Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

From Maryland: “What kind of kingdom was the thief on the cross thinking about – a material, earthly kingdom or a spiritual kingdom as Christ taught his kingdom would be? Was the thief better informed about the nature of Christ’s kingdom than the apostles were? (Read Acts 1:6). Was the thief a Jew? Did the thief ask to be saved, or did he ask to be remembered.?”

The Text In Question

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Does not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:39-43).

Response To Questions

1. Nature Of The Kingdom In Thief’s Mind: Though it may not be possible to determine with absolute certainty and finality, I believe the thief partially conceived a spiritual kingdom. He may not have possessed a perfect purview of the prophetic kingdom as we know the church (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:5; Jn. 18:36), but he perceived it as being spiritual in some sense or to some degree. To what extent did the thief contemplate the spiritual nature of the kingdom?

If the thief had had a purely, physical, material kingdom in mind, he never would have said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” First, the apostles, with a materialistic concept believed the physical death of Jesus would doom their kingdom hopes. Is this not evident in Peter’s rebuke? After Jesus prophesied of His demise at Jerusalem, Peter said, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee” (Matt. 16:21-23). Yes, the Lord also said He would be raised, but they did not hear this (Mk. 16:11; Lk. 24:11). Second, the disciples on the way to Emmaus thought physical death was the end of the physical kingdom “we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel” (Lk. 24:19-21). In effect, “His death ruins our dreams of a physical kingdom.” Third, the thief knew Jesus was going to die (vv. 40, 41). As such, he could not have conceived of a strictly worldly kingdom, for Jesus was dying, not coming into a political kingdom of pomp and power. So, he understood something above a purely physical kingdom. That he comprehended a spiritual reign and rule in the hearts of men I do not believe.

How much of a true conception of the kingdom’s essence did the thief have? I do not know. And I suspect that you know only a little more than that!

2. The Thief Better Informed: Without contradicting the first section of this response, let me reply, “I think not.” One may speak what he does not fully appreciate., Peter’s perfect confession of Christ appears inconsistent with his imperfect kingdom conception (Cf. Matt. 16:16; 16:21, 22). Peter could say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life,” and “Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jn. 6:68, 69). Yet, he could also be found carnally contending for a chief seat in an earthly kingdom (Matt. 20:20-24; Luke 22:24). He spoke of the universal scope of the promise of the gospel, but it took the events of Acts 10 and 11 to divine for him the meaning of “every creature” (Mk. 16:15; Acts 2:39). Even the prophets of antiquity spake that which they could not view through the veil (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

The thief in his dying moments spoke without realizing the full import and impact of his request. To be sure, he did not speak as the Spirit gave utterance, but he spoke of a kingdom that was not necessarily vanquished by the death of Jesus. This was more than the disciples had grasped (Matt. 16:21-23; Lk. 24:19-21). The apostles evidently had the ability to know more perfectly the character of Christ’s kingdom than did the thief. To say, however, they were in a favored position to know is not to say they necessarily understood to the degree of their opportunity. They had every reason to be far above the thief in their knowledge of the kingdom, but the reasons do not establish the proposition. The truth is they did not know as one may judge they should have known. Yes, (Read Acts 1:6).

3. A Jewish Thief. Let me ask our querist, not for an answer, but for the sake of thought, “Was he a Gentile’?” Would the Romans have executed a Gentile on the cross for thievery? As I understand it, the cross was reserved for the vilest criminals. Is it likely that a fellow Gentile would be crucified for thievery? Is it not more probable that a Jewish thief might suffer this dread death rather than a Gentile? “. . . and for the Jews Pilate had only contempt” (Blailock, The Century of the New Testament, p. 90). I imagine he was a Jew, but I am not disposed to debate the matter.

4. Remembered Or Saved: Remembered, obviously; but what did he mean by “remember me’?” He was not asking the Lord simply to think about him. “Remember me” is equivalent to a request for future favor, for consideration in His kingdom. The thief knows he will soon die. Can any believe he was merely asking to be thought about after his death.? No, he was asking not to be overlooked in the kingdom. (Thus, whether the term “Lord” should be in the text or not, he saw Jesus as a divine being.) He does not ask to sit on the right hand or the left. He asks that he be not forgotten. This means, “Tender me some recognition when you come in your kingdom.” It does not seem out of order, therefore, to place the idea of salvation in the thief’s plea.

