Truth Magazine

By Tommy Glendol McClure

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus be-holding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:17-27; cf. Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-30).

Introduction

During the personal ministry of Jesus, questions were often asked of him by his hearers, disciples, and critics. In response to the rich young ruler’s question, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, Jesus pointed out the necessity of keeping the Law and because of his love for the young man, he told him the one thing he lacked to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus instructed the young ruler to “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The text tells us that this man rejected the instructions he sought from the Good Master ”And he was sad at the saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Jesus’ Illustration

Not only did the words of Jesus have a marked impact on the young ruler, but the disciples of Jesus who had witnessed this encounter were astonished at his words as well. Jesus then began to teach the impossibility of one entering heaven who trusts in riches. In verse 23 Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” The RSV renders this verse “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Similar language is used also in verse 24. Upon the astonishment of the disciples by this saying, Jesus in verse 25 uses a proverbial statement to illustrate this impossibility by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

The Needle’s Eye

Jesus uses the literal “camel” and the “needle’s eye” (Luke 18:25) to illustrate the absolute impossibility of one entering heaven who trusts in riches. The Greek word rendered “eye” in Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 is trumalia,..used of the eye of a needle” according to Vine. (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words 404). Some have attempted to soften this saying of Jesus and water it down by saying that the needle’s eye was only referring to a small passage way or small gate. Such a notion is unfounded! Listen to comments of various commentators: Vine says in his note on the word “needle,”  “The idea of applying `the needle’s eye’ to small gates seems to be a modem one; there is no ancient trace of it. The Lord’s object in the statement is to express the human impossibility and there is no need to endeavor to soften the difficulty by taking the needle to mean anything more than the ordinary instrument.” Mackie points out (Hastings’ Bible Dictionary) that “an attempt is sometimes made to ex-plain the words as a reference to the small door, a little over two feet square, in the heavy gate of a walled city. This mars the figure without materially altering the meaning, and receives no justification from the language and traditions of Palestine.” (Ibid., 788). J. W. McGarvey and Phillip Y. Pendelton in the Fourfold Gospel comment, “The needle’s eye here is the literal needle, and the expression was a proverbial one to indicate that which is absolutely impossible. Lord George Nugent (1845-6) introduced the explanation that Jesus referred to the two gates of a city, the large one for beast of burden, and the small one for foot passengers. This smaller one is now called The Needle’s Eye, but there is no evidence whatever that it was so called in our Savior’s time. In fact we have every reason to believe that this smaller gate received its name in late years because of the efforts of those who were endeavoring to soften this saying of Jesus” (547).

These attempts to soften this and other sayings of Jesus is not surprising. What Jesus and the apostles taught as being an impossibility, many religious rebels, renegades and even some of my brethren, try to make a possibility in an effort to justify their lawlessness! The impossibility of putting that camel through the needle’s eye can be set in contrast to other impossibilities we find revealed in the Scriptures!

Other Impossibilities

It is impossible for those who have not been baptized into Christ to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:4, “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Paul said that “we are buried with him in baptism” (Rom. 6:1-6); that those who “have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Recorded in the book of Acts are those who were baptized in the name of Christ in water  on Pentecost 3000 were baptized (Acts 2:1-47), the Samaritans (8:5-12), Simon (8:13), the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40), Saul (9:1-18; 22:1-6; 26:12-18), Cornelius and his household (10:1-48; 11:1-17), Lydia and her household (16:14, I5), the Philippian jailer (16:25-40); the Corinthians (18:8). Therefore, those who have not been baptized into Christ have not put on Christ and shall not enter the kingdom of God, denominational and Baptist doctrine notwithstanding!

It is impossible for those involved in religious error to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus denounced doing things religiously without his authority. He said in Matthew 7:21-23 , “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Jesus also identified the worship of doctrines and commandments of men as vain worship and proclaimed, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:9, 13). Religious error of any kind is iniquity in God’s sight and will prevent those involved in it from entering the kingdom of God. All things must be done by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17).

