creative power to form all other living creatures. The Witnesses also teach that the Christ was not an eternal being who shared Jehovah’s divine nature.

In order to protect their view of the nature of Christ, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have published their own version of the Bible. The creators of the Witnesses’ New World Translation have sought to modify and distort every passage of Scripture that implies, or states, that Christ was eternally the equal of Jehovah. For example, in John chapter one, the producers of the New World Translation have inserted the indefinite article “a” before the reference to Christ (The Word) as God.  John 1:1 in the NWT reads, “In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the word was a god.”  It is evident from the rest of the chapter that the person called “The Word” in verse one is the same person who became the Christ. Since the Witnesses cannot deny that John describes the Christ (Word) as “God” in chapter one, they have to diminish the impact of this statement by inserting the indefinite article “a” before any use of the word “God” in connection with Christ (The Word).

The indefinite article “a” before  the word “God” in verse one of John chapter one is an addition to the original Greek text that is not warranted by the grammar or the context of the passage. The inconsistent use of the indefinite article by the translators of the NWT becomes very clear when one considers their rendition of Isaiah 9:6.  In the NWT this verse is rendered as “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Clearly, the child that is “born to us” Who would be called the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” is Jesus  Christ.  Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses that I have spoken to have reluctantly admitted that Isaiah 9:6 is a prophetic reference to the Christ.  The NWT translators forgot to add the indefinite articles “a” or “an” before the titles given to Christ in this verse. Their negligence has resulted in a translation that contradicts itself on the nature of Christ.

Changing verse one of John chapter one to make it appear that Christ the Word is a god, and not the God, creates another problem for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This rendering of the text suggests that there are two divine natures instead of one. In other words, the NWT is teaching that there is a greater and a lesser divine nature. There is Jehovah God (who possesses the greater divine nature), and then there is Jesus Christ (who possesses the lesser divine nature). This view of the nature of Christ makes the Jehovah’s Witnesses guilty of polytheism.

The Bible teaches that there is only one God (Divine Nature), and that there are three Persons Who share that Divine Nature  – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5,6; Acts 5:1-5). This is why the Christ is prophetically referred to as the “Mighty God,” and the “Eternal Father” in Isaiah 9:6. It is the reason why Jesus told Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?” (John 14:9-10).

 The three Persons of the Godhead are not only unified by Their nature, but They are also unified in character, mission, purpose and authority (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 14:10).

Brett Rutherford

Marriage was ordained in the Garden of Eden by God (Genesis 2:23-25).  It provides man with suitable companionship (Genesis 2:18), and a secure environment for raising children (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 128; Malachi 2:14-15).  The attack by Satan on the home today is relentless, and has caused much confusion.  Many do not even know whether or not they are actually married.    Let us therefore go back to Bible basics to define what constitutes marriage.

MARRIAGE IS AN INSTITUTION OF GOD: “Where-fore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:6).  No man or government has authority to join people in marriage or grant a divorce without God’s approval.

MARRIAGE IS REGULATED BY THE LAW: “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39)  “The law” here is God’s law.  An example of an unlawful marriage is that of King Herod to Herodias.  Even though they were married and divorced according to the law of the land  (Mark 6:17), John the Baptist still told Herod that “It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:4).  Notice also that although Herod was not a Christian, he was still accountable to God’s law of marriage.  Christians and non-Christians alike therefore are accountable to God in their marriage.

Christ stated that fornication is the only ground for divorce and remarriage.  Any married person who has not divorced their spouse for fornication is  living in adultery.  “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her who is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:9).  (See also Matthew 5:32, Romans 7:2-3).

MARRIAGE IS UNDEFILED AND HONOURABLE:  “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4). To be valid it must be honourable in all (i.e. before both God and man).   All societies require some form of legal marriage ceremony that is publicly witnessed and accepted.  If a marriage has not complied with the legal requirements of the land, it is not honourable before men.  Defacto relationships do not constitute marriage.