Conclusion: These questions are unusual and interesting, but let us be slow to become anxious over them. Regardless of the thief’s thoughts or the extent of his knowledge, not to mention his race, we can know the nature of the kingdom, and we can know how to be citizens and subjects of it. What the thief knew or did not know affects us very little and should concern us even less.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:48, p. 10
October 10, 1974

By 

Franklin T. Puckett will teach a special series of lessons on “Calvinism and Modern Adaptations” for two weeks this spring from February 25 through March 8 in Florence, Alabama. Young preachers may find a particular interest in these lessons.

Brother Puckett will deal with the traditional doctrines of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P., etc.), misconceptions about what Calvinism teaches, the danger of it in various denominational writings and the place of Calvinistic thinking in certain current problems and discussions such as imputed righteousness, grace, indwelling of the Holy Spirit, etc.

The suggestion for such a study was made last spring as Brother Puckett finished an in-depth class in the first five chapters of the book of Romans which was attended by over two dozen preachers who live within 100 miles of Florence. This class was a three hour study every Friday morning for three months (A study beginning at Romans 6 will resume the first week in January with an additional class in Beginning Greek which will be taught on Friday afternoon. These classes will run from January through March). Because of that class last year and the enthusiasm of the students, arrangements were made to start this additional concentrated two week study with intensive twice-a-day sessions for those who would be interested.

Brethren around Florence who are aware of the financial problems of younger preachers are willing to open up their homes to those who write and make definite plans to come. Some 14-16 men can be housed this way. Breakfast and supper will be provided in some homes. Also, there will be some sleeping accommodations for men who would stay together in a lakeside home and buy their own meals. Arrangements can be made to accept the invitations into these homes by writing Franklin T. Puckett, P.O. Box 1166, Florence, Alabama 35630 (Phone: 205-766-6179). Please specify which type of these accommodations you would prefer.

Classes will begin on Tuesday, February 25, and end on Friday, March 7, which will assist anyone who needs to come from a distance. If a question should arise about the value of these studies and whether it would be worth it to a local congregation to allow their preacher time to be gone for this, we suggest the congregation direct an inquiry to Brother Puckett to determine the intensive nature of these studies as well as the practical and current use of this material in a local work.

Brother Puckett is supported by the College View Church of Christ in Florence and is free to travel for meetings and to teach as he sees the need. This is a brief opportunity for a few young men to study with him.

Harold V. Corner, 521 Cumberland Street Florence, Alabama 35630

Truth Magazine, XVIII:48, p. 9
October 10, 1974

By Gilbert W. Holt

The subject of salvation is the greatest subject that has ever engaged the minds of men. To be saved with the redeemed of all ages, to be free from all of earth’s sorrows (Rev. 21:4), to gather around the great white throne of God in heaven and sing His praise for all eternity (Rev. 14:3), to eat of the Tree of Life and drink of the River of Life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1-2), and to live forever will indeed by blissful. On the other hand it is sad to know that all will not go to heaven. In fact the Bible reveals in Matthew 7:13-14 that the majority will choose the way that leads to eternal destruction. To me the thought of being lost is the most terrible thing that we could think about. To be separated from the Lord and the glory of His power forever (2 Thess. 1:9); to be cast into “outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of, teeth” (Matt. 25:30), to hear the Lord say, “depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), to have to live in eternity in a place where the “worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mk. 9:44-48), to be in a place where “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and have no rest day nor night” (Rev. 14:11), is indeed horrifying. Yet, my friends, these two places that we have described are a reality. One day the Lord will come again to judge the world (Matt. 25:31-46). On this great day we will hear Him say, “well done good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21), or “depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). Which will it be for you? God has set salvation on the one hand and damnation on the other. Man whom God created is a free moral agent, therefore, he can choose his own eternal destiny. If he chooses to obey God, he has chosen salvation (Heb. 5:9); but if he chooses to disobey God, he has chosen damnation (Col. 3:6).

God Wants Everyone To Choose Salvation

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isa. 59:1). “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jno. 3:16). “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

Christ Wants Man To Be Saved

“For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). “For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). “Being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). Christ came to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

The Holy Spirit Wants All To Be Saved

In John 16:13 we learn that the Holy Spirit revealed the plan of salvation unto us. In Ephesians 4:30 we also learn that the Holy Spirit is grieved when we reject the plan of salvation which he has revealed to us.