It is impossible for those living in an adulterous marriage to enter the Kingdom of God. Many have tried to soften the definite teaching of Jesus on the subject of divorce and remarriage in Matthew 19:9 where he said “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Even those who heard Jesus were shocked at this strict law of Jesus. Jesus in this en-counter with the Pharisees reaffirmed Genesis 2:24  one man for one woman for life with one exception for divorce  the innocent party is permitted to put away the guilty mate, only for the cause of fornication! Therefore when one divorces his mate for a cause other that fornication and marries another, he goes to the bed of adultery with the unlawful mate and Paul taught that the adulterer shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 13:4)!

It is impossible for the sexually immoral to enter the kingdom of God. The word “fornication” includes all sexual immorality. This word includes homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape, pedophilia, bestiality, whoredom, and adultery. This also includes the ungodly practice of “shacking up” that so many are involved in where a man and woman live together and are joined sexually without being married. Paul condemned those involved in sexual immorality as well as those involved in the list of sins in Romans 1:21-32; cf. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:15-20; and Colossians 3:5, 6.

It is impossible for the liar to enter kingdom of God. John the revelator said “…and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). The lake which burneth with fire and brimstone is far from the kingdom of heaven, it is eternal ruin!

It is impossible for those consumed with worldly pleasures to enter the kingdom of God. Paul said in Philippians 3: I8, 19, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” Sadly to say, many brethren are in this condition and this truth can be applied to those brethren who more interested in stuffing the stomach rather than feeding the soul (cf. John 6:26-37).

It is impossible for the covetous person to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus in response to a request to be the divider of an inheritance said to the man who made the request “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Jesus then spake the parable of the rich fool who was not rich toward God, neither cared nor had any concern for his fellow man. He was only interested in keeping all he had and canning all he could get (Luke 12:13-30). Jesus called the man a fool! This man lost his life, favor with God, his soul and all the worldly treasures he laid up for himself. That very night his soul was required and Jesus said in verse 21, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Are those who are miserly, grudging givers or not givers at all, rich toward God? Would one of this nature be pleasing to God? All people like the rich fool, including covetous brethren, will loose their souls because of the desire of worldly pleasure and desire to satisfy the lusts of the flesh (1 John 2:15-17). Think about it!

It is impossible for the unrighteous or disobedient to enter the kingdom of God. It should be obvious to all who are honestly trying to live a godly life, that the there is no end (ad infinitum) to things that could be mentioned that will keep one from entering the kingdom of God. What about the gossiper (Pss. 16:28; 26:20; Eph. 4:31)? What about the hypocrite (Matt. 23:1-30; Luke 12:2; Jas. 3:17)? What about those negligent in their service to God (Matt. 25:1-3)? What about the rebellious (1 Sam. 15:23)? What about those who engaged in addictive practices such as smoking, drinking alcohol socially, illegal drugs, gambling, and pornography? And what about those with the wrong attitude toward the truth and preachers of it? In Galatians 5:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-19, Paul lists numerous sins that are “works of the flesh.” In answer to his own rhetorical question, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not enter the kingdom of God?”, he answered with the warning, “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9, 10).

Conclusion

Some teach and many are deceived into believing that such people will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul’s teaching says that this notion is not so! The truth is, heaven is reserved only for the obedient child of God whose faith has endured “the trial of fire” (1 Pet. 1:3-9). Let these Apostolic words sink deep into our hearts, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world” (Tit. 2:11, 12). To attempt to put the ungodly, the disobedient, the alien sinner, or an erring brother into the eternal kingdom of God (heaven), is like trying to put that camel “through the eye of the needle.” An Impossibility! “Be not deceived” my friends and brethren!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 20-22
April May 1, 1997

You don’t know me, but I know you. You are the woman who gets up early, gets ready for work, gets the kids on the bus, drops your toddler/infant/and or preschooler off at the baby sitter or day care. Then you put in a full-day of work, putting up with cranky bosses, irritable co-workers, and sometimes obnoxious customers. Then you pick up your children, go home and put in another day of work  getting supper, doing laundry, washing dishes, bathing kids, getting clothes ready for the next day, helping kids with their homework … the list goes on and on! Then you get up the next day and start it all over again! Saturday rolls around and you try to catch up on all the things that have gotten behind, dusting, laundry, etc. Sunday is hectic enough as it is  trying to get everyone ready for Bible Study, have a nice “Sunday dinner” and try to sneak in a nap before evening services. Then it’s Monday morning again and the whole cycle begins again!

Now ask yourself honestly … “How much time am I spending with my children and husband?”

