Truth Magazine

By Jeff DeVaney

It seems that, as time passes, people are becoming lazy. Most tend to seek the easy way out in the things they do. This is due perhaps to the technological advances that we have around us today. Most of the things we have are in-tended to make life easier. There is nothing wrong with having the modern conveniences of life. But often these cause us to become lazy in our effort. No longer do we have to put forth hard, diligent labor; we become idle and slothful. Of course, some become more lazy than others.

Those who work in factories often see this very thing. It seems that some who are employed tend to take the easy way out and allow others to do the work for them. They have the idea that they will do the least that they can to get by. This is something that most of us learn at an early age. As children we usually did just enough to make mom happy so that we could go out and play. When we were in school, we did only what we had to do to receive the grade we wanted. We learned to do the least that we could and get by.

Sadly, this mind set is making its way into the church. There are many Christians who want to serve Jesus but at the same time, they only want to do the least that they can. We have so many conveniences in our everyday lives that we want the easy way out in serving Christ. We desire salvation, but we do not want to put forth any diligent effort to receive it. In Matthew 19:16-22, we can read about one who had this idea. The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what commandments he needed to keep. Notice what he was doing. The ruler wanted to know what was the least that he could do and have eternal life. We commend the young man for his desire to receive eternal life, but he leaves the impression that he wanted the easy way out. This man went away in sorrow because Jesus told him to do more than he wanted. This man wanted to do the least that he could and please God. Since this tends to be the mind set of a majority of Christians, I believe that we need to understand what is the least that we can do and please him.

So what is the least that we can do? Jesus tells us in Luke 17:7-10: “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, `Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, `We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.- Jesus shows us that the least that we can do is “. . . all those things which we are commanded!” He says that the least we can do is the most we can do! Read that again. The least that we can do is the most that we can do! God requires us to do all that he has commanded to the best of our abilities.

God is not pleased when we give him our least. He expects more from us than that! Consider the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. We can see that five virgins did as much as they could do to be ready for the marriage; while the other five did what we could classify as their least. We know that the five who entered the marriage were those who made adequate preparations. Those who did the most that they could! Jesus tells us to do more than our least in Matthew 5:38-42. He says, “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Jesus expects us to go that second mile in our efforts. He demands that we put forth our best effort! Jesus blessed the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44, not because of the amount she put into the treasury, but because she did the most that she could! This is what God desires and demands of us!

When we think of the least that we can do in serving God, it’s simple. We need to do all that God has given us to do. This is exactly what God expects of us. God has given us commands to follow and he is pleased only when we obey those commands. John wrote in 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” There is nothing hard or difficult about obeying God and keeping His will. His commands are not a burden for us to bear. Now, there will at times, be commands that seem difficult, but we can keep them because God does not require us to do that which we cannot do. God bases our accountability to him, in part, to our ability! As Jesus taught, we are to do all that he commands, because we are able!

Too many Christians desire the easy way out. They want to allow others to do the work while they do as little as possible. Often this causes them to become lukewarm. And we remember the Lord’s warning to those who were lukewarm in Revelation 3:14-22. Often, we teach that God does not accept half-hearted service. God wants us to put forth our best effort in all that we do. Paul stated, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12).

We would all do well to remember Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 9:6. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” We must be sowing bountifully and doing all that we can to the best of our ability! This is how we please God and become accepted by him. The least that we can do for God is the most we can do! So, let us deter-mine to all that we can; it is, after all, our duty!

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 12-13
April 18, 1996

By James W. Adams

We would not bring you back again to us,

Brave Soldiers of Redemption’s bloody Cross,

But wish for yesterday, we often do

As we remember you and mourn our loss.

Churches which you served yet love, work, and live.

You would be proud of them if you were here.

The truth which you preached so powerfully,

To them, has been the answer to all fear.

We remember yet the lessons which you taught,

And how they filled our hearts with Heaven’s light.

