All I Know is What I Know

All I Know is What I Know

Has anyone ever asked you questions like, “Why did God choose water baptism?” or “Wouldn’t you like to know more about the origin of Satan?” or “What exactly were the Urim and the Thummim? (Exodus 28:30)?” or, “What if God created alternate realities?”

We are often challenged with questions about matters on which the Bible gives little or no revelation.  People often ask us hypothetical questions and present scenarios of which the Bible says nothing, and then expect us to have some logical answer to the question.  There are some things about creation and whatever was going on before creation that the Bible says nothing about.  There are many things about the nature of God and what is going on in the mind of God for which we have no doctrine or revelation, but skeptics often demand an answer to those kinds of questions.

If one is not careful, the believer can allow one unanswered question to hinder his or own faith.  A single matter of uncertainty or ambiguity in scripture can be enough for one to discard the Bible altogether; if no one gives me a good enough answer to this nagging question, then the Book as a whole is subject to rejection.

The idea is that, if you don’t have all the answers, then the answers you do have are insufficient.  But when is this principle ever applied?  When one works for a company, they may ask their manager or boss questions about their pay, questions about why a particular assignment is necessary, why a company policy has changed, but there are times when no answers are provided.  Sometimes, an employee doesn’t get a reasonable answer, or even questions company policy and methods, but just because they don’t get all the answers, they don’t up and quit.  Lower level employees are almost always in the dark about what is going on in the upper levels of corporate operations, but they know enough to keep doing their job and expect compensation.

We would rather not admit it, but we never know everything about anything we involve ourselves in.  A person doesn’t know 100% about the mechanisms and physics that allow a plane to fly, but they know enough to get on the plane.  A person doesn’t know everything about someone they choose to marry, but at some point, they do get married.  There is mystery in every decision we make, every path we choose, but we take the knowledge we have and proceed anyways.

Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to God, but those things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do the works of this law.”  The Bible plainly teaches there are some things that we will not know, that we don’t need to know.  But the things that have been revealed are revealed for a purpose: that we should know exactly how we and our generations might best please God.  I Corinthians 2 teaches that God has not left us completely in the dark, and that He has revealed things we need to know by His Spirit (I Corinthians 2:10). 

When it comes to God’s plan of salvation and His will for mankind, all we know is what has been revealed.  If we are not satisfied with that, we are in danger of endlessly searching, “always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.” (II Timothy 3:7) Many have thrown their lives away in such an endless search for answers to every question, even when, “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” (Romans 1:19)

Questions about death and the afterlife abound.  But there is a great deal of mystery there as well.  Let us put our trust in God who has given us an abundance of proof, a text that perfectly guides us in all matters of life and death, which teaches us, “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (I John 3:2)

Jeremy Koontz

Bulletin 02/06/2020

singing at Mansfield

What if a Fellow Sins Against You?

What if a Fellow Sins Against You?

Some lessons are hard to learn at any age. I remember quite well a lesson I had to learn at the age of twelve. A friend and I had a “falling out.” Our friendship was suddenly on dangerous ground, and I was frightened. I don’t think I had ever faced a problem like this one. I was told that my friend had said some things about me that were not true. It was not hard for my Dad to see I was troubled, and he asked me about it. When I told him the problem, he immediately told me that I needed to go talk to my friend and settle the issue.

I did not want to. I was afraid we would never be friends again, but Dad insisted, and he was right. I was able to clear the air about my own actions, and my friend explained his. Dad did not “quote scripture” to me, though he could have, but I will never forget that lesson he taught me at the age of twelve.

It is inevitable that people who live in this world will at some point get “crosswise” with each other. Christians can and do sin against other Christians, causing injury, sorrow, even a rupture in their close fellowship in the Lord. What should be done in such cases? Does the Bible tell us what to do and how to do it? Yes, the Bible deals with that subject specifically.

In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus said:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

It is not unusual for big or little disagreements to take place, even sin, among the best of people, but Jesus gave us a way to solve those problems before they become more serious. The solution is so obvious that you would think all of us would see it and would immediately want to work toward solving that misunderstanding, removing the sin that comes between us.

There is one thing, however, that may make it harder to do. The brother or sister against whom sin has been committed must “go and tell him his sin between you and him alone.” No, that’s not an easy thing to do, but it must be done.