Like I said, I know you . . . the reason I do is because I was just like you … I did all those things and more! I told myself “I have to work.” “We can’t make it without what I bring in!” But when it came down to it, I had to ask my-self, “Is it really worth it?”

Consider the following: If you work a 9-5 job, Monday through Friday, your child is spending 47 and ‘h hours per week with a sitter or school teacher and only 25-27 waking hours with you. And that is if you are spending all day Saturday and Sunday with them! So ask yourself, “Who is raising my child?” “Who is having the most influence on him?” I thought I was O.K. because I had their grandmother taking care of them, but when it comes down to it nobody can raise your child the way you would have them to.

Now I know that there are some mothers out there that really do have to work. And I am not directing this toward them. I would ask you to ask yourself the questions that my husband and I discussed before we decided that I should stay home to be a full-time wife and mother.

How many times do you eat out a week? I know that we ate out a lot more when I was working  the reason was that I was too exhausted after work to even think about cooking.

Do your children wear new, name-brand clothes? I found that we could get by just as easily with used clothing from resale shops and yard sales.

How many times do you go to the movies? Go to ball games? Go bowling? Golf? Tanning? Exercise classes? How much money do you (or your spouse) spend on little “extras” such as fishing equipment, hunting supplies, craft supplies, books, magazine subscriptions …?

You don’t have to give up everything to be able to stay at home. You just have to learn to cut corners. My husband and I found out that it seemed like the more money we made, the more we “had to have.” We have learned to be content with the more simpler things in life. Instead of going to the movies, we might rent a tape (or better yet borrow one from a friend), and have popcorn at home. We have learned to leave the TV off more and play board games, or even have a Bible study.

You can go on a picnic, take the kids to the park, go for a walk. The list goes on and on. Years from now your kids are more likely to remember the time you spent with them and the little things more than their designer tennis shoes or pizza for supper. Please take the time to really reevaluate your priorities. After all God has given us these blessings. He expects us to take care of them, and make sure that they know his will (Deut. 6:7-9). And how can we truly bring our children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” if other people are spending more time with them than we are?

So I ask you dear friend, who is raising your children?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 7
April May 1, 1997

By P.J. Casebolt

“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized” (Acts 8:36)?

At this point in the eunuch’s life, he may have been hindered from being baptized by a number of things. Divine intervention could have hindered this baptism, other people could have hindered it, the eunuch could have hindered it him-self, or Philip could have refused to baptize the eunuch. And if sectarian preachers are correct in their claim that baptism is not necessary, that unbelievers (infants) should be baptized, or that sprinkling is just as good as emersion, then some of these possible hindrances should have prevailed.

But, an angel of the Lord and the Holy Spirit had sent Philip to preach Christ to the eunuch, and that preaching included baptism. No one else was hindering the eunuch from being baptized (no sectarian preachers were present), Philip was ready to baptize the eunuch, there was sufficient water for baptism, and the eunuch not only believed in Christ, he was willing to confess with his mouth the faith which was in his heart (cf. Rom. 10:9, 10).

The apostles were sent into all the world to preach the gospel and baptize believers (Mark 16:15, 16). Later, Saul of Tarsus was chosen to be an apostle and became a party to this same commission (Acts 9:15). Yet, on one occasion, Paul and his companions “were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,” and when they endeavored to preach in Bithynia, “the Spirit suffered them not” (Acts 16:6, 7). But, when Paul received an invitation to preach in

Macedonia, Luke said “that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them”(Acts 16:9, 10).

“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (1 Thess. 2:18). We may reasonably conclude that the Lord, the Thessalonians, and Paul himself approved of this effort to strengthen and edify the saints at Thessalonica, but as Paul said, “Satan hindered us.” Of course, Satan has ministers who do his bidding just as the Lord has servants who do the Lord’s will (2 Cor. 11:13-15). By some means, Satan hindered Paul from visiting the saints at Thessalonica, at least on this one occasion.

It is possible for us to make decisions which hinder the gospel of Christ, either intentionally or unintentionally. Paul decided not to exercise his liberty to “live of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14), as far as his preaching at Corinth was concerned, “lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:12). At the time, Paul said he pursued this course and “robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service” (2 Cor. 11:8). Yet, some of the Corinthians did not appreciate Paul’s sacrifice, and the apostle later said, “forgive me this wrong” (2 Cor. 12:13).

