Why Did God Use Deborah to Lead Israel as a Judge (Judges 4:4)?

By: Editor, Louis Rushmore “Deborah is most unlikely [Bible character to be a judge] because she was female in a patriarchal society (Judg. 4:1–5:31)” (Mitchell). The people who most often refer to Judges 4:4, “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time” (NKJV), are those who hope, somehow, to legitimize a view of Scripture contrary to God’s defined gender roles and to rationalize away New Testament Scripture that clearly forbids Christian women to teach or to preach religiously in a public setting comprised, in part or in whole, of men. However, the question that serves as the title above came from a brother in Christ who only wants to understand God’s Word accurately and to eliminate any confusion he may entertain on the matter. First, let’s explore Deborah’s role as a prophetess and as a judge in Israel. The conclusions of experienced and dedicated students of the Bible, who are sound in the faith or doctrine (1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:7, 13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1–2, 8) lay out for us below the prophet and judge Deborah. There can be no doubt that women prophesied during Bible times. Five women prophets are mentioned in the Old Testament—Miriam (Exo. 15:20), Deborah (Jud. 4:4), Huldah (2 Kin. 22:14-20), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), and Isaiah’s wife (Isa. 8:3). We are only told how they used this gift in two instances. In both of them, the women prophesied privately…Deborah sat under a palm tree between Ramah and …

Does It Really Matter How I’m Saved?

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor Not only “does it really matter how one is saved,” a person can only be saved by obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every accountable soul who does not obey the Gospel is lost. Truthfully, everyone who attains the knowledge of right and wrong is already lost, and not obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ simply adds to his or her lost state. Unless the human race was already lost because of sin, the Son of God would not have left Heaven, taken upon Himself a fleshly body and died on the cruel cross so that mankind could have its sins washed away symbolically by the blood of Christ. A disastrous confrontation with the Lord Jesus Christ awaits the unsaved when He will appear to them “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV). “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). Only through Jesus can a soul approach the Father. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). Jesus Himself adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47). Read about the birthday of the church in …

Why Did Jesus Wait Until He Was Thirty Before Starting His Ministry?

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor Someone posed the question, “Why did Jesus wait until he was thirty before starting his ministry?” Let me ask another question, “Why didn’t Jesus begin His public and earthly ministry when He was 12?” At that young age, “Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:41–44) when Joseph and Mary began their journey back to Nazareth. They found Him, after three days of searching, locked in a discussion with Jewish scholars in the Temple (Luke 2:46–47). Obviously, those Jewish teachers, who “were astonished at His understanding and answers” (v. 47), did not expect that from a 12-year-old boy. It is just as a surety that neither did Joseph and Mary expect such from one so young (vs. 48–50). It’s safe to say that 12-year-olds lacked credibility essential to begin the most important ministry ever before, at that time or since. His superior knowledge of God’s Word, though, was an inkling of what lie ahead in the life of Jesus. “‘Twelve years old’ would have been one year before Jesus officially became an adult Israelite and accepted responsibility for fulfilling the law” (Keener, “Luke 2:42”). “The coming of faith is described in terms of coming of age, when a boy would achieve adulthood (about thirteen or fourteen years old in various Mediterranean cultures)” (Keener, “Galatians 3:25”). “…Men entered adulthood around puberty…this term for ‘youth’ (KJV) could apply up to the age of forty, although it usually applied especially to someone under twenty-nine” (Keener, “1 Timothy 4:12”). Rabbi Jehudah …

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

By: Howard Johnson The immediate response to the above question might be, “to fulfill all righteousness,” and that is a good answer. A review of the Scriptures will show that it was much more than that. In Matthew 3:13–17, Jesus came to John to be baptized. In verse 15 Jesus said, “…Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness…” (NKJV). Jesus was not alone in this event; the Bible says that it was important for them to fulfill the act. John, the cousin of Jesus and the one chosen to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3–4; Matthew 3:1–3; Mark 1:2–4; Luke 3:2–6; John 1:19–34), was a crucial part of the baptism. John was “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17) and “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Mark 1:3). He spent his whole adult life preaching and teaching a call to repentance and baptism for remission of sins. John was told that he would see the chosen One from God, and he was an integral part of initiating the earthly ministry of our Lord. Knowing the background of the baptism of Jesus of Nazareth, I would like you to consider two reasons why Jesus was baptized. To Fulfill All Righteousness To be righteous is to be obedient. Jesus had to be in full obedience to the Law of God. God said that man needed to be baptized and sent John to perform it. In order …

To Whom Does the Gospel Apply?

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor The Gospel is good news for a wayward humanity. The word “gospel” means a good message or good news, and Almighty God our Creator sent a good message or good news through Jesus Christ, His Son. Romans 1:16 emphasizes the nature of that good news when it says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (NKJV). The Gospel of Christ equates to the power of God regarding human redemption—salvation. The added good news is that the Gospel is applicable to Jews and everyone who is not Jewish; Jews viewed the first century world as Jewish ancestry versus anybody who was not of Jewish lineage—Greek, Gentiles, the other nations or barbarians. The Gospel is not for the benefit of Jewish extraction only, but God intended it to be for every accountable soul. However, only people who allow the Gospel to produce within them a Bible faith do apply the good news or the Gospel to themselves. They alone are saved from their past sins and become the children of God. From the time of Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth through and including our time it has been and remains constant. “The faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5) in Romans 1:16 refers to the Gospel, to the history of the early church in Acts and to the epistles, all of these comprising the New Testament. A humanly devised “faith” cannot satisfactorily substitute …

Can a Non-Christian Baptize a Person Who Wants to Become a Christian?

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor This question is not posed in the Bible, and so, one must reflect on the ramifications of possible answers to it. It would be easy to say that since the New Testament (by which people living today are bound) does not explicitly authorize a non-Christian to baptize one to become a Christian, therefore, the answer would be, “No.” Furthermore, since no conversion recorded in the New Testament shows a non-Christian baptizing one to become a Christian, therefore, again, the answer would be, “No.” Hold that thought for a moment, and then consider some ramifications of answering the question before us with a “No.” Affirming “No” to the inquiry of whether a non-Christian may baptize one who desires to become a Christian would lead to the conclusion that there are no Christians today—as far as anyone living can verify. Why? Any person desiring to be baptized would not only need to inspect himself or herself, but he or she would have to validate the one doing the baptizing was baptized by a Christian, who was baptized by a Christian, and so forth all the way to the first century church. Otherwise, no one could have confidence that his or her baptism were valid. In addition, since Bible miracles ceased long ago, no divine demonstration is available to mankind to circumvent the need to trace the succession of Christians from the present baptizer all the way to first century Christians. The mess of trying to verify that true Christians have …

God Winked

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30 KJV). The only other English Bible translation of which I am aware that has “God winked” in Acts 17:30 is the Webster Bible (1833), which was a revision by Noah Webster to update archaic language in the KJV for readers in the 19th century. The KJV itself was largely a revision of earlier English translations, and as well, the KJV has gone through a number of such vocabulary updates since then, too. The NKJV may be viewed as the latest of one of those language updates. Readers today, probably, would not be able to comprehend the English language in which the KJV of 1611 was published. Most contemporary English Bible translations, such as the NKJV, render Acts 17:30 as the following. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” A person may take some pleasure in imagining that the Almighty and Invisible God, in some way, can be pictured, in one’s mind, as mimicking human emotions and gestures. However, ascribing to Deity human characteristics or attributes involves a figure of language called anthropomorphism, which is a compound word that means “human” and “form.” The biblical context (Acts 17:22–34) in which we find Acts 17:30 pertains to the apostle Paul’s public address on Mars Hill (KJV) or the Areopagus (NKJV) in Athens, Greece (Acts 17:22). He contrasted the many idols of polytheism that …

Can One Worship Alone?

By: Louis Rushmore, Editor Someone inquired whether a person can worship alone. The New Testament describes five activities of Christian worship, in no particular order: prayer, singing hymns, communion, contributions and preaching. If any one of the acts of Christian worship may occur when a child of God is alone, according to Scripture, then any or all of the acts of worship may occur with God’s approval when a soul is alone. That does not mean, though, that all of the acts of Christian worship can occur on any day or days. While some of our brethren have reasoned that a contribution can only occur on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1–2), that is an overstatement. Any act of worship that Scripture addresses, which is not specifically noted to be only on the first day of the week, can be observed on days additional to the first day of the week. It is not certain that the collections recorded in Acts 4:34–5:11 were on the first day of the week. In addition to the first day of the week, money often comes to a local congregation through the mail any day mail is delivered, electronically any time of day any day of the week, upon the settlement of donated estates, etc. None of those or similar circumstances negate the first day of the week contribution but may be in addition to it. Only partaking of the “communion” (1 Corinthians 10:16) or “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20) is …

What Is the Basis of Man’s Moral Laws?

Someone inquired, “What is the basis of man’s moral laws?” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says of “moral law” the following: “a general rule of right living, especially : such a rule or group of rules conceived as universal and unchanging and as having the sanction of God’s will, of conscience, of man’s moral nature, or of natural justice as revealed to human reason.” Almighty God—the one and only God of the Bible—is the ultimate source of “moral law.” Without Him, there is no basis of moral laws! God created mankind with a moral nature with the conscience to help steer him to what he believes is the right thing to do. The mind, though, must be made aware of and accept as true God’s rules so that the conscience can be helpful and lead to God’s approval. Saul of Tarsus, who had Christians arrested, imprisoned, beaten and killed, was a serious enemy of Jesus of Nazareth and His church before he realized Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and the Messiah. Once converted, Saul (Paul) became as ardent of a proponent of Christianity as he had been an enemy of it. Nevertheless, he conducted himself both before and after his conversion “in all good conscience” (Acts 23:1). The Bible is the basis of man’s moral laws, and for people living in this third era of God-given religion—Christianity—the New Testament alone is the basis of moral laws (Hebrews 8:13; Matthew 26:28; 2 Corinthians 3:6). We must turn to the divinely inspired Bible, with an emphasis on the …

Those Who Curse You

Brother, I have a doubt about a topic; please clarify. I am working as a Bible teacher in a Bible school, and I am teaching, “World Religious Survey”; in that, while I was teaching about Hinduism, there were so many people who curse others and bless others in different ways. …One of the Bible students asked me, “If it was wrong, then, how could Jacob, Moses and some other personalities do it?” I am also a little confused by it. So, please help me to teach about this clearly. Note what our Lord Jesus Christ said about cursing a person. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV). The Greek word for “curse” in this verse appears elsewhere in the New Testament in Mark 11:21, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14 and James 3:9. Luke 6:28 is a parallel account to Matthew 5:44, and Romans 12:14 corresponds to both of these citations, where it reads, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” James 3:9–10 also teaches the same lesson, where we find, “With it [the “tongue” v. 8] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” The words “curse” and “cursing” in these …

Why Was Jesus Christ Baptized?

“Why was Jesus Christ baptized?” asked a reader of Gospel Gazette Online magazine (www.GospelGazette.com). The biblical context from which this question arises appears in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22 and John 3:22-23. The most detailed account of the baptism of Jesus appears in Matthew 3:13-17. It reads: Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (NKJV emphasis added) The answer to the question above lies primarily in Matthew 3. Note that Matthew 3:1-3 identifies John the Baptist as a messenger from God with a divinely given message to proclaim. In addition, John’s ministry was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah [40:3], saying: ‘The voice of one crying in …

Does It Really Matter How I’m Saved?

The question – “Does it really matter how I’m saved?” – is somewhat amusing, and yet, salvation – forgiveness of sins and preparation to meet God in the Judgment – is too serious of a matter to treat it lightly. If it were true that salvation were actually achieved by whatever procedure, how one is saved would not matter. However, the inquiry assumes a fact not in evidence – salvation is achievable in more than one way or in ways of one’s own choosing. First, let’s define sin and against whom it is committed. Sin is violation of divinely inspired biblical instruction. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4 NKJV). God is offended by transgressors of His laws. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Secondly, who has sinned? Every accountable person, despite perhaps intentions to do otherwise, commits sin at least sometimes. “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 3:23). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. … If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in …

Is Water Baptism Necessary?

