Truth Magazine

By Jeff Butterfield

“I have been on the (U.S.S.) Saratoga for fourteen months where I am a welder. Thirteen months ago I was converted by the brethren here. Since that time I have had the desire to preach the gospel. If the Lord wills, I will push toward that goal. I am thankful for every opportunity to teach and learn of God’s will.

“In number we are about ten and have grown to that number from last year perhaps in May when only two of the brethren met here aboard the Saratoga. We are continuing to grow in number through whatever teaching we do on the ship. We’re all quite young in Christ and due to our limited knowledge at the present time we lack the edification we should have. Out at sea we meet to worship four times a week and get together to study and teach as we have the opportunity. When in port we worship with the South Jacksonville congregation where Brother Harold Dowdy is the preacher. He has delivered many fine lessons from God’s word and has been helpful in many ways. All of the brethren at South Jacksonville have been very helpful. We usually gain more at the meetings there than we do out to sea due to the many years the brethren there have worked in God’s kingdom. Any exhortation from the brethren who may know of us would be appreciated. “

(For more information about the church on the U.S.S. Saratoga, see the cover article of the January 2, 1975, Truth Magazine, or write Jeff Butterfield-Editor).

We learn from Jesus that one reason He came to earth was to preach (Mark 1:38). All that Jesus taught was truth (John 1:14, 17). The only thing Christ taught was what He heard God the Father speak (John 7:16). We learn in Hebrews that God had spoken in the past or in the Jewish dispensation to the fathers by the prophets, but now in these last days speaks through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2). Therefore we can conclude that through Christ we can learn the truth which is able to set men free. The scriptures teach as much.

As Christ was teaching one day He told some Jews that believed on Him that they could know the truth by continuing in His word. In so doing they would be made free (John 8:31-32). Though this was spoken at that time directly to those Jews who believed on Him, we find that it is true today also, as Christ still has the truth. We find that there is only one way into the sheepfold, and that way is through Christ (John 10:9).

Though Christ is not here today in the flesh, we can still be able to know this very same truth by following what the apostles have set forth. The apostles heard Christ, saw Him, and handled Him. That is what they have declared so that we may have this fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ(1 John 1:1-3). What we have then is the recording of the apostles of Christ from what they heard Him teach. While it’s true that men are fallible, we must come to the understanding that these men were inspired by God (John 14:26). Therefore we can see the reason for the unity in what they have said and have the assurance that by following what they have proclaimed we, too, can know the truth (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

But now a problem is presented. If all of this be true, why the need for creed books? We’re going to find that creed books contradict the Bible. Permit me to prove what I’ve just said. Page 91 of Luther’s Catechism says, “We are justified and saved by faith alone, without works. ” James 2:24 says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.” Who do you believe? I believe James. Others would prefer to go along with Martin Luther. The truth is Martin Luther taught something the word of God did not teach. In so doing he perverted that which the apostles had taught (Gal. 1:6-9). The truth simply cannot be found in human creeds. The person who follows Martin Luther’s teaching becomes a Lutheran. On the other hand, the person who follows that which the Bible teaches becomes a Christian (Acts 11:26). Don’t be deceived by creed books. (See also Roland Worth, Jr.’s article “Creeds, ” page 13 of this issue–,Editor) The complete revelation of God’s will has been given and can only be found in the pages of the New Testament (2 Pet. 1:3). Nothing can be added to it nor subtracted from it (Rev. 22:18-19). We will find that the man who follows the perfect law of liberty by doing just what it says shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:25). That very same person will be a member of the one body (Eph. 4:4) for which Christ shed his blood and is also its head (Acts 20:28; Col. 1:22-23). This church follows only what the apostles taught (Acts 2:42) and is unmovable or steadfast in that doctrine. This church was promised to be built by Christ (Matt. 16:18) and it wears only His name (Rom. 16:16). Truth is found only in Christ Jesus.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 695-696
September 18, 1975

By Van A. Reaves

(In an enclosed letter, this young man stated that he is striving to become a full-time evangelist-Editor.)

The unfortunate practice of accepting whatever the preacher says without question, has troubled the religious world for a number of years. This practice is deadly, leading millions to eternal doom. There are principles one can, arid must, learn in order to save himself from this error. Such is the purpose of this article.

Thinking more of the preacher than his message (or “preacher worship,” as it well might be called), is as old as the Bible itself. We find an example of it in Acts 14:8-18; the Lycaonians tried to offer sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul when they healed a cripple. Notice, first of all, what the apostles said in verses 14 through 17; then notice the near disastrous results in verse 18.

