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He brought me to the banqueting house, and his
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PRIMITIVE BAPTIST DOCTRINE |
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Blood for Sin Elder W. H. Richards "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Rom. 5:9. The blood of Jesus is the only antidote for sin. It is stated in Rom. 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," and in Rom. 3:24, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." And it is stated in James 2:21, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac on the altar?" Now there is no condition in the above texts. It is stated in Heb. 11:17, "By faith Abraham offered up Isaac." This was 41 years after he believed God, and hence was a child of God [and] before the justification mentioned by James. So I conclude that justification by works is a declarative one, works declare that the one working has faith, and justification by faith declares that one is justified by the blood of Jesus. It is only those who have redemption by that blood, that have faith. Hence, the blood of Jesus is the basis of any subsequent justification. How can it be known that one is justified by faith? By his works. How can we know that one is justified by the blood of Jesus? By his faith. James said, show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. So I conclude that when anyone is working in the vineyard of the Lord, that they have faith. John said in 1 John 2:29, "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him." December 15, 1934 Elder W. H. Richards For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, for every tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs nor of a bramble bush gather they grass. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.--Jesus. The above is the language of Jesus and He gives us an infallible rule by which we are to know those with whom we are associated. Men may make great pretensions but a man's godly walk and conversation is an open book to what he really is. If you should have a tree in your orchard and some one should tell you that it was a corrupt tree you would certainly keep a watch on that tree to see what kind of fruit it bore. And if it should bear corrupt fruit you would know what kind of a tree it was, and no matter what anyone should say you would know that it was a corrupt tree; for by that fruit you know it. Well on the other hand, should it bear good fruit each year for a number of years and some one would tell you they had lied about it, that about 20 years ago it bore a corrupt fruit, what would you think about that statement in the face of the fact that you had been watching the tree and had never seen a crop of corrupt fruit on it? And the Saviour said, by their fruit you shall know them. Every tree is known by its own fruits. Luke 6:44 Which would you rather abide by; 20 years of good fruit, or the evidence of a confessed liar? "For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes." January 15, 1936 Elder H. G. Richards I have been requested to write on Church Sovereignty, and the relation between churches. I do so with fear and trembling, realizing that I am so imperfect, I might err. But trust you will consider what I write in the same spirit it is written. When we say we believe in Church Sovereignty, we do not mean that she is independent of all earthly institutions or earthly authorities. God does not deal with a church through political or civil bodies. Neither does He deal with a church through other churches. Where in the Bible did He ever tell one church how to deal with another? An orderly church of Christ has as much authority as a thousand orderly churches; she has MORE authority than a thousand councils or associations. In fact the local church is absolutely the only body on earth that has any Ecclesiastical authority. But we do know that there is a relation between churches, for we receive letters from other churches and otherwise recognize their official works. This does not mean that one church is responsible to other churches not at all. But it does mean that any local church must strive to conduct her business in an orderly way if she expects other churches to affiliate with her. If a church feels sure that she has positive knowledge that a sister church has departed from a FUNDAMENTAL point of doctrine or practice she should go to the supposed erring church and submit the matter into their judgment. This should be done in love, never in malice. If the erring church disavows the act that is considered such a grave error as to be sufficient to unchurch her, or if there is any doubt, whatever, that she has forsaken the fundamentals, then the laboring church should return home and prayerfully let patience have her perfect work. The object of labor should be to save never to destroy. If upon investigation, this sister church finds that the supposed departure is in reality one from the FUNDAMENTALS and there is no ground whatever for a misunderstanding about it and the erring church openly avows the act, the sister church should withdraw affiliation until the error has been corrected. She should do this in self-defense. It is also being faithful with erring churches. But she has no authority over her. Her life is in God's hand. If he does not remove the candlestick, it cannot be removed. Our big mistake in the past has been that we never labor to save, but to destroy. We never wait for a church to depart; we kick her out. We never wait for God to remove the candlestick; we try to cut off the light. If we will all work around our own doors, we won’t have time to go abroad. February 1, 1936 Elder H. G. Richards Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered: and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Heb. 5: 8-9. The foregoing passage of Scripture is the first quoted by the conditionalists [Arminians - JT] in proof of the conditional theory. So, in discussing the subject of obedience, we shall use it as the basis of what we may say. First, who is it that obeys the commandments of God? Does the lost sinner obey in order to become a child of God, or be saved with this eternal salvation? Or is it the child of God who obeys the commandments? Every conditionalist contends that the lost sinner must obey in order