If They Had Known

Please help me to better understand what is stated in I Cor. 2:8 in that ”if they had known, they would not have crucified Christ.” “If they had known” that their actions would bring in the Gentiles to salvation, or “if they had known” that Jesus was the Savior they would not have killed him? Thank you Jack Phillips Albert Barnes in his commentary made an excellent observation regarding 1 Corinthians 2:8. In so doing, his reference to Acts 3:17 provides a perfect divine commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:8 also. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In Acts 3:17, Peter says that it was through ignorance that the Jews had put him to death… Had they fully understood his character, and seen the wisdom of his plan, and his work… Had they seen the… fact that he was the long expected Messiah of their nation, they would not have put him to death. It is incredible that they would have crucified their Messiah, knowing and believing him to be such. They MIGHT have known it but they were unwilling to examine the evidence. They expected a DIFFERENT Messiah, and were unwilling to admit the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. For THIS ignorance, however, there was no excuse. If they did not have a full knowledge, it was their own fault. Jesus had performed miracles which were a complete attestation to his …

Missing the Name

Brother Rushmore, I am a member of the Church, and have been all of my life. I am thankful for your appeal to the truth of Scripture. I read an article you wrote on Denominations, and I have a question. What about churches that do everything according to the Scripture and have a strong foundation regarding the inerrancy and authority of scripture, BUT do not have “Church of Christ” in their name? Mike Hays, Boyd Church of Christ, Boyd, TX The name “Church of Christ” (Romans 16:16) is one of a few scriptural designations that appears in the New Testament to identify the Lord’s church. For instance, “Church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2) is just as scriptural as “Church of Christ.” Due to denominational confusion, though, the churches of Christ generally do not represent themselves by other even scriptural names lest the Lord’s church be misunderstood as being a religious organization of manmade rather than divine origin. It would not be sinful for a local congregation of the Lord’s church to be known by another biblical designation. Yet, it might not be practical for distinction from other churches by fellow Christians and congregations of the Lord’s church, by denominational people and even non-religious persons, and by government and legal perspectives. It has been rumored from time to time that congregations have been discovered which have achieved the duplication of New Testament Christianity without being aware of other congregations of the Lord’s church previously. Certainly, that is entirely possible, and in …

The Words Are All that Matter?

In regard to congregational singing, oft is offered the quip, “Well, the words are all that matter, anyway.” This is a comfort to tone-deaf worshipers, but, the secular, well-intentioned proverb may be employed too far. If the words were, indeed, all that mattered, perhaps God would have said something like, “Recite to one another in poems, rhymes and spiritual verse.” Could it be that the musical setting (a cappella) has more importance than often acknowledged? Music is an emotional thing. Composers of purely instrumental music (from symphonies and operas to punk rock and country) work to construct the chord progression, melodies and harmonies to create a mood, often mirroring some occasion or historic event. A fanfare for Olympic Games is an upbeat call to competition and potential triumph – a memorable melodic line punctuated with quick punches of harmonic brass. A mournful dirge, by contrast, might employ low strings in slow, solemn movements. In authorized a cappella singing for congregations, the music generally fits the words. “Nearer My God, to Thee” would never be set to a driving rhythm (as in “Ring Out the Message”). The thrill of “The New Song” is best with its buoyant beat and majestic chorus; it wouldn’t work with a contemplative chant-like, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” feel. The musical composers seek to amplify the impact of the wording. Singing might be viewed as the divinely authorized outlet for human emotion. Many sectarian groups take emotionalism to unscriptural levels – mistaking shaking and rolling, …

The Enemies from Within

In 1871, an American named Heinrich Schliemann began excavating an ancient city in Turkey. To the amazement of many, this retired businessman had discovered the lost city of Troy. Today, you can still see the ruins of its towers and walls, which were 16 feet thick. According to Homer’s Illiad, the Greeks besieged Troy for ten years without success. After the death of the warrior Achilles, many wanted to give up the fight. However, the King of Ithaca came up with a plan to get the Greek army into the city of Troy. He built an immense wooden horse. He had his warriors hide inside the wooden horse. After leaving the horse in front of the gates of Troy, the Greek army sailed away. The Trojans, thinking the Greeks had given up and had left the horse as a gift, brought it inside the gates. That night while the Trojans were sleeping, the Greek ships quietly returned. The soldiers in the horse slipped out and opened the city gates. The Greek army quietly entered the city and started fires throughout. The Trojans awoke to find their city engulfed in flames. As they tried to flee, they were killed by the awaiting Greeks. The story about this Trojan horse has come to represent the subversion of anything from within. This is exactly what is happening in the Lord’s church today! Firstly, there is the Trojan horse of indifference. Christianity in many places has simply become a “social club” experience. A lack of involvement …

Denying the Future Resurrection Is an Old Heresy

Denying the future resurrection is an old heresy. At nearly the very inception of Christianity a false doctrine arose and was promoted among Christians, members of the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16), which denied the future bodily resurrection from the grave. Three times the apostle Paul specifically identified this apostasy and corrected it. The heretical teaching debunked in the first century is no less fallacious today than it was nearly 2,000 years ago. Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:14-18 NKJV) Just like the proponents today of the A.D. 70 Theory (otherwise known as Kingism, Realized or Fulfilled Eschatology), the error that the apostle confronted in the first century claimed that the resurrection was already past. Regarding this false teaching, Paul said about it that (1) it was striving about words to no profit, (2) the teaching ruined those who heard it, (3) those who either taught it or embraced it were not rightly dividing the word of truth and ought …