Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

One of the constant themes of W. Carl Ketcherside is that the New Testament is not a legal treatise, but that it is a series of love letters. The truth is not to be found in an “either-or” selection. The New Testament is a message of love, for God is love. The work of God is also a legal document, for God is, by His very nature, the God of authority. The confusion as to whether or not the New Testament is legality or love exists because of a prominent and prevalent misconception of the essence of love.

Love between man and God and God and man is based on the relationship of authority. The creature and His Creator-that is our status before God. God’s love for men is not syrupy sweet sentimentalism. It is not divorced from law. Christ’s death, the necessity of it, shows that God’s love was combined with His authority. It is no wonder, therefore, that we should find the word of God, “law and love combining,” as the old, beloved hymn says.

Paul wrote very authoritatively to the Corinthians. He wrote and called upon the name of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:4). His ultimate purpose was that they “might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you” (2 Cor. 2:4). His appeal to lawful action was not devoid of love. It was the very expression of it. So, to say that the New Testament documents are “love letters” is to beg the question of authority. Even in the area of discipline of children, the word of the Lord entwines law and love. Make your child obey the law, the rule of righteousness, because you love him, that is the consistent teaching regarding the instruction of children. It is the same with respect to our love for the Lord and for one another. Insist upon respect for Divine authority, “For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments” (1 Jn. 5:3).

Yes, it is agreed that the Scriptures are love letters. But those love letters are founded and grounded in the authority of God. “The faith that saves is the faith that obeys” (Gal. 5:6; 1 Cor. 7:19). And the obedient faith is motivated by love; it “worketh by love.” Let us hear none of the idle prattle and idiotic babble that tries to separate God’s word of law from his law of love.

You can mark this down. It is almost axiomatic. When you find someone who wants to talk about God’s love as though it were somehow on a peak above His authority, you have found someone who wants to work and worship in some area or another without Divine authority. All of this love talk is a ruse; it is a guise to hide the fact that some want to go beyond the word of God. The end in view will vary from person to person, but whoever tells you that he is in love with God’s love and tries to play down God’s law, that man is trying to get by with something for which he has no scriptural authority.

Truth Magazine XXI: 29, p. 459
July 28, 1977

By Luther Blackmon

One member of the church to another: “Sorry you quit the church, we miss you.” “Oh, I haven’t quit the church, I just haven’t been coming,” replied the other. “Well,” said the first person, “if you were to quit, how would you go about it?”

It is a rare specimen who will admit, even to himself, that he no longer has any appetite for spiritual things; that the flame that once burned in his heart is now only a faint and fading flicker; that a Lord’s day meeting to worship God is a boresome ordeal; that Bible study holds nothing of interest to him. I doubt that there is a backslider anywhere who is willing to make an honest appraisal of his spiritual condition. In order to avoid seeing himself as he is, he makes excuses. That’s what excuses are for; that’s where they were conceived and born. But next Sunday morning when you are polishing up some old time-worn excuse to relieve your uneasy conscience until the hour for meeting has passed, and you can sink back into your apathy with that comforting little sedative that you have used so long: “We will get started back soon,” I ask you to consider this: Which is worse, just to come out boldly and declare that you are through with the church for good, or to reach the same destination one week at a time?

Some of the excuses we offer the Lord for refusing to attend worship we would not have the nerve to offer an intelligent friend. One says, “I work shift-work.” I’ve heard that one many times. But some of the most faithful members I know where I have preached work shifts that were “inconvenient” for others to attend. I know quite a bit about shift-work first-hand. I ran a shovel three years while preaching full-time for a congregation. Two of those years I worked three different shifts each week: one day, two evenings, and two graveyards. It is true that we cannot always attend every service, but “I work shift-work” is no reason for quitting the church. It’s just an old and tired and overworked excuse.