It’s possible the brother who sinned against you does not realize he has sinned if you don’t go to him and talk about it.

In another passage, Jesus again confronts the issue of a Christian who has sinned against his/her brother. In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus addresses how we should handle such incidents:

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Obviously, if something comes between two Christians, both of them are obligated to find a solution. Both the one who has been sinned against and the one who has committed the sin must attempt to restore harmonious relationships as they were before the sin occurred. This is more than a common sense principle, but it is also fundamental to solving the problem. More to the point, it is an imperative, clearly demanded, supported, and stated in the Bible. Let’s do what it says!

Why then do we not do whatever it takes to assure that brethren can be in full harmony again? The main issue is that Jesus said we must “go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Someone may not want to confront that person. Is there an alternate way to deal with this issue? Is there an easier way? Only if scripture provides an “easier” way – but it does not.

The way some choose is to tell it to someone else, then let them deal with it. This way would allow me to give someone else the task of solving my problem. The obvious reason some prefer this way “out of a problem” is that it takes me “off the hook.” The pressure is now on someone else. However, this way is not only lazy and cowardly, it violates Jesus’ clear instructions.

That friendship I mentioned at the beginning is still strong after many years, and partly because my father told me the truth, made me do what was best, even though it was not easy.

Christians still “get crosswise” occasionally, but the Bible gives us the way to deal with it.

Carl B Garner

Cussing

Cussing

Cussing seems to be in these days. They say it in the movies. It's done on TV. Coaches cuss at their players. Players cuss at the officials. Parents cuss at their children. Drivers cuss at each other. Patients cuss at their doctors. Comedians cuss and the audience laughs.

Whenever something bad happens, you can almost expect to hear someone cuss. Folks cuss at bad golf shots they make. They cuss at all the bills they have to pay. They cuss and cuss all day long. Some famous people are known for their cussing. General Patton was a cusser. Coach Bobby Knight is a real cusser. Although I've never heard it, I suppose some even cuss because of the preacher.

What are we to make of all of this cussing? Some just accept it as "that's just the way he is. "What does the Bible say about "cussing? Cussing is not the language that God wants His children to use. When you are cussed at, you do not feel better because of it. You do not consider cussing to be a blessing. People cuss because they are mad. They don't know what to say, so they cuss. Some cuss to act tough or grown up. 

How God Wants Us To Speak…

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

Titus 2:8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

When a servant girl accused Peter of being with Jesus, Peter denied it and then began to "curse and swear" (Mt. 26:74). Peter did many things wrong that night, cursing and swearing were part of his problems.

When describing the tongue, James said, "With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way" (James 3:9-10).

God taught ancient Israel not to curse: "You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28). The Psalmist understood this when he wrote, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).

There are certain things that God's people should not say…

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Much of cussing involves dirty or filthy speech. Christians must not do that. No exceptions!

Much of cussing is "damning" someone to hell. Only God can do that, and we should not wish that on any one. Jesus loved all and died for all. Shouldn't we do the same?

Much of cussing is taking the Lord's name in vain. God is holy and sacred. His name must be held in honor. There is no other name by which we are saved (Acts 4:12). We must never misuse the name of the Lord. Whenever we say "God" or "Lord" we should be thinking of our wonderful Father and Savior in Heaven. Cussing is a result of stinkin' thinking. Do better! Talk right!

Roger Shouse

Ignorance is Bliss

Ignorance is Bliss

"Please don't send me anything controversial!" "I don't want to read any papers put out by brethren!" "If I want anything from you, I will ask for it!" "Remove me from your email list!" "Send me only things that are uplifting!" "I don't want to hear anything about that!" "Delete before reading!" "You don't want to attend there - those are not your kind of people!" "We can never have perfect understanding!" "Take me off your mailing list!" "That preacher is a troublemaker; you don't want to go hear him!" And on and on as the list seems to grow longer every day! Sadly, to say, we are being told more clearly every day that "My mind is made up, please don't confuse me with the facts!" And the saddest and most frightening part of all is that such statements and attitudes are being openly expressed by our own brethren!