Water baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. Cornelius “received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:47) before he was water baptized and to have the Holy Spirit shows that one is saved (Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6 and 1 John 4:13). There is a difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit, miraculous gifts of the Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the effects of implementing the instruction of the Holy Spirit into one’s life. References to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6 and 1 John 4:13 differ from the event in which Cornelius was involved. Romans 8:9, in its context, contrasts sinful living with godly living, the latter occurring by following the teachings of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). Likewise, the context of Galatians 4:6 contrasts not being a child of God with becoming a child of God. The passage does not specify how one becomes a child of God, only that the children of God differ from impenitent sinners; the children of God received the Holy Spirit in some manner. Next, 1 John 4:13 also addresses a benefit and a confirmation to first century Christians that they differed from impenitent sinners who did not receive the Holy Spirit. The activity of the Holy Spirit in Acts 10:47 is described in the preceding verses 44-46 whereupon Cornelius and those with him miraculously spoke in languages in which they were not schooled. This was proof to the apostle Peter and …

Was the Miraculous Birth of Christ Known or Believed in Christ’s Day?

Introduction Someone inquired, “Was the miraculous birth of Christ known or believed in Christ’s day?” Maybe the question arises from the knowledge that many now famous historical figures were not regarded highly until after their deaths or beyond their time. Though many people rejected Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, which led to His crucifixion, many also acknowledged Him as the anticipated Christ or Messiah. Era of Expectation Abundant Old Testament prophecies about the kingdom or the church, as well as numerous passages prophesying the coming of the Messiah or the Christ, brought about an era of expectation that God would send His Anointed One. Commentators commonly state that there are 332 or 333 prophecies about the coming of the Messiah or the Christ, and some would even advance that number to perhaps 400 prophecies about Him. Some of the prophecies about Christ’s kingdom or the church help to identify the general period of time when He would come. Daniel 2:31–45 predicted that the fourth successive regional kingdom (from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea) from and including the Babylonian kingdom would come to power before the Christ came. The Roman Empire was that fourth kingdom, and so there had been for years and was an expectation among the Jews that the time was right for the Messiah to arrive. This is evident from some statements recorded from the first century. Acknowledgments of Jesus of Nazarethas the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ Several first century persons acknowledged …

1 Peter 4:3 – Reveling and Dancing

The Greek word under consideration only appears three times in the New Testament. The NKJV translates komos as “revelry” (Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21 NKJV) and “revelries” (1 Peter 4:3 NKJV). Word studies for this word, as well as insights from commentaries, sufficiently describe what it meant when the New Testament was penned. Reflection when comparing revelries to what passes for dancing in our time shows the likeness between then and now; plus, it demonstrates how “rioting” (Romans 13:13 KJV) or “revellings” (Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3 KJV) is improper conduct for anyone professing Christianity to engage. “It came to mean ‘a carousal’ such as a party of revellers parading the streets… wild, furious, and ecstatic” (Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament). Liddell and Scott Abridged Greek Lexicon defines “revelries” (komos) as “A revel, carousal, merry-making… it ended in the party parading the streets crowned, bearing torches, singing, dancing, and playing frolics.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says of the same Greek word, “Properly, a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence, used generally, of feasts and drinking-parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry; plural.” Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament adds: carouses, in which the party of revellers paraded the streets with torches, singing, dancing, and all kinds of frolics. These revels also entered into religious observances, especially in the …

What Are the Names of the Egyptian Gods Corresponding to the 10 Plagues?

There are numerous resources discoverable by a search on the Internet, which supply names of Egyptian gods that may correspond to the 10 plagues about which one reads in the Bible. However, they sometimes vary from each other. In addition, more than one of the Egyptian gods and goddesses could relate to some of the plagues. Upon review of the plagues, several distinguish between afflictions that fell upon the Egyptians that were withheld from the Israelites (Exodus 11:7). All of the plagues, and especially considered as a whole, amply demonstrate divine power that cannot be matched by mortals. “Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God’…” (Exodus 8:19 NKJV). Pharaoh’s magicians could not compete with divine, truly miraculous power! Each of the 10 plagues proved that the God of the Israelites or of the Hebrews (Exodus 7:16) – the only true God – is supreme and without any rivals. “…against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord” (Exodus 12:12). Resources consulted appear at the end of the article, but many more could also have been examined. One reference work appropriately titled its chart, “Egyptian Gods Against Whom the Plagues Were Possibly Directed” (emphasis added). This accounts for variations between resources and acknowledges a degree of subjectivity or reliance upon educated conjectures. Following are some of the extrapolations regarding the idol gods of the Egyptians over whom Almighty God exercised greater power through the 10 plagues. Assigning various ancient Egyptian gods to …

It Is Shameful for Women to Speak in the Church

First Corinthians 14:34-35 reads, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church” (NKJV). The meaning of the word “church” depends on the context in which it appears. It can mean any one of three things relative to Christianity: (1) the universal church – spanning ages past, the present and what future may remain – over which Jesus Christ is the Head (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18); (2) a local church (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1); (3) the assembly for worship by a local church (1 Corinthians 14). The word “church” in 1 Corinthians 14 refers to a worship assembly of a local church, which contained Christian men and women. In a setting where only women comprised an assembly (e.g., some small, struggling congregations or ladies’ days), the divinely inspired prohibition for women to speak in the assembly would not apply. Yet, most assemblies of a local church by far have both men and women present. Therefore, other than participating in singing hymns, God through the Holy Spirit directed that women remain silent during worship. Incidentally, the men must also remain silent when another brother is speaking (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). In addition, God does not permit Christian women to rule over men in religious settings, even outside of worship (1 Timothy …

Peculiar People Today

Someone inquired about 1 Peter 4:3. That verse is part of an immediate context which observes the contrast between the children of God and those who are not the children of God. A portion of the passage under consideration is as follows. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:2-5) The English Standard Version (ESV) renders verses 3-4 perhaps somewhat more easily understood. “Living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.” The New International Version (NIV) records verse 3 thusly, “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” Note: The Greek word ethnos is related to our English word “ethnic.” Whereas ethnos appears as “Gentiles” in many translations, some other translations render ethnos as “pagans.” “…Where laos is claimed for and restricted to the chosen people… ethnos includes all …

Where Do Babies Go When They Die?

“Where do babies go when they die?” someone inquired. Such a question would never have been asked except for the worldwide influence of the Roman Catholic Church. For centuries, it taught that unbaptized (unchristened) babies who die were neither eligible for Heaven nor candidates for Hell. Thus, Catholic religionists devised an intermediary eternal abode hovering between Heaven and Hell, which they dubbed, “Limbo.” “Limbo, which comes from the Latin word meaning ‘border’ or ‘edge,’ was considered by medieval theologians to be a state or place reserved for the unbaptized dead, including good people who lived before the coming of Christ” (Pullella). Though not Hell itself, Limbo was imagined to be closer to Hell than it was to Heaven. “A supposed border-land of hell; a region which has been believed by many to exist on the borders of hell, and to be the appointed abode of those who have not received the grace of Christ while living, and yet have not deserved the punishments of wilful and impenitent sinners” (“Limbo.” Wordnik). A further synopsis regarding “Limbo” includes the following. The place between heaven and hell to which Roman Catholics believe that the spirits of dead children who have not been baptized go: Limbo is the theological belief that children who die before being baptized are suspended in a space between heaven and hell. In 1905 Pope Pius X declared that children who die without baptism go into limbo, where they do not enjoy God, but they do not suffer either. (“Limbo.” Cambridge) Merriam-Webster defines …

Caring for the Needy

May the church, from its treasury, care for widows and destitute children? If so, is there a method specified in the New Testament? The short answers are “Yes” to the first question and “No” to the second question! Nevertheless, when it comes to the “Lord’s money” (as opponents are quick to describe the treasury), many brethren vehemently deny that the church can use the collection to provide financial assistance to widows, needy children or anyone else. They view James 1:27 and Galatians 6:10 as applicable solely to individual Christians and as an activity forbidden for the Lord’s church to engage. The former Scripture reads, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (NKJV). The second verse says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” First, let’s establish that the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16) not only may, but if they have opportunity, they must spend church funds in some cases to assist widows, for instance. Acts 6:1-3 proves that the Lord’s church – under the direct supervision of and validated by the inspired apostles – practiced benevolence toward widows. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, …

1 Timothy 2:12

Various translations render 1 Timothy 2:12 as follows. Teach The Greek word translated “teach” in each of the Scripture citations above can mean “instruct by word of mouth” (Complete Word Study Dictionary) and possess an “authoritative element” (Theological Dictionary). Obviously, “teach” pertains to providing instruction, but the manner in which instruction is dispensed and with what authority instruction pours forth can also be a part of the Greek definition of “teach.” Usurp Authority Over The Greek word translated “usurp authority,” “have authority,” “have dominion” or “exercise authority” here corresponds to these definitions: “absolute master… one acting by his own authority or power… to domineer” (Complete Word Study Dictionary); “to govern” (Abbott-Smith); “to have full power over” (Liddell and Scott) and “‘To control in a domineering manner’ is often expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘to shout orders at,’ ‘to act like a chief toward,’ or ‘to bark at’” (Greek-English Lexicon). Definitions in additional Greek reference works agree with these definitions for “usurp authority over,” and their inclusion here merely would amount to surplus citations. The Man The word “man” here refers to a male, or it can refer, depending upon the context, to a husband. “And a woman I do not suffer to teach, nor to rule a husband, but to be in quietness” (YLT). Definitions for the word here include “1. As opp. to a woman, Acts 8:12, 1 Tim 2:12; as a husband, Matt 1:16, John 4:16, Rom 7:2, Titus 1:6. 2. As opp. to a boy or infant, 1 Cor 13:11, Eph 4:13, …

Were the Apostles Baptized and Was Apollos Baptized a Second Time?

These two questions are related: “Were the apostles baptized?” and “Was Apollos baptized a second time?” The New Testament neither records the instances of the apostles being baptized nor of a second baptism of Apollos. However, Scripture implies that neither the apostles nor Apollos needed to be baptized after the establishment of the Lord’s church, about which one reads in Acts 2. The baptism administered by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-6), his disciples and the disciples of Jesus (John 4:1-2) – before the establishment of the church – involved repentance (Matthew 3:2) “for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). “…The word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:2-3). Jesus Christ preached the same message as John upon the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matthew 4:17). It is reasonable to conclude that the disciples of John and the apostles of Jesus Christ were themselves baptized in John the Baptist’s baptism since (1) they baptized others, and (2) our Lord Jesus was also baptized (Matthew 3:13-17). Regarding Apollos, since he was baptizing others in John’s baptism, it is reasonable to conclude that he himself had already been baptized in John’s baptism. He was unaware of the baptism of the Great Commission (Acts 18:24-25; Mark 16:15-16). “This man [Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of …

If We Are Not Perfect, How Can We Know We Are Saved?

Someone posed the question, “If we are not perfect, how can we know we are saved?” Someone else provided a short answer, saying, “We are perfected in Christ.” Indeed, we are not perfect. We can all identify with Ezekiel 28:15, which reads, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you” (NKJV). Consequently, all who read this bear the guilt of sin. “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). It is impossible for mankind to save itself through merely its own thoughts and actions. If humanity could extricate itself from the mire of sin, there would have been no need for a Savior to leave Heaven and come to earth and die on Calvary’s cross as a supreme sacrifice for sinners to be redeemed. If men could have lived their lives in perfect agreement with the Law of Moses (the Old Testament), they would have been without sin and would not have needed a Savior. Though imperfect creatures, Jesus Christ saves those who obey Him and His revealed New Testament. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews …

How Old Must the Children of Deacons Be?

