Watchman Magazine

From time to time I will read through journals from years gone by to glean benefits of mature and experienced brethren. Often in the writings of yesteryear, one can find excellent examples of men fighting for truth during times of controversy. And, inasmuch as the arguments are the same with only the surface elements changing, one will find “jewels” that can be applied to current controversies. Note the following gem, spoken in 1966 by brother David Edwin Harrell, Jr.

…I believe in a literal and narrow interpretation of the Bible as the Word of God. My aim is the exact restoration of the ancient order of things…the Bible should be, can be, and is literally understandable and …it should lead all men to the same conclusions. “Any man who believes that he can find literal truth in the Scriptures must also believe that those who do not find the same truth are wrong. What follows is that such people are sinful. The next logical conclusion is that they will go to hell. The most onerous charge leveled against those who are members of the Churches of Christ is that they are bigots. It is frequently assumed that they believe that all who do not accept the truths which they find in the Bible will be lost. All members of the Churches of Christ do not have such an attitude, but I do.” (Robert O. Fife, David Edwin Harrell, Jr., Ronald E. Osborn, Disciples and The Church Universal, pp. 34-35 [ as quoted in Truth Magazine, Nov. 21, 1974 p. 4--emp. mine, sfd]).

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Connie W. Adams
Truth Magazine, November 1972

Some have complained that the “tone” of Truth Magazine is too militant and that some of the articles are too blunt for their taste. A few younger men have told me they thought some of the reviews were too “personal.” Some comments are in order. (1) I am sure every person connected with the paper agrees that there are times when all of us could better say what we write than we do. The same is true of sermons. After I have already preached, I can think of several ways I could have improved what was said and how long it took to say it. I do not always agree with how some writers express themselves though I might agree with the point being made. I am sure Brother Willis feels the same.

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This month we highlight a church in Italy.

(The following article is written by Valerio Marchi, Evangelist for the church in Udine.  Steve Wallace)

My name is Valerio Marchi; I am 37 and work as an evangelist with the Church of Christ at Udine, in northeastern Italy, not far from the Austrian and Slovenian borders. About 100,000 people live in this city and 200,000 in the surrounding area. My wife’s name is Patrizia; we got married in 1986 and we have a daughter, born in 1995, whose name is Arianna Vera. I have been preaching since 1985, spending all these years at Udine; but, of course, also preaching from time to time in other places, according to the opportunities.

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Introducción

El ser cristiano se determina no por lo que el hombre diga, o sienta, sino por lo que nuestro Dios dice en su palabra. La palabra cristiano se encuentra solamente en tres versículos del Nuevo Testamento; estaremos estudiando estos versículos para determinar lo que es ser un cristiano. El propósito de esta lección es no sólo para tener el concepto correcto de lo que es ser cristiano, sino para que nos examinemos a nosotros mismos para ver si nosotros lo somos, para que hagamos los cambios necesarios y vengamos a ser en verdad unos cristianos.

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The World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary defines gossip as 1. idle talk, not always true, about other people and their affairs; 2. light familiar talk or writing; 3. a person who gossips a great deal. As a verb: to repeat what one knows, or the idle talk that one hears, about other people and their affairs.

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Romans 2:12-16 says:

“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

Romans 1 had established that the Gentiles are in sin and need salvation. The point of chapter two is to show that the Jews likewise are in sin and need salvation just like the Gentiles. The point of the above verses (vv. 12-16) is an amplification of the point in v. 11 (God is no respecter of persons). So, his point is that God will condemn those who sin whether they be Jew or Gentile. Those who sin without the law (Gentiles), God will condemn. Those who sin in the law (Jews), God will condemn.

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QUESTION: “Is the weekly Sabbath still binding on us because of Hebrews 4:9? The ‘rest’ in this verse is ‘Sabbatismos’ in Greek which means ‘weekly Sabbath’ (Saturday). Is this true?”

REPLY: In his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine, speaking of “sabbatismos” says, “(H)ere the sabbath-keeping is the perpetual sabbath rest to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the law” (970). Note, “sabbatismos,” Vine says, is “in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the law.” Thayer, commenting on Hebrews 4:9, concurs (565).

