Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

The gospel points out the goal God has appointed, or the “one hope.” Hearing and believing in the reality of this goal or “hope,” we burn inwardly with a desire to obtain it. We are moved in life by this “hope” within us. Which hope does Paul refer to: (1) the “hope” which is offered and appointed as our goal through the gospel, or (2) the burning “hope” within us which inspires our daily living? The question is worth raising that we may see the hope which burns within us (subjective hope) is based upon the goal which God has appointed for us (objective hope). Little will be gained by arguing over precisely which one Paul meant. If he means the hope burning within the subject or person, he immediately implies the real object or goal which the person desires to reach.

No Hope Without Christ

In Eph. 2:12, Paul refers to the Gentiles before the coming of Christ and the Gospel Age. They were “without Christ . . . having no hope.” This does not mean they did not entertain various hopes, for they did. But instead of letting God appoint the true object of hope, “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful … changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man … changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator” (Rom. 1:21-25). “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections” and did not commit “the oracles of God” into their wicked hands (Rom. 1:26; 3:1-2). The Gentiles, as a whole, did not look to God and so He did not give them His word (“oracles”) which pointed to Christ as the hope of the world.

Thus for many generations the Gentiles “walked according to the course of this world, . . . were by nature (i.e., by nature of the way they walked) the children of wrath,” and “their foolish heart was darkened” (Eph. 2:2-3; Rom. 1:21). Living in this darkness, they had no idea what a wonderful hope God was preparing in Christ; it was all a hidden mystery to them. Even the Jews did not realize that God planned to offer hope in Christ to the wicked Gentiles. This had “been hid from ages and from generations,” but now God has fully revealed “what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.”

And what is “this mystery” which is now uncovered, no longer hidden, no more a mystery? “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 2:26-27; see also Eph. 3:4-6). What a wonderful blessing! But those who refuse Christ still have no hope (Jn. 12:48; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).

Called In One Hope

“Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling,” Paul said. We have been called. Our calling – “the divine call,” “the invitation to enter the kingdom of God” – offered and pointed us to but one hope. When we obeyed the gospel, we made that one hope-and it alone-our hope. The Christian must “know what is the hope of his calling,” (Eph. 1:18)-“the hope to which God calls’.’ him. The calling, the divine invitation brings this hope to the Christian. We are called with a` holy calling, we are offered a glorious hope, and we make that hope our own. (Quotations from Greek-English Lexicon by Arndt and Gingrich, p. 436).

How does God call us-strange voices in the night, physical sensations like chill bumps, emotional feelings, sudden ‘ideas which pop into our mind, unexplainable impulses, better-felt-than-told experiences? None of these! The Ephesians had been called (Eph. 1:18; 4:1; 4:4). How did they learn the will of God and learn to trust in Christ as the basis of hope? Paul says that they trusted in Christ “After that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). How do we obtain “salvation,” “sanctification of the Spirit,” and “belief of the truth?” “Whereunto He called you by our gospel” (2 Thess. 2:13-14).

God’s call is in the preaching of the gospel. Our answer is in obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).

The Reality of This Hope

The Christian’s hope is not merely empty wishing. It is not what scorners call a silly “pie in the sky”-like a child’s dream, wishing for all the toys in the world.

Vincent, in some of his comments, emphasized “not . . . the thing hoped for, but the sentiment or principle of hope which God’s calling inspires” (Word Studies). When the Ethiopian official heard God call him through the preaching of Christ, he obeyed the gospel. When he came “up out of the water” of baptism, “he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8). Hope was burning within him.

Is this wonderful hope within us blind and empty, a gushing sentimentalism? Is the gospel of Christ a fable and the goal we seek in him without reality or basis in fact? The truth is that eyewitnesses saw Christ after he rose from the dead! Therefore, “we have not followed cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16). “Though the way we journey may seem often drear, WE SHALL SEE THE KING SOMEDAY,” as the song says. “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).

God is. The Bible is the word of God. Christ is the Son of God. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Lenski emphasized the reality of that for which the Ephesians hoped, “The Ephesians are personally involved, yet this basis of unity (hope) stands even apart from them” (Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles). Thus the hope within us has a true basis outside of us. God offers a real hope. Seeing the (objective) hope God offers, the Christian lives by (subjective) hope. THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLY BOUND TOGETHER. Our hope is not mere wishing; it involves adopting for OUR GOAL that which God offers AS A REAL GOAL.