One veteran Gospel preacher observed that commentators do not address this aspect of the qualifications for deacons in the church of the Bible. “How old must the children of deacons be?” The phrases “one who rules his own house well” (1 Timothy 3:4 NKJV) regarding elders and “ruling their children and their own houses well” (1 Timothy 3:12) pertaining to deacons employ the same Greek words. To this extent, the qualifications for elders and for deacons are the same. However, the reference to elders is modified by the phrases “having his children in submission with all reverence” (1 Timothy 3:4) and “having faithful children” (Titus 1:6). Certainly, one or more children of an elder must be old enough to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as to demonstrate submission to the father of the family. This implies a relative age range for the children of elders. However, the phrases “having his children in submission with all reverence” and “having faithful children” do not appear among the qualifications for deacons. We simply find “ruling their children and their own houses well.” There is no implication relative to a maturity comparable to that necessary to comprehend and to obey the Gospel of Christ. Various Bible translations render 1 Timothy 3:12 “ruling their children and their own houses well” (NKJV; KJV; ASV; BBE; Douay-Rheims), “managing their children and their own households well” (ESV; cf., NIV; CJB; God’s Word; Lexham English Bible; Goodspeed, RSV), “the children leading well, and their own houses” …

Recipe for Communion Bread

Some brethren conscientiously concern themselves with a recipe for communion bread (1 Corinthians 10:16) – one of the emblems consumed in observance of the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 10:21) or the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20). They assert that communion bread must contain flour, olive oil and salt for it to correspond with the Passover bread with which Jesus instituted the memorial supper (1 Corinthians 11:25) (Choate, VOTI#58 50-53; Choate, VOTI#92 54). Hence, this assertion is either a doctrinal matter or amounts to going beyond what is written in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6) – particularly in the New Testament, under which we live and by which we will be judged. Leviticus 2:4-7, 13 is represented as the “proof text” for a specific recipe for acceptable communion bread. It reads as follows. 4 And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 But if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil. 6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer …

Matthew 28:19 versus Acts 2:38

When one is baptized, I believe it is important to baptize someone in accordance with Matthew 28:19. However, I have heard two ministers of local churches of Christ baptize “in the name of Jesus,” and that bothered me tremendously. In both occasions, I was informed that Matthew 28:19 was before Jesus died. For after Jesus’ death, both referred to Acts 2:38 as their reason for baptizing in the name of Jesus. I am confused as to which is correct when baptizing someone – Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38 – either/or? In the first place, the Bible represents “the sum” of divine revelation. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17 NKJV). For people living today, the New Testament is the portion of the Bible to which we turn (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14; Romans 7:6-7), by which we must govern our lives (Ephesians 5:8; 2 John 4; 3 John 4) and by which we will be judged (Romans 2:16; John 12:48). Matthew 28:19 – often called the Great Commission – pertains to salvation available under Christianity. It reads, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 is an example of the application of the Great Commission, which pertains to salvation available under Christianity. This Scripture reads, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ …

Did the Old Law Save Souls?

“Did the Old Law [the Old Testament] save souls?” A simple “yes” or “no” will not adequately answer this inquiry. No, the Old Testament (which included Patriarchy and Judaism) did not directly save souls from their sins. How do we know this? “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4 NKJV). The preceding three verses explain. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. The animal sacrifices offered under Patriarchy and especially under Judaism were unable to remove the guilt of one’s sins, but those sacrifices prefigured a future, perfect sacrifice that would remove their sins. Of course, that perfect sacrifice was the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Savior, our Redeemer – Jesus Christ. Only through His sacrifice were and are sins removed, thus saving souls. “In whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). “…Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His …

Will God Give Me a Sign?

Someone mused, “Will God give me a sign?” That brings to my mind an illustration I heard several years ago. It goes something like this. A serious flood surrounded a man’s home, and the water kept rising. At first, would-be rescuers came by the man’s home in a high-water rescue vehicle, but the man refused to go with them, saying, “I’m waiting for a sign from God.” Later, after the water got even higher, would-be rescuers came by in a boat, but again, the man refused to go with them. “I’m waiting for a sign from God,” he said. Then, the water rose so high that the man climbed onto the roof to avoid the floodwaters. Would-be rescuers came by in a helicopter, but once more, the man refused to go with them, saying, “I’m waiting for a sign from God.” Finally, the man drowned! Subsequently, in a conversation with God, he bemoaned that God hadn’t sent him a sign. God answered, “I sent you a high-water rescue vehicle, a boat and a helicopter, but you refused all three.” The scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for “a sign” (Matthew 12:38). “But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah’” (Matthew 12:39 NKJV). Our Lord, then, proceeded to speak about the ultimate sign – His resurrection from the dead (v. 40). In verses 41-42, Jesus declared that sufficient signs …

Acts 20:30

Acts 20:30 presents a sad commentary but ever so true regarding the children of God. It reads, “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30 NKJV). From God’s placement of the first pair in the Garden of Eden through the present, certainly it’s a great challenge to keep the safe (i.e., initially Adam and Eve, as well as every babe) and the saved in a holy relationship with their Creator. Throughout human history, mankind has excelled in wickedness, and just when one imagines that violence, crime and unrest can’t possibly get any worse or become any more prevalent – it does! Almighty God did a reset regarding His creation when He expelled Adam and Eve from paradise and also during the Noahic deluge. Planet Earth was never the same as it was when it was created. Even praiseworthy Bible heroes faltered in sin. Among that number are Noah (Genesis 6:8, 22; 7:5; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; cf., Genesis 9:21), Moses (Numbers 20:7-12), David (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22; cf., 2 Samuel 11:1-12:15) and the apostle Peter (Matthew 26:74-75; Galatians 2:11-13). Beyond the consideration of individuals, the children of God as a unit repeatedly sinned against God (Hosea 4:1-10). Especially notice Hosea 4:7, which says, “The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me [God]; I will change their glory into shame.” Now, let’s consider Acts 20:30 in its context. The apostle Paul was traveling to Jerusalem, and on his way, he paused in …

Did Jonah Die in the Belly of the Fish?

We have been having a class on Jonah and the teacher is trying to make the case that Jonah died while in the belly of the fish. He is basing his assumption on Jonah 2:2-6 then again in Matt 12:38-40 saying that both Jonah and Christ died and was then resurrected. I don’t believe that Jonah died. I believe that God kept him alive to teach him and us that his will will be done and that he cares for all people and allows all to repent. I also believe that the sign of Jonah was, as Christ stated, that he was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights as he was buried for three days and nights. What are your thoughts? ~ Marvin Towell I thought I’d been around – both here and there as well for several decades – but I don’t recall having heard about anyone teaching that Jonah died while inside the “great fish” (Jonah 1:17). The notion took me a little by surprise. Nevertheless, the question of whether Jonah died while in the belly of the great fish deserves examination. After looking at a great number of biblical resources, I was about to conclude that no reference work of which I was aware theorized Jonah died while in the belly of the great fish. Then, I came across Burton Coffman’s commentary on Jonah 2:2, in which place he cited commentators who were certain that Jonah died in the belly …

Into What Name Are Persons to Be Baptized?

Into what “name” are persons to be baptized? Is there a contradiction between Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38? Furthermore, must one administering baptism to another say the words of Matthew 28:19 or the words appearing in Acts 2:38? First, let’s view the two passages under consideration. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). Indeed, at a glance and admittedly, the two Scriptures read differently regarding the “name” into which one must be baptized. However, I submit to you that, nevertheless, both passages teach the same thing. This will become clear as we continue. Secondly, we’ll treat the third question first, regarding what words the administrator of Christian baptism must say in connection with baptizing someone. Notice that both biblical references instruct what one must do rather than what one must say. It is an agreeable tradition to say aloud into whose name one is baptized, but such a thing, though instructive to bystanders (if there are any), is not a biblical specification. It is not necessary to recite biblical words at the time of the baptism for it to be valid. “Rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV) includes being able to and willing to distinguish between …

Why Did God Condemn King David for Conducting a Census?

“Why did God condemn King David for conducting a Census?” someone inquired. After all, censuses are regularly conducted in our day, and they were historically performed in many nations. The backdrop to the birth of Jesus of Nazareth being born in Bethlehem relates to a census in the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1-7). Furthermore, in former times, God called upon Moses to number the people of Israel – that is, take a census. “As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai” (Numbers 1:19 NKJV; 3:14-16; 26:1-2). However, in David’s time, God had not authorized taking a census of the Israelites. King David, though, initiated a census – to which David’s general and captains resisted, at first. “…the king’s word was abominable to Joab…” (1 Chronicles 21:6). So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.” And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?” Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of …

What If I Sin after Becoming a Christian?

“What if I sin after becoming a Christian?” someone asked. It is not a matter if one may sin after becoming a Christian, but instead, every Christian sometimes commits sins. Notice what the inspired apostle John penned to Christians in the first century. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. …If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10 NKJV). I have only encountered one Christian in my 50+ years of preaching who claimed – adamantly–he never commits sins as a Christian. That assertion was sinful since it directly contradicted the Holy Word of God, as just noted. Unrighteous people major in unrighteousness and minor in righteous – sometimes. Christians major in righteousness and, regrettably, minor in unrighteousness or sin. Even good moral people who are not Christians are unrighteous as long as they do not obey the Gospel of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 1 Peter 4:17). Just as there was a remedy for sin before one became a Christian – to obey the Gospel of Christ (Mark 16:15-16) by acting out the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5) – there is also a remedy for sin after one becomes a Christian. Turning to the apostle John once more and in the same context, we discover, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus …

A Muslim Desires to Become a Christian

Hi pastor. Kindly may u leads me to christ. Am Muslim who needed salvation. Crying for salvation via u. What can I do to be get saved. Rply sir. Isaac Thank you for your interest in becoming a Christian, a child of God. It would be helpful to know where in the world you are and how you came to contact me. Nevertheless, please note the abbreviated information that will put becoming a Christian into perspective for you. Essentially, the basics are as follows. I have also added you to the free, monthly email reminder list for notification when a new edition of Gospel Gazette Online (www.GospelGazette.com) is available. That website also has many hundreds of religious articles in its Archive and well over 100 titles of books and editions of the magazine The Voice of Truth International in PDF format, at no charge or free, in its Digital Library. I hope this helps, and I look forward to your further correspondence.

Explain “Take Up His Cross and Follow Jesus”

Mark 8:34 reads, “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (KJV). Jesus here bade all to follow Him but acknowledged there is a price to be paid. Because most are unwilling to pay the price, they choose to follow their own way and be lost. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). “His cross” here is not the Lord’s cross, but rather, it is our own cross! It involves a denial of self. The most important thing in the world after becoming a Christian is no longer oneself but God’s will. We practice self-discipline. Romans 12:1-2 declares, “I beseech you… that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Included here are both inner and outer struggles pertaining to living the Christian life. Whatever burdens, trials or hardships come our way as a consequence of following Christ are to be patiently borne. Second Timothy 3:12 tells us, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus …

Who Rules Hell?

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 NKJV) The idea that Hell is the devil’s kingdom and that he rules is plain make-believe. First, Satan did not create Hell. God did (Matthew 25:41). Next, Hell is designed to be Satan’s punishment and prison – forever (Revelation 20:10). Finally, it is not the devil who rules or is in control of eternity. It is Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:10; 20:11-21:8). Many fail to understand the righteousness of Hell. “How dare we be punished in such a way!” However, the facts are that Hell makes justice real. It also demonstrates that those who suffered at the hands of the wicked here for Jesus’ sake chose well; those who rejected Christ did not. Further, to be made for God’s presence for eternity, and then to reject that purpose, puts one in the unenviable position of existing forever without the …

Are the Righteous Scarcely Saved?

Some people read 1 Peter 4:18 and become anxious about their eternal salvation. That verse reads, “Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’” (NKJV). Various readers coming across the verse think that since Peter said the righteous are scarcely saved that their salvation is in constant jeopardy. They imagine one can only make it to heaven by the skin of their teeth (Job 14:20). Is that true? What did Peter mean by ‘the righteous are scarcely saved’? We must understand that Peter was writing to Christians in the context of persecution and imminent danger from oppressors. They were “grieved by various trials” (1:6), facing the possibility of “suffering for righteousness’ sake” (3:14), experiencing ‘fiery trials’ (4:12), ‘suffering as Christians’ (4:16), and ‘suffering according to the will of God’ (4:19). Peter wrote to encourage them in the face of those then present dangers and to assure them of the victory they could expect even though it might include physical loss. Let us analyze the words in the passage. The word “scarcely” appears as “with difficulty” in other passages. “When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus…” (Acts 27:7); “…and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him” (Luke 9:39). The word translated “saved” does not always mean eternal salvation – salvation of the soul in Heaven. Our eternal salvation is sure as we walk in the light. Jesus saves “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). We are “…kept by the power of …

Why Then Are They Baptized for the Dead?