The motor car is a great blessing to man if driven responsibly.  Imagine, however, what carnage would result on our roads if all men were free to drive cars without a licence.  In the same way, sex, if confined to the marriage bed is honourable and undefiled, and should be practiced freely and romantically.  (See also 1 Corinthians 7:7:3-5;  Song of Solomon 4:8-16).  Fornication and adultery, however, have devastating fruits.  Broken homes, parentless children, crushed spirits, suicide, loneliness, disease, and murder are just a few of the consequences.

MARRIAGE IS FORMED BY COVENANT:  It is not formed by the first sexual union. “Yet ye say, ‘Wherefore?’ Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.” (Malachi 2:14) (See also Proverbs 2:17-18).  Marriage is actually a three way covenant.  The man, woman, as well as God, must all agree.  Also, the couple become husband and wife at the ceremony, not in the honeymoon bed.  Sex does not form the marriage, but is a blessing within the marriage.

THE MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24).  Many governments today are actually legalising homosexual marriages.  Same sex unions are described in the Bible as vile, unnatural and sinful, and therefore can never form any part of a valid marriage (Romans 1:26-27).

Let us close with an admonition from the proverbs to married people.  “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?  (Proverbs 5:18-20 )

Ian McPherson

Many believe that man, like a beast, is fully mortal, and therefore simply returns to the dust.   This false view is not only shared by Atheists, but also by materialistic religions such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians.   It was also the view of Sadducees in Jesus’ day (Acts 23:8)

Man is unique:   “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”  (Genesis 2:7). Unlike the animals who were simply created as “living creatures” (Genesis 1:21).  Man was made in two phases, His body was formed from the earth, but the life   in his body was breathed directly into Him by the Almighty.  The result was a unique creature called man whose inner being was made in the image of God.  (Genesis 2:7).    

Man’s soul is eternal:   “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).   Man’s spirit does not return to the dust with his body.    When Rachel died her soul departed (Genesis 35:18) and when a widow’s son was miraculously raised from the dead by Elijah,   “the soul of the child came into him again” (1 Kings 17:22).  The spirit therefore continues to exist after death.   Jesus said  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul ……”.(Matthew 10:28).   Man’s soul therefore cannot be killed, it is eternal  (See also 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1)

Man’s soul awaits judgement in “hades”:   Modern versions of the Bible rightly distinguish between the Greek words “Gehenna” and  “Hades”.  They translate   “Gehenna” (The final place of eternal punishment) as “hell” and simply transliterate the Greek word “hades” which is the temporary realm of the dead where souls wait for the final judgement.   The KJV has translated both “Hades” and “Gehenna”  as “hell” which is confusing to some.

Man does not go to heaven or hell till Jesus returns: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29).   At His second coming the dead will be raised and given new incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-55).  In these new bodies we face the judgement and spend eternity in either heaven or hell (Matthew 10:28, 25:46).   No one except Jesus has died and ascended back into heaven.  (John 3:14)

Jesus was in the realm of the dead for three days:  But unlike the rest of the dead, “His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31).  In rising from the dead He “Loosed the pains of death” (Acts 2:24) and is now “alive for ever more” and holds “the key to hades and death” (Revelation 1:18).    In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus gave a vivid description of the realm of the dead. He spoke of a poor beggar named Lazarus, and a rich man who both died and were in hades. Lazarus however was being comforted in “Abraham’s bosom” while the rich man was in torment (V25).  In hades both were conscious, and able   to remember their life on earth, and could communicate.

The rich man is in the deep region of hades known as “Tartarus”: (Translated ‘hell” in 2 Peter 2:4).  This is described as “chains of darkness” where the angels that sinned and the all the unjust are “reserved unto the day of judgement” (2 Peter 2: 4-9).    Satan’s kingdom is the “world” (1 John 5:19).   The final phase will be “Gehenna” (Hell), the place, into which the lost will be cast body and soul, and spend eternity in torment   (Matthew 10: 28; Revelation 20:15).