to become a child of God. Primitive Baptists say only the children of God do obey. Does the lost sinner hear the gospel? No. "He that is of God heareth God's word you there fore hear them not, because you are not of God. John 8:47 If the lost sinner must hear in order to get eternal life, he must do some thing that Jesus said in the text that he never does. Therefore, no hearing and no salvation by the conditionalist theory. But Jesus said He that is of God does hear. So every one who hears the gospel is a child of God, and the Primitive Baptists are right. [Hears – means hearing the gospel with the spiritual man not with the natural man because the natural man cannot hear in a spiritual way – JT] Can one obey the gospel who never heard the gospel? No! Rom.10:14 Therefore our text does not mean that eternal salvation is offered to the lost sinner upon hearing as a condition. Who is it that believes? Does the lost sinner believe in order to get eternal salvation? No, "But ye believe not because ye are of my sheep, as I said unto you." John 10:26. So all the benefits that come through belief come to the sheep only. For He said in the next verse, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life." The believer has everlasting life, shall never perish, is not condemned, is justified from all things, and is born of God [says the] Bible. Every blessing mentioned is one that applies to a child of God, and never applies to a lost sinner. Who is it that obeys the gospel? When the Arminian champion quotes the Scripture at the head of this article I make them tell whether he means that Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him perfectly, or will an imperfect obedience meet the requirement? We have to keep pressing them to make them stand on it. If he says it takes 100 percent perfect obedience, he can only get Christ in it; if he says an imperfect obedience will do, then faith repentance, confession and even baptism might be among that part of obedience left off. Thus we cut off the limb that the conditionalist is on. Here is the truth of the passage. Jesus became the author of eternal salvation by the things which He suffered. And those obeying give evidence thereby that they have eternal salvation. It is the servants of God who obey the gospel. Rom 6:16, "Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." Therefore obedience, service and righteousness all go together. Rom 6:18. Says, "Being made free, from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. We have already seen that we are serving when we are obeying. These people had to be made free from sin before they could obey. Being made free from sin ye became servants. Which came first? Suppose I want the service of some particular person but that person is in bondage (prison), (and no earthly prison can be more binding than the bondage of sin) what must I do in order to secure the service of that person whom I have chosen? First, I must secure his freedom by obtaining his release. This would require a ransom. This Jesus did for those whom God had chosen. He gave Himself a ransom. The ransomed of the Lord shall return. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness. When I have paid all that is against the one whom I have chosen to be my servant, I can then have him released, because of his justification. Then he may obey and serve me. But as long as he is in bondage he cannot serve another. So being made free from sin ye BECAME servants of righteousness. In His suffering Jesus paid the price (ransom) of our redemption, then we are freed from sin, which is bondage, upon the strict principle of justice, so when we see any one obeying God, we can say "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." January 15, 1946 Elder T. A. Dunn Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Rom 10:1. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Ro 10:9 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ro 10:13 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1Ti 4:16 The above Scripture, together with many others teach beyond a doubt that the gospel is for the grand purpose of saving people-not to give life, but to save those that have life. De 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Rain does not give life, but it saves the living vegetation. But how can they hear without a preacher; no more than it can rain without a cloud. So God has a great purpose in having the gospel preached. But remember, it is to save. When a preacher is engaging in tearing up, destroying, confusing, dividing, I shall say he is not preaching the gospel [because] the gospel saves. It is to save those that are in error. [H]ow can you save the erring child of God if you do not get to him or where he is? We cannot have the salvation of this text without the gospel. We cannot have the gospel without the preacher. We cannot have the preacher except he be sent. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. Lord, help me to preach the gospel. March 15, 1942 Elder T. A. Dunn And besides this, giving all diligence add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:5-8. The rule of addition is a very simple one yet it is a very particular one. To add you must have two or more numbers, then they must be correctly added. When I went to school my teacher began to teach me how to write figures, then taught me to put those figures together and she called that adding. Or she would write down a column of figures for me to add but she had the answer. So in order to get the answer I had to add each figure for if I left out one, I failed to get the answer. If I put in an extra one, I also failed to get the answer. So in order to add it correctly, I must have all the figures and add them together. So, in the above text we have a number of things to add. First we must have a starting place, something to add the first one to and that is faith. I do not here wish to discuss faith. But suffice to say, it’s a gift from God. It is the fruit of the spirit. Notice the first thing to add to your faith is virtue, and the last one is charity. But there are five different [ones between] these two, making seven in all, to be added. Now do you think we could leave off either one of the seven and get the answer? And if we failed to get the answer, have we not failed to work the example? I notice one of these to be added is brotherly kindness. Suppose we add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness and charity and leave off brotherly kindness, do you think you would get the answer? So if we fail to get the answer, have we not failed to work the example? Well, let's see what the answer is. Here it is: "For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." In order to get it correct he cannot leave off one. One might add all these things except virtue, but he simply would not get the answer. Another one might add virtue and leave off brotherly kindness, and he too would fail to get the correct answer. So what is the result or both these? One left off virtue and the other left off brotherly kindness; neither of them got the answer. So here is the condition of both of them. "But he that laketh these things is blind and can not see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." 