“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, In that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

And now verse 18:

“And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”

How many preachers do you know who should rip their clothes apart to keep someone from offering “sacrifice” unto them. Some, I am sure, but many would not.

The first thing one must realize is that preachers are men, and as all men, are mistaken about things from time to time. You have probably heard the old and very true statement, “Nobody’s perfect.” This should be applied to all preachers as well, Jesus Christ being the only exception.

Even the apostles made mistakes. Remember that Judas Iscariot was just as much an apostle as Peter or Paul, and of course he made a great mistake. Simon Peter denied the Lord, not once, but three times, in the space of only a few hours. In Gal. 2:11-14 Paul withstood Peter ” . . ..to the face, because he was to be blamed.” So how can men, who had the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, make mistakes such as these, and preachers today, who are not inspired, make no mistakes of any kind?

Unfortunately, there are people in every walk of life who will deliberately lie. This includes preachers, as well. We have numerous warnings in the Bible concerning this, let us look at some.

In Acts 13:6-11, a man by the name of Elymas, the sorcerer, tried to turn one away from the faith. Read this passage on your own and notice verse 8.

In Matt. 23:27-28, Christ Himself compared the false teachers to a tomb, which was lovely to look at from the outside, but the inside was full of rotting flesh.

“Satan himself is transformed into an- angel of light,” reads 2 Cor. 11:14. Verse 15 goes on to tell us that we should not be surprised when his servants also appear to be “angels of light.”

Paul warned the Galatians (Gal. 1:6-12) not to accept anything said by any man or even an angel from heaven that did not conform to the gospel that they had already received at that time. That means that even if an angel from heaven relates something for us to do or believe that is not in the Bible, then we are not to do or believe it.

1 John 4:1 tells us that we must “try” or “test” the spirits to see if they are from God. Matt. 7:15-20 concludes:”‘. . . by their fruits ye shall know them.” The Scriptures get a little more specific in 2 Tim. 3:12-17 in that we find the .standard we must use in the Holy Scriptures. Even more specifically, in verse 16, all the scriptures. Once more we find that the Scriptures are the standard used to determine truth (Acts 17:10-11).

“So what if I am wrong,” one might say, “Would I be sent to hell if I was led astray without knowing any better?” Alas, my friend, it is just that simple, you always suffer the consequences of sin, unless you are forgiven through the plan of redemption, in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).

We are told in 2 Thess. 2:10-11, that if we love not the truth, we will be sent a strong delusion, that we might believe a lie and be damned. Do you love the truth, my friend?

Do not be caught up in the emotional pull of any man. Rather develop a wholesome attitude toward the truth of God as revealed by Him in the Bible. The truth is what makes men free. Jesus said, however, that in order to be freed by truth we must continue in his word.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue to my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31. 32).

Check all these passages to see if I’m teaching the truth.

After all, I am just a man.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 694-695
September 18, 1975

By Cecil Willis

We are nearing the end of our studies on the subject of faith. At times, we have diverted from the theme proper, in order that we might, in our estimation, give some things that were of profit and value to you, and yet these things that we have discussed have been in some way connected with our major subject. We plan perhaps to have one more lesson upon the subject of faith. In our last article, we studied the relationship that exists between works and salvation. We pointed out that man is not saved by doing the works that he has chosen to do, and that man is not saved by his own meritorious works. We cited scriptures stating that man was justified by works. We learned that the works by which man is justified are the works of God. The works of God are the things that God has commanded. We had learned in the preceding article that man is justified by faith, but not by faith only. It is when that faith works that one is justified.

By entitling our lesson, “God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation,” we, or course, mean by that that God has always had the same plan of salvation. It is our purpose to point out that God has always justified man by the same principle. We might call our lesson, “The Principle of Salvation,” meaning the principle upon which God has always justified.

Some Unchanging Principles

Even though we are living in a world of change and variety, there are some things about this universe that do not change. Principles do not change. They are the same in every age. Applications of these principles might, and do change, but the principles remain the same. For example: God always has had the principle of modesty for men and women to observe, but the application of this principle changes. Even though we dress differently today than we did even a few years ago, still there is that unchanging principle of modesty governing our dress that governed our forefathers centuries ago. It seems that some of the world today has forgotten that there ever was such a principle, but principles are unchanging.