Lazarus was in a place called “Paradise”: (Acts 2:47).  When he died he was taken by the angels into the comfort of “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22).    This place of comfort in hades is called “paradise”.   We know this because Jesus said to the penitent thief of the cross, “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise”  (Luke 23:43).   Paradise therefore is not heaven, but the place of bliss in God’s kingdom, where saints await their final reward in heaven.  The kingdom of God consists of all God’s people, whether alive or dead (Hebrews 12:22-24).   The earthly phase is the church, which is enrolled in heaven.  Paradise is the second phase which contains   “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:24).  Heaven is the final phase where all the faithful will spend eternity after Christ comes again at the judgement. (Matthew 25:34)

In conclusion, when we die, we will go to either paradise (a place of bliss), or to Tartarus (a place of suffering).  In hades our fate is sealed.  There is gulf between the lost and saved that cannot be crossed.    While on earth however there is hope, the Lord does not want any to perish but all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9-10; Ezekiel 18:32). 

Ian McPherson

Every Bible student knows that oldest man in the Bible was 969 years old when he died. Since man does not live as long today, it is difficult for modern man to believe that anyone in the distant past lived over nine hundred years. However, the Bible is not the only ancient record that attributes long lifespans to prominent historical figures. The ancient Sumerian king’s lists claim that their monarchs lived for thousands of years. I believe they exaggerated the age of their kings, but it may be a reflection of the fact that early men lived longer than modern men. How do we explain the long lives of these Patriarchs? Why don’t men live today live as long as their ancient ancestors? The answer to these questions is found in the makeup of our atmosphere.

The sun provides long wavelength electromagnetic radiation which provides the necessary energy for life. Much of the harmful ultraviolet radiation is filtered by the ozone layer. After reading the previous statement some may tempted to think that God’s design for the atmosphere was flawed. If God did design the atmosphere why would He allow any harmful radiation to reach the earth? It is true that the atmosphere is not a perfect filter. It is also true that the harmful ultraviolet radiation that passes through the atmosphere causes a breakdown in cellular structure that results in mutations and cancers in organisms. “Maybe God was just a bad designer?”

Atheists offer up this argument in an attempt to humiliate those who believe in divine creation. However, the Bible clearly indicates that the structure of the atmosphere today is not what it was when God created it. The original structure of the atmosphere was clearly diminished when God sent the flood upon the earth.  The Bible describes a water canopy that surrounded the earth before the flood. In Genesis 1:7 we read, “Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the WATERS WHICH WERE ABOVE THE FIRMAMENT; and it was so.”  The book of Genesis indicates that the atmospheric water canopy collapsed when God flooded the earth. This collapsing canopy of water helped to feed the waters of the flood (Genesis 7:11).

The loss of the water canopy would make the earth more vulnerable to cosmic radiation. It also would expose mankind to genetic mutation and other diseases. Some have speculated that the water canopy would have served as a giant hyperbaric chamber which would have slowed down the ageing process.   This would explain why people lived longer in the past. Those in the past would also not have been subjected to the diseases and genetic flaws which trouble mankind today.

When God initially created the atmosphere it was perfect for the job it was designed to do.  You might say that the loss of the perfect protective atmosphere in Noah’s day was part of the punishment for man’s rebellion. The ongoing consequence for the crimes committed against God, and humanity by those of Noah’s generation, are still being felt today.

Brett Rutherford

A question often asked is: “Is a person who has never heard the gospel lost?” Their argument would go something like this. “To send an ignorant person to hell would be unjust and is contrary to God’s nature of love. Since the alien sinner does not know the law of God, he is therefore not answerable to God.” Is this reasoning in harmony with God’s word? Let us consider some important teaching on the subject of ignorance.

ALL MUST OBEY THE GOSPEL. “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). Notice that condemnation here is placed on both the ignorant and the disobedient. The Bible states then that it is in harmony with the righteous nature of God to condemn those who are ignorant of the truth.  Let us consider some of them.

ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20). This verse teaches that no one can justifiably claim to be an atheist or agnostic. The creation itself is ample evidence that an omnipotent God exists. Since the creation can be plainly seen by all, there is absolutely no excuse for their ignorance, and therefore all atheists can be justifiably condemned by God because they reject the plain evidence of His existence. God calls atheists “fools” (Psalm 14:1)

IGNORANT JEWS.   When he was preaching to the Jews who crucified Christ, Peter said:   “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:17-19).

The ignorance here is intentional and wilful.  It was not that God had not given the Jews sufficient information to believe that Christ was the Messiah. All the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of Christ (Acts 3:24). However, their preconceived ideas and puffed up pride caused them to reject the evidence.  Jesus described them as those who are “dull of hearing” and “having their eyes closed” (Matthew 13:15).  They therefore refused to believe. These people were religious, but religion could not save them. 

IGNORANT FOLLOWERS OF JESUS: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23). These unfortunate souls had given their life to Jesus, and expected to be saved. They found out however that Jesus had never known them, and they were cast into eternal hell.  God has clearly revealed the truth of the gospel in the pages of the New Testament.  It was given to man by God’s divine power and    contains “everything that pertains to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). These people thought that a sincere belief in Jesus was enough to save them. Even though they were sincere, they followed their own philosophy instead of doing God’s will.  This reminds us of Jeremiah 33:15.   “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps”

IDOLATERS: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” (Romans 1:21-25). It is an absurdity that one could even consider that any part of the creation of God such as the stars or sun can be worshipped. It is just as foolish to consider that a graven image, formed by man himself could provide anything to save man. Yet vast amounts of foolish men turn to these types of things and become completely deluded.

THOSE WHO ARE DECEIVED: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14). These people are ignorant of truth because they have either followed false teachers or other false standards such as traditions, feelings, and religious leaders. The Bible plan of salvation can be clearly understood. Each person must be like the Bereans (Act 17:11), and check everything they hear alongside of the Scriptures which are the only true standard.

THOSE WHO ARE APATHETIC: These make up the majority of people. The apathetic people are only interested in things of the world. Spiritual things are of no real concern to them. This is why they are travelling down the broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). We can easily see why the apathetic will be lost.

WHAT ABOUT THE SINCERE SEARCHER FOR TRUTH? It is certainly true that occasionally such a person exists. It is also a fact that if such a person should die without finding the truth he will be lost. Jesus however sheds some light on this problem.  Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7). In this verse the Lord encourages all to seek truth. The task of searchers will be made much easier if Christians will carry out the great commission as Jesus commanded (Matt 28:18-20). However, the providence of God will ensure that true searchers for truth, even if they live in remote areas of the world, will have opportunity to come in contact with the message. God Himself seeks those who are searching (Acts 10:1-5, Isaiah 66:2, John 4:23). In this world of deception and religious confusion it is not easy for the seeker to find the truth, but it is possible, if they are diligent (Hebrews 11:6).

IF THE IGNORANT WEREN’T LOST THE GOSPEL WOULD BE USELESS: Romans 1:16 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.  If those who have not heard the gospel are saved, then the best evangelism would be to keep the gospel away from unbelievers. The gospel would be unto condemnation instead of unto salvation, and the atheists would be the best evangelists.

If I believed that those who had not heard could go to heaven, then I would be afraid to preach to them, lest they reject it and lose their reward. If people are not lost until they have actually heard and rejected the gospel, the best method of keeping people out of hell would be to sit home by the television and allow the world to push the knowledge of God out of people’s minds altogether. The worst thing that anyone could do would be to preach the gospel to them because this would mean that those who rejected it would suddenly go from a right relationship with God to a lost state. It would mean that preaching the gospel to the world would lose more souls than it would save.

