Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

Bet His Momma’s Proud 

Musician, singer, John Mellencamp recently addressed an Indiana University graduating class. Among his remarks were these: 

If someone were to ask me casually about life, I would simply say, “Play it like you feel it, baby, and live it up, kid. You’ll be all right.”

Say, isn’t that the advice generally followed by billy goats, tomcats, roosters, dogs, apes, and bulls?

He Was “Not Wise”

Phillip W. Katz, the inventor of file-compression software used in computers around the world, died on April 14 in Milwaukee. He was 37. The cause was complications from chronic alcoholism, according to the Milwaukee medical examiner’s office.” 

Truly, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1). “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder” (Prov. 23:31, 32).

He Could’ve Had His Wish

World War II hero and big time movie star of a generation ago, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., died May 7, at the age of 90. In an interview in 1989, he said, “I’ve led an enormously lucky life. I’ve done what I wanted to do. I worked hard and played hard, and it was all tremendously rewarding. I just wish it could go on and on and on.”
Well, it could have (Dan. 12:2, 3; 1 Thess. 4:17).  

4626 Osage, Baytown, Texas 77521

By Mike Willis

Genesis 3:15 is frequently identified as the protoevangelium — the first annunciation of the gospel, and well it is. The context of Genesis 3:15 is the fall of man. God had created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to care for the Garden. God instructed Adam saying, “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). When man perceived his need for a companion, God created a help meet for him. The couple lived in childlike innocence in the Garden.

The serpent deceived Eve into disobeying God and she, in turn, persuaded Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit. God confronted Adam and Eve with their sin and then pronounced judgment against them for their sin. In pronouncing his judgment against the serpent, the embodied Devil, the Lord said,

Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Gen. 3:14-15).

The judgment against the serpent involved two things: (a) he would move upon his belly; (b) he would “eat dust.” There is discussion among commentators about whether the author implied that the serpent stood erect before the curse or that his manner of moving about was given a significance by divine revelation. The phrase  to “eat dust” is not to be understood in a literal sense to mean that serpents eat dust. They eat rodents and other small animals. To “eat dust” is used in a metaphorical way to mean to suffer defeat and humiliation. Consider its use in the following passages:

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord    (Isa. 65:25).

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee (Mic. 7:17). They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust (Ps. 72:9).

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me (Isa. 49:23).

The phrase signifies defeat and subordination. He will be defeated by the seed of woman and eat dust. The serpent will be treated with this contempt all the days of its life. In verse 15, the judgment against the serpent expands to include the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This judgment is not aetiological to explain why men hate snakes. The Lord’s judgment is much too profound for that simplistic explanation. The statement is God’s pronounced judgment of defeat of the serpent, the embodied Devil. Seed is from zerao “sowing, seed, offspring . . . seed = offspring . . . of mankind, coll. = descendants, posterity” (BDB 282). The “seed” of the serpent must be the  children of the devil (see John 8:38, 41; 6:70; Matt. 13:38; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:8-10, 12). The seed of the woman are those who are in opposition to the seed of the serpent, hence the children of God. The prophecy is a prophecy of the inveterate warfare between the children of the devil and the children of God.

The prophecy moves toward a more specific statement of a personal individual conflict in “it” and “his.” A particular seed of woman will bruise the head of the serpent and the serpent shall bruise his heel. The word “bruise” is the same in both places, but the significance is between “head” and “heel.” Charles Augustus Briggs wrote, “The wound on the head is a crushing, a mortal wound; a trampling under foot, a victory. The wound on the heel might also be regarded as mortal, if we think of the venom of the serpent’s sting. But this is inappropriate to the Messianic idea. There is a contrast between head and heel which suggests a contrast between a crushing defeat and a slight injury to the victor” (Messiania Prophecy 76).

There is no reason to conclude that “seed of woman” is used in contrast to “seed of man” as a reference to the virgin birth, which is plainly taught in the gospels.

New Testament References to Genesis 3:15

That we are correct in this interpretation of Genesis 3:15 is seen from New Testament references and allusions to this passage. Jesus is called the “seed of woman” (Gal. 4:4), which is not to be limited to its being an allusion to the virgin birth but to call our minds back to Genesis 3:15. In Romans 16:20, Paul wrote, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly,” which is obviously an allusion to this passage. The serpent of Genesis 3 is identified in passages that refer to the fall of Eve, as well. 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44).

These passages confirm for us what is obvious: the serpent was the embodied Devil who attacked man in the Garden.

Revelation 20:2 alludes to this passage as well: “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” 

Revelation 12: An Inspired Interpretation of Genesis 3:15

The most extensive allusion to Genesis 3:15 appears in Revelation 12. In beginning the second main division in the book, the author removes the curtain of human history to see the great spiritual battle that is occurring in the unfolding of human history. Here is what he wrote:

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.  

