Truth Magazine

By Roy E. Cogdill

It is just as essential that we be united in our obedience as it is that we be united in faith. The same passage that teaches that there is “one faith” teaches also that there is “one baptism.” That means just what it says and it is just as true as “one God,” “one Lord,” and “one Spirit.” it would be just as right to preach and believe “many Gods” – and one as good as another, “many Christs”- and one as good as another, “many Spirits”-and one as good as another, as it is to preach .1 many faiths”-and one as good as another, or two kinds of baptism and three different ways to be baptized “according to the convenience and preference of the candidate,” as human creeds sometimes read. Unity involves obedience, or practice, just like it involves the same faith, the same rule by which to walk, the same source of authority, and the same object of worship.

God does not require one thing of one person and something else of another. He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:tt). He does not accept one act as obedience one time and an entirely different act the next time. He has given no commandment that can be obeyed in a variety of ways. “The convenience and preference of the candidate” is not the standard of what constitutes obedience to God’s commandment to be baptized. It is the will and Word of God that must govern our obedience and He has but one standard for all.

There is One. Authority in Baptism

Bible baptism originated in Heaven’s will. It did not come by the will and wisdom of man. It is commanded to all men and is age lasting (Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:t8-20). Because Christ commanded on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit came and repentance and remission of sins was preached by the apostles of Christ for the first time (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 2:36-41), those who heard the word were “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37), and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They were commanded, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). The name of Jesus represents the authority of Heaven (Matt. 28:18-20). Baptism in the name of Jesus involves reverence for His authority and obedience to His word. Men should be baptized because Christ commands them to be every one of them. When men are not baptized they are rebelling against the will of Christ. When men are baptized it must be an act of obedience to Christ and to please no one else.

When the Gospel was preached for the first time to the Gentiles also (Acts 10), at the house of Cornelius, they were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:48). Whether Jew or Gentile the same Lord by the same authority commands baptism. This removes baptism from the realm of church authority. Man cannot be scripturally baptized by the authority of any church. It must be by the authority of Christ.

There is One Element in Baptism

The New Testament has recorded several baptisms. There was the baptism of John, the Baptist, to begin with, but it served its purpose and is no longer acceptable as obedience to God. This is evidenced by the example of Apollos in Acts 18:24-26. He spake and taught accurately the things of the Lord but he knew only the baptism of John until Aquila and Priscilla took him unto them and taught him the “way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Anyone that still believes in and practices the baptism of John needs to be taught the way of God more perfectly. Apollos had made some disciples in Ephesus and when Paul found them and asked, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” their reply was, “Unto John’s baptism.” Paul explained that John’s baptism was not in the name or by the authority of Christ and “when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:1-5). They did not plead that they were satisfied with their baptism. When they learned that their effort to obey God did not meet the divine standard, they just did it again in the right way. While John’s baptism was in the right element -water-it was not upon the right authority.

Then in the New Testament we read of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was simply the coming of the overwhelming power of the Spirit. God had promised this to both Jew and Gentile-“all flesh” (Joel 2:32). John had taught his disciples of it (John 1:33-34; Luke 3:16). Jesus had also promised it to the apostles (John 14:1617; 14:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:4-8). This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost to the Jews (Acts 2:14; 2:16-20; 2:32-33). It was fulfilled to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius and is recorded in Acts 10:44. Peter testifies concerning this in Acts 11:15-17. He said the Holy Spirit “fell on them, as on us at the beginning” and connected this with the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:16). So the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled to “all flesh’. and having served its purpose it never recurred or at least its recurrence is not recorded in the Scriptures. In A. D. 63, or thereabout, Paul said in writing to the Ephesians, “one baptism.” Since the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one and baptism in water is one, if a man had both he would have one too many baptisms, for one and one still make two, and there is just “one” now. We do not need the baptism of the Holy Spirit today for the reason that it came upon the apostles – revelation – for the will of the Lord has already been revealed. Neither do we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the reason it came upon the Gentiles, for this incident recorded “bears them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:7-9). Surely we can believe the testimony of the divine record on this point and do not need the experience to occur all over again to convince us. These instances record the fulfillment of the promise and it has served its purpose and does not need to recur. Men are not being baptized today with both the Holy Ghost baptism and water baptism.

