Truth Magazine

By Justin Monts

How do you define success? Some define success as making a lot of money and marrying a good-looking man or woman. With God, however, success is measured in a much different way. 

The Lord instructed Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8). True success is an approval that based on obedience to God (Acts 10:34-35). Having the greatest riches or the most popularity is meaningless in view of eternity. Are we living by the Book? That is the question to ask. If we are, then we are successful. 

Among the Corinthians, we read of some less fortunate but, nonetheless, successful Christians. “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are” (1 Cor. 1:26-28). Sometimes, rather than act jealous toward those who “have it all,” we should just be thankful for what we lack. Those who were “unpopular” were more inclined to obey the gospel. On the other hand, the rich had to be reminded “not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Tim 6:17-19; cf. Luke 6:24). Such was not the case with the poor. In contrast, God had chosen them (Jas. 2:5). 

When we stand before God in the judgment it will not matter what the world thought of us. How successful we were according to its standard is meaningless! Did we obey the Lord? This is the question to dwell upon and consider. Not long ago I came across a shirt which read, “He who dies with the most toys, still dies.” And when all is said and done that is the plain truth (Mark 8:36). Our condition before God alone determines success or failure (Eccl. 12:13-14). May each of us see things as God would have us to see them.

3602 – 243rd Ave. SE, Issaquah Washington 98027-7597

By Steven J. Wallace

About this time of year there is a jingle that is heard throughout the season. It often sounds like this: “Keep Christ in Christmas” or “Christmas is nothing without Christ but everything with Him.” Unfortunately, there is much “Christmas Fiction” today, fables that ring as if they are good and true but upon closer investigation are found to be falsehoods. 

Keep Christ In Christmas

One cannot keep Christ in Christmas because Christ was never in Christmas to begin with. This may often come across as shocking to most but it is no doubt the truth. While we read of the “what” of Jesus’ birth in the Bible, we nowhere read of the “when” and certainly not Christmas. What then of Christmas? The answer is simple; it originated with men and not God. The Bible doesn’t identify either the year or the month and day that Jesus was born and yet droves of people commemorate December 25 as his birthday? It was not until A.D. 354 that Liberius, Bishop of Rome, prescribed it to be celebrated on December 25. The choosing of this date was probably influenced by the pre-existing celebration of pagan festivals such as the celebration of Mithras, the supposed god of light and truth. Also in December the Romans celebrated Saturnalia, often filled with riotous and orgiastic behavior. It appears that Christmas was invented to assist in the transformation of pagan festivals from such carnal and depraved behavior to something more palatable to moral goodness. 

However, even if we did know the birthday of Christ, there is no authority in the Bible, the word of God, for commemorating it as a religious holiday. It is his death, burial and resurrection that the Lord stresses his followers to memorialize (Matt. 26:26-30; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-29). For the first-century Christian, this was a regular and weekly practice (Acts 20:7). How can we keep Christ in Christmas when Christmas was created four centuries after he was born? We have as much authority to keep Christ in Christmas as we do the fourth of July.

Three Wise Men At The Manger

Other fables and myths are publicly preached in “nativity scenes” that show three wise men gathering around a manger to see baby Jesus. Where does the Bible show that there were only three wise men? It is very assumptive to presume there were only three wise men simply because Jesus received three “kinds” of gifts. If one should say today that he received at his birthday clothes, music CDs, and computer software, it is ludicrous to assume that he must have only had three people at his party! 

We don’t know how many wise men were present to see and worship the sinless Son of God, but we definitely know that they did not see him in a manger. When Jesus was visited by the wise men, they “had come into the house” (Matt. 2:11), not into a barn. Incidentally, the wise men were not the same as the shepherds as given in Luke’s account, but distinctively different. They were from the “East” (Matt. 2:1) which is more than likely Persia. On the other hand, the shepherds were living in the fields of the “same country” (Luke 2:8) in which Jesus was born. The shepherds saw Jesus right after he was born (thus in a manger) but the Scripture implies that the wise men were expecting to see a child who was up to two years old, from Herod’s deplorable action (compare Matt. 2:7 and 2:16), thus a while after Jesus’ birth. 

Born In December

As for when Jesus was born, please consider that more than likely, Jesus was born between March and November. Scholars tell us that this is the time frame when shepherds would drive their sheep out to deserts and mountainous regions and then bring them back by October or early November.