While teaching that Christ’s resurrection was the greatest proof that our own resurrection will occur at His coming to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31; John 5:28-29), the apostle Paul asked the Corinthians, “Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV). Some have held that there was a custom practiced by some in the first century of baptizing people – living persons –  for the benefit of the individuals who had died without baptism. Some think that in 1 Corinthians 15:29 the apostle was using an argument based upon what some Christians were doing at Corinth – practicing vicarious baptism, baptizing Christians on behalf of deceased acquaintances who, while under instruction and faith development, had died before completing their primary obedience to the Gospel (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The obvious difficulty in imagining such allusion here is met by emphasizing that the apostle did not here evaluate such a practice with which he would have been in complete disagreement and merely mentioned it in an argument in making his overall case for the resurrection. Moreover, had such a custom existed there or at any other place in the first century, then, certainly the apostle Paul would have denounced it, as he did in every other case where Christians were deviating from the truth. He certainly would not have used such an unscriptural practice as an example …

Did the Early Church Practice Socialism?

Socialism is a political and economic philosophy that advocates community ownership and distribution of resources, typically controlled by the governing authorities. Does Acts 4:32-35 provide an example of socialism practiced in the early church, and does it set a precedent for all Christians to follow? The passage reads: Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (NKJV) Contextually, multiplied thousands of Jewish people from distant lands had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 5), a large percentage of whom had learned and obeyed the Gospel to mark the beginning of Christ’s church (vs. 41, 47; 4:4; 5:14). Rather than returning home, however, many remained in Jerusalem for continued instruction and fellowship (2:42), perhaps some until they were later forced to disperse (8:1-4). In the meantime, how were their physical needs to be met? A community spirit prevailed, coordinated first by the apostles and then by other godly men, which included selfless generosity and mutual …

When Are We Born Again?

A lot of people believe that Saul (later better known as the apostle Paul) was born again on the road to Damascus. However, this is untrue! The Bible makes it clear that he was still very much in his sins. Therefore, Saul was unconverted until he did what the Lord told him to do. When Saul arrived in the city, he prayed for three days and was in his sins. So, Saul did not become, as some claim, born again when he fell to the ground when the Lord appeared unto him. All three accounts of Saul’s journey to conversion (Acts 9:3-4; 22:6-7; 26:12-14) tell us that, when he saw the light from heaven, he fell to the ground. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we read that he fell from a horse or a camel. This assumption is one that we have inherited from medieval art and human tradition, not from God’s Word! It is no more true that Saul was born again or saved on the road to Damascus. Far too many assumptions are made about God’s Word, based upon human tradition and misunderstandings. In Acts 22:16, the Bible tells us that Saul was still praying and unhealed of his blindness. Only when he was baptized, that is, fully immersed for the forgiveness of his sins, was he truly converted. This is when Saul was born again and entered into the kingdom of his Lord. He did not become a Christian on the road as he fell to the …

Who Were the Women at the Foot of the Cross of Jesus?

“Who were the women at the foot of the cross of Jesus?” The pertinent New Testament verses are as follows. “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55-56 NKJV). “There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem” (Mark 15:40-41). “But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things” (Luke 23:49). “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His [1] mother, and [2] His mother’s sister, [3] Mary the wife of Clopas, and [4] Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). Matthew, Mark and Luke note that several women and other acquaintances viewed the cross from afar. The Gospel according to John, then, notes four women who made their way to the foot of our Lord’s cross: Jesus’ mother, Mary; Mary’s – here –unnamed sister; Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. We acknowledge that some students of the Bible question from the ambiguous wording whether three or four persons stood at the foot of the cross. Note below brother Guy N. Woods’ summation and explanation of the query. The text, either in Greek or English, leaves in doubt whether there were three women here …

Is It Scripturally Permissible to Use a Pitch Pipe?

“Is it scripturally permissible to use a pitch pipe in Christian worship?” Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are the primary New Testament passages to which the student of the Bible turns to validate the type of music that God authorized for Christian worship. Respectively, they read, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (NKJV) and “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.” These two verses authorize singing wherever and whenever Christian worship transpires. Consequently, God did not authorize instrumental music for use in Christian worship. Incidentally, “singing” is so specific that other forms of vocal expression are not authorized either, such as humming, whistling or imitating musical instruments. Unlike musical instruments that accompany singing in many religious services today – though not authorized by God – the pitch pipe is silent during singing. If the pitch pipe were used – for instance, in an attempt to play it – during singing, it would be equally unauthorized and as sinful as using instruments of music along with singing Christian hymns. The pitch pipe – as long as it isn’t used as though it were a musical instrument, such as a harmonica – is merely one of many expedients to worship and not itself a part of worship. Other expedients to Christian …

If a Person Can Be Forgiven for Adultery, Why Is There Still a Penalty?

“If a person can be forgiven for adultery, why is there still a penalty?” There are a couple of points relative to this question. First, when one repents of whatever sin is under consideration, he or she stops committing the sin as a prerequisite to pardon. Repentance is “to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness” (Greek-English Lexicon emphasis added). Forgiveness of sins in unobtainable while continuing in the sins for which a person desires pardon. Continuing to commit the sins for which one wants pardon is not repentance! Therefore, under those circumstances, there is no forgiveness of sins. Mental acknowledgement of wrongdoing does not convert sinful activity into something acceptable to God. For instance, being in a biblically impermissible marriage (though sanctioned by man’s laws) does not somehow become acceptable to God merely by one noting that he or she has violated God’s New Testament commandments about marriage, divorce and remarriage (Matthew 19:9). Jesus cited only one circumstance for which an innocent person in a divorce for the cause of fornication may (but does not have to) marry a biblically eligible person. The apostle Paul quoted our Lord regarding divorce, penning, “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11 NKJV). Jesus said not to divorce, but if …

What Is the Difference between a Prophet and an Apostle?

“What is the difference between a prophet and an apostle?” “A prophet was an individual who received a call from God to be God’s spokesperson, often connected with some crisis that was about to occur, and then announced God’s message of judgment and/or deliverance to Israel and the nations. The importance of this office can be seen in the fact that the word ‘prophet’ occurs over 300 times in the Old Testament and almost 125 times in the New Testament” (Evangelical Dictionary emphasis added). Therefore, a prophet was “a religious intermediary” (Eerdmans Dictionary) between God and mankind. “The ordinary Hebrew word for prophet is nabi, derived from a verb signifying ‘to bubble forth’ like a fountain; hence the word means one who announces or pours forth the declarations of God” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). “Most frequently naba is used to describe the function of the true prophet as he speaks God’s message to the people, under the influence of the divine spirit” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). A prophet was “a person who acts as the organ of divine communication with men, especially with regard to the future. He differs from a priest in representing the divine side of this mediation, while the priest rather acts from the human side” (McClintock and Strong emphasis added). Even when a prophet didn’t have a divine message at some time to declare, he was still a prophet, but we typically think of prophets as forthtellers of the future. Contrasting prophets and priests, think of two signs with arrows on them pointing in opposite directions. The prophet …

To What Does “Purification” Refer in John 3:25?

“To what does ‘purification’ refer in John 3:25? Doesn’t the context refer to Jewish purification and not baptism?” To answer these questions, we need to address both one significant aspect of Jewish purification as well as what John 3:25 teaches. First, one widespread form of Jewish purification resembled John’s and Jesus’ baptisms. Three kinds of washing are recognized in Biblical and rabbinical law: (1) washing of the hands, (2) washing of the hands and feet, and (3) immersion of the whole body in water. …The washing of the whole body, however, is the form of ablution most specifically and exactingly required by the Law. The cases in which the immersion of the whole body is commanded, either for purification or consecration, are very numerous. (“Ablution”) Citations for the above quotation include Exodus 29:4; 40:12; Leviticus 15:5-10, 16, 18-27; 16:24-28; 22:4-6; Numbers 19:7-8, 19; 2 Samuel 11:2, 4. Consequently, numerous ancient baptistries were carved out of stone in Jewish communities and neighborhoods. Such a baptistry, however, is called a mikveh, mikvah, mikve or miqweh. A mikveh “is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity. Most forms of ritual impurity can be purified through immersion in any natural collection of water” (“Mikveh”). The following quotation distinguishes one use for the mikveh and how the purification was performed and differed from John’s and Jesus’ baptisms. “…Jewish practice in the mikveh, for proselyte baptism as well as for other ritual purifications, is self-immersion, in contrast with the common present-day Christian baptismal …

If We Are Not Perfect, How Can We Know We Are Saved?

“If we are not perfect, how can we know we are saved?” As a youth with a Catholic background, I experienced some missteps while searching for the one true church and salvation. After each attempt to secure the salvation, the questions remained: “What’s changed? How can I know that I’m saved?” The mere assurances of mortals like myself was not reassuring. There had to be something more – something definitive. There was, of course – the Word of God. First, let’s establish that no one is perfect in the strictest sense. Yes, no one is perfect. “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10 NKJV; cf., Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Mankind has always needed a Redeemer through Whom salvation is attainable. Secondly, a Redeemer and true salvation appears only in the Christian Age relative to the New Testament – not in Patriarchy or Judaism of the Old Testament. “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world… Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 4:14-15). However, the salvation afforded humanity through Jesus Christ is conditional upon obeying Him (Hebrews 5:9). Generally, salvation relates to obedience to the Gospel – “that form of doctrine.” “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed …

Why Did Jesus Die?

Someone recently posed the question, “Why did Jesus die?” Usually with every other human being, death is an end point, and it is often devastating to the success and to the continuation of whatever movement the deceased was leading. Dead men do not begin organizations, but that wasn’t the case regarding Jesus of Nazareth. The death of Jesus Christ spawned Christianity with the beginning of the church a little less than two months after His crucifixion outside Jerusalem upon Calvary Hill’s center cross (Acts 2). First, let’s establish that the death of Jesus Christ was anticipated in prophetic Old Testament passages. Not discoverable without consideration of related Scripture, the death of Jesus Christ was intimated as early in the Bible as Genesis 3:15. The death of Christ was comparably a bruise when contrasted to the crushing blow to Satan – namely, by the resurrection of the Son of God and subsequently the proclamation of the Gospel and the establishment of His church. Additional biblical citations relative to the death of Christ are discernible when compared to circumstances at the time of His death (Psalm 22:1, 13, 16, 18; 34:20; 69:21; Zechariah 12:10). Isaiah 53:3-12 has Messianic application and prophesied the death of the Messiah or the Christ. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; …

How Many Years Were There between the Testaments?

The Bible Exposition Commentary says about Matthew 3:1-15, “For over 400 years, the nation had not heard the voice of a prophet. Then John appeared and a great revival took place.” Regarding Luke 1:5-25, the same commentary continues, “It was indeed a dark day for the nation of Israel. The people had heard no prophetic Word from God for 400 years, not since Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (Mal 4:5-6).” Later, the commentary says, “When John the Baptist appeared on the scene, no prophetic voice had been heard in Israel for 400 years.” Albert Barnes wrote regarding Luke 1:11, “It had now been about 400 years since the time of ‘Malachi,’ and since there had been any divine revelation. During that time the nation was looking for the Messiah, but still with nothing more than the ancient prophecies to direct them. Now that he was about to appear, God sent his messenger to announce his coming, to encourage the hearts of his people, and to prepare them to receive him.” For Matthew 3:7, he penned about the Jewish sects, “Of course nothing is said of them in the Old Testament, as that was finished about 400 years before the Christian era.” The Bible Illustrator of the New Testament refers to the same lapse of new revelation between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament era. “…prophecy exists; if Jesus Christ be its chief and central subject, it is only natural that, after an interval …

With Which Church Should I Worship?