We remember how they moved us to obey,

Firmly, to take our stand for truth and right.

Today, we reap rich fruit from seed you sowed:

True products of your brave and noble fight.

We remember the sacrifices which you made

That we might darkness flee and walk in light.

And so, by reason of your “work of faith,”

The “love” that made “your labor” true,

The “patient hope” that made you persevere.

We praise our Lord! as we remember you.

[Written in memory of the many great preachers of the “Ancient Gospel” whom I have known, heard, and loved. Based on Paul’s statements: “We give thanks to God al-ways for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father” (1 Thess. 1:2, 3).]

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 11
April 18, 1996

By Donnie V. Rader

Previously we have defined meekness and considered the passages that demand that we be meek as the Lord was meek. In this study we will list some areas wherein we need to apply meekness. Remember that meekness involves: (a) humility toward God and man, (b) submission to God’s will, (c) accepting the discipline we receive, (d) gentleness and mildness, and (e) self-control or inner mastery or strength.

Receive The Word With Meekness

James wrote, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). This means that we will accept and do what the word says. We will not question and doubt. We will believe and do. None of us is wise enough to sit in judgment on God and question what his word says (Rom. 11:34). Therefore, with meekness (humility and submission) we accept what God says.

It is not uncommon to see people who pass what the word of God says through the process of human reasoning to see if they think it is acceptable or not. If it doesn’t fit their own wisdom, they reject it. That doesn’t just happen among the denominations either!

One who is meek is teachable. He is willing to listen and be taught. He has an open mind (Acts 17:11). One who is meek never resents being shown the truth.

Teach With Meekness

Paul instructed the young preacher Timothy saying, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God per–adventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25, Emphasis mine DVR).

As we give our defense for our faith, we are to do so with meekness. Peter said, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

One who seeks to teach others must himself submit to the message that is taught (1 Tim. 4:16). The Jews didn’t have much success in trying to change the Gentiles while they were guilty of the same sins they condemned (Rom. 2).

He must not be an arrogant, know-it-all as he seeks to instruct others. Rather, he must be open to learning himself. We must not confuse confidence as a teacher with arrogance. We must be confident of our ability as well as the message. But that is not necessarily arrogance.

Furthermore, as we teach we may have to endure some hardness as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). There will be times we will take a little heat for what we have taught. Learning to bear with that is part of meekness.

Correct Sin With Meekness

When a brother or sister is guilty of sin, those who are spiritual are instructed to “restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). As we go to our fellow Christian, we cannot approach them with a “better-than-thou” (self-righteous) attitude. We cannot afford to look down our noses at them as to say, “How dare you to be guilty of sin.”

Our approach will be more successful if we: (1) are humble, (2) realize it could happen to us, (3) don’t leave the impression that we think we are guiltless [1 John 1:8] and (4) show our love and compassion. This doesn’t suggest that we take a soft approach to sin. It just means that we deal with it and the sinner with a spirit of meekness.

Deal With Problems And

Disagreements With Meekness

In Ephesians, Paul urges all Christians to strive toward unity. In the fourth chapter he mentions some of the attitudes that will help promote unity. He writes, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2-3).

Problems and disagreements can disrupt the unity that a local church enjoys. If we all had meekness in dealing with church problems and disagreements, few if any divisions would occur. With meekness the first question will always be “What does the Lord want?” or “What is right?” The question will not be, “What do I want?” With meekness we will control our tongues (Jas. 1:19, 26). The tongue causes many, if not most, of the problems and disagreements in local churches.

With meekness we will not insist on our “rights.” Rather, we will waive those rights for the sake of the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 9). With meekness we will not easily come to blows with those we disagree with.

Meekness As A Characteristic

Of Our Whole Life

Meekness is not merely a “tool” that we pull out when we are teaching or being taught, etc. It is a quality that should characterize our life. All Christians, not just some should be meek. The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). All Christians are instructed to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering” (Col. 3:12).