In a given matter, how can we know if we are being hindered by the Lord or by Satan? If the answer to that question is unclear at the time, let us make a decision based on the best knowledge we have, turn our efforts elsewhere, and continue to serve the Lord.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 11 p. 4
June 5, 1997

By Donald P. Ames

In Hebrews 6:18, the writer speaks of Christians as those “who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” As we look at the world around us, the news is full of accounts of refugees who are fleeing from one country to another, often at great risk of life and limb. Maybe we can learn some important lessons from these people that can help us in our role as refugees as well.

Refugees do not regard their material possessions as their greatest treasures. They are willing to leave home, land, and nearly everything else behind, because they are after something far more important  be it political or religious freedom, or safety from dangers in their old country. Material things can only deter them and hinder their movement to achieve those goals. We need to beware that we do not “set our mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). Instead, like some of the other refugees before us, we need to desire a better, heavenly country  a city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10, 16). Attachment to things of this world will only cause us to perish rather than commence our journey (1 John 2:15-17). Or, in pausing to dwell on those memories, cause us to fail to achieve what we sought (cf. Gen. 19:26).

Refugees will also take note of others who have made the journey before. They seek to profit by their success, and to learn by their mistakes. Hebrews 11 is set forth as an example of some of the refugees who have successfully made the journey. We are encouraged! It can be done! Don’t give up (Heb. 3:12)! And hopefully, we can also profit from the mistakes of others (1 Cor. 10:1-11). Such information, how-ever, can only help us if we take the time, learn, and apply it (Phil. 4:9; Heb. 13:7).

Refugees realize the journey is fraught with danger and discouragement, yet they set upon it with the hopes of achieving their destination. They know it will require great perseverance if they are to be successful. Living a Christian life is not an easy task  nor always a pleasant one. Paul warns us we will face persecutions (2 Tim. 3:12), and Peter says to expect mistreatment even from some of our former country-men (1 Pet. 4:4). Jesus also warns some of them will turn against us (Matt. 10:35-37). It may require overcoming many obstacles (Jas. 1:12; 1 Cor. 10:13), and even cost some of us our lives (Rev. 2:10; Acts 7). It will also re-quire great perseverance on our part as well (Rom. 5:3-5; 2 Pet. 1:6; Rom. 12:12). We cannot give up at every set back or stumbling point, but must “set our mind on things above” (Col. 3:2). And thus we pursue our destination, because the goal is worth it all (2 Tim. 4:7-8; Phil. 1:23)!

Refugees also learn they have to choose friends care-fully. All cannot be trusted, and some cannot be trusted at all. If someone is weak, ready to betray their efforts  or even eager to do so for material gain, they may have to part company to achieve their destination. Some would readily betray us for their own purposes (2 Pet. 2:18-20; 1 Cor. 15:33). Some have no intentions of helping us, but are bent on our destruction (Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 3:1-4). We must identify these and avoid them, or our journey will have no hope of success!

Yet there is also a comradeship amongst those who flee as refugees. They pull together, trying to help each other, and know their success partly depends on their joint efforts. As Christians, we are to help the weak (1 Thess. 5:14), en-courage and admonish one another (Heb. 10:24-25); and to pull together, each doing what he can, as we strive for our goal (1 Cor. 1:10-13; 12:120. We should want all of us to get there, if possible (Gal. 6:1-2), knowing our own efforts are also helped by the efforts of others as well (Rom. 1:11-12; Phil. 4:3, 16). Failure to have such comradeship may lead to our own downfall on this journey (1 John 3:16-20).

And, finally, when they reach their goal, there is much rejoicing  even if they don’t know everything that yet lies ahead of them. As Christians, we may not know all the glories of heaven, or the details of what we will be doing there. But we are excited, because we do know it is well worth the effort! And when we achieve our goal, there is rejoicing in heaven by those who hear of it (Luke 15:7). Those waiting for us will rejoice (Phil. 2:16). And we will also have great rejoicing (Matt. 25:21). Let us never lose sight of that goal, but as struggling refugees, press on that we may achieve our destination, even though the cost at times may appear to be great. Remember, we are seeking a better country and will be blessed for it (Rev. 14:13)!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 11 p. 8-9
June 5, 1997