The desire to worship appears to be an innate quality in every people historically throughout the world. Misguided souls have worshipped the heavenly bodies, trees, rocks, carved or forged idols, dead ancestors, kings and even Satan. People, today, still worship in the same way, as well as worship differently from each other the true God of the universe. It, therefore, is a fair question, “With which church should I worship?” Happily, the one making the inquiry isn’t worshipping the sun, the moon, rocks, trees, his or her ancestors, rulers or even Satan. Neither has the person posing the foregoing question been misled by other world religions outside of Christianity. Yet, no doubt the existence of thousands of denominations worldwide presents a nearly incomprehensible challenge to find the church of the Bible – rather than a manmade knockoff. Only the church of the Bible – the New Testament – will do, for it is the only church for which Jesus Christ died (1 Corinthians 15:3), over which He is the Head (Colossians 1:18) and for which He will return someday to retrieve (John 14:3). Any church that wears names for itself and for its members that are not in the New Testament is not the church of the Bible. For instance, churches named after people or human doctrines are different from the church of the Bible. Biblical names for the church of the Bible include “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) and “the church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), and names for …

Unleavened Bread and Grape Juice

“Why do we use unleavened bread and grape juice when we partake of the Lord’s Supper?” someone inquired. A good place to begin regarding anything religiously we teach or do is first to ascertain what is divinely authorized. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17 NKJV). “In the name of” is equivalent to “by the authority of.” Then, forasmuch as Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15; 12:24), we must turn to the New Testament for information about all things today that have a religious significance, including how Christians observe the Lord’s Supper. Unleavened Bread Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper immediately after concluding His participation in the Passover meal (Luke 22:20). When Jehovah instituted the first Passover meal about 1,500 years earlier, He specifically stated that Israel was to eat unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8), and additionally, God required that leaven be removed from the houses (Exodus 12:15). Furthermore, the Passover was also called the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17; 23:15). The Israelites were forbidden to eat leavened bread for seven days in total relative to the Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15; Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17). Therefore, when our Lord instituted the Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) or Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), the only bread available at that time and place was unleavened bread (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 14:14-20). Hence, the …

Why Is the Church Important?

Someone in a round about way essentially asked, “Why is the church important?” Rather than being an afterthought, stopgap measure as premillennialists suppose, the church was in the eternal mind of God, and it is fundamentally an indispensable component of God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. Note carefully the following passage written by the inspired apostle Paul. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:8-11 NKJV) The “unsearchable riches of Christ” or the Gospel formerly was a “mystery” until it was preached plainly in the first century. Formerly, “from the beginning of the ages” (before Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity) it was “hidden in God.” Since about A.D. 33 through the present, God’s grand plan for human redemption has been “made known by the church.” The divine blueprint for man’s reconciliation to Him was in His “eternal purpose,” and “Christ Jesus our Lord” – the Messiah – the Son of God – is the key figure making deliverance from the penalty of sin possible. Even more, the church is …

Should the Gospels Be Included with the Old Testament?

“Should the Gospels be included with the Old Testament?” someone inquired. The Gospel records contain information that precedes the establishment of the church in Acts 2. Furthermore, the Gospel records consist of historical and doctrinal material pertaining to Jesus Christ, Who lived and died while the Old Testament was still in effect. It is understandable, then, how one might ponder if Matthew, Mark, Luke and John belong in the Old Testament rather than in the New Testament. However, there are reasons for which the Gospel records belong exactly where they are – in the New Testament collection of Bible books. First, note that there was 400 years of silence from the Godhead between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. Though new revelation from God didn’t necessarily occur daily in any religious period when miracles were operative, 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament sufficiently sets them apart. Secondly, the Gospel records were written well after the beginning of Christianity. They record historical information prior to and leading up to the establishment of the church and Christianity. No one knows precisely when each Gospel record was penned, but they successively fall in the range of about 30 to 60 years after the events they record. Hence, the Gospel records are where they belong, in the New Testament catalog of Bible books.

Was Mary Magdalene a Church Leader?

“Was Mary Magdalene a church leader?” someone asked. The New Testament mentions Mary Magdalene by name 11 times combined in the four Gospel records. All of those references to her, therefore, were prior to the establishment of the church, about which one reads in Acts 2; the first mention of “the church” as existing is in Acts 2:47. Since New Testament Scripture relegates leadership roles in the Lord’s church to qualified men, neither Mary Magdalene nor any other woman could be a leader in the church about which we read in the Bible. Leadership in the church is the responsibility of biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) who have been appointed to the eldership over the congregation of which they are members.

Joel’s Prophecy about Daughters Prophesying

Someone desires an explanation of Joel’s prophecy about daughters prophesying. The biblical citation appears in Joel 2:28-32 and in Acts 2:16-21. And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:28-32 NKJV) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into …

Why Do People Get Old?

Life is interesting from a 6-year-old’s perspective. Our daughter asked her precious daughter a series of questions. Her answers were really cute, and sometimes thought-provoking. One of the questions was, “Why do people get old?” Here is her answer: “Because they need to die and go to Heaven.” If I know my little granddaughter, she said that very matter-of-factly. What faith a little one has. There is one goal in life, and she is already aware that we are going to die, and we are getting ready for Heaven. The apostle Paul wrote these words in Philippians 1:20-22. “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell” (NKJV). As Christians we need to be focused on the fact that we do indeed grow older because we need to go to heaven. I recently heard a recording (from last year’s Polishing the Pulpit lectures) in which a brother dealt with verse 21. He made an excellent point when he said, “For to me, to live is ________, and to die is _________.” He said if you will fill in the first blank, then he could tell you what goes …

How Many Times Do I Have to Be Baptized?

“If baptism is where sins are forgiven, how many times do I need to be baptized? Do I need to be baptized after every time I sin?” This is a frequently asked question, and so it is good for us to have an answer ready. The simple answer is found in Acts 8, the story of Simon the Sorcerer. When Philip preached the Gospel and worked miracles, he convinced many, including Simon, and they were all baptized (12-13). When Peter and John came to give the miraculous portion of the Spirit, Simon attempted to buy power to pass on the gifts and fell into sin in the process (18-19). Peter immediately confronted Simon about his sin and warned him not that he needed to be baptized again to forgive this sin but to repent and to pray for forgiveness (22). Once we are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27), our sins are continuously forgiven as long as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

Was There Law before Christ?

A visitor to our website for Gospel Gazette Online posed the question, “Was there law before Christ?” Most assuredly, there was divine law to which mankind was amenable before “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). The first law included the simple instructions that God gave to Adam and Eve, namely, to tend the Garden of Eden, but not to eat the fruit of a specific tree (Genesis 2:15-17). God continued to communicate with mankind through fathers of families for the next 2,500 years, during a period of time referred to as Patriarchy. For about the next 15 centuries, Israelites were amenable to the Law of Moses or Judaism (1 Kings 2:3). However, non-Jews or Gentiles continued to be responsible to Patriarchy until the time of Christ, at which time the Law of Christ replaced or superseded both Patriarchy and Judaism (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Garage Sales

Some non-members and possibly some members of the churches of Christ wonder, “Why don’t churches of Christ have garage sales?” The reason for which typically the churches of Christ do not have yard sales is the same reason for which they do not use instrumental music in Christian worship or convene for weekly worship on Saturday night instead of on Sunday. The churches of Christ look exclusively to the Bible – God’s Word – to discern what is authorized by God. The principle found in Psalm 139:17 is valid today, too. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (NKJV). However, since we live in the New Testament era, we turn specifically to the New Testament to learn and to practice what is authorized by God today (Hebrews 8:13). Providentially, God preserved divinely inspired New Testament epistles that He wanted us to have. Only by scouring or searching the New Testament (John 5:39) can a person know what God has authorized. How the Lord’s church finances itself, whether to use instrumental music in worship or when to assemble weekly for worship are all authority issues – or understanding what is authorized. The first day of the week is authorized for the weekly assembly of the church for Christian worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Only a specific kind of music – singing – is authorized for Christian worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Weekly, freewill giving is authorized by God for the needful expenses for …

Is It Sinful to Have a Blood Transfusion?

Someone asks, “Is it sinful to have a blood transfusion?” All three religious periods in the Bible – Patriarchy, Judaism, Christianity – prohibit eating blood. Patriarchy: “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood” (Genesis 9:4 NKJV). Judaism: “Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat” (Deuteronomy 12:23 and many more Scriptures). Christianity: “But that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:20). Genesis 9:4 prohibited people living under Patriarchy from eating blood because life is in the blood. The two following verses, hence, introduce “lifeblood” and associate blood with life and death. Prohibitions under Judaism about eating blood provide an additional reason for not eating blood; idolatrous worship at the time involved eating blood (Leviticus 19:26; Ezekiel 33:25). Likewise, Christianity’s restriction from eating blood is also associated with idolatrous worship. “…That you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality” (Acts 15:29). All three religious periods in the Bible – Patriarchy, Judaism, Christianity – prohibit eating blood. However, nowhere in the Bible does God even mention blood transfusions. Eating blood and blood transfusions are not the same thing. Blood transfusions neither involve eating blood or having it pass through the digestive system (e.g., stomach). Neither do blood transfusions have any relationship to idolatry. The Jehovah Witnesses stand alone in Christendom in presuming that eating blood and having a blood transfusion are the same thing and …

Will There Be In-Laws in Heaven?

It has been rightly noted that there will be no grandchildren in Heaven (Rushmore 39-41). If there are no grandchildren in Heaven, will there be in-laws in Heaven? The Sadducees, unlike the Pharisees, did not believe in angels, spirits and the resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:23). This wrong belief of the Sadducees is the backdrop to the question they asked Christ concerning a person who married a wife and died without offspring. In accordance with the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 25:5), the deceased six brothers had married the widow each in turn and died without leaving behind a child. Summing up their preamble, the Sadducees said, “Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her” (Matthew 22:27-28). The response of Jesus revealed the incorrect doctrine of the Sadducees, and other issues were pragmatically addressed. In addition, the living nature of God was manifested. To the Sadducees, Jesus said, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). The mistakes of the Sadducees were: They were ignorant of the Scriptures. Ignorance is destructive. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6). They did not know the “Power of God.” God’s power, as well as the righteousness of God, is great …

To Whom Was Matthew Written?

A visitor to Gospel Gazette Online posed the question, “To whom was Matthew written?” Each of the Gospel accounts was written generally to a different readership. The Gospel message or good news about Jesus Christ and His mission to provide human redemption is the same in each of the records. However, the manner in which that message was penned in each instance corresponded to the targeted audience. The Gospel According to Matthew was written with a Jewish audience in mind. The Gospel According to Mark was penned with a Roman readership intended primarily, whereas the Gospel According to Luke was scribed for a Gentile audience. The Gospel According to John was written much later than the former three Gospel accounts and penned for a universal audience. The Gospel of Matthew probably receives the most notice since its arrangement in our New Testament precedes Mark, Luke and John. Therefore, we are probably more familiar with it than the latter three Gospel records. Yet, together, the four Gospel accounts provide a more comprehensive overview of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. With those four records as the foundation, Acts 2 proceeds to acquaint readers with the beginning of Christianity with the establishment of the Lord’s church. The balance of the New Testament guides Christians in the application of God’s Word to their lives and how to prepare to meet God in eternity. The Gospel accounts, Acts and the rest of the New Testament convey how to be saved from past sins, …

Did Catholicism Give Us the Bible?

“Did Catholicism give us the Bible?” someone asked. No, Catholicism did not give us the Bible. The Old Testament portion of the Bible was completed before the first century. The New Testament portion of the Bible was completed around the close of the first century. The church that Jesus promised to build (Matthew 16:18) was established on the first Pentecost following the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ in about A.D. 33. However, the Catholic Church evolved over centuries from apostasy by early Christians and did not have a universally accepted pope to govern it for hundreds of years after Christianity began. The church Jesus promised to build and over which He alone is the Head began in Jerusalem about A.D. 33, whereas Boniface III unified and governed the Catholic Church in Rome in A.D. 607. Therefore, the Bible existed before the Catholic Church came into existence.