In another article we will focus on temperance and see areas wherein we need to apply it.

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 18-19
April 18, 1996

By Larry Ray Hafley

Denominational preachers tell us to put our faith “in the man, not the plan.” Our trust and belief, they say, must be in the person of Christ and not in any pattern or system of faith. Thus, they make a distinction between love and loyalty to the Lord and obedience to his word. Frankly, this is done in an attempt to escape the plain words of the Savior which require that one be baptized in order to be saved (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16).

In our last installment, we noted certain negative arguments which show that those who did not obey the word of God did not trust or believe in the person of God. We shall now note some positive arguments which show that the saved believer is the obedient believer. We shall see that one must obey the plan of “the man, Christ Jesus,” before he is said to believe in him.

Bible Cases, Bible Illustrations Positive Case Studies:

1. Belief in John the Baptist – “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (Luke 7:29, 30). Jesus taught that the baptism of John was “from heaven,” from God. Then, he said, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not” (Matt. 21:23-32).

First, to reject the word which came “from heaven,” by refusing John’s baptism, was to repudiate the counsel, purpose, or plan of God, and to fail to justify the person of God. Second, John’s word was described by the Lord as “the way (plan or pattern) of righteousness.” Third, the result of rejecting John’s teaching that they should be baptized was the same as not believing or accepting the person of John (“ye believed him not”). The principle is established. Therefore, if we reject the baptism of Jesus, if we refuse to be baptized upon his command, it may be said of us, “ye believed him not.” Did Jesus come to us “in the way of righteousness”? Certainly, he did (Matt. 3:15; John 16:8; Rom. 10:1-10; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 1:8). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). As we learned from the baptism of John, if we reject these words of the Lord, we also reject the person of the Lord.

2. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only be-gotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage, we are told, tells us to believe “in him,” to trust him, and not lean upon some plan of salvation. Yes, but observe that the believer in this context is the one who “doeth truth” (John 3:21). At the conclusion of the chapter, John says, “He who believes in the Son hath eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36, NASB, ASV).

Further, immediately preceding his words in verse sixteen, Jesus compared his being lifted up on the cross with Moses’ lifting up of the serpent in Numbers 21. Those bitten by serpents had to come and look upon the serpent of brass before they could be saved. Those bitten could not simply say, “I believe Moses. I believe in God. He can heal me.” No, that was not sufficient. With faith in God and in the word of Moses, they had to act; they had to come and look before they could be healed. Like-wise, it is not enough to envision the scene of the cross and to orally ex-press trust in Jesus’ power to save. As bitten Israelites were not healed until they came and looked, so we cannot be healed of the bite and sting of sin until we “obey,” or “do truth” (John 3:21, 36; Heb. 5:9).

3. Direct statements of Jesus – Jesus said, “These things I say, that ye might be saved” (John 5:34). What was the purpose of Jesus’ word? It was “that ye might be saved.” Later, when they did not believe his word, he said, “ye believe (me) not” (John 5:38), “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (v. 40). So, his words were the source of eternal life which he spake to save them (Cf. John 6:44, 45, 63, 68). But they would “not come to (him)” that they might have life. To come to the person of the Son is to believe his word. To disobey his word is to reject his person – “ye will not come to me.”

4. Believers in Antioch – Preachers came to Antioch, “preaching the Lord Jesus . . . and a great number believed and turned to the Lord .. . and much people was added unto the Lord ” (Acts 11:20-24). Collectively, these individual “disciples,” “Christians,” constituted “the church” in Antioch (v. 26). How does one be-come a member of the Lord’s body, or church? He is “baptized into one body,” and added to the church (1 Cor. 12:13). So, these believers in Antioch, those who turned to the person of the Lord Jesus, were obedient, baptized believers. At the instruction of the Spirit through those who came “preaching the Lord Jesus,” they were baptized into the church, the body of Christ. In this way, they “turned to the Lord,” and were “added unto the Lord.”