IF THE IGNORANT WERE SAVED, GOD WOULD BE UNJUST: The Christian, for example, is commanded to abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), but if the ignorant were not lost, then they could live as they pleased and still enjoy the beautiful reward of heaven. The Christian is required to labour all his life for his crown in heaven (Revelation 2:10), but the ignorant person would be unaccountable for his actions.

God does not want anyone to be lost. he wants everyone to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).  His love for lost humanity is the reason that He sent His Son.  The most well-known verse in Scripture points us to the cross.  It says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  He made sure that the gospel reached all men in the first century. “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister”  (Colossians 1:23). He did everything he could to declare his love for the world through his son (John 3:16)

Dear reader. On the day of Pentecost, after hearing of the death resurrection and exaltation of Christ, the people in desperation asked,  “What shall we do”?  (Acts 2:37).    Peter’s answer was “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Three thousand souls responded to the gospel call became saved when they were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:1-47).   You too can be saved in the same way.   Don’t wait another day; contact us so that we can assist you.  

Ian McPherson

The Galatian church was admonished: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  (Gal 6:10).   The Thessalonians received a similar admonition:   “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:15.)  The church is not a benevolent institution, but these verses show that benevolence is part of the work of the church.   As opportunity arises the church must act in a caring way towards those in need.   Below are three reasons why the church is to practice benevolence.

WE ARE TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR:  (Luke 10:25-37).    When a lawyer was forced to admit that he must love his neighbour as himself to inherit eternal life, he tried to restrict this obligation to his own race by asking Christ “Who is my neighbour” (V29).   Christ presented a parable about a certain man who was robbed, beaten and left to die on the road to Jericho. A priest and a Levite both saw  him but walked past on the other side.   However a Samaritan, who was passing by, had compassion on him and cared for his needs.    Christ asked the lawyer a rhetorical question; “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?   The lawyer had no option but to say “He that shewed mercy on him.”    Jesus then replied  “Go, and do thou likewise.”  (Luke 10:36-37).     

In the parable, the Lawyer learnt that the command to “love thy neighbour”   extended beyond his own religious and racial peers.  He also learnt that compassion was a natural outflow of a godly heart which included giving both physical and financial assistance when possible to those who are in need.  The Good Samaritan stopped and assisted the man.  He dressed his wounds, put him on his own donkey and provided a place for him to recover.      He had the type of heart that Paul encouraged the Colossian church to have.  “Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;” (Colossians 3:12).  In contrast to the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite walked by and did nothing to help the poor victim.  Their religion therefore was vain because it had not reached their heart.  

WE ARE TO PRACTICE PURE RELIGION:   Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27.)   The word “visit” means more than merely going to a widow or orphan’s house and sitting with them, it includes looking after and relieving their needs.   The Jerusalem church, under the direction of the apostles leaves us an excellent application to this verse by giving a daily provision of food for their widows (Acts 6:1-6).   The church at Ephesus also had a programme where they provided support for their godly, destitute widows (1 Timothy 5:8-16).   Bear in mind that V8 puts the primary responsibility of caring for these widows on their relatives.  To fail to do so would make them worse than an unbeliever.   Many churches today have provided and supported orphan homes in application to James 1:27. 

WE ARE TO BE LIKE CHRIST.    One day Jesus went into the Synagogue at Nazareth, stood up and read from Isaiah:   “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”   (Luke 4:18-19).  When He had finished the reading he gave the book to the minister and said “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (V21).   It was Christ’s compassion for the poor and afflicted that endeared Him to His followers and made His preaching so powerful.   His mission is summed up by Peter who told Cornelius  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. We cannot heal the sick miraculously today as He did, but we can go about doing good, and thus walk in His steps “ (1 Peter 2:21).   Preaching sound doctrine will not be enough to save us on Judgement Day.   Christ will also be looking at how we have fed and clothed the poor, given drink to the needy, and visited the sick   (Matthew 25:31-46).   Benevolence is therefore a vital part of the work of the church in preaching Christ to the world.   Let us go forth using Christ as our example.

Ian McPherson