Editorial: Lessons for Us from Nehemiah

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Zeal, Compassion, Nehemiah, Defense of Truth, Subject Index, Editorials by Cox, Stan

The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by the remnant who returned from Babylonian exile is a wonderful success story. The remnant, under the direction of Nehemiah (cupbearer to King Artexerxes), accomplished the task despite great obstacles and opposition. The reasons for their success serve to teach us some very important lessons. In this article, we wish to make application regarding that success to the current needs facing the people of God in our time. The compassion of Nehemiah. Nehemiah had received word of the sorry state of those Israelites who had escaped captivity, and remained in Jerusalem. Of them it was said, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). Nehemiah heard of their distress: “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (1:4).

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Who Were the Amorites?

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Amorites, Subject Index by Meyer, Craig

The terms “Amorite” and “Amorites” appear 26 and 60 times, respectively, in the American Standard Version of the Bible, totaling 86 occurrences. The Amorites are first mentioned as early as Gen. 10:16 as having descended from Canaan, the son of Ham. They, along with many other tribes, occupied the pre-conquest territory of Canaan. “Amorite” may have signified either a single ethnic clan or a loose confederacy of tribes. At times, the Amorite name seems to be synonymous with “Canaanite” and to represent all non-Israelites whom God commanded to be driven from the land (Josh. 10:5; 24:8,15; Jgs. 6:10).

The Amorite name means literally “the high one” and may refer to one (or more) of three possibilities:

  1. the mountainous terrain of the land they occupied (Num. 13:29; Deut. 1:7,19-20);
  2. their fearsome military prowess (Deut. 1:44); or
  3. their great stature (Num. 13:33).

If #1 was intended then Amorite would stand for “highlander” or “mountaineer.” If #2 or #3, then the concept of “the high [and mighty] one” was implied. It is possible that a combination of more than one idea inhered in the name.

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Purity and Doctrine

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Morality, Doctrine, Doctrinal Error, Subject Index by Hafley, Larry Ray

Which is greater, moral purity or doctrinal truth? Some say “purity” in life is more important, while others say “truth” in doctrine is the more excellent way. Why do we have to make a choice? Does the word of God encourage us to choose one above the other? One may be right on every point of doctrine, but go to hell for an impure life (1 Cor. 9:27; Rev. 2:2-5). One may live a “good, moral life” and be lost in doctrinal error (Jas. 5:19, 20; 2 Jn. 9).

How, though, may we have moral purity without doctrinal truth? Someone must teach the truth about moral purity in order to establish it in the lives of Christians. The context of the statement, “Ye have not so learned Christ,” shows that pure, godly living is a taught and learned behavior (Eph. 4:17-5:18). Indeed, it is the grace of God which teaches us to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” (Titus 2:11-14). Doctrinal truth, the teaching of the word of God, is essential to righteous living. “By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer” (Psa. 17:4). The word from God’s lips is imparted by teaching, by doctrinal “instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

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Hymenaeus & Philetus

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in False Teachers, Fellowship, Subject Index by Deaton, Steven

ANNOUNCING GOSPEL MEETING
Bring your manuscripts and study with us.

Subjects:

Modesty
The Church
Temperance
Fornication
Homosexuality
Apostasy
Denominationalism

Speakers: Hymenaeus & Philetus
For further information contact the local evangelist, Timothy.

To the stable, solid, sober Christian, it would be a shock to receive a meeting announcement from the congregation where Timothy labored, informing them that next week Hymenaeus and Philetus would preach the Gospel of Christ, even though they would not mention the resurrection. We could believe it if it came from the church of which Alexander the coppersmith was a member, but not from the faithful companion of Paul. How could it be that after receiving a letter warning him about these two false teachers that Timothy could help spread their influence (2 Tim. 2:17-18)? This is impossible to believe.

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Watchmen In Zion

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Defense of Truth, Watchmen, Subject Index by Price, Joe

Is it scriptural to describe Christians as watchmen? That is, may we apply the principle of being watchmen, as God did to the prophets of Israel, to the work of preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ in these last days? (Rom. 15:4; Heb. 1:1-2) Some maintain it is wrong to apply the term and principle of “watchmen” to brethren today. They conclude that since the term “watchmen” was applied to the OT prophets we do not have the authority to use the concept it conveys when describing the work of preaching the gospel of Christ. Some have assumed that the OT prophets were given a position of national oversight in their prophetic work, and since there is no brotherhood-wide organization of the Lord’s church, we cannot use the term “watchmen” as we discuss and apply NT truth to the work of evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11). It is concluded that those who would “contend for the faith” must not be described as watchmen (Jude 3; cf. Ezek. 3:17; 33:7-9). In this article, we will see from the Bible that the concept of the watchmen’s work continues to have legitimate application to evangelists, pastors and teachers in the kingdom of Christ, just as it did when fleshly Israel was the people of God.