God always has had a principle condemning worldliness, but as the ages change, the application of the principle must change. Many of the things which are now to be condemned under the principle of worldliness were unknown a few years back. Everything wicked that may begin in the future will still be condemned under this same principle, for it will endure, even though the things to which this principle is applied many not long endure. God had always demanded that man be fair and honest with his fellow man. This principle is the same; whether the man is trading an ox cart, a camel, an ox yoke, or whether he is trading a Cadillac automobile, a jet airplane; whether he is dealing with an individual or a nation. The applications of the principles might change, but the principle remains the same.

So it is with salvation. God always has had a certain principle of salvation. There always have been certain conditions upon which God would justify man, and this is an unchanging principle. Man has lived in three great ages: the Patriarchial, Mosiacal, and the Christian Ages. In each of these ages, the salvation of men and women has been governed by the same unchanging principle, of salvation. The Bible very clearly points out what that rule of salvation is, and it is now our intention to study what the Bible says about men have always been justified. In this way, we can know that that unchanging principle is the same one to which you and I must comply. We also want to show scriptures teaching what one must do today.

The Principle of Faith and Obedience

The condition upon which God has always saved man has been that of faith and obedience. God has always demanded that man be a believer in order to be justified, but God has also demanded that this believer obey His commands. Just as with the other principles that we have observed, the application of this one has changed. God has not always told man to believe the same thing. The Patriarchs did not have faith in Christ, as we are to have faith in Him. The Jews under the Law did not have faith in Christ, as we are to believe in Him. They could not have believed in Christ under these old laws, for He had not yet come. They were to have faith in Him when He did come, but He had not come at that time, thus they did not have the same kind of faith in Christ that we are to have. The application of the principle has changed.

Still, as they were required to obey in every period of God’s dealings with man in order to be saved, God has not always required that man do the same thing. Under the Old Testament Law, men were required to offer animal sacrifices, burn incense, keep the Sabbath, and many things that you and I are not commanded to do under the Law of Christ. We are given different commandments. They had to obey the commandments the Lord gave them in order to be saved, and we have to obey the commandments that the Lord has given us in order to be saved.

Study the Great Honor Roll of the Bible, Hebrews 11, as composed by the Apostle, and see the principle upon which each was justified. Notice verse 4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” Abel’s faith was realized in his obedience. Verse 7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear; prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Now what did Noah do to be saved? He did the same thing that you and I must do. He believed and obeyed. It would be very foolish for one to try to apply the modern principle of justification by faith only to Noah or any other of the great men of the Old Testament. Denominationalism would say that Noah was saved by faith only. Was Noah saved when he believed, or when his faith led him to obey, to prepare, to build the ark? Certainly we all know that it was when his faith led him to work, to prepare the ark, that his faith saved him. It took faith plus obedience.

Verse 8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” What did Abraham do to be justified? In the book of Romans, the salvation of Abraham is attributed to his faith. James says: “Was not Abraham our father, justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?” (Jas. 2:21). Here , in one verse we see the harmonization of these two statements. By faith, Abraham obeyed. He was justified by the principle by which all the other righteous men of the Old Testament were justified, and by the same principle by which you and I will be justified, if we are ever saved. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys! Abraham believed to be saved, but he was not saved until he obeyed. “By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac; yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son” (v. 17). Once again, the faith of Abraham was called upon to obey in order to justify him.

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24-27). In order for Moses to be saved, his faith had to act.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encompassed about for seven days.” When the children of Israel took the city of Jericho, it was only after they had marched around the city as God had prescribed; -only after they obeyed-that the walls fell down. They had to do two things. They had to believe and obey. This is once again the application of God’s eternal principle of salvation.

In summary of the things we have learned from the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, notice: By faith Abel offered; By faith Noah prepared; By faith Abraham obeyed; By faith Abraham offered; By faith Moses forsook Egypt; By faith the Israelites encompassed Jericho (and the walls fell). In every one of these instances it took the principle of salvation applied to save them. It is true that each of these individuals did different things. They were given different commandments. But they each followed the same principle. They each believed and obeyed. This is the principle of salvation. It takes the same thing today to be justified.

Summary of New Testament Teaching

The New Testament plainly states the principle of salvation. In Galatians 5:6, when Paul had been talking to the Jews and telling them that the works of the law would not justify them, he said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.” Paul says it takes a working faith to save. The entire passage from James 2:14-26, that we studied in our last article, points out the truthfulness of this principle. James says that the faith that does not work is dead-it is barren-and that our faith is made perfect when it works. Unless our faith works, it does not produce salvation. Today, we have the principle of salvation governing us that applied to men centuries ago. Principles do not change. We must believe and obey, just as men had to do. in the long ago.