Will God Merge Heaven and Earth?

Short Answer No, God will not merge Heaven and Earth. Millennialists are incorrect to believe that the righteous will live on planet Earth for a thousand years. In addition, renewed earth theorists are equally mistaken to suppose that the righteous will live on Earth eternally. Both errors arise from a materialistic and literal view of passages that instead pertain to spiritual rather than physical applications. The complete demise of our world about which we read in Scripture utterly demolishes both doctrinal blunders. Jesus plainly declared: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away” (Matt. 25:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). The “heaven” of this passage is the ethereal atmosphere which surrounds the earth, the same “heaven” of the birds and fowls of the air (Luke 13:19; Ps. 104:12; Jer. 4:25; Lam. 4:19; etc.). …The apostle Peter gives a graphic description of the earth’s end and complete destruction by fire (2 Peter 3:7-10). He says that “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” The Greek word for “burned up” is katakaid, meaning “to burn utterly, as the burning of chaff” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words). (Cline 6) The phrase “new earth” in II Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 cannot possibly refer to a reuse of this planet, for the Greek word for “new” here means “new in nature” and thus “not yet used” (Kittel, …

Christianity and Government

Someone asks, “Due to the drastic change in government, how should we as Christians prepare for living in a socialist country?” This is an interesting question, especially since Christianity was birthed in Jerusalem under iron-fisted Roman occupation. Furthermore, the entirety of New Testament events and epistles relating to incidents in the first century transpired within the sphere of control by the Roman Empire. Therefore, the New Testament is actionable in our lives today, irrespective of the government under which we live – anywhere in the world. Whereas many in the USA may view the country lately as taking a significant turn from its roots to socialism, overnight the Burmese populace recently went from governance by a feeble democracy to control by historically lethal and harsh military rule. Christians around the world, today, experience many forms of governments under which they live and by which they are constrained. No matter where a child of God lives on the planet, there are fundamental characteristics that underscore what it means to be a Christian. These do not change irrespective of a person’s environment because the Bible stipulates them, and the Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. To what extent, how and where Christians can assemble to worship God in spirit and in truth may vary depending upon the constrictions under which they live, but Christians will worship God in spirit and in truth each Lord’s Day. The level of public activity in evangelizing non-Christians with the Gospel may also be …

What Is the Role of an Elder’s Wife?

Someone asked, “What is the role of an elder’s wife?” We will attempt to offer a consideration on which readers may desire to reflect. Generally, the non-gender specific biblical qualifications for elders and deacons (e.g., “the husband of one wife”) ought to be the goals of every child of God (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Both Christian men and Christian women should pursue for themselves the virtues that the New Testament absolutely requires of elders (and their respective wives). Yes, a woman must mirror the godly qualities of her husband in order for him to be biblically qualified to serve as an elder. Ungodly, immoral or unruly wives and children disqualify men for appointment as elders. There are some areas in particular where an elder’s wife participates with her husband in his ability to function well in his role as an elder. An elder’s wife doubtlessly assumes much of the responsibility regarding hospitality in the home, though an elder must be “hospitable” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). In addition, an elder’s wife bears a tremendous duty in the home for childrearing, though an elder must have “faithful children” (Titus 1:6). In a lengthier statement, the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 that an elder must be “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)” (NKJV). An elder’s wife contributes …

The Lord’s Day

Someone posed the question, “Would you please give me a Bible text that shows that Sunday is called the Lord’s Day? Do not use Revelation 1:10 since John did not specify what day he was alluding to when he said he was ‘in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.’” To my knowledge, the term “Lord’s day” only occurs one time in the Bible, and that is in Revelation 1:10. The reader is correct in his observation that John (the writer of Revelation) did not specify in that passage what day to which the Lord’s day referred. So, the real question is what is the Lord’s day – Saturday, the seventh day, or Sunday, the first day of the week? Certainly, we should all worship on the “Lord’s day,” but what day is that? “Lord” here refers to Jesus and is used in the possessive case; therefore, this was His great day. What great events in Jesus’ life took place on the sabbath or the seventh day of the week? I don’t know. Yet, I do know that on Sunday, the first day of the week, our Lord was raised from the dead (Luke 24:1-9). In this He showed His power to conquer death, not only for himself but for us, too. It was and is truly the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week. Also, the Lord’s church was established on Sunday, the first day of the week. We read about this in Acts 2. We know this took …

Which Translation Do You Use?

I was acquainted first with the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, and most of the older reference works interact with the KJV. Hence, many of the reference works and commentaries to which I may appeal in my study of the Bible involve the KJV. However, personally and usually in print, I resort to the New King James Version (NKJV). Both of those translations are based on the same Old Testament and compiled Greek manuscript for the New Testament. For the most part, both the KJV and the NKJV are translated accurately, as well as for the most part being translated literally. The NKJV’s vocabulary has been updated and is easier to read and to understand than the KJV. Most other contemporary New Testament translations are based on a different compilation of chiefly two or three older Greek manuscripts. Consequently, at best, these translations differ in some places – chiefly leaving out some verses – from the KJV and the NKJV. Happily, when translated accurately, no doctrine is compromised irrespective of whether one uses, for instance, the NKJV or the English Standard Version (ESV). It is important to note that there are primarily two opposing approaches to translating Scripture into one’s language – more or less literally and dynamic equivalence. “Literal” refers to word for word translations (and sometimes transliterations, e.g., “baptism” for “baptisma”) with some words added by translators to help with the sense (italicized words, e.g., KJV, NKJV). “Dynamic Equivalence” presumes to reword and rephrase the original text into words and sentences that the translators …

The Two Deaths?

Someone is curious about and desires an explanation of the two deaths about which one can read in Scripture. The first death – physical death – is something doubtlessly with which everyone is reluctantly familiar as family members and friends die. It, too, is an appointment that each person now living must keep, though at an undisclosed time and for which no one can be late. Introduction “The phrase ‘first death’ is nowhere found in the Bible. However, the ‘first death’ is implied by the ‘second death’ that figures prominently in the Revelation…” (Stockton 471). The first part of Hebrews 9:27 provides a biblical validation of what we might call the first death, whereas the latter part of the verse announces a disposition to be made of each person following his or her physical demise and subsequent judgment. For “many” (Matthew 7:13-14), this is when they will experience the “second death.” “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV). The phrase “second death” appears only four times in Scripture. “‘The second death’ is unique to the Apocalypse. What matter about the first, which sooner or later must come, if we escape the second death” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown). “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11 NKJV). “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such …

What Does Scripture Say about Tattoos, Body Art & Piercings?

A brother asks, “What does Scripture say about tattoos, body art and piercings?” Had the question been phrased – “What does the New Testament say about tattoos, body art and piercings?” – the answer would simply be, “Nothing.” Preferences and opinions aside, the New Testament does not specifically address tattoos, body art and piercings. Indirectly, there may be some principles that one may wish to use against them, but still the New Testament does not expressly address tattoos, body art and piercings. Good judgment and responsible decorum that does not distract from one’s Christianity ought to be considered (1 Timothy 2:9). The Old Testament, though, does address tattoos and cutting the flesh, but the Old Testament is neither now the law of God to which we turn to order our lives nor the law of God by which anyone presently living will be judged (Romans 7:6-7; 2 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:8-13). The Old Testament prohibitions regarding tattoos and cutting of the flesh pertained to the adoption of the practices by idolatrous peoples. Old Testament restrictions concerning tattoos and cuttings of the flesh not only pertained to the popular idolatry of that day, but they also are confined to the Old Covenant, which is no longer in effect. Brother Wayne Jackson has written a fine, brief article about tattoos and cutting of the flesh, which I recommend readers of Gospel Gazette Online read for themselves in full. Works Cited Jackson, Wayne. “Does the Old Testament Condemn Tattoos?” Christian Courier. 28 Nov 2020. < https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/246-does-the-old-testament-condemn-tattoos>.

Is Sin the Business of the Church?

“Is people’s sin the business of the church?” someone asks. The short answer is, “Yes” and “Yes.” First, Christians, and hence the church as it is comprised of Christians, must proclaim the Gospel to a sin-sick and spiritually dead world population. “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved…’” (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…’” (Acts 2:38). “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord’” (Acts 22:16). Each of these passages, and more to which one could appeal, emphasize the need of sinners to hear and obey the Gospel of Christ as well as the responsibility of Christians or the church to present the Gospel to sinners. Yes, people’s sin is the business of the church. Not only so, but such is also the chief or primary mission of the church – evangelism. Secondly, Christians, and hence the church, must reprove or rebuke Christians who practice sins. The first century church at Corinth disregarded ongoing sin …

Scripture Reading

Someone submits a statement and a question thusly: “Reading of Scripture prior to the sermon seems to be of recent origin. Does the one who reads the Scripture have to be a baptized believer?” We will consider the statement and the question separately. Rather than being of recent origin, public reading of Scripture is an ancient practice among the people of God. Nehemiah did this. “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8 NKJV). Centuries later, Jesus Himself illustrated the practice of the Jews to read Scripture and afterward to expound upon it. So He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on …

Who Was the Father of Melchizedek?

Someone asked, “Who was the father of Melchizedek?” This Bible character’s name appears 11 times in Scripture (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:1, 10-11, 15, 17, 21). None of the passages that refer to Melchizedek identify his parentage. The absence of references to the mother and to the father of Melchizedek or to his birth and to his death is part of why and how Melchizedek is an example of some of the characteristics of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Note that Hebrews 7:3 says of Melchizedek that he was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” (NKJV). Being a mortal, certainly Melchizedek had a mother and a father. Obviously, he was born and eventually he died. However, none of those particular details have been preserved. Lacking the details of Melchizedek’s parentage and when he was born or when he died makes him appear to be without beginning and without end. Thereby, Melchizedek in this way mimics and serves as an example of God the Son, Jesus Christ, Who is eternal – without beginning and without end. “And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:15-16). In addition, Melchizedek served as “priest of the Most High God” (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1) under …

Who Was Miriam?

Miriam was a woman of note in the Holy Bible, who had her strengths and weaknesses like any one of us. We offer some facts on who Miriam was, along with brief comments. Miriam, sister of Aaron, was: Miriam died at Kadesh (Numbers 20:1). Both males and females have their weaknesses and strengths. Kudos to Miriam for leading the women to appreciate God in praises to His great and glorious name. Never be rebellious in the church against church leaders because of the unsavory result (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Let all grievances be channeled to the leaders in the spirit of meekness and with a view to finding a solution, not to disrupt things. The church will do well to promptly attend to all problems that are brought before her as the apostles did in Acts 6:1-7. “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Who Killed the Firstborn?

Commonly, people refer to a death angel or the angel of death regarding the death of the firstborn in the final plague preceding the Israelite exodus from Egyptian bondage. Others adamantly object that God killed the firstborn under consideration. Let’s see what we can discern from the Bible. Exodus 12:1 says, “Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt…” (NKJV). The “LORD” (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV) or “Jehovah” (ASV, YLT) later interacted with the Israelites over their 40 years of wilderness wandering. First Corinthians 10:4 identifies the member of the Godhead that we know best as Jesus Christ as the One Who interacted with the Israelites in the wilderness. Thus, we have identified the One Who was speaking in the context of Exodus 12. Were Exodus 12:12-13 alone considered, a person might well conclude that “the LORD” exclusive of anyone else killed the firstborn of Egypt. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (NKJV). The “I” refers to “the LORD” of verse 1. However, consider Exodus …

Saints Only?