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God’s Holiness and Our Sanctification

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Sanctification, Holiness, Subject Index by Cox, Stan

Authors Note: The following outline was inspired by a lecture by Marty Pickup during the 1996 Florida Lectures. Much of the material in the first part of the outline is derived in part from a review of that lecture. The applications at the end of the lesson are my own. I believe that an application of the fundamental principle of Sanctification would go a long way toward solving the moral and doctrinal problems that presently trouble the people of God. It is to a very great extent a failure to recognize and heed the call to holiness which is the cause for the present troubles. As such, I believe the following study to be important and timely.

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Queries and Explications: The Baptism of Jesus

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Oneness Pent., Godhead, Subject Index by Hafley, Larry Ray

QUESTION: “According to Oneness (’Jesus Only’) Pentecostals, the baptism of Jesus is against there being three persons in the Godhead. The voice of the Father and the coming of the Holy Spirit were manifestations, both audible and visible, for John the Baptist. There were two manifestations in Acts 2, tongues like as of fire and speaking in tongues (audible and visible). Would we say there were two persons there? No, because audible and visible manifestations do not make two persons any more than the smoke from an exhaust and the sound from an engine (audible and visible) would make two engines. So, they say, there was only ONE person at the baptism of Jesus. Would you please explain?

REPLY: If one has no theory to project or protect, the baptism of Jesus clearly presents to us three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead; namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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Voices from the Past: Have Convictions Will Stand

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Conviction, Defense of Truth, Subject Index by Deaton, Steven

(Gospel Guardian, Vol. 12 No. 44, Mar. 16, 1961).
Robert Harkrider

The vast difference between conviction and convenience has rapidly become a misunderstood subject. The search for convenience has perhaps led more Christians to bow their knees to Baal than any other disease. Conviction is lacking, and sin, camouflaged by popularity, continues to take its toll in the church.

A sharp contrast exists between the two attitudes. While conviction will prompt the Christian to stand under every test, the desire for convenience leads to compromise, and thereby spiritual death is the result.

Much preaching needs to be done on the meaning of conviction and its characteristics. An elegant picture of true conviction is found in a quotation from an article by J. W. Evans while he was living in Orlando, Florida. The article was about a sermon he had preached at the Par Avenue church. The title, “Have Convictions-Will Stand” may remind us of one of the popular TV programs; but its content is far removed from TV westerns. After expressing his appreciation for the good reception given to the lesson by the members at Par Avenue, brother Evans adds the following words which are to the point and worthy of serious consideration.

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Prosiguiendo a la meta: ¿Es Usted libre?

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in español, Subject Index by Houchen, Stephen

La Biblia está repleta de afirmaciones que al primer golpe de vista parecen ser paradójicas, o al menos irónicas. Dice “los primeros serán los últimos”, “los que procuran salvar su vida, la perderán”, “el evangelio fue escondido de los sabios y revelado a los simples”, y otras cosas semejantes. Pero el texto clave de este artículo es éste:

    “Dijo entonces Jesús a los judíos que habían creído en él: Si vosotros permaneciereis en mi palabra, seréis verdaderamente mis discípulos; y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres. Le respondieron: Linaje de Abraham somos, y jamás hemos sido esclavos de nadie. ¿Cómo dices tú: Seréis libres? Jesús les respondió: De cierto, de cierto os digo, que todo aquel que hace pecado, esclavo es del pecado. Y el esclavo no queda en la casa para siempre; el hijo sí queda para siempre. Así que, si el Hijo os libertare, seréis verdaderamente libres.” (Juan 8:31-36)

La cuestión que estaremos investigando es la de “cómo es que un cristiano es libre?” Muchos creen precisamente de lo contrario. Piensan que son los cristianos los que se esclavizan, sometiéndose a más reglas y restricciones, siempre asistiendo a los cultos cada domingo, ofrendando, prescindiéndose de vicios mundanos, etc. Y de otra parte, creen que los inconversos pueden disfrutar una libertad total porque viven sin esas reglas y restricciones, libres para vivir su vida así como les dé la gana.

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The Distaff: Why Women Should Come to the Lord

Posted on May 1st, 1998 in Women, Salvation, Subject Index by Rowen, Deborah

Did you see the pictures of the women in Afghanistan on the evening news recently? They were literally covered head to foot by heavy gray veils. Even their faces were covered because their country has fallen under the control of a militant Islamic group. These women have lost all of their basic human rights: they cannot have a job (only beg) and they cannot have any health care. This horror is brought about by a religion. In Saudi Arabia, a woman who had seven babies was not allowed to come home by her in-laws because a western reporter had photographed her. She is the victim of her religion. These cases made me think about how our Lord treated women while he walked with us, what he offers in this life, and for eternity. Why should women come to the Lord?

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