In Acts 10:47-48, Peter commanded those who had heard the Word and believed to be baptized in water. Jesus had commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel and baptize those who believed the preaching (Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20). Baptism in the name of Jesus is a command and must be obeyed. The baptism commanded by Jesus was to be administered by men and men never administered the baptism of the Holy Spirit for only Jesus did that. Jesus taught that men, in order to enter the Kingdom of God, must be born of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). Paul teaches that men are saved not by their own works of righteousness but by mercy from God in the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). When our bodies are washed in plain, unmixed water in the obedience of faith in baptism, our hearts are cleansed by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:13-14; 10:19-22). Baptism in water is in order to obtain a good conscience and not just the washing of the body in water to get the body clean (1 Peter 3:20-21). Hence, in baptism the agency of the Holy Spirit and water are united. “For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body (1 Cor. 12:13).

It follows as clearly as the noonday sun follows the dawn that baptism commanded by Christ unto all men and women throughout this age is in one element, and that element is water. It is the “washing of water in accordance with the Word” (Eph. 5:26).

Truth Magazine XX: 31, pp. 486-487
August 5, 1976

By Cecil Willis

We sought, in our lesson last week to correct the erroneous definitions of the word repentance given by the majority of the religious world. We saw that repentance is not fear, regret, godly sorrow, conviction of sin, confession of sin, nor is repentance a reformation of life. From the usage of the word repentance in Scripture, we concluded that the word accurately defined, was a mental change. Repentance is a change of mind, preceded by godly sorrow and followed by a reformation of life.

It was also seen that repentance is a prerequisite to salvation, that without it, one could not be saved. Therefore this consideration lays the foundation for our lesson this week. If one cannot go to heaven without repenting of his sins, then certainly all of us must be vitally interested in learning what produces repentance.

A large portion of the religious world understands repentance to be something that one “gets,” rather than something that he does. Repentance is a command, and cannot, therefore, be, something that one gets. One cannot “get” a command. Members of religious denominations tell us that repentance and faith are both direct gifts of the Holy Spirit, and these individuals also place faith after repentance. To them, one must repent before he can believe. In our next article, we shall consider the order of faith and repentance. Faith is not a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, nor is it the product of such an operation. Paul said, “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Just as faith is not a product of a direct operation, neither is repentance. Repentance is produced by certain forces, as the Bible plainly declares. Since one has to repent in order to be saved, and he does as we pointed out, then consider now the forces leading one to repentance.

Godly Sorrow

First, “Godly sorrow leadeth thee to repentance” (2 Cor. 7:10). To many, godly sorrow is repentance, but Paul declared that godly sorrow and repentance are related as cause and effect. Godly sorrow is the cause, repentance is the effect. But in order that we might more fully understand Paul’s teaching, read more of that passage: “For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season), I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret; but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Cor. 7:8-10). In this passage, Paul referred to a former epistle. Of course this was the First Epistle to the Corinthians to which he referred. Those familiar with that epistle know that in it Paul reprimanded the Corinthians severely, because of the sins in the church. Paul was saying that for a while he was regretful that they had been made sorry by his epistle, but when he learned that as a product of that sorrow of theirs, caused by his epistle, repentance was produced, no longer was he regretful that they had been made sorry. On the other hand , he said, “I now rejoice.” Paul, after seeing the effect of the sorrow he had caused, was glad he had done it. Because of Paul’s firm, chiding preaching, they were made to realize that they were to be blamed in God’s sight. They understood that God was not pleased with them as they were. They were sorry toward God. Paul said that this godly sorrow worked in them repentance. When they understood that God did not approve of them, they were sorrowful toward God. This sorrow toward God, produced repentance, a change of mind about their sins. They resolved to abandon their sins. This repentance produced a reformation of their lives. Notice verse 11: “For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.” They corrected their lives. So, their sorrow toward God caused them to repent; their repentance caused them to reform their lives. This is exactly the definition that we ascribed to the act of repenting. So “godly sorrow worketh repentance.”

The Goodness of God

Paul gave a second cause resulting in repentance in Rom. 2:4, as he said, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” In the context of this passage, Paul was accusing the Jews of being ignorant of the goodness of God, or of his intention that His goodness was to motivate them to repent. While the blessings that God had poured out upon the Jewish nation should have made them recognize God’s sovereignty, yet it had not. The Jews had tasted the blessings of God, but had forgotten to consider from whence they had come. God’s goodness should be constantly acting upon us.

How does the goodness of God lead one to repent? In our everyday association we see the same principle illustrated. If we have a friend that is always doing something very nice for us, one who is continually giving us something that is precious to us, one who consistently makes great sacrifices in order that he might give to us, we then, become very favorable toward him. Should he ask us to do something that was right in itself, and something that was to our own advantage, certainly we would not refuse him.

God is that friend that for ages has been pouring out rich gifts upon mankind. He has given us many things that are of great value to us, namely the means by which we might be saved. He sacrificed, greatly, in order that He might give His only begotten Son, in order that we might be saved. These all are expressions of God’s goodness.