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Notice that both narratives have same participants: (a) The woman; (b) Her seed, including the specific man child that is born; (c) The serpent, dragon, or Devil. In the unfolding of the drama in Revelation 12, the woman was giving birth in hostile circumstances. The serpent was present to devour her seed. The serpent was unable to destroy the infant who is unanimously identified as the Christ, the seed of the woman. He was caught up into heaven, escaping the serpent’s destruction.

The serpent followed the child into heaven and made war against him. The serpent suffered a terrible defeat (he was bruised on his head); he was cast out of heaven. Frustrated in his efforts to destroy the child, he turns to destroy the woman (“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed”), only to be thwarted because the Lord came to the woman’s assistance. Then, he turned to attack her seed.

The book of Revelation closes with the mortal wound being inflicted on that serpent in chapter 20. The same creature is under discussion (20:2 — “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years”). But the victory belongs to Christ: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10).

Conclusion

Obviously, Genesis 3:15 is the framework for Revelation 12. To John, there was no doubt what Genesis 3:15 foretold. The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Genesis 3:15 and gave the inspired interpretation of it in Revelation 12 and 20, albeit in apocalyptic figures. What better guide can one have for the understanding of Genesis 3:15 than the one who spoke it in the first place?

We are reminded of God’s eternal plan for human redemption from a study of Genesis 3:15. As Paul wrote, “Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:8-11).

6567 Kings Ct., Avon, Indiana 46123 mikewillis1@compuserve.com

By Mark Larson

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation (Matt 12:43-45, NKJ). 

The Scriptures teach that demon possession came to an end when Christ completed his Messianic mission and the Kingdom was established and confirmed by apostolic signs. With the coming Messianic kingdom, demons were to pass away for good as prophesied by Zechariah (Zech. 13:1-2). This prophecy was fulfilled (Acts 10:38). Although there are no unclean spirits as such that possess our bodies today, there is still a powerful lesson we can learn from the parable of the empty house and eight spirits.

The parable is addressed to “this wicked generation” or to the people of Israel during the time of Christ. Perhaps the evil spirit could represent the idolatry that Israel was engaged in as a result of their Babylonian captivity. Once they were delivered up from slavery they got rid of their idolatrous practices. However, the people of Israel failed to replace that evil with good. Genuine love for God and faith in the Lord did not replace the gap that remained in their hearts. As a result, Satan sent seven more demonic spirits along with the first to lead Israel into a deeper apostasy. Since the people of Israel failed to fill the void with good and righteous things, it made the last condition of their “house” worse than the first. 

For the present generation of God’s people, the lesson is very much needed. We too must heed the warning of this parable. When we dispose of our sins, we must be sure to replace those sins with the good things that God commands. Otherwise, we are like “sitting ducks” just waiting to be devoured by the adversary the devil (1 Pet. 5:8). No one is safe who leaves his or her house “empty.” It is not enough to simply avoid doing evil, we must replace the evil by doing good.

To begin with, we must not leave vacant minds for Satan to fill. Jesus taught that even to look on a woman lustfully is adultery (Matt. 5:27-28). Therefore, even our thoughts must be pure. After those immoral thoughts are removed, what do we then replace them with? Rather than being held captive through philosophy, deception, traditions of men, and principles of the world, instead we should let our mind be captive to Christ (Col. 2:8). Let us put on the mind of Christ and dwell on those things that promote godliness and goodness. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8, NAS). This of course does not take place easily without some effort on our part. We must watch, listen, and read about those things that edify and promote purity of mind (Bible study, conversation with godly friends, wholesome TV shows and music, sermon tapes, etc.).

The same is true with reference to our speech. We are warned by God through the apostle Paul not to even speak about the wicked things people do in secret for it is shameful (Eph. 5:11-12). Once evil speech is removed from our mouths, what do we talk about? It is not enough to simply keep our mouths shut. We must replace rude, slanderous, lewd or corrupt speech with “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). Rather than be void of speech, we are to offer words of encouragement, exhortation, joy, and comfort. 

In addition, we must not leave our lives empty after removing those evil activities. The Bible emphasizes replacing the old man of sin with the new man created according to God (Eph. 4:17-24). Becoming a Christian is indeed more than just simply giving up a few bad habits, it is about living for Jesus and doing those things that are required by his word. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (Jas. 4:17, NIV). Let us do the good we know we ought to do such as prayer, evangelism, serving others, hospitality, giving, Bible study, visiting the sick, etc. so that our “houses” may be filled up with no room left for evil.

There are severe consequences of failing to replace the evil with good. Satan will re-enter our lives with greater force: “Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Matt. 12:45). In order to avoid such a fate, we must not leave an empty house. We must take heed to the dangers of temptation and sin because not a one of us is exempt. “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” (2 Pet. 2:20, NAS).

All who have been “born again” (John 3:3) through obeying the gospel (Acts 2:38) are regenerated into new creatures in Christ Jesus (Tit. 3:4-7; 2 Cor. 5:17) by God and his word. Let us not only reform ourselves by getting rid of evil practices. May we also allow Christ into our hearts, lives, and “houses.” May we all be committed to replacing evil with good.