W e can try the validity of our excuses by offering them to our employers. Try telling him that you want a few days off, with pay, so you can be at home with your baby who has a cold. Try telling him that some real good friends dropped in just as you were ready to leave for work and you thought it would be rude of you not to stay home and entertain them. Or you might try telling him that one of the fellows you worked with said something unfriendly to you and hurt your feelings and that you are not coming back to work until he apologizes and shows a more friendly attitude–and of course you will expect to be kept on the payroll during that time. If that one doesn’t work, tell him that some of the people where you work aren’t all they claim to be (hypocritical); they break company rules all the time and some of them do things that are immoral, and that if the company doesn’t do something about it you are going to QUIT! Just try it! Of course we won’t try it! We know that if our employer did that kind of business, he would not be in business. We offer such gems as these only to the Lord. We might remember that He knows better too.

Truth Magazine XXI: 29, p. 458
July 28, 1977

By Donald P. Ames

So frequently in talking to people about salvation, and particularly about the necessity of being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22 :16; 1 Pet. 3:21), I am answered: “I love the Lord and His word, and pray to God regularly. I believe God will not allow me to be lost, but will direct me in my study so that I might find the truth.” It is my sincere desire that all might also find the truth, but there are several things about this reply that deserve our close consideration. Surely if we truly love the Lord and His word we will not allow anything to stand in our way, but will with open hearts and minds seek to know His will and to do it (Acts 17:11-12).

Love For The Lord

Love of the Lord and for His word are not measured by sentimental standards. This is not to say that those who profess such love are hypocrites or are lying. No one is questioning their sincerity at this point. But that love can only be demonstrated by the actions one manifests. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Yet, sadly, many of those who profess such a deep love for the Lord are quick to use this reply as an answer to the commands of Christ to be baptized for the remission of their sins. If they truly love the Lord and His word as they profess, then “why tarriest thou?” (Acts 22:16).

Sincerity

Sincerity alone will not get one to heaven. Regardless of how sincere one may be, he can believe a lie! He can believe that lie and be fully convinced that he is believing the truth. And, God will allow him to believe that lie and be lost if he is so determined. This point is abundantly clear from many Bible passages. The prophet in 1 Kings 13 was sincerely trying to do all God told him to do. However, another prophet “lied” to him (1 Kings 13:18), and he believed that lie-and died for disobedience. The apostle Paul was formerly a vicious sinner (1 Tim. 1:12-15; Acts 26:9), yet was motivated by the most sincere purposes (Acts 23:1). He gave the same testimony regarding many of his Jewish brethren still lost in sin (Rom. 10:1-3). See also Matt. 7:21-23.

The Bible plainly states that God will allow those who do not “receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” to “believe what is false” (2 Thess. 2:10-11). If one is determined to go their own way and believe what they want to believe, God will “give them over” (Rom. 1:28). This very attitude is frequently the real attitude behind this reply-else they would accept and obey that which is revealed in God’s word.

What Will God Do?

Those who so reply imply God will perform some sort of miracle, such as speaking directly to them, to convince them that they are wrong in their present belief. However, to do so would make of God a respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11). Why should God make a special appearance to them and not to each and every other lost soul in the world today? Since God does not desire that any be lost (2 Pet. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:4), then why should He not personally appear to every individual and personally guide them all the way? If He can do it for one, then He would have to do if for all!

“But, didn’t He personally appear to Paul?” someone asks. There are several things to be noted in the appearance to Paul. (1) Paul was not seeking a confirmation that what he believed was okay. (2) Paul was in error and had to change to fit a special purpose God had in mind for him. (3) Paul was selected as an apostle of the Lord-to carry the gospel to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:1, 5). This carried with it special requirements which no one can meet today (Acts 1:21-22). (4) Paul still had to be saved just like you and I do (by obedience to the word of God-Acts 22:16); the choice was still his to make.

However the age of apostles and special miracles is past (1 Cor. 13:8-10). God calls us today through His word (2 Thess. 2:14), which is His power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). It contains all that is needed for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) and was written that we “might believe . . . and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). Thus “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17), for God has decided that through the preaching of the gospel, those who believe (manifested in obedience-James 2:17-18) shall be saved (1 Cor. 1:21).