Today, under the Christian age, we have different commands to obey than they had then. Yes it is still just as compulsory that we obey as it was for them. Passages might be multiplied demonstrating that one must be a believer in order to be saved. The Hebrews writer says “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). This is the first part of the principle of salvation. The other things that we are to do, today, are also plainly taught. One of the commandments is, that one must repent of his sins. This means to change his mind about sin, and to turn away from it. “I tell you nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). An individual cannot receive remission of sins unless he repents. This is one of the prerequisites of the remission of one’s sin. Peter commanded the Jews on the day of Pentecost to “Repent ye, 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 Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Repentance must precede the remission of sins. It is one of the things that one must do in obeying the Lord.

Another commandment of Christ just as plainly taught is that one must be baptized in order to be saved. Christ said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). In the passage we cited just a moment ago, Peter told the Jews on Pentecost to do two things in order to receive the remission of sins. They were already believers or they would not have been pricked to the heart by Peter’s charge that they had killed the Son of God. Peter told them to repent and be baptized in order to receive the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

When the Lord commanded that one repent and be baptized upon a confession of his faith, this was no more than the application of God’s eternal plan of salvation. He has always had commandments that men must obey in order to be saved. These commandments have varied throughout the years, and yet the same things have been required: faith and obedience. Today man is called upon by God to believe in Christ, and to obey. These commandments to be obeyed, we have just cited. You must repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to receive the remission of sin. Remember friends, that principles do not change, and God is not going to alter any principle in order to save you. If you are saved, it must be by this eternal plan of salvation that God has given. We are pleading with you to accept the gospel and obey it, live faithfully, to all its requirements, and finally inherit eternal life through faith and obedience to God’s righteous commandments.

Truth Magazine XIX: 44, pp. 691-694
September 18, 1975

By Ron Halbrook

Yes, I. know many have not wanted to see any real problem on the grace-unity-fellowship error of recent times. Some no doubt thought it had been discussed enough, if not too much, after the first article was written on it. Others may feel the subject should have been brought out into the open, but that now we should turn our attention to other things. h myself have wished for signs of correction being made or of the problem abating; for, though it is necessary, it is never pleasant to deal with error and erring brethren.

While it is true many brethren are more informed and alert after this problem has received a good deal of exposure, it is not true that it is time to drop the subject. The main spokesmen and’ followers of the new unity movement are still very much alive `and active. Several events of recent months have forced some modification of their tactics, but their loose ideas and goals are still the same. One or two who have managed to get reports circulating that indicated they were reforming themselves have in fact kept right on sowing their lawless seed-as by recommending papers like Mission and Integrity to their friends as the finest available, along with Mission Messenger and Restoration Review.

But there is another angle to this lawless spirit which has still not received much, if any, attention. It is time to say something about it. Brethren have often pointed out that Israel’s moral drifting generally was accompanied by doctrinal drifting, and her doctrinal drifting generally was accompanied by moral loosening. Relativism in reference to the church contributes to the attitude of general looseness which leads to relativism in reference to moral and ethical principles of the Bible. You never saw a Modernist or Liberal who took a strong stand against worldliness. 2 Peter 2 and other passages show how easily doctrinal looseness and a worldly spirit go hand-in-hand.

Even so, brethren who have promoted change recently in faith or practice on grace-unity-fellowship are very loose in their attitude toward worldliness. In preaching, they have imbibed the spirit which loves ethereal generality and “evangelical” openness and denominational broadness and high-sounding “principles” without direct application to the sins of the day. This is their whole thrust in regard to preaching on institutionalism, centralization, social-gospel-ism, instrumental music, premillennialism, pentecostalism, and just about any other doctrinal subject. They consider plain preaching with direct application to the liberalism of the last 25 years as uncouth. In exactly the same way, they consider plain preaching with direct application to the worldly practices of the day as boorish, if not downright clownish! They like to caricature preachers who do such preaching as back-woodish, unsophisticated, slow students, uneducated, prudish, narrow-minded, bumpkins. Make no mistake about it, these “sophisticated” brethren long for the dawn of a “brighter day” all across the board. Their sugar-coated, sweet-spirited concepts of compromise will not stop with the organization, mission, worship, discipline, and doctrine of the church revealed in the New Testament. Their sweet syrup will also drown out plain, direct preaching on Worldliness.