In considering the great gifts that God has made to man, the tremendous sacrifice He had to make in order to give them, the intention that God had of blessing man in giving these gifts, how can one refuse to comply with the righteous commands of God? How is it that we have been so ungrateful of all that He has done for us, that we have remained in rebellion to His commands? Some have not repented because they were like these Jews to whom Paul was speaking. They were ignorant of God’s goodness. This ignorance, was of course, a willing ignorance, for God had informed man of the things He was doing for him, but the Jews refused to hear. Paul then asked, is it because you are ignorant of God’s goodness, or is it just that you despise the goodness of God, now knowing that this goodness is to produce repentance in your heart? “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

Longsuffering of God

While this next cause could be classified as an expression of God’s goodness, and therefore be grouped with the other gifts of God’s goodness, we are calling it the third force producing repentance. The longsuffering of God should produce repentance on the part of man. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). The expression of God’s goodness in His longsuffering should. cause some of its to repent. But sadly, enough, many people, rather than being moved to repent by God’s longsuffering, have been encouraged to continue in their sin. In the third chapter of 2 Peter, Peter answered those who doubted that the Lord would come again. They said, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were, from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:4). Peter was telling them, that time is no element with God, for He is not slack concerning His promises. He has promised to return and He will. is tarrying His return that as many as will may repent, for the Lord does not want any to perish, but it is His will that all should come to repentance.

Today, some are making the same mistake that these ancients made. Since the Lord has waited so long in coming, they have forgotten that He is coming, or at least their lives indicate that they have. They make no attempt to prepare themselves for the time of His coming. But the longsuffering of God should lead men to repent, for He is tarrying His coming that as many as will might prepare themselves for His return.

A fourth cause producing repentance is fear of the judgment. Many preachers of today try to let this be the only means of producing repentance, and they spend all their time in relating death-bed stories to try to scare people into repentance. The extreme of this is the practice of others who try completely to reason with one to repentance. Between these two extremes should be the position of the gospel preacher.

The fear of judgment should have a very definite part in causing men to repent. Our Lord told those gathered about Him, that unless they repented they would perish just as those whose blood Pilate had mingled with the sacrifices. Should they fail to repent, Christ said that they would also be destroyed as were those on whom the tower at Siloam fell. With Christ it was a matter of repenting, or suffering eternal punishment for failing to do so. He said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:5).

Paul also used the element of fear of the judgment, as he told the group in Athens about God. He said, “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should everywhere repent: inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30,31). According to Paul, why should these men repent? It was because God had appointed a day in which he would judge the world in righteousness, and he hath given assurance that such a judgment will come in that He raised Christ from the dead, If God is going to judge the world in righteousness, surely there will be a condemnation of those who have done unrighteousness, or there would be no judgment in any sense of the word. A judgment involves the rewarding of the righteous and a punishment of the wicked. Therefore those who have not repented have very good reasons for fearing the judgment, for God will condemn them. The certainty of the judgment, and therefore their punishment, should lead them to a correction of their life.

If it were possible for one to picture in words the true horrors of hell, and a fair estimation of eternity, then one with good judgment, certainly would not continue to rebel at God’s commandments. Christ pictures hell in these words: “and if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out; it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For everyone shall be salted with fire” (Mk. 9:47-49). Seeing the terribleness of hell, and the certainty of our going there if we fail to repent, then we should be moved to repentance.

Salvation

Not only should one be moved to repentance in order to avert hell, but a fifth power producing repentance, should be the intense desire that all should have to be saved eternally. The design of repentance is to receive the remission of sins. Peter told the Jews on Pentecost to “repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). They were to repent and be baptized in order that they might be saved. Both of these commands were in order to obtain salvation, and without either of them, salvation is impossible. In Acts 3:19, Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” We are to repent that our sins may be blotted out. This means that they are taken away. So one should repent because he wants to be saved.

Conclusion

In summary, the forces producing repentance to which we have invited your attention are first, godly sorrow, secondly, the goodness of God, thirdly, the longsuffering of God; fourth, the fear of punishment; fifth, the desire to receive the remission of sins.

It is our sincere prayer that some or all of these forces will make you determine to quit sin, and resolve to obey the commandments of the Lord. Believe, repent, and be baptized in order that you might be saved.

Truth Magazine XX: 31, pp. 483-485
August 5, 1976

 

By Myke Morris

“Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He bath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:6-8, KJV). With this statement, the prophet Micah summarizes the spirit that lies behind faithful service to the living God. He informs us both what is acceptable and what is not.