Effect of Hope

After affirming that “we shall see” Christ and “be like him,” John states the effect of this hope. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2-3). Hope inspires us to live a godly course of life. The gospel call is a divine call, its hope is true. Just as John said, Paul says we should “walk worthy of the vocation (calling) wherewith ye are called” (Eph. 4:1-2). The worthy walk includes lowliness, meekness, patience, and love.

The effect Paul most emphasized in Eph. 4 is unity. Sharing one hope draws us together like seamen in a storm-tossed ship . . . facing the same dangers, sharing the same ship, seeking the same shore. This binds us together in holy unity. “How can Christians contend in an angry manner with each other, when the hope of dwelling in the same heaven swells their bosoms and animates their hearts?” (Barnes’ Notes)

But What Is This Hope?

What is this hope we have in Christ, to which we are called, which is a hope of reality, which has wonderful effects on our living? We do not hope for the Son of God to be born, to die, and to be raised; that already happened (1 Cor. 15). We do not hope for new revelations of the gospel; God revealed it in its entirety (Jude 3). We do not hope for remission of sins; we already have it by obeying the truth (Acts 2:38; 1 Jn. 1:7). “Hope that is seen is not hope” (Rom. 8:24).

We are “joint-heirs with Christ;” we shall receive the inheritance: “if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” We await “the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope” (Rom. 8:17-25). Christ shall “come to be glorified in his saints …. when He shall appear, we shall be like Him” (2 Thess. 1:10; 1 Jn. 3:2). We are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). At the end, Christ will destroy death, deliver up “the kingdom to God,” AND “SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD” (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4:15-18).

Followers of R. H. Boll, Hal Lindsey, Ellen G. White, the Armstrongs, the (so-called) Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others tell us we are living before the time of Christ’s kingdom among men on earth (MILLENIUM). They claim Christ must come back to earth before that the establishment of that kingdom. They do not realize it is already here and Christians are already in it (Col. 1:13). When Christians accept the premillennial hope, they have accepted another, false hope. They get so engrossed in these theories that they are not content to dwell with those who keep the “one hope.” Beware lest ye be led away and fall (2 Pet. 3).

Truth Magazine, XX:4, p. 13-14
January 22, 1976

By Guthrie Dean

Every Sunday morning the Madison church of Christ has a program over one of our local television stations. And every Sunday morning Brother Ira North, their preacher, has them to flash his name on the screen as Doctor Ira North. Everyone else on the program is referred to as Brother, Sister, or simply referred to by name. Only Ira is Doctor.

I always think of Jesus’ statement in Matt. 23:6-12 when describing the Pharisees of His time who “Love the uppermost rooms at the feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren . . . .” In the case of the Madison church, however: “One is your Rabbi, even Ira; and all ye are brethren.” I challenge anyone to deny that the verses under consideration apply to Brother North’s vanity. He is a living model of a modern-day Pharisee.

The name Rabbi means: “Rabbi, my master, teacher, doctor, Matt. 23:7,8; 26:25,49, et al” (The Analytical Greek Lexicon). I am not opposed to education. It could be that I have gone to school about as many years as Brother North has, but that is not the point. To use the recognition of such degrees of learning as a preacher’s title in the church is just as inexcusable as the Baptists and Methodists who call their preachers “Reverend,” and “Doctor.” Brother North cannot use Matt. 23:9 to condemn the Catholics for making a religious title out of “father,” when Brother North himself makes a religious title out of “Rabbi,” of verses 7-8, and applies the same to himself, even in the church!

The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary tells us that “It is the spirit rather than the letter of this that must be pressed; though the violation of the letter, springing from spiritual pride, has done incalculable evil in the Church of Christ. The reiteration of the word ‘Rabbi’ shows how it tickled the ear and fed the spiritual pride of those ecclesiastics.”

Matthew Henry writes: “It was but a little before Christ’s time, that the Jewish teachers, the masters of Israel, had assumed the titles of Rabbi, Rab, and Rabban, which signifies great, or much; and was construed as Doctor, or My lord . . . Christ’s ministers must not affect the name of Rabbi, or Master, by way of distinction from other people; it is not agreeable to the simplicity of the gospel . . . .”

Adam Clarke states: “These rabbins were looked up to as infallible oracles in religious matters, and usurped not only the place of the law, but of God himself.” Look out, Brother North.

Of “Rabbi,” The Expositor’s Greek Testament says: “In Christ’s time a new title of honour for the Jewish doctors …. The threefold counsel shows the intensely anti-prelatic spirit of Jesus. In spite of this earnest warning the love of pre-eminence and leadership has prevailed in the Church to the detriment of independence, the sense of responsibility, and loyalty to God.”