Too, as a casual search will show, the usual word for the weekly (Saturday) sabbath is sabbata, or sabbaton, not sabbatismos. Further, Hebrews 4:9 refers to “a rest,” not “the Sabbath.”

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I live in Limestone, County, Alabama. To many of you, that means absolutely nothing. To others, it has some ring of significance as many have heard of this county and the county seat of Athens. There are over fifty “non-institutional” churches of Christ meeting in this county, which is the smallest county in the State of Alabama. To say the least, this is an unusual circumstance. Just before I moved to this county, I received sage advice from two gospel preachers I admire and respect: Harold Comer, who has a statistic on everything you may want to know and probably some you may not want to know; and Donald Townsley, a great man, firm in the word and valiant in its defense. Harold warned me to beware of the multiplicity of the churches and the predictable “church hopping” that occurs in this area. Donald had a more stern warning. He advised me to be aware of the fact that the institutional battle had never really been fought here. I accepted his words with respect, but questioned in my own mind if he really knew whereof he spoke. After 2.5 years in Limestone County, Donald Townsley proved to be much more wise than I ever gave him credit for being. Institutionalism was never dealt with here due to the fact that most all the preachers in this area 50 years ago stood on the truth, and the churches remained uninformed on the intricacies of the issues. I am sure that few are as concerned with Limestone County church history as I might be, but my point is that unless we deal with these issues, and understand them fully, we are doomed to repeat the failures of our friends who are now so entrenched in liberalism and are so totally unaware that they are.

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One of the wonderful things about the preaching of Jesus (in addition to its wisdom, grace, perfection and relevance) was that it was always open and aboveboard, public in nature, not hidden in back rooms and secret conclaves. Knowing that he had the “words of eternal life,” (John 6:68), Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom openly to the multitudes: “…I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing” (Jn. 18:20). In his journeys, Jesus “went through the cities and villages, teaching…” (Lk. 18:22) in such a fashion that multitudes heard him (Mk. 2:13). From the beginning, Jesus intended that the message of grace be free, uninhibited, unbound and unfettered by human authority. No man or group of men have the right to limit the spread of the gospel; it has been certified by Jesus’ authority as the son of God and commissioned to the world (Mk. 16:15-16; Mt. 28:18-20; Lk. 24:44-49). It is an eternal message, to all men of every race. It cannot be fettered by creeds. Its authority cannot be diminished by synods and councils. Translation committees cannot alter the original inscriptions. Private interpretation, in which efforts to teach “another gospel” are waged, are condemned (Gal. 1:6-9). Private and secret groups which seek to subvert or change the definition of truth and who often invoke secrecy and personal privilege will be exposed. Cloaks of darkness cannot hide the light of the gospel.

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Genesis 12:1-4, “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”

God’s promise to Abraham in these verses contain a “fourfold” promise. Because this is not understood, many have stumbled and false doctrine has been the result. Let us study the text and do so with and an open mind and open Bibles.

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Some in churches of Christ are advocating that a covenant made by God with man should not be viewed as law from God. They urge us to believe that a covenant is a relationship of mercy rather than a law to be obeyed. They tell us that the new covenant of Christ is not a last will and testament (Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:8, 13; Heb. 12:24; 9:15). For instance, they say that a “covenant is not a law, but it has law.” And again, “Covenant is not a set of laws” (Jim Puterbaugh, Classes on “The Covenant,” Tape 1, 2-6-95, held at Issaquah church of Christ, Issaquah, Washington).

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In December, 1988, there was an exchange, in Nashville, between conservative and liberal thinking brethren. Some of the liberal thinkers turned out to be ultra-liberal and advocated what has been called “new hermeneutics.” They said that the canon of the N.T. was not decided until the fourth century and therefore the teaching of the apostles could not have been looked upon as a pattern. One speaker said “precept, example and necessary inference is Greek to me.” Instead of appealing to pattern authority, they said we should study the life of Jesus and do what we feel He would do in the circumstances. After the first speaker, I asked one who was to speak later on the liberal side (though he was much more conservative than that speaker), the source of that doctrine. He said: “Frank, that is rank modernism,” and it is!