Must congregational benevolence be limited to saints or Christians only? Is that what 2 Corinthians 9:13 and Galatians 6:10 teach? Does New Testament Scripture chronicle largely Gentile first century Christians from northern Mediterranean countries sending benevolent money to a particular group of Christians in Palestine, who were encouraged to share some of the benevolent funds with other Christians outside of their congregation? Are churches of Christ neither authorized nor permitted to expend benevolent money or the things money can buy for non-Christians? The motivation for which the apostle Paul was collecting benevolent funds was for saints or Christians in Judaea who were the victims (along with everyone else) of a widespread famine. “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch [Syria]. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar” (Acts 11:27-28 NKJV). Several similar references dot the New Testament. “Distributing to the needs of the saints” (Romans 12:13). “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia [Turkey today], so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). “Imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering …

Was Jesus a Sinner?

A CNN host, discussing the current craze to destroy monuments, made this analogy. “Jesus Christ—if you believe in, if that’s who you believe in, Jesus Christ—admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth. So why are we deifying the founders of this country?” (www.dennisonforum.org). What is the basis of his pronouncement that Jesus was not perfect? Essentially, growing up in a traditional Christian denomination, the CNN host found himself at odds with biblical teaching, specifically on same sex relations. He objected to Scripture stating one engaging in such practices would not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). If one accepts the premise that Scripture is the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17) and that the teaching of Scripture condemns such a lifestyle, then, for those who accept that lifestyle, Scripture is wrong, and thus, Christ cannot be perfect. It is an intellectual exercise done to justify a way of thinking and a way of living. However, as the saying goes, wanting something to be so does not make it so. Such is not surprising, as recent polls show that some 44 percent of American believers think that Jesus sinned (www.christianheadlines.com). The survey also revealed a dramatic decline in the number of Americans who hold to a biblical worldview. According to the survey, about 51 percent of American adults have a traditional view of God as opposed to 73 percent in 1991, a 22 percent drop from 30 years ago. George Barna stated of these results, “Tens …

Shall We Observe the Sabbath Today?

Dear Louis and Rodney, This is a disturbing article on your website [referring to an article about the Sabbath]…The darkness of this world is growing, the Christian world is shrinking and loosening. I have been to many Christian churches and most of them teach and follow the same false teachings like [the article]. Shall we follow G-d and our Saviour Jesus Christ or any ignorant and deceiving men? As simple as a child, when we read cited verses, we know that Christ Jesus abolished not the Law. Sabbath keeping is one of the Law that last forever. Sabbath Worshiping is the commanded sacred worship service from our G-d. Return and repent from all false teachings and ask for His forgiveness. Let us make a simple and straight choice and submission to our G-d: obey and follow Him and His commandments. Hope that the evil one will not deceive you or blind you to not Love our G-d as He commanded. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes and ears to see and hear His Voice. Sixty-six books comprise the Bible, and they were written by about 40 different divinely inspired penmen across approximately 1,600 years. Thirty-nine of those Bible books are in the Old Testament, and the remaining 27 books are in the New Testament portion of the Bible. Two different, God-given law systems appear in the Old Testament: Patriarchy (a family-type religion) and Judaism (a national religion); another or third God-given law system is in the …

Ages of Mary and Joseph

Someone submitted the question, “How old were Mary and Joseph when Jesus was born?” The ages of men and women appear in Scripture in many cases throughout the Bible. For instance, Genesis 7:6 reads, “Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth” (NKJV). Furthermore, Luke 3:23 says, “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age.” However, the ages of Mary and Joseph do not appear in the Bible. There are too many variables to even put forth a credible theory.

Is the Corporate Giving Done on the First Day of the Week?

“Is the corporate giving done on the first day of the week?” someone asks. The question is incomplete, and surely, the thought expanded would appear, “Is corporate giving [of the assembled local church] done on the first day of the week only?” The simple answer to the first or original question is, “Yes.” However, that question and answer may be misleading. The answer to the second question is, “No.” Historically and typically, members of the churches of Christ freely acknowledge that there are five activities of worship prescribed in the New Testament in which each child of God is obligated to participate each first day of the week: prayer, singing, giving, preaching and the Lord’s Supper—in no particular order. Usually, brethren assert two of these worshipful acts are limited to their observance upon the first day of the week (the Lord’s Supper and giving), while the other three types of worship may also occur on other days of the week. Scouring the New Testament Scriptures, one discerns that Christian worship ensues through prayer, singing, giving, preaching and the Lord’s Supper. These, then, must transpire during worship assemblies (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40) on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The reason that any worshipful activity may occur on other days of the week also is because the Spirit-led, apostle-guided first century church apparently engaged in that worshipful act also on days other than the first day of the week. Only acts of worship that the New Testament does not show …

Single versus Married

The related questions were put forth thusly: “Is the single or unmarried state really inferior to the married state? Why the pressures from the church and parents on the spiritual superiority of married life?” For most people, marriage is the ideal marital status, as long as husbands and wives practice biblical principles (Ephesians 5:22-33). God Himself at the budding of human habitation upon the earth determined that a man and a woman were suitable companions, coworkers and a family (Genesis 2:18, 21-24). As husband and wife, God instructed them to propagate the human race (Genesis 1:27-28), which is not possible alone. Likewise, following the worldwide deluge of Noah’s time, God told the four couples who disembarked the Ark, “…Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1 NKJV). This, again, is the business of growing families, not something done alone. Both testaments of the Bible abound with references to married life. God approves of marriage and detests sexual relationships outside of marriage. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Marriage is the proper way to address one’s natural physical attraction to the opposite sex (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). However, the apostle Paul was not only unmarried, but he also recommended that marital status to others, too. “But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself…” (1 Corinthians 7:6-7). In addition, the same apostle acknowledged that because of …

Did Jesus Put a Curse on a Fig Tree?

Someone asked, “Did Jesus put a curse on a fig tree?” The implication may be that somehow our Lord acted in an unbecoming way and was worthy of censure. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. … Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 NKJV) Yes, Jesus did put a curse on a fig tree. The incident was symbolic of coming divine retribution or punishment upon wicked humanity at the conclusion of the longsuffering of God (2 Peter 3:9-12). Of all Jesus’ miracles, only this one was a curse. It was absolutely necessary that Christ’s miracles should attest the ultimate judgment of God upon evil works. Otherwise, it could have left an impression that divine power would be used only to heal, help, and bless man. The lesson of the fig tree, however, proves that God will eventually judge mankind and punish wickedness. Since the time had not yet come for the pouring …

Can a Non-Christian Baptize a Person?

A correspondent inquired, “Can a non-Christian baptize a person?” Perhaps if we pose some questions, at least some of which may appear to be rhetorical, a logical or a reasonable answer will be apparent. Most members of the Lord’s church doubtlessly realize that the Restoration Movement in the 19th century describes a widespread exodus from denominational churches by religiously sincere people who desired to be merely members of the church established by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Furthermore, generally, Christians understand those thousands of souls were not petitioning existing congregations of the Lord’s church for membership, but instead, they went about to reestablish the presence of the Church of Christ (Romans 16:16) in various communities, mainly in North America and in Europe. Almost universally if not altogether universally, there were no Christians or members of the Lord’s church to baptize those masses fleeing denominationalism and desiring to return to undenominational, pre-denominational, pure Christianity discernible upon the pages of the New Testament. Initially, they were baptized by non-Christians in the biblical sense. Usually respected as a leader in the Restoration Movement, Alexander Campbell was baptized by a Baptist minister named Matthias Luce, howbeit, according to New Testament teaching rather than according to Baptist doctrine. It is true that Christians have the responsibility to herald the Gospel to “all the nations, baptizing them” (Matthew 28:19) or to “all the world…to every creature” (Mark 16:15). However, it is the responsibility of lost souls to submit to baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; …

Prayer in Jesus’ Name

Someone asked, “In our private prayers, is it necessary to say, ‘In Jesus‘ name’?” The principle of praying to the Heavenly Father in the name of or through Jesus Christ is firmly established in the address of our Lord to His apostles. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16 NKJV). “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you” (John 16:23). Jesus spoke directly and only to His apostles in John 14-16, and so, many things in those three chapters were pertinent only to the apostles. However, the principle of prayer directed to the Father through Jesus Christ applied not only to the apostles, but it applies to all disciples (i.e., today—Christians). We know this because passages of Scripture pertaining to non-apostles about prayer exhibit the same principle—to the Father through Jesus Christ. “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). These passages and others treating other subjects that refer to “in the name of the Lord” tell us what to do and not necessarily what to say. “Go therefore and make disciples …

Commanded to Keep the Sabbath?

Did God once command mankind to keep the Sabbath (7th day of the week)? Yes, He did. “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:10-11 NKJV). Does that mean people today are required by God to practice the Sabbath? However, God also commanded to build a large, barge-like boat and populate it with a sampling of the animal world (Genesis 6:13-20). Does that mean people today are required by God to build a floating zoo? The Bible is full of commands from God. Does that mean people today are required by God to obey all of them? Frankly, it is not even possible today to obey all of the commands throughout the Bible, simply because some of the commands were given under Patriarchy (beginning with Adam and Eve), under Judaism (beginning with Moses) and under Christianity (beginning with Acts 2). Many of the commands (not all of them) across the three religious dispensations are not homogeneous with each other. It was Noah whom God commanded (Genesis 6) to build the ark. Noah alone was the recipient of that command (Genesis 6:18). No one before, no …

Judaism, Christianity & Islam

Someone asked, “What is the relationship of Judaism, Christianity and Islam?” God authored three religious systems in sequence, beginning with the creation of mankind. Patriarchy is the first period of religious history, extending from Adam and Eve through possibly Acts 10 (except for the Israelites) with the conversion of Cornelius’s household. After about 2,500 years following creation, God instituted Judaism (on Mt. Sinai) for the Israelites. Approximately 1,500 years later, God brought about Christianity through the ministry of Jesus Christ—culminating with His death, burial, resurrection, ascension back to Heaven and coronation. At that time, Judaism ended (as far as God was concerned) for the Jews, but Gentiles may have been amenable to Patriarchy a few years more until the Gospel was preached to them. In any case, by now, all men now living are obligated to practice Christianity. Christianity is nearly 2,000 years old, having begun in the first century—about A.D. 33. Islam, though, began around A.D. 600—600 years after the beginning of Christianity. Whereas Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity were each authored by God in sequence, God did not author Islam, and therefore, it is not related to Patriarchy, Judaism or Christianity. The only direct connection between Judaism, Christianity and Islam is that the proponents of each of those religions revered the city of Jerusalem.

Biblical Festivals

“Please can you kindly explain the significance of biblical festivals,” someone asked. The Jewish festivals were weekly, monthly and annual worship events. Worship of Almighty God in His own prescribed way is sufficient significance for the Jewish festivals, but some of them had additional meaning, too. These biblical worship events are described in Leviticus 23 as well as in Numbers 28-29. Maybe not a festival, the Israelites were to make daily sacrifices (Exodus 29:38-46), which were inaugurated at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 28:6). The Sabbath sacrifices were weekly festivals (Numbers 28:9-10), but there were also monthly sacrifices (Numbers 28:11-15). Annually, the Israelites were to observe the Passover (Numbers 28:16-25), the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Numbers 28:26-31), the Feast of Trumpets (Numbers 29:1-6), the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:7-11) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12-40). Of course, the Passover celebrated the last plague upon the Egyptians that finally led to the release of Israel from Egyptian captivity. The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost coincided with the wheat harvest. The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated Israel living in tents following their exodus from Egypt and as they traveled in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula (Leviticus 23:43). The Day of Atonement recognized man’s sin and his inability to compensate God because of it. The Jewish festivals wove together the civil and the religious fabric of a special people who relied on Jehovah.

Godhead

Dear Brother Louis Rushmore, Christian greetings from Foncha Street congregation, Nkwen, Bamenda, Northwest Region, Cameroon. You have always handled doctrinal and Christian teachings that seem to be controversial with utmost maturity and plain biblical truths. Consequently, I would like you to give a comprehensive and thorough teaching concerning the following: 1. What is the Godhead? 2. Explain fully the “oneness” of God in the Godhead. 3. Explain fully the distinctive nature of the divine persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in the Godhead. 4. Is there anywhere in the Bible that teaches that the name “Jesus” stands for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or that Jesus is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? 5. Is there any passage in the Bible that supports the idea that the “us” in Genesis 1:26-28 is referring to God (the Father) and angels? Please, brother, be very thorough in answering these questions with biblical passages. These issues are trying to tear our congregation apart. I wait for your urgent answers through God’s guidance and wisdom. Regards, Andrew Ihedi Umezurike The question above is lengthy and complex. Yet, let us answer its parts with brevity as well as with sufficient thoroughness. First, the Godhead (Acts 17:29 KJV; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9) is to the Persons of the Godhead what humanity is to the people who comprise it. Whereas there are three divine Persons in the Godhead (Matthew 28:19), there are billions of persons in humanity. Second, Jesus spoke of the “oneness” of the Godhead. “I and …

Does God Punish with Earthquakes?