Here is a chronology that presents the facts better than these half truth dramatizations that are given today:

• Announcement to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). 
• Announcement to Joseph (Matt. 1:18-24). 
• Birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:25; Luke 2:1-7). 
• Announcement to Shepherds and visit (at manger)         (Luke 2:8-20). 
• Jesus’ circumcision (eight days old) (Luke 2:21). 
• Jesus’ presentation at the temple (about 40 days old) (Lev. 12:1-6; Luke 2:22-38). 
• Wise men visit Jesus (at house) (Matt. 2:1-12). 
• Journey to Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15). 
• Massacre of children (Matt. 2:16-18). 
• Return to Nazareth (Luke 2:39; Matt. 2:19-23).

Be Careful What You Teach

Having said all that, we should be careful that we teach biblical events in a truthful way, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (Jas. 3:1). Christmas is a time to spend time with family, exchange gifts, and eat good food, but there is no biblical authority for observing it as a religious holiday. To those who want salvation of the soul, we must not look into the manger, but to the cross in humble obedience (Col. 1:19-23; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Rom. 6:3-9).

1002 Bloom Ave., Grandview, Washington 98930

By Jarrod Jacobs

I recently heard the most interesting news on the television. 

They report that some Baptist churches are either considering dropping, or have already dropped the name “Baptist” in order to keep from offending people who are unfamiliar with the Baptist Church. This news was also reported in The Tennessean, on Wednesday, January 13, on page 11A. This Associated Press report showed that there are several Baptist churches in the southern states who are jumping on the bandwagon and dropping the Baptist name. Their main concern was to attract more people as well as not “offend” those unfamiliar with the Baptists.

As I thought about what these churches were considering, I would have to agree that this is a good move. I hope they will drop the Baptist name altogether very soon. I look forward to the day when they will stop referring to themselves as “Baptists.” Why can they not simply be “Christians” as is taught in the Bible (Acts 11:26)? I realize Baptists claim to be Christians, or say, as one told me, that they are “Christians first, and Baptists second.” I am saying that they need to distance themselves completely from that name and wear no other name but Christian. I echo the sentiment of C.H. Spurgeon, a well-known Baptist, who said, “I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name last forever” (Spurgeon Memorial Library I:168).

Of course, in order for them to truly wear the name Christian, some other practices must be “dropped” as well.

Creed Books

While they’re at it, it is necessary for the Baptists to drop their creed books. The Baptists follow such creed books as: Hiscox’s Manual, Philadelphia Confession of Faith, and others. Since they are considering dropping their name, let them also drop their practice of following men’s works and simply follow the Bible! “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” is what the apostle Peter taught (1 Pet. 4:11). Let them stop meeting in committees and other groups to “determine” their doctrine, and let them stand on the Bible alone! Paul taught that men ought to “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). This will only occur when men agree to take the words of Christ and that alone as the rule for their lives (Col. 3:17).

Instrumental Music

While the Baptists are dropping their name, let them also drop the practice of singing songs to God with the mechanical instrument! The New Testament shows that the only music that is acceptable in worship to God is vocal music! Paul told the Ephesians, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). A parallel passage is seen in Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” In reading the Holy Spirit’s words to the Hebrew Christians, they were shown that vocal music and it alone was acceptable with God. “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Heb. 2:12). Later, we read, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:15). Notice please, that this sacrifice is “the fruit of our lips”! Certainly, this includes singing praise to God. Where, though, do we find that worship to God in the New Testament was offered with the mechanical instrument? Therefore, I hope our Baptist friends will drop this sinful practice when they drop their unauthorized name!

“Faith-Only”

If the Baptists are willing to drop the Baptist name, I hope they will also drop their false teaching about “faith-only”! Baptists teach that a man is saved at the point of faith alone. They say that one must be baptized in order to be a Baptist, but not in order to be saved. (Therefore, according to their doctrine, one can be saved and not be a part of the Baptist Church!)

Of course, the problem is that there is no such doctrine as “faith-only” taught in the Bible! The only time we read the phrase “faith only” in the Bible, James says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24)!

Unscriptural Organization in the Local Congregation

If some Baptists are willing to drop their name, let us encourage our Baptist friends to drop their unscriptural organization, too. In their local congregations, they have a “one-man” pastor (the preacher) who runs things for them. The Bible teaches that there are to be a plurality of  elders (bishops, or pastors) overseeing every church (Acts 14:23, 20:17; Tit. 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1). Therefore, the fact that they have only one man considered the “pastor,” shows that their congregations are not organized in a Scriptural way!