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says: “RABBI: A term used by the Jews of their religious teachers as a title of respect, from rabh, `great,’ so `my great one’ . . . Jesus forbade its use among His followers.”

Matt. 23:6-12 condemns the spirit that will prompt one to want to be exalted above his brethren in the church. And those same verses condemn anyone who will use the terms father, master, Rabbi or doctor as religious titles to distinguish them from the brethren.

Brother North, I know I am properly applying these verses, for right in the middle of the argument Jesus says: “for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Does that not make all brethren equal? Then where does your Doctor title come in? It comes in only as the Pharisees used it and as Jesus condemned it. This is too plain to miss.

We need to be more like the man in Job 32:21-22: “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” James 2 is also on the same subject: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons . . . . But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:1,9). So if I don’t call you Doctor, Brother North, that does not mean that I do not love you. I do. But I do not exalt you above any other brother in the church. So you will just have to leave your handle at the door when you come into the assembly.

Truth Magazine, XX:4, p. 12
January 22, 1976

By Larry Ray Hafley

(Editor’s Note: The following is the body of a tract of the Washington Avenue Church of Christ. The cover of the tract has the title-question, and the meeting times of the church. It was suggested that we print the body of the tract in case other churches might want to alter the title and change local references, thus making it usable to them.)

Perhaps we should ask “who” we are as well as “what” we are, for the church is people. Acts 8:1 refers to “persecution against the church … at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad.” Likewise, we are “the church” which meets on Washington Avenue in Russellville.

The word “church” means the “called out ones.” The church is comprised and composed of those who have been “called out” of the world by the gospel unto Christ (2 Thess. 2:14). The gospel tells of sin and of its wages of eternal death (Rom. 6:23). It tells of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4). It urges all to receive forgiveness of sins. When one obeys the gospel, when he heeds its call, he is then “called out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). So, the church is those who have obeyed the gospel, who have been “called out” of sin unto salvation.

In the New Testament, we read of “the churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16). This is a reference to the various congregations or churches in different localities. “The church of God … at Corinth,” and “the church … at Jerusalem” (1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 8:1) are two congregations; two local churches. We are the church which meets on Washington Avenue in Russellville. We endeavor to work and worship in the same way as did the “churches of Christ” in the New Testament.

What We Are Not

Negatively, we are:

1) Not a Denomination: We are not associated nor affiliated with denominationalism. Denominations such as we have in this area are not mentioned in the Bible. “The churches of Christ” are (Rom. 16:16).

2) Neither Catholic nor Protestant: We are not a Catholic church. We honor and revere no man or human authority such as the Pope (Mt. 28:18). We are not a “Protestant” church in the popular sense. We “protest” against sin, false doctrine, ungodliness and immorality, but we are not allied nor identified with Protestant denominationalism. Catholics and Protestants are not referred to in the Scriptures. Christians are (Acts 11:26).

3) Not a Social Club: The church was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). The Son of God did not die for a social organization, but for a “spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5). We are not a glorified social center in competition with country clubs and the YMCA. We are the church. We worship God “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24), not in fun, food, frolic.

What We Are

Positively, we are:

1) The Saved: The church is the saved (Eph. 5:23). The church is not the Savior. Jesus is. But the church is the body of Christ. All believe and are baptized are saved (Mk. 16:16), that is, they are “added to the church” by the Lord (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). The church is Samaria consisted of the saved, those who had believed and been baptized after hearing an evangelist “preach Christ” (Acts 8:5, 12; 9:31).

The church which meets on Washington Avenue in Russellville is those who have obeyed the same gospel. Are we not, therefore, members of the same church?

2) Subject To Christ: Jesus is “the head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22, 23). We have no synods or conventions to guide us. We are not a part of any amalgamation or association of churches. We are subject only to the authority of Christ (Jas. 4:12).

In Summary: The church which meets at 309 N. Washington Avenue in Russellville is a group of Christians drawn together by faith in Christ. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant. We are simply men and women who have been saved from sin by grace through faith, that is, in obedience to the gospel (Heb. 5:9).

Our worship is simple because it is based on the New Testament. Prayers are led by men of the church and congregational singing allows each to make melody in his heart unto the Lord (Eph. 5:19). Observance of the Lord’s Supper “upon the first day of the week” shows the Lord’s death until He comes again (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26). No solicitation for money is made. We engage in no church socials or recreational affairs to entertain nor to raise funds. Christians contribute only upon the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2).