I have been told to the face by one of the most outspoken of these compromisers that the “hard line” we have taken against social drinking represents “the Southern, rural temperance viewpoint” and not the application of New Testament principles. Another who has done some “missionary” work came back bragging about how he told brethren in foreign countries that they were perfectly at liberty to drink alcoholic beverages so long as they did not get outright drunk. A new convert in the Mid-West asked one of these bright young scholars whether he could continue drinking beer in his home now that he had become a Christian; said scholar boldly told the fellow that would be perfectly in order for a Christian! And he was not ashamed to tell me this personally. Not much of this shows in their public writing to this point-though there are occasional references-but they not only will discuss it, they are promoting this spirit through more “private” channels right now. That is how they started out in regard to the doctrinal problems they have imposed upon brethren.

It seems one of our young princes preached for a time where some of the families went in mixed swimming with one another-and, no, I .do not mean in their Sunday-go-to-meeting suits, either! He and his wife did not mind “taking a dip” with the brethren there on the ancient theory “while in Rome, do as the Romans do.” But now they live in an area where much plain preaching has been and is still being done on such worldliness. Do you think they go in mixed swimming now? Do you think they reveal their former practice to brethren? Ali! What a sweet spirit. They do not want to “offend” anyone or stir up controversy: So, they simply do not oppose the practice in their preaching, they are silent on it, nor do they mention their own escapades. Like sheep, the brethren are none-the-wiser. All is bliss, and the brethren would be quite upset if some “outsider” were to charge this “fine brother” with looseness and worldliness. “Why, we have never heard him advocate anything like that!” Exactly. And you have never heard him oppose it either! Mum is the word! In the meantime, the young people drift into these worldly practices through a lack of teaching. Before long, brethren will be wringing their hands in dismay, “I just do not see why our young people are compromising with the world . . . .” The danger is not so much that our new breed of broad-minded preachers will mislead brethren by advocating worldly ways publicly, but it is by failing to oppose such ways!

These young princes think we should read a verse or two about “modesty” and let applications take care of themselves. One of these outspoken princes recently tried to discourage a faithful brother from printing an article written in good taste but dealing specifically with the sin of immodesty. “Such articles just stir up trouble,” he said, which sounds like Billy Graham’s reason for not being specific and direct on baptism: “It’s too controversial.” Of course, this approach is old hat to our modern-minded sages; they have been advocating that we read a verse or two about elders overseeing the flock, and leave applications to take care of themselves when preaching before our institutional brethren. Once in a while, brethren who are centralizing the work of the church through the Herald of Truth will find a fanatic who thinks it is wrong to preach via TV; instead of meeting the real issue, they will then caricature “the anti’s” as a bunch of nuts opposed to TV preaching. In like manner, instead of meeting the issue that when a woman wears a skirt much above the knee she cannot bend or sit or even walk modestly, our young princes caricature preachers who do plain preaching on modesty as a bunch of nuts running around with tape measures trying to find someone with a skirt an eighth inch above the knee.

A thousand such her-haws and wise cracks will not deter faithful men from rebuking the worldly spirit in its many specific manifestations today. Tobiah guffawed at Judah’s effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, “Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall” (Neh. 4:3). The faithful kept right on building. That is exactly what faithful preachers will do in regard to the plague of worldliness which is decimating the church in our day just keep right on fighting it, exposing it, rebuking it, and building on the solid foundation of God’s word.

The young princes of the new unity movement may not be the only ones neglecting to cry out against such sins as social drinking, immodesty, and dancing. Let all of us examine ourselves. Remember, God said through Hosea, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” It is “out of season” to preach on such sins; perhaps in some cases, other battles have turned the attention of brethren away from such matters. Let us not assume the new generation constantly coming up will automatically understand these things. Let us not be intimidated by frowns and hardness of hearts; we are not responsible to make people obey God, but we are responsible to teach them His will. But how long are we expected to teach on such things when “nearly every one is doing them today?” Isaiah asked a similar question. “Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate” (Isa. 6:11).

Until the Lord burns this old earth up, it will be the duty of faithful men to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” One thing is certain. The lawless, soft spirit of the new unity movement cannot and will not respond to such a call when it comes to popular sins of worldliness. It is time to say so. And, it is time, as always, for all of us to heed the words of Paul, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5). “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16-17).

Truth Magazine XIX: 43, pp. 684-685
September 11, 1975