“Does God punish people with earthquakes?” someone inquires. The short answer is, “Yes,” but some clarification is necessary. God created a perfect world and an Edenic habitat for the original pair of humans, Adam and Eve. However, once they sinned (Genesis 3), God modified His created universe. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, in which they had access to the Tree of Life, by which they would never have died. Consequently, death entered the world, along with its accomplices—aging, pain, diseases, accidents and murder (Genesis 4). The earth underwent changes, too, with the introduction of thistles and sweating labor; these may be representative of other changes from paradise that we experience today, too. Later, mankind excelled in sinfulness, for which reason God determined to destroy the surface of the world that He had created. A remnant, though, of humanity—Noah, his wife and their three sons and their wives—was spared from the universal flood (Genesis 6-8). Only eight people and a sampling of animal kind aboard the ark (barge-like ship) survived that deluge (1 Peter 3:20). The events surrounding the flood forever changed the face of planet Earth as well as its weather patterns. Continents may have formed; mountains and valleys occurred; global weather dramatically altered from what it was. Thereafter, natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, local flooding, snow blizzards, droughts and such like were commonplace. Akin to that, disease, genetic defects and similar maladies also became ordinary. All of the foregoing and kindred things …

Where Two or Three Are Gathered Together

Curiously, some in a congregation have evidently construed something Jesus said to mean that congregations of the church ought to be small, rather than grow in number. The Scripture at the center of this inquiry is, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). I must profess that I have never heard of such an interpretation of that verse. Part of the context in which the phrase “where two or three are gathered together” is as follows. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV). Enough of the context appears here to show that our Lord was speaking exclusively to His apostles. Verse 18 pertains to Christ’s authorization of the apostles to speak doctrinally on behalf of God. Elsewhere, the result of their decisions on behalf of God and directed by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21) was called “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Usually, even members of the church lift Matthew 18:20 from its context (which they should not do) to teach about the presence of our Lord as Christians assemble …

Were There Christians before Pentecost?

Someone inquired, “Were there Christians before the Pentecost of Acts 2?” Probably most Bible students are aware that the name “Christian” appears three times in the New Testament. “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26 NKJV). “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’” (Acts 26:28). “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16). From Acts 11:26, one can easily see that the words “disciples” and “Christians” are synonyms for the same group of people. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “Christian” as “1 a: one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ, 1 b: disciple.” Even after the first recorded use of the name “Christian” (Acts 11:26), those wearing that name were still called “disciples” (Acts 11:29). Many of the disciples of our Lord previous to the Pentecost of Acts 2 (Matthew 5:1) remained disciples of Jesus when the events of Acts 2 were about to unfold (Acts 1:15). The term “disciple” continued to be applied to members of the Lord’s church after its establishment and for about 10 years before the name “Christian” was used of them in Acts 11:26. Disciples of Jesus were not called “Christians” until Acts 11:26, though even then, the terms “Christian” and “disciple” continued to be …

Did God Use Evolution?

Did God use evolution to create the world? What does it matter? In a recent conversation with an infidel, the question was posed, “Does it matter if God used evolution or not?” The Bible teaches clearly that evolution was not used to create the world and all things therein! If the Bible is true, then evolution is false. The Bible is true; therefore, evolution is false. The rest of this article will set forth the evidence that proves God did not use evolution in His masterful plan of creation. God’s Word gives clear details regarding creation. The Persons of Creation The Bible is crystal clear that time was not the agent of creation, as evolution teaches, but rather, the trinity (Godhead, Genesis 1:26; Romans 1:20)! In Genesis 1:1, the masculine noun used for “God” is the Hebrew word Elohim, which is a plural term referring to the Sovereign, Son and Spirit. Interestingly, this plural form is the name most used for God in the Old Testament, appearing some 2,000 times. Paul reminded the Corinthians that God the Father created the world (1 Corinthians 8:6). John, the beloved, reminded his readers that Jesus the Son created the world (John 1:3; cf., Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; Ephesians 3:9). Job attested that the Spirit of God was instrumental in creation as well (Job 26:13; 33:4). The Procedure of Creation The Bible will never harmonize with evolution in the procedure of how the world came into existence. A host of action verbs detail the procedure …

Who Were the Edomites?

The Edomites were descendants of Esau and citizens of Edom. “And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir” (Genesis 36:9 NKJV). “He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:14).

For What Can the Church Contribution Be Used?

Someone asked, “For what can the church contribution or the church treasury be used?”  Behind the question is the implication, “For what will God approve a congregational contribution to be spent?” or “What does Scripture approve for using the church contribution?” The general answer would be that the church contribution can be spent for anything for which the church has an obligation to fulfil. However, brethren disagree about and have differing opinions regarding for what a local congregation has an obligation financially. In addition, there is no more agreement as to how the church can execute its financial expenses in those areas where it is obligated to spend the Lord’s money. In areas of human judgment and opinion, individual Christians and local congregations need to act in accordance with their consciences and local, congregational decisions. However, when it comes to opinions and human judgment, brethren need to refrain from trying to enforce their opinions and personal decisions on other brethren and on other congregations of the Lord’s church. Making laws where God has not made laws is the same offence for which Jesus Christ rebuked the sect of the Pharisees in the first century. “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?’” (Matthew 15:1-3 NKJV). Elsewhere, our Lord described the scribes and …

Why Use Unleavened Bread on the Lord’s Table?

Someone inquired, “Why use unleavened bread on the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 10:21)?” There are two answers to this question that complement each other and arrive at the same conclusion that we ought to use unleavened bread in the memorial of the Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) or the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20). First, if we imitate what our Lord Jesus Christ did in the institution of the Lord’s Supper, we will use what He used for the bread portion of that spiritual feast. Since Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper immediately following the observance of the Passover meal, the only bread in the dwelling where He was at the time was unleavened bread. This is because the Jews were forbidden to have any leavened bread in their homes during the days of the Passover. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat — that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this …

Instrumental Music in Funerals?

Some brethren are concerned about whether instrumental music can be used in funerals. Apparently, these brethren feel so strongly instrumental music must not be used in funerals that congregations of God’s people divide over this issue. Religious questions deserve Bible answers, including this question. So, what does the Bible or even more specifically, the New Testament, legislate concerning funerals? Nothing! Therefore, practice regarding funerals becomes a matter of personal judgment. Hence, brethren ought not to divide God’s people over this—or anything else about which the Scriptures do not teach. Strictly speaking, neither weddings nor funerals are religious events prescribed in God’s Word. They are not equivalent to congregational worship, for instance. Yes, instrumental music in congregational worship is not authorized, and another form of music instead has been authorized in Scripture for Christian worship—singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). However, it is possible to interject aspects of Christian worship into a funeral (i.e., hymns, prayer, preaching). All of our acts of worship at all times and in all places ought to conform to what is authorized in Scripture for Christian worship. It would not be harmonious with Scripture regarding hymns sung during a funeral to be accompanied by instrumental music. It would be a matter of (poor) judgment in a setting such as a congregation’s auditorium, in which it ordinarily worships, to use instrumental music even if it did not accompany hymns; Christians and non-Christians alike would get the wrong idea about worshipful music. Funerals are not always conducted in meetinghouses for God’s people …

Are Homosexuals Born into Sin?

Anyone who respects the authority of the Bible—God’s Word—acknowledges that Almighty God condemns the sinful act of homosexuality (Genesis 18:20; 19:1-25; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV). Various individuals may be born with physiological weaknesses or lesser tolerances for certain life situations. For instance, some people apparently have a greater physiological intolerance for the consumption of alcohol or other drugs, though alcohol and recreational drugs harm anyone who uses them. Yet, despite the likelihood for some people more easily to become alcoholics once they begin consuming alcohol, they first must make the poor choice of drinking alcohol before they could succumb to its affect and become alcoholics. Possessing a weaker tolerance for alcohol does not make one an alcoholic; choosing to drink alcohol and subsequently being overtaken by it makes one an alcoholic. Likewise, irrespective of any physiological tendency toward homosexuality—if such truly exists, and that is questionable—only the choice resulting in the act of homosexuality is observable as sinful. Of course, one may fill his mind with thoughts that are sinful also, which are merely precursors to sinful actions in many cases (Matthew 15:19). Environment (family, friends, community mores, etc.) rather than physiological attributes with which one may be born affect a person more thoroughly. No, one is not born into homosexuality. One makes a choice to become …

Doctrine of the Bible versus Doctrine of the Church of Christ?

“Is there any distinction between the doctrine of the Bible and that of the church of Christ?” The word “doctrine” means “teaching.” The question, then, amended becomes, “Is there any distinction between the teaching of the Bible and the teaching of the church of Christ?” However, the phrase “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) pertains specifically in the actual sense as in existence to the New Testament rather than to the Old Testament. Hence, once more the question amended results in, “Is there any distinction between the teaching of the New Testament (i.e., Gospel) and that of the church of Christ?” If by “church of Christ” one refers to the church of the Bible (the New Testament), most certainly the doctrine of the New Testament is the doctrine or teaching of the church of Christ. There is no difference between the doctrine of the New Testament and the doctrine of the church of Christ because they are one in the same. The church of Christ (the church of the Bible) does not have a doctrine or a teaching independent of the New Testament (the Bible). Yet, if by “church of Christ” one thinks of a manmade religious organization—a denominational body—then, there may exist a vast difference between what the New Testament teaches and what such a sect believes and teaches. Historically through the present, there are several avowed denominations who at one time or another have appropriated to themselves the moniker “Church of Christ.” In addition, from a biblical perspective, …

Were Jews Commanded to be Baptized by John the Baptist?

“Were Jews commanded to be baptized by John Baptist?” someone inquired. It is clear that John the Baptist was baptizing Jews from Jerusalem and Judah. “Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized” (John 3:23 NKJV). “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5). John claimed to be the manifestation of Old Testament prophecy (Matthew 3:1-3; Isaiah 40:3) as the one who would prepare the way for the coming of the Christ. As such, then, like other prophets before him, John was acting on God’s behalf when he required the Jews within the sphere of his influence to be baptized. Incidentally, biblical “preaching” has never been merely “informational speeches,” but the very nature of preaching carries with it the requirement to implement the preaching or teaching into one’s life. Because Jews within the influence of John the Baptist (i.e., Jerusalem, Judah, etc.) were commanded to be baptized is the reason for which Jesus was baptized, despite not having any sins of which to repent. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and …

“How Will You Know You Have the Holy Spirit?” and “What Is the Influence of the Holy Spirit Today?”

Two related questions received are, “How will you know you have the Holy Spirit?” and “What is the influence of the Holy Spirit today?” The Holy Spirit no longer manifests Himself in miraculous ways—since the close of the first century. The purpose of miracles in the first century was to validate the New Testament prophets (i.e., the Christ, apostles, other disciples) and validate their messages (Mark 16:17-18, 20). Miracles, according to their purpose, did confirm the New Testament or the Gospel (Hebrews 2:3-4). Therefore, once “the faith which once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) had been declared to humanity, the purpose of miracles was concluded. Accordingly, the inspired prediction that miracles would end (1 Corinthians 13:8-13) came to pass. Therefore, no one living today can ascertain that the Holy Spirit is in him or her merely by observance. Without miraculous confirmation of the Spirit’s presence, one must turn to another source to determine if the Holy Spirit is in him or her. In our time, the only way a person can know that the Holy Spirit is in him or her is because the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is in the child of God. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV). “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are …