At the same time, the Bible teaches that one can be a “pastor” and not be the preacher! The “pastor” is an elder, you see. Therefore, the Baptists have named the wrong man “pastor” when they call their preacher the pastor!

The Social Gospel Appeal

While I am for the Baptists dropping their unscriptural name, let the Baptists also remember to renounce their appeal to “fun, food, and frolic” rather than the gospel. The First Baptist Church here in White Bluff is known for bringing in different musical groups for “concerts” and the like. They engage in social meals, etc., in order to attract people. There is no room for this in the Lord’s church. The church the Lord established is a       spiritual kingdom, not a worldly organization (John 18:36)! This kingdom “is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). The Lord’s church is in the soul-saving business, not the entertainment business. The Lord’s church engages in evangelism, edification, and benevolence to the needy saints (1 Thess. 1:8; 5:11; Acts 11:28-30; 1 Tim. 5:16). The Lord’s church has no relationship with the world, and therefore has no responsibility to the world! If the Baptists are considering dropping their name, let them also drop their appeal to the flesh, and start appealing to the souls of lost men!

Conclusion

In short, let us encourage our Baptist friends to drop all aspects of their religion that are man-made! They are on the right track in dropping the name “Baptist,” but now they must take Christ’s name and all that goes with it. They cannot do this simply by “claiming” it, but must do this through turning their lives around and following what the Bible says without fear or favor of any man! So long as they refuse to completely turn away from their unscriptural practices, they will remain Baptists and will remain in opposition to the will of God.

A Word To Our Brethren

Knowing that many of our brethren usually follow the denominations into their error, we must make the following comments. First of all, men who build their own churches can do with them as they please. It makes no difference. Let the Baptists take down their sectarian name for their secular purpose, but let all who name the name of Christ glory in the name of Christ when it is demeaned and debased (Rom. 1:16; Gal. 5:11; 6:14). Let us not do as they do and try to hide that despised name, but, rather, let us despise the shame and count it all joy that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his glorious name (Acts 5:40-41).

Brethren who would choose the Baptist way out and obliterate the name of Christ for fear of “offending” people are missing the point. Paul said, “Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner” (2 Tim. 1:8). Remember, these words, along with those of Romans 1:16 (“I am not ashamed of the gospel”) were spoken when Christ’s name was greatly despised, and at a time when it was utterly discredited. If Paul and others were not ashamed of that name then, how dare we deny it now?

Brethren, let us press the cause and name of Christ and raise “no small stir,” showing that there be no gods or churches which are made with hands (Acts 19:23, 26)! Let the world say what they will, we cannot back down (John 15:18-20)! Only by standing strong for the name of Christ shall we know that truth is having an effect, that the cross is still crucifying the world and its lust. Let us not retreat and take down the banner of the name of Christ, but let us take pleasure in “reproaches . . . persecutions . . . for Christ’s sake,” for when we are weak, then are we strong (2 Cor. 12:10).  Remember, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye . . . Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:14, 16).

2155 Sunset Dr., White Bluff, Tennessee 37187

By Mike Willis

Before one will turn to Christ for salvation, he must understand his need for Christ. Until one grasps his plight, he will not appreciate the grace of God in saving mankind from his sins. This article is designed to explain who man is and what is his circumstance outside of Christ.

Man is Created in the Image of God

The Scriptures reveal that man is a being created in the image of God. Not all men share that idea of man. Some believe that man is the product of millions of years of evolution. The evolutionary model postulates that life began as a result of a big bang billions of years ago. Over billions of years of random evolution and on the basis of the survival of the fittest, humans gradually came into existence. The upward development of man continued until modern man evolved. The logical consequences of these presuppositions include such things as:

• There is no God or supernatural influence on the world.
• Man is a product of random evolution.
• Man is a more highly developed animal, but not significantly different from other animal life.
• There are no moral absolutes imposed on man by a divine being.

In contrast to this, the Bible states that man is created in the image of God. The Genesis account states that God created man out of the dust of the earth, not previously existing animal life (2:7). Then the record adds that he is made in God’s own image:  “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (1:26-27). Inasmuch as God is spirit, not flesh and blood, to have the image of God, man must have an immortal spirit. This spirit survives the death of the body (see 2 Cor. 4:16; Eccl. 12:7; Matt. 10:28).