5. The Philippian jailer – This man and his household “rejoiced, believing in God” (Acts 16:34). When, though, was he described as a believer in God? It was after he heard the word, the plan, of God for salvation. It was after he was baptized (Acts 16:30-34). Not until he had heard, believed, and obeyed the word, was it said that he believed in God. Again, the believer in the person of God is the man who has obeyed the word of God! If we call a man a saved believer in God before he has done what the jailer did, we do that which the New Testament does not do.

6. The conversion of Cornelius – Cornelius and his household (a) were “granted repentance unto life,” (b) were “saved” “though the grace of the Lord Jesus,” and (c) had their hearts purified “by faith” (Acts 11:17; 15:7-11). “Yes,” our denominational friends exclaim, “this is what we are talking about; they did not `obey’ a `plan of salvation’ ; they did not have to be baptized; they simply trusted in Jesus, and he saved them `by grace through faith.”‘

Let no one think that we deny salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8, 9). Let no one believe that we deny that our hearts are purified “by faith.” We accept these accounts, but we insist that they must include all that the Bible says with respect to them. First, Cornelius was to hear “words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:14). Second, it was by Peter’s preaching that Cornelius “should hear the word (the plan) of the gospel, and believe,” for “faith cometh by hearing” the gospel (Acts 15:7; Rom. 10:17). Third, Cornelius was told, “he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35). Fourth, Cornelius was “commanded … to be baptized, in water, in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:47, 48). Fifth, what is baptism “in the name of the Lord” for? What is its purpose? It is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Finally, after Cornelius heard the word, after he believed the word, after he feared the Lord, after he repented and was baptized in the name of the Lord “for the remission of sins,” his soul was purified by faith; he was saved by grace!

7. The belief of Crispus – “Crispus . . . believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). Nothing is here directly stated about Crispus being baptized, but it does say he “believed on the Lord.” Later, however, Paul said, “I baptized . . . Crispus” (1 Cor. 1:14). Paul says nothing about Crispus’ faith in Christ. Luke says nothing about Crispus’ baptism. As his baptism presumes his belief of Paul’s preaching of Christ, so the summary statement of his believing assumes his obedience in baptism (Mark 16:16). Like the jailer above, his belief in the Lord comprehends his obedience in baptism.

8. Believers in Jerusalem – In Jerusalem, Paul persecuted the church, “them that believed on” the Lord (Acts 8:1-3; 22:19). Who are these people in Jerusalem that “believed on thee”? They were the ones who had “gladly received” the “word” of the apostle Peter and had been “baptized . . . for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38, 41). Once again, those who had “gladly received” the plan, the word of God, are those who are said to have “believed on thee,” the Divine person. If we speak “as the oracles of God,” we will refer to those who are baptized for the remission of sins as those who believe on the Lord.

9. Roman saints “justified by faith” – Numerous times, Paul assures the Romans that justification is by faith in Christ (Rom. 1:16; 5:1). But “when” did this justification take place? “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17, 18). The Romans were justified by faith in Christ when they obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, that gospel plan of salvation (Rom. 1:16, 17; 10:1-3, 16).

10. Elect believers – Peter wrote to elect believers in Christ, “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice . . . Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:2-9). They had been “redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18, 19). They stood in “the true grace of God” (1 Pet. 5:12). When, though, were they redeemed by the blood and saved by grace? Upon the basis of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they “purified (their) souls in obeying the truth” when they were baptized (1 Pet. 1:22; 3:21). Therefore, they are the ones “which believe,” while those who refuse to be baptized are those “which stumble at the word, being disobedient” (1 Pet. 2: 7, 8).

Having “heard this,” all of those who truly “believe on him . . . that is, on Christ Jesus,” on his divine name and his glorious person, will be “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” “for the remission of sins” (Acts 19:4, 5; 2:38).

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 16-17
April 18, 1996