Since I wrote a review of the “One Covenant” theory, I have been corresponding with two men who are trying to defend the theory. Some brethren have started traveling this road when they do not know its destination! One of the writers, a chief advocate of the theory, has made the same statement to me that the ultra-liberal speaker made in Nashville. I will quote that later, but first notice the argument that the the priesthood has not changed and Christ gave no new covenant.

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“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning, “king of peace,” 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”

(Heb. 7:1-3).

The sacred history about Melchizedek is very brief (Gen. 14:18-20). He, a Canaanite, was king of Salem (probably, later known as Jerusalem), and the priest of God Most High. After a particular battle in which Abraham was victorious, Melchizedek blessed him. In turn, Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. What is omitted in this history about Melchizedek, as well as what little is said about him, is important in that he is set forth as a type of Christ. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews introduced the case of Melchizedek in 5:6,10 and in 6:20, developing it further in chapter 7. The argumentation of the author is based on the emphases about Melchizedek. He had no beginning nor end, neither parents nor descendants (that history records)! He appears on the inspired pages of Genesis as a king and a priest of God, without registry that relates his lineage or ancestry, nor of predecessors nor successors in his priesthood. In these particulars, he serves as a type of Christ in his kingship and priesthood, one who abides thus continually.

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Some of our religious friends and neighbors, especially the Seventh Day Adventists, contend for the observance of the Sabbath. They make the claim that one who follows the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ must keep the seventh day as a day of rest. We will show from the inspired word of God that Christians are not required to consecrate the Sabbath. Also, we will look at how this subject presents great difficulty to our brethren who hold the “one covenant” position.

Israel OnlyThe first hint of man keeping the Sabbath, a day of rest on the seventh day by commandment of God, is found shortly after Israel departed from Egypt.

And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily…And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning…And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none (Ex. 16:5, 22-23, 25-26).

Prior to this time there is a total absence of any command, example, or necessary inference that man was required to observe the seventh day as a day of rest!

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To all readers of Watchman Magazine I want to extend my apologies for getting this March issue online a few days late. It might be said, “Events, they conspired against me.” Watchman Magazine is a relatively large venture, with three editors, seven regular feature writers, and a host of of “theme” writers, and other authors. However, there is still only one publisher, and that’s me. For those unfamiliar with the World Wide Web, that entails taking the edited materials, and putting them in HTML format, then uploading them to the Watchman site. This is enjoyable work, but with a venture this large it takes quite a bit of time. This month, with a heavy work schedule, a gospel meeting late in the month, computer problems, and a flu “bug”, I just ran out of time. I want you to know that no one is more disappointed regarding this delay than I am, and I am taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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According to Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary, to be accursed is to be “ruined or doomed to utter destruction.” Other lexicons would translate accursed as “damned or condemned.” The importance of having a good understanding of this word is seen in that, within the pages of the Bible, we read of certain persons that are accursed. It is sad that there are some who choose to place themselves in such a predicament before their Creator. Nevertheless, many people, as they give in to the Adversary, choose to become accursed by God. Let us carefully examine who it is that is accursed by God, so that we might be careful to avoid this tragic condition.

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(Editor’s Note: The following article by brother Hafley is the third of four appearing in the January, February, March and April issues of Watchman Magazine. Each article consists of 3 sections [or smaller articles]. Combined, they systematically answer the Calvinist doctrines of Total Depravity and Individual Predestination. I commend them to you. )

(Section 1)
FREE WILL PROOF TEXT–PSALM 110:3

Does man have a free will to choose to come to Christ, or must God perform a direct operation of the Spirit on the heart of the sinner to enable him to receive and believe on Christ? Wayne Camp, a prominent Baptist author and lecturer, contends thusly:

“Only in the day of God’s power will a person be willing. Psalm 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. This clearly reveals that no man, in and of himself, is capable of doing the will of God. He cannot will to come to Christ unless God enables him to by his regenerating power. When God does enable him by his regenerating power he will be willing and he will come to Christ — “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” The inferred negative is, they will not be willing until God brings his power to bear upon them. No one will be willing until the day of God’s power. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. One cannot come to Christ of his own might and power, or his own alleged free will, but he will come when the power of the Spirit of God enables him. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” Then, and only then, will a person be willing to come to Christ” (Camp, The Grace Propagator And Promulgator, August, 1995).

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