As a being created in the image of God, man is the acme of God’s creation. Just as a man longs for a fellowship with his child and the child longs for a fellowship with his parent, so does God want a fellowship, association, and communion with his children. Man’s nature is such that there is  an emptiness in man when this fellowship is lacking (see Ps. 42:1; 63:1-2; 84:2; 143:6-7; Isa. 26:8-9). One might as well deny his need for food, water, and air as to deny his need for this fellowship with God.

Man Is Separated From God By His Sin

When man came from the creative hand of God, he enjoyed perfect communion with God. The Genesis narrative leaves the impression that Adam and Eve enjoyed association with God in Eden (Gen. 3:8). When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, he gave them the commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). God provided abundantly for man’s every need in the Garden.

The Devil entered the body of a serpent and tempted Eve while she was in the Garden. He used the same              avenues of temptation to persuade her to sin as he uses with every other man: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). He approached her, creating doubt in the goodness of God. The narrative reads:

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For  God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (3:1-7).

The woman exercised her free will, choosing to disbelieve the word of God and to believe the lies of the devil, and ate of the forbidden fruit, transgressing the commandment of God and thus becoming guilty of sin (1 John 3:4).

The Lord promised Adam that in the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. The word “death” describes what happens which the spirit of man departs from the body (Jas. 2:26). The word is used in both a physical and a spiritual sense. In a spiritual sense, the word “death” is used to describe man’s state of being separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2); eternal spiritual death refers to man’s condition of being eternally separated from God in hell, described as the second death (Rev. 20:6). In the day that Adam ate of the fruit, he was alienated from God by his sin (see Gen. 3:8). God pronounced the judgment of physical death on mankind as a consequence of his sin (Gen. 3:19). The consequences of Adam’s sin that passed to all humanity was the consequence of being driven from the Garden of Eden, wherein was the Tree of Life. If a man could eat of the Tree of Life, he would live forever (Gen. 3:22-24). Because all of mankind is separated from the Tree of Life, physical death passes to all men, even on those who have not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s transgression (such as infants).

From this narrative, let us observe these relevant and pertinent observations:

1. Sin is the transgression of the word of God. Sin is not merely the violation of one’s conscience, the imposition of society’s moral values, a guilt complex, or outdated (“Victorian”) ethics imposed unconsciously on man. Rather, sin is the transgression of God’s revealed word.

2. Man sins as a result of his free will to sin. Sin cannot be explained by such things as the following: (a) Sin is inherited, as is suggested by those who claim that man sins because he inherited the depraved nature of Adam. What caused Adam to sin? (b) Sin is caused by poor economic conditions. Some think that sin would be eradicated if everyone was financially secure. But Adam was financially secure and still he sinned. (c) Sin occurs because man is uneducated. Some think that sin can be eradicated by educating the populace. But Adam and Eve sinned, even though they knew the expressed will of God. Sin occurs because man of his own free will chooses to disobey God.

What occurred in Adam occurs in every man’s life. Man chooses to sin, to disobey God. The Devil tempts us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). Every man is drawn away by his own lust and enticed and then chooses to sin. James described this as follows:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:13-15).

    Sin is universal. Every man who has reached the age to choose between right and wrong has transgressed the will of God. Paul said, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

3. The just punishment for sin is death. The same separation that occurred between God and Adam occurs between God and any other man who chooses to sin. Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The sins that you and I commit bring the sentence of death, separation from God, upon every man. Isaiah said, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2).

So here is man’s plight: (1) He is created in the image of God with an immortal soul that does not cease to exist at the death of his body; (2) He is guilty of sin, the transgression of the will of God; (3) The just punishment of that sin is separation from God, an alienation that occurs at the moment of sin and ultimately ends in eternal separation from God in the punishment of hell, a place of everlasting torment.

Answerable to God

In understanding man’s circumstance before God, one must also add that every man is going to stand before God in judgment for the sins he has committed. Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Again, he wrote, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). In his sermon on Mars Hill, Paul preached, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

So man’s condition is that of a condemned sinner having to answer to a just God for his sins.

Conclusion

There is nothing that man can do by himself to atone for his sins. All of the good works that a man may do will not erase one sin. Left to himself, man is doomed to eternal damnation in hell. He stands in need of a Savior, of God’s divine grace. Thanks be to God that he did not leave us without hope, but loved us enough to act to make possible human redemption and salvation.