Christians Want Others To Be Saved

Christians are supposed to be soul winners for Christ (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:14-17).

The Devil And His Angels Want You To Be Lost

“The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Yes, my friends, Satan will do everything in his power to cause you to disobey God. He will tell you that it is too hard to live the Christian life, that you should not deprive yourself of the pleasures of sin. His philosophy is eat, :drink, and be merry for tomorrow you die. But dear reader, to die unprepared to meet your God means eternal damnation.

Our Plea

Sinner friend do you not want to go to heaven? If so, why do you not obey the Gospel of Christ, let God save you and the Lord will add you to his church? The gospel plan of salvation is simple:

1. One must hear or be taught the gospel (Jno. 6:44-45; Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 10:17).

2. Man must believe (Mk. 16:15-16; Jno. 8:24; Rom. 10:17: Heb. 11:6).

3. Man must repent (Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30; 3:19; 2:38).

4. Man must confess Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37).

5. Man must be baptized (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27; 1 Pet. 3:21).

After obeying from the heart these commands we must “Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18). “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Be faithful in our service unto death and he will give us a crown of life (Rev. 2:10). The beautiful place that is called heaven will be our eternal abode.

Truth Magazine, XVIII:48, p. 6
October 10, 1974

By Cecil Willis

The Bible is a book given by God for the express purpose of directing man from earth to heaven. Its message is of such importance that without faithful obedience to it, one will be lost eternally in the lake of fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. It is a Book that must be understood above all others. So much depends on one understanding what it has to say.

And yet one who is aware of these facts is almost driven to despair when he looks about him and observes the world’s unconcern and apathy toward God’s holy Word. People are pathetically ignorant of God’s Word. Bibles are rotting to pieces instead of being worn out. We live in an age in which there are more Bibles than ever before, but with our abundance of Bibles, knowledge has not been proportionately increased. Our children, in many instances, are much better acquainted with movie stars or passing popular singers, or with showmen than with the apostles. They are more interested in the new dance step than the law of the Lord. We may be living in an age of enlightenment in some ways, but in others, ours is an age of pitch-black darkness. We have refused to let the light of God’s word enlighten the dark recesses of our lives. Truthfully, at times I feel embarrassed for people. While in one’s home, or often while teaching a class or preaching a sermon, a certain scripture reference is cited. When I see these people start thumbing through their Bibles hoping that somehow their finger might accidentally cause the Book to fall open to the desired chapter, and when I can tell they have no idea whether the reference is in the Old Testament or the New, about all I know to do is act as though I am unaware of their problem, and hope with them that somehow they might stumble upon the passage. When one is not even acquainted enough with his Bible to know where to look in it for a given passage, he certainly should not try to place the blame for his ignorance upon the Lord.

Yet this is exactly what many would like to do. People try to excuse their lack of knowledge by saying the Lord clothed the message in such difficult language that it cannot be understood. But, the Bible, is written in the very simplest of language. Compare its simplicity with the density and ambiguity and meaninglessness of some of the modern philosophical works. Even the Bible declares its simplicity. Isaiah says, “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein” (Isa. 35:8). This way of holiness is to be so plain that even a foolish man shall not err therein. In the New Testament, we read that our Lord said, “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself” (Jno. 7:17). This statement indicates the Lord’s will is clear enough that one can understand it. It is true that I do not know all that there is to be known concerning God’s truth, but God’s way of salvation is so plain that we all can understand it.

But there must yet be some reasons why people know so little about the word of God. So let us reflect upon some of the hindrances to a proper understanding of the Scriptures. Of course, there would be no value in pointing out some of these stumbling blocks to knowledge were we not determined to remove them after recognizing them.

1. In the passage we just read, we find stated one thing that hinders people in understanding the will of God. Read the verse once more: “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself” (Jno. 7:17). Jesus says in order for one to understand His teaching, he must will to do it. There is no promise that one desiring merely an academic knowledge of God’s word will be granted it. One must desire to know so that he might do God’s will. And if one wills to do his will, this scripture says he shall know. So one thing hindering people in their knowledge of God’s will is their unwillingness to do his will.