The subtle arrogance of the apostasy now affecting the church is that more and more brethren are being convinced that "ignorance is bliss". And if you are ignorant of what is involved in any issue, then you don't have to worry about any guilt on the part of your conscience! We are absolutely so inundated with "y'all be sweet" preaching in churches today that brethren are being convinced that they can do just about whatever they like without any guilt or pangs of conscience whatsoever! And so many of our brethren have long ago quit studying and teaching the Word of God in their personal lives, that they are almost totally dependent upon what they hear in the services of the church for their spiritual edification! And when the leadership and preaching in the church is simply the providing of "what makes you feel good" and what will entertain you for a few minutes while you are in attendance, then it is not at all difficult for us to see why so very little spiritual maturation is taking place! The often heard cry "that it doesn't really matter" and "we don't want to hear anything controversial" is clear evidence that there istremendous fear on the part of many brethren about anyone providing information which might give them knowledge, and then that knowledge might bring on guilt about what they are believing or practicing! So, the best way to avoid guilt is to be void of knowledge! So, the best way to avoid having to make a decision whether something is right or wrong is to simply stay ignorant of that issue! It is becoming more obvious every day that the "ignorance is bliss" philosophy is nothing more than a concentrated effort to avoid guilt! It is a concentrated effort to avoid having to take a stand on sinful doctrines and practices which are carrying the church down the road of digression at a speed which is truly appalling to God fearing and Truth respecting brethren!

Wouldn't it be wise for us to look at what the Word of God has to say on the subject of ignorance? The apostle reminds us of the condition of Israel in Romans 10:1-3, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." When one has a knowledge deficit, his ignorance takes a firm hold on his life and he moves farther and farther away from any subjection to the righteousness of God.

As an "old timer" who has spent more than fifty years attempting to preach the gospel, I am persuaded that we have the greatest deficit of Bible knowledge today than we have ever had during my lifetime. We have reared generation after generation who have become less and less interested in spiritual matters over the passing of time. The attitude today seems to be that we need as little preaching as possible, and what preaching we "must" have - let's get it over with as quickly as possible! Having people interested in gospel meetings is rapidly becoming a thing of the past! Having regular home Bible study is almost a forgotten concept! What our forefathers called preaching - "shelling the corn all the way down to the cob" is as scarce as hen's teeth! Preaching which openly names and condemns evil practices is quickly passing from the scene. Exposing false doctrines and false teachers among our own brethren is being more and more looked upon with disdain! It is becoming more obvious every day that brethren are less and less interested in knowledge - because knowledge brings with it a sense of guilt for our failures and shortcomings. Knowledge makes us choose between evil and good. Knowledge makes us aware of God's condemnation of sin in our lives. It seems that the general attitude we are moving toward is to embrace the "remain ignorant and stay happy" philosophy of life!

Spiritual growth is the result of a genuine effort on our part to secure knowledge and to use that knowledge in making application of its principles in our own life and being busy in teaching that Truth to others. When we willfully choose to remain in ignorance, then we make ourselves not only useless to God, but also tremendously dangerous to ourselves and to others! Please note the thoughts of I Corinthians 3:1-3, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able; for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?" When we choose ignorance because we want to be able to live free from guilt, we are clearly showing that we have no interest in the righteousness of God. When we are willfully ignorant, we magnify both our lack of faith and our selfish desires to engage in sin without feeling any sense of remorse, shame, or guilt!

The Word of God demands spiritual growth! God demands that we be able to discern between good and evil, " For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14.

Yes, the "ignorance is bliss" attitude is infecting our brethren like an epidemic and it is without question a concentrated effort to avoid the guilt and pangs of conscience which the knowledge of God would bring! It is an "agenda of deception" on the part of those who are advocating the soul damning error called "unity in diversity"! If a lot of folks don't wake up real soon, then it will be very possible that the Lord's church is going to become a wasteland of false teaching and sinful practices! It is high time that we stand up and be counted as faithful soldiers in the battle against these forces of Satan! "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather

that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31-39

Dennis Reed

Are We Killing the “Old Man”?

Are We Killing the “Old Man”?

The Roman letter has at least five propositions, affirmed and proven by the apostle Paul: (1) Man stands justly condemned for his sins; (2) Grace, not law, is the remedy; (3) This grace is expressed in the crucified Christ; (4) It is available on the condition of obedient faith in Christ; and (5) It is for all, Jew and Gentile alike. Although argued through the first eleven chapters, and referred to thereafter, these propositions have already been discussed, and a summation is drawn in the first five chapters. This means that chapter six, "What shall we say then?" introduces a question that either was actually propounded, or was thought to be possible in the light of the foregoing arguments. Note the question carefully, for the comments that follow are in
answer to that question. "Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound?" The question is from and for people who have been baptized into Christ, and this too must be remembered as we read further.