We are an independent congregation with no earthly headquarters of any kind. Christ is the head of the church, and He rules and directs the church through His word (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Our allegiance to the Lordship of Christ moves us to endeavor to reproduce faithfully the church described in the New Testament. We do not follow any human creed. The Bible is our only guide (1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Now that you know who we are and what we are, please worship and study the Bible with us. A warm, sincere welcome awaits you. Feel free to call upon us if you have further questions about us or about what the Bible teaches.

Truth Magazine, XX:4; p. 10-11
January 22, 1976

By Dennis C. Abernathy

That faith is the principle by which man is saved is a fact beyond dispute (Acts 15:7-9; 26:15-18; Gal. 3:26; Jno. 3:16; Rom. 3:30; 5:1). But many in the religious world teach that a person is saved by “faith only.” To show this to be untrue all we need to do is turn to James 2:14-26. This deals the death blow and shows the fallacy of the false doctrine of faith only.

When we argue, debate, and discuss this point with denominational people, we use it with telling force. We make the proper application – “faith without works is dead” – But I am afraid we have missed the point in the every day living for the Lord. Let us notice!

1. Too often one’s faith in the Lord’s Supper is faith only: The Bible teaches we are to observe the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (1 Cor. 11:26). “As often” here is explained in Acts 20:7. Since every week has a first day we conclude that we are to observe the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s day. My question then is, “Do you believe it?” Oh “Yes,” you say. But do you practice it? I am sure that most Christians believe it, and will argue for its observance, but many times their faith is void of action or works.-IS THIS NOT FAITH ONLY?

2. What about our faith in attending the assembly of the Church? Even a casual reading of Hebrews 10:25 and following verses convinces one of the necessity of regular attendance and the grave danger of neglecting such assemblies. Deep down, most believe this to be so-but is your faith void of action or works? What about attending classes and meetings? Do you believe, them to be scriptural? Or, do you believe them to be scriptural for somebody else? But what about the person who believes in “not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together,” and then comes half of the time-IS THIS NOT FAITH ONLY?

3. What about prayer? Do you have faith in prayer and in Him who hears our prayers? Do you pray regularly or “every now and then?” Do you pray in times of, trouble and distress ONLY? Do you blame God when you think your prayer is not answered? I fear many of our prayers are with FAITH ONLY-ALL FAITH AND NO ACTION. This is illustrated well, I think, by the following: D. L. Moody was crossing the Atlantic when the ship he was traveling on caught fire. A friend suggested to Moody that they retire to the other end of the ship and pray. Moody replied, “Not so, sir; we stand right here and pass buckets and pray hard all the time.” Yes, prayer and work go together. They are the two hands of one person.

4. What about the Gospel as God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16)? Surely we believe that it is. Did not the Lord tell us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?” Is our faith along this line faith only? How many really do get out and try to teach the Gospel to others? Many cry, “I don’t know how,” and when personal work classes are set up these same ones do not try to learn how. The word is God’s power to save, only to those who “believe” it, and this involves teaching (Matt. 28:19-20).

5. What about loving brethren and doing benevolent work? The Bible teaches us to love our brethren. Do you do it? Do you treat them like you would like to be treated? Do you seek their best interests. Is your love genuine or is it by FAITH ONLY? We get after our liberal brethren because of their looseness in handling the Word of God. “They are not walking by faith,” we say. But what about us? That passage says “we walk by faith. . .” – This implies action-“WE WALK”-This cannot be done by faith only. People are not loved, fed, nor comforted by FAITH ONLY.

6. What about our children? I well know that the Bible does not place the young people in a special group as far as the church is concerned. We see “Youth Retreats,” “Timothy and Dorcus Clubs” and church-sponsored recreation on every hand and we know these things are not the work of the church. We know that recreation belongs in the realm of home work. But, I ask, where is our faith? Where is your faith, parents? What are you doing for your children? Are you going places and doing things with them? Or, are you putting the liberals down for doing the right thing in the wrong way and then neglecting to do anything in any way. Why not provide recreation and places to go for our young so that they can have that association with other Christians that they so badly need? Can this not be done by concerned parents who love their children? If there is a prom or school dance, to which our children cannot attend, why not provide some good, clean, and wholesome recreation to which they can go, with which to fill the void. I ask again – are we acting by faith only in this area?

On and on we could go, but I am sure that you get the pont. It is still true that “faith without works is dead” – this is the reason we have so many sick and “nigh unto death” Christians. Remember, “. . . be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Truth Magazine, XX:4, p. 9-10
January 22, 1976