2. Another thing contributing to the Biblical ignorance of people is that they expect something more difficult. They are looking for something unintelligible, and incomprehensible. And thus looking for something difficult, they overlook the simplicity of God’s message to mankind. It is as if one, expecting a question to have an intricate and complicated answer, is prone to overlook completely the obviously apparent answer. The Scriptures teach that God’s revelation to mankind is for all men. In Matt. 28:19, Jesus commands that the gospel be preached to all nations. In a parallel statement of the same commission, as Mark records it, Jesus commands that the Message be preached, not only to every nation, but to “every creature” of every nation. The gospel is not a message for a select few. It is not only for intellectuals, but for all men. Thus it must be a message simple enough for all men to understand it. So we should not approach the Scriptures looking for something difficult and mysterious.

3. Another thing that has contributed greatly to the present misunderstanding of the Bible is the fact that people approach the Bible with a preconceived notion as to what they shall find. They open their Bible, not opening it to see what God has said, but to see if perhaps they can find where God said something that looks a little bit like something they have said or believed. They only use the Bible to attempt to prove what they already believe, rather than studying it to believe and do what It says. The Bible furnishes us with some examples of the fallacy of this method. Back in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 5, we find the historical record of a man named Naaman, the captain of the armies of Syria, being healed of the dreaded disease of leprosy. Naaman had been told that Elisha, the prophet of God could heal him. But when Naaman went to see the prophet, he already had a mental picture of how the prophet would heal him. Naaman thought the prophet would surely make a big show out of his healing. But he did not. Instead, he sent a messenger out to Naaman; Elisha did not even go out himself. The messenger told Naaman to go dip seven times in the river Jordan. And the Bible says, “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11). And because the prophet did not do as he thought he would, Naaman almost refused to do what he said. In fact, had it not been for the rebuke of his servant, certainly he would not have obeyed. He wanted to be healed, but he wanted to prescribe the conditions. And if the prophet of God did not meet his self-prescribed conditions, he just would not obey. Many today are like Naaman. They want to be healed of their sins. They want their sins forgiven. But they want to dictate the conditions. And if the Lord does not do it just like they thought He would, they refuse to obey His command. If the Lord’s plan is not their plan, they will have no part of it. We sinners are noton position to dictate to God the terms of our salvation. When you open your Bible, be sure you do so with an open mind. Be sure you are seeking what the Lord has said instead of seeking to have the Lord confirm something you have already believed or said.

This very fallacy was what caused the Jews to reject Christ. In Jno. l:11, we read, “He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.” Christ came as a Jew and unto the Jews. But the Jews rejected Him. Why? It was simply because He was not exactly what they wanted. They had thought that the coming Messiah would be one that would sit upon David’s vacated throne in Jerusalem, and would revive the Jewish nation, enabling them to conquer their suppressing enemies. But Jesus came not as a ruling monarch, but as a crucified Savior. He came with a kingdom, it is true, but one which he described as being “not of this world” (Jno. 18:36). These were not the Jews’ expectations. He did not appear as they had thought He would. Thus the Jews crucified the only Savior they will ever have. What caused this? It was simply that Jesus did not meet up with the standards they had set up for Him. He was indeed all the Old Testament prophets had said He would be, but He was not all the Jews thought He would be. Thus they nailed Him to the cross.

Let us be sure that we do not commit the same fallacy. Let us not stumble over the words and laws of Christ simply because they do not appear exactly as we had anticipated. Let us employ the whole of our reasoning faculties in understanding everything God has said, forgetting every preconceived notion, and having understood, then dedicate the whole of our will and life to doing what He has instructed.

5. Another reason people know so little about the Bible is because of faulty study habits. In fact, it might be a more accurate statement of the situation if we were to say that people ,know so little about the Bible because of no study habits. Many Bible readers are not Bible students. One can repeat words without having seriously meditated on what he has read. Also many people read the Bible spasmodically. Perhaps today they will read a chapter. Then maybe two or three weeks later they will pick up the Book again, and

continue their reading. One could not read any other book with any degree of success in such a way. Neither can one learn the Biblical message in this way.

Some time ago, while holding a meeting in Florida, a lady told me how she studied the Bible. She said she just let her right thumb be her guide. She picked up her Bible, flipped through the pages, and wherever her right thumb happened to, open the Bible, there she began reading. Suppose you try that “method” in reading a novel. How long would it take you to grasp the plot of the story? A man must have real and reliable study habits, and then diligently study.

The consequences of being ignorant of some things are not so grave, but the Bible is one Boox of which one must not be ignorant. For it “contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the travelers’ map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibilities, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.” (Author is unknown to me)

Truth Magzine, XVIII:48, p. 3-5
October 10, 1974