3900 Ashcraft Rd., Century, Florida 32535 mark61372@juno.com

Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 12  p21  June 15, 2000

By Ron Halbrook

I have been asked to explain the meaning of the term “liberalism” as it has been used to describe problems and issues among churches of Christ since the 1950s. We are always glad to receive and answer questions from those who are “searching the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11; 1 Pet. 3:15).

Two Attitudes: Conservative and Liberal

“Conservative” and “liberal” may be used to describe basic attitudes toward any law, document, or standard of authority. Conservative means a commitment to strictly follow, protect, or preserve the standard without changing its instructions, which is the spirit of Philippians 1:17 (“set for the defense of the gospel”), Jude 3 (“earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints”), and Revelation 22:18-19 (not to “add unto” or “take away from the words” revealed). Liberal means not strictly following the message or pattern of teaching, but allowing unauthorized changes to be made.

“Liberal” and “conservative” can have many applications. In the period 1875-1925, liberal thinking infiltrated the restoration movement, which allowed instrumental music to be added to the worship and missionary-society centralization to be added to the organization of the church. In the 1950s, liberal thinking again infiltrated churches of Christ, which had four basic applications.

Social Activities

1. In the New Testament, the work of the church was limited to evangelism, worship (to glorify God and edify saints), and benevolence to destitute saints (1 Tim. 3:15-16; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 2 Cor. 9:1). In the 1950s, churches began to provide social activities such as social meals, parties, and ball games. Then, churches began to add to the church building special rooms called “fellowship halls” which were actually kitchens and dining rooms. Now, some of the big rich churches even build gymnasiums. Such social and recreational work is not the proper work of the church. This is one form of liberalism.

Centralized Organization

2. In the New Testament, each church sent support directly to preachers in the field and also sent benevolent help directly to destitute churches (Phil. 4:15-17; 2 Cor. 11:8; Acts 11:27-30). There was no centralized board, bureau, or agency of any kind. In the 1950s, the “sponsoring church” arrangement provided a plan for many churches to send donations to a large church, which in turn oversaw the funds to send and support gospel preachers into the world and to send benevolent help to destitute churches. This has the effect of transforming a local eldership into a board of directors to oversee the work of many churches. This human plan of centralizing the work of many churches under one eldership is liberalism, reflecting the centralization found in denominationalism and Catholicism.

3. In the New Testament, each church did its work of evangelism and benevolence without building and sustaining human institutions to do the work for the churches (Phil. 4:15-17; Acts 6:1-7; 11:27-30). In the 1950s, human institutions such as colleges, summer camps, childcare agencies, medical clinics, and retirement centers obtained donations from the treasuries of the churches. These became church supported institutions. This is the same principle violated by the missionary society, centralizing the work of the churches through a human institution. This is a form of liberalism, reflecting the same centralization found in denominationalism and Catholicism.

Church Benevolence to Sinners

4. In the New Testament, local churches gave benevolent help from the treasury to needy saints, but not to sinners in the world (Acts 6:1-7; 2 Cor. 9:1). In the 1950s, some brethren advocated the church should give benevolent help from the treasury to sinners in the world. This is another form of liberalism.

Spirit of Compromise

Liberalism also has a spirit of compromise rather than a spirit of warfare against sin and error (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Many liberal churches try to preach a “positive” gospel setting forth the true plan of salvation and worship, but they avoid exposing false doctrines, false religions, and false teachers by name as was done in Bible days (Matt. 16:12; 2 Tim. 2:16-18). Some of these liberal churches try to preach a “positive” gospel about the need to live a pure and godly life, but they do not openly fight against worldliness and expose the sinfulness of social drinking, smoking, gambling, immodest dress, profanity, dancing, fornication, adultery, unscriptural divorce and remarriage, “and such like” (Gal. 5:19-21). Such churches do not practice discipline or withdrawal from unfaithful members (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3). This “positive” approach gradually allows the leaven of sin and error to work among God’s people. Less and less direct teaching is done on more and more Bible principles. Fewer and fewer warnings are given against more and more forms of sin and error. The church becomes weaker, softer, and more open to false teaching and sinful conduct in many forms. Such churches will gradually lose more and more distinctive marks of New Testament Christianity and become more and more like modern denominations.

Brethren who embrace this liberal spirit of compromise are highly offended and embarrassed by strong gospel preaching which deals directly with sin, error, and false teachers. Such brethren become agitated against and alienated from strong preachers and plain preaching. In this way, Satan builds a wall which protects the liberal-minded church from hearing the full truth of the gospel. Those who “will not endure sound doctrine” turn to teachers who will tickle their ears with smooth, sweet, soft preaching — just as Paul warned in 2 Timothy 4:1-5. 

In order to avoid liberalism in every form, we must preach “all the counsel of God” and “fight the good fight of faith” against every form of sin and error (Acts 20:27; 1 Tim. 6:12).