The sad truth is that those who so contend usually would not believe even if God did so act (see Luke 16:31). If they will not accept the word of God, given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the miracles performed by the apostles, why are we to expect them to accept anything else either? This truth must be faced by those who so contend.

Passing The Buck

Those who so argue are consciously or unconsciously seeking to pass the blame for their salvation or damnation to God. “If I am lost, then God misled me” is what they are in effect saying. However, the word of God is abundantly clear on the necessity of baptism (since this is usually where the argument is made) and is freely available to all who want the truth. God has done all He can and “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin” (Heb. 10:26). He will not perform another miracle! But Satan would love for us to so blame God! Also, we must remember that all of us will answer for what we have done (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12). To seek to “pass the buck” to God is merely to delude our own selves. His will has been made known, and we will be judged by our response to it (Mark 16:16; 2 Thess. 1:8; John 12:48).

Is It Sincere?

One is also made to wonder how sincere such a statement really is. When Philip expounded the way of the Lord to the eunuch, he did not seek such a refuge. Instead we find him eagerly asking, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Here was a zealous and honest individual studying the word of God. God performed no special miracle for him, but a preacher was sent to expound unto him more fully the way of the Lord. And, he gladly obeyed that message that he might be saved (Heb. 5:9).

For those so earnestly seeking the truth, could not the very presence of a gospel preacher in their home be an answer to their own prayer for guidance? As he reveals God’s will to them, is this not what they desired? Why then will so many reject it and reply in such a fashion? Could it be they really were not ready to “count the cost” (as in Mark 10:22)? Did they really want the truth-or to be left with their minds undisturbed in the belief they were okay all along? Finally, we close with the final question: Whose fault will it be in the day of judgment if you have rejected the word of God in favor of something God has not revealed or promised (2 Thess. 2:10; Ezek. 3:19; 33:11)? Do not seek refuge behind this excuse, but instead render obedience to the will of God today!

Truth Magazine XXI: 29, pp. 457-458
July 28, 1977

By Roy E. Cogdill

Most of the readers of this paper know already that the Akin Foundation is in trouble. It is not to advertise this fact but to call attention to the opportunity all of you have to render a service to the Foundation which has done so much for the spreading of the Gospel and indirectly to the cause of truth and righteousness.

The 68th District Court in which the law suit against the trustees has been filed has granted an injunction against the trustees further distributing any of the funds of the Foundation and has appointed a receiver impounding all the funds coming in. The attitude of both the court and receiver is that the income of the Foundation should be given to new churches who have never received any help from the Foundation and those who have been receiving funds from the Foundation should be denied any further help. This means that liberal churches have been helped and faithful churches have been denied further help. Unless something is done the entirety of the property of the Akin Foundation as well as all future income will likely go into the hands of liberal churches to promote their irreverence toward the Word of God and disregard of divine authority. This involves more than $200,000 per year at the present time. After many hours of discussion with various brethren, I determined to make an effort to salvage this fund that it may continue to teach truth and righteousness through supporting faithful brethren and thus accomplish the purpose that prompted the faithful servant of God who gave to this Foundation all of his part of the blessings God had given into his hands.

This effort will cost money as any case in court does. Perhaps the most competent trial lawyer in Dallas has been engaged. His fee is $90.00 for every hour devoted to this cause. Already $2,500 has been advanced toward this fee but more will have to come. We do not believe that brethren will be willing for just one or two of us to carry the load in this struggle. We believe there are many who will want to help. I have never personally received a cent from the Akin Foundation and do not expect to. Neither have I ever preached for a church that participated in its funds. But there are many who have been benefitted by it and only God knows how much good has been accomplished by it.

I do not know how long it will take or how much money it will cost but I believe we can save this income of approximately a quarter of a million dollars a year to be used in preaching the Gospel and I believe we should make every effort to do so. What do you think and what will you do about it? Those of you who through the years have been supported by and have participated in its help, what will you do to help preserve it-both churches and individuals are urged to respond. All contributions will be acknowledged and an accounting made.

Truth Magazine XXI: 29, p. 456
July 23, 1977