Paul's immediate answer is "God forbid," literally, "may it not be." And when he adds, "We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?" he is still countering the same people, in answer to the same question. He is not saying "we who have been forgiven...." That would be to say we who have received the first benefits of grace -- a part of the question. He is saying "we who have determined, who have purposed, never to sin again." The death of sin, is in the intent of the saint, and precedes the burial soon to be mentioned. When he says we are baptized into His death, this "death" includes crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, as he shows (vv. 3-5). He is saying, when we are baptized into the death of Christ, we must participate in the whole thing -- the death to sin, the burial (by which guilt of past sins are forgiven, cleansed) and the resurrection to anew life. We must not "continue in sin," can not continue in sin and be consistent with the total figure of Christ's death.

He adds strength to his argument in verse six: "...our old man was crucified with him." We have crucified, put to death, the "old man," our former way of life. Since death preceded burial, in the actual death of Christ and in the figure; this crucifixion is the rejection of the old way of life that must take place before we are buried and forgiven of past sins. It refers to genuine repentance, a turning of our back on the way we once lived. Crucifixion was a painful death, and its use here suggests a change in life that requires drastic action, a trauma, that only strong-hearted resolve can accomplish. We make a grievous mistake when we suggest "all he would have to do is be baptized" -- as if anyone could be crucified as a sort of casual thing. No, brethren. When we teach the truth about baptism we do more than say it is a burial, or simply mouth the words, "for remission of sins." We are asking our neighbor to make a drastic change of allegiance, to crucify the flesh.

Perhaps we can see the rejection of some sins as a crucifixion. Drug addicts go through a literal torture in trying to throw the habit. Some who have tried to stop smoking have known hard days. Alcohol is not easily given up. But we err in thinking it is easy to overcome a temper; or to throw off the desire for power, or money. Covetousness is idolatry, and hard to kill. And perhaps hardest of all is pride or selfishness. Truly putting them to death can be the tortuous crucifixion Paul has in mind. Paul does not suggest that this "death" means it is no longer possible to sin, or even to be a slave to sin. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body...neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness" (vv. 12-13). He is urging us to reconsider our intent and purpose of heart as we entered the waters of baptism. With our back turned on sin, dead unto sin, we were ready to be forgiven, and then arise to a new life. He asks us to recall our early resolve, like asking a troubled couple to remember their wedding vows.

Romans is not the only place figurative language makes this point. In Colossians 2:11 Paul reminds saints of Christ "in whom ye were also circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ" (emphasis mine, rt). Compare this with Romans 6:6: "that the body of sin might be done away." Circumcision is figurative here, as crucifixion is in Romans; and means a painful cutting off of the past life. It is here coupled with baptism. Or consider 1 Peter 4:1ff where the process is called "suffering." "Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh (literally, rt), arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." The footnotes put "unto" sin, rather than "from" sin; and obviously this is not referring to Christ, who had no sin. The "he" is one of "ye" who "no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (v. 2f).

Back in Romans, we crucify the old man in genuine repentance, and then we are buried in baptism "for the remission of sins" or removal of the guilt of our past life. But this is not all, there is a very positive side. Christ's death (the whole picture) also included His resurrection. He was made king following the resurrection; He became our High Priest following the resurrection; He became our Advocate following the resurrection. Paul puts it plainly: "For the death that he died, he died unto sin once (for all, f.n.): but the (in that, f.n.) life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. " And Paul says, "Even so reckon (consider, rt) ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (vv. 11-12). Paul's argument would not be complete without the positive side. It is not enough simply to turn our back on sin, though very important; we must also "live unto God" a positive life of service. And, how can such an one entertain the question, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" God forbid, indeed!

When I consider the marvelous lesson of Romans 6, and then look at many brethren who claim to have been "baptized into His death," I get the distinct feeling we are emphasizing the burial, and practically ignoring the preceding death, and the following resurrection. No wonder some folks say we are water salvationists. Brethren, these things ought not to be. Let us do all within our power to bury people who have crucified the past, and who are determined to "arise to walk in newness of life."

Robert F. Turner, September 18, 1986