In the overall context of the book’s condemnation of Israel’s wickedness, it is apparent that the actions mentioned in verses 6b and 7a were not the answer to the question at the first of the passage. Although these things fulfilled the mechanical requirements of the law of Moses, they alone were not satisfactory. Paul explained in Romans 6:17 that obedience must be “from the heart”; that is, as a result of a love for God. It cannot be “of necessity” as Paul expresses in the example of giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

In the latter part of verse 7, Micah draws for example upon a practice common at that time-human sacrifice. Only the vain imaginations of men could conceive this to be pleasing to Jehovah. It is used here to illustrate the horribly depraved state of those who would add to the word of God Read 2 John 9 and Revelation 22:18-19 for comparison.

Micah does not leave us hanging, knowing only what is not acceptable. “He has told you, O man, what is good,” and from this we must necessarily infer that all else is evil. This is born out by 2 Peter 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as well as the passages cited in Revelation and 2 John above.

“To do justly.” God’s justice is certainly one of the overriding attributes portrayed in His word. It was first manifested in His dealings with Cain after the murder of Abel. Read the story in Genesis 4 and especially the expression of God’s justice in verse 7. Thomas Jefferson, reflecting on the slavery issue, said, “I tremble for my country when I recall that God is just.” Indeed, this fact should strike terror into the heart of the wicked and comfort. the righteous.

“To love mercy.” In this Micah expresses the corner stone of the disciple’s attitude toward the God of Heaven. Paul wrote “The end of the charge is love” (1 Timothy 1:5). To love mercy is to love God, for the only unbounded grace this old world ever received came from above, from the Father of Lights (James 1:17). Jesus tells us then that if we love Him, we keep His commandments (John 14:15).

“To walk humbly with thy God.” The greatest expression of humility found in the Bible is the description of Christ’s humility in the Philippian letter chapter 2:5-8. When God’s commands seem too rigid or His chastisement too severe, we should remember what Christ went through for us. We should have the same attitude toward God’s will that Christ had.

God really requires so little when fie has given so much. Yet the world continues to offer, not what Jehovah wants, but its “thousands of rams” and “rivers of oil.” Why not do what God has shown us is good and please Him, After all, He’s done a lot for us.

Truth Magazine XX: 31, p. 482
August 5, 1976

By Franklin Burns

We are hearing much these days about how someone could be honestly mistaken and still be acceptable in God’s sight. It is sad indeed to think of those that are morally good people and those who appear to be so sincere in their practice of religious error as being eternally lost. However, we must remember that all we can know about the matter is what God has revealed in His word. Beyond this we dare not go, no matter how great the pull of sympathy and sentiment may be (1 Cor. 4:6). No man has the right to presume upon God’s mercy.

The Plan of Salvation

The plan of salvation is so plain and simple, and yet so many are honestly mistaken on it. The plan is plainly revealed in the word of God. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John clearly set forth what Jesus did to effect salvation for man. All recognize that the blood of Jesus is essential to salvation because this is so clearly revealed in the New Testament. It is just as clearly stated that, in order to receive the benefit of the blood of Jesus, there are certain commandments that must be obeyed. The great commission of our Lord as was recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke sets forth faith, repentance and baptism as terms of pardon. Confirming this, we have a number of cases of conversion or record in the book of Acts which serve as examples to us that God’s terms of pardon must be met by man before he can enjoy the hope of life eternal through Jesus Christ.

Instrumental Music

Some of my brethren say that one can worship with the instrument and be honestly mistaken in it and still be justified in God’s sight. Again we say we have no authority but that revealed in God’s word.

The New Testament teaches one to sing; but it does not teach by command, example, or inference that one should play on an instrument in worship. “And when they sang a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:30, Mark 14:26). “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). “For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name” (Rom. 15:9). “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Heb. 2:12). “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of thee” (Heb. 2:12). “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God Continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:15).

It is difficult to see how these scriptures can be misunderstood by responsible beings who are entirely free JI prejudice. To seek to give those who worship with the instrument hope is to confirm them in their error and to question the wisdom of God.

Where Does It End???

The Modernists say we can be honestly mistaken about the inspiration of the scriptures (1 Cor. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16). They also claim we can be honestly mistaken on the virgin birth (Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:18-25). Going another step, they also say that we can honestly differ on the resurrection (Matt. 28:1-7). This line of thought completely overthrows the New Testament concept of Christ and the Church.

If honesty in religion is all that is necessary to salvation, why was the gospel of Christ revealed? Why did Jesus set forth positive terms and give positive commandments? Why is man restricted to one system of doctrine, if anything will do (Gal. 1:8)? Let us abide in that which is written (Rev. 22: 18-19).

Truth Magazine XX: 30, p. 477
July 29, 1976