9th verse. Honestly, before God I cannot see any difference in the condition of the two. For both are blind and cannot see a far off and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. What a deplorable condition for a child of God to be in! So if a man falls off one side of a bridge and drowns, and another falls off the other side of the bridge and drowns, what is the difference in the two? Suppose I add all the above but patience. Do you suppose I would get the answer? No indeed. Patience is just as needful as any of the others. I trust I have learned to be more patient than I once was. We should exercise patience with each other. We are told to let patience have a perfect work. "For what glory is it when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God," 1 Peter 2:20. We may often lose the blessing by being impatient and not willing to wait on the Lord, for at His own good time He will fulfill his promise. How needful it is for us to learn to work in addition that we may not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. April 15, 1945 Elder T. A. Dunn "If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you, John 13:14-15. I have never yet in life heard anyone deny or dispute that Jesus washed His disciple’s feet. When they admit that Jesus literally washed His disciple's feet, they surrender all the argument they have against it, for He (Jesus) says, "If I have washed your feet, then you ought to wash one another's feet." If I haven't washed your feet you of course are under no obligation to wash one another’s feet. The whole thing depends upon whether Jesus washed His disciples feet or not. If He did, "He said we (or His disciples) ought to do it. If He did wash His disciples' feet, He said He gave His disciples an example that they should do as He had done, or like He did. "But," someone says, "Can you prove they engaged in it after that one time?" Well, suppose I cannot what does that have to do with the above Scripture? Suppose you could prove they never did wash one another’s feet, would that be any evidence we ought not; when He says we ought to do it? If it could be established beyond a doubt that they never did wash feet, all that would prove is that they failed to do what Jesus says they ought to do. Is it right to do what Jesus says we ought to do? If it is, then it must be wrong to refuse or fail to do what we ought to do. "But,” the objector says, "It is just a lesson of humility." All right, do you practice that lesson of humility? If so how do you do it? Like Jesus did! He said He gave us an example. That is, he showed us how to practice this humility. He girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin. Do you use a towel, water and a basin in practicing this lesson of humility? If you do not you are not following the example, are you? . Someone says, "Oh, it is an old Jewish custom." Well, I know that is not so, for Peter was acquainted with the customs of the Jews and he had never seen anything like it and the reason he had not was because they never had practiced anything like it. Brother, what do you think of washing feet as an example from our Saviour? I would not say that a church could not be a Church and not wash feet but I would say she is not doing what Jesus says they should (ought) do. Mr. Benedict's fifty years among the Baptists, said it is not a universal practice among the churches but admits it was practiced in some localities or in some churches all the time. Sylvester Hassell says about the same thing, so I would not think it would be advisable to make feet washing a test of fellowship but if my membership was in a church that did not wash feet, I would insist on us having a feet washing. “But," someone says, "Oh it's not a command it is just an example." Well I would not fuss with you about that but Jesus took great pains and lovingly and tenderly taught His disciples the importance of the matter and then said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if you DO them." So I would not know how to do these things without a towel, water and a basin. October 1, 1935 Elder Jimmie Bass For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John. 1:17. The Law of Moses has been a great dispute in the Christian world since the days of our Saviour down to the present. The so-called Christian world contends for the Law of Moses as conditions of eternal life, the Primitive Baptists are disputing it. If the so-called Christians are right, we are wrong. It is true they have great-learned scholars in the letter of the Bible but they in their wisdom cannot understand Spiritual things. The world by wisdom knew not God, 1 Cor. 1:21. Truth is not learned by the wisdom of the world. Paul says: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit, for the spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God." Moses was a child of God and God sent him as teacher and leader of his people. Paul says: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster, Gal. 3:4. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, when He came it [the law] was no more master. Moses died at Mt. Nebo. God buried him and no man knows where he was buried. This is the end of the law. Where the law ended Joshua (which is [a type of] Christ) came in. [Joshua=Saviour in Hebrew -JT] The law and the prophets were until John (not since John), since that time the kingdom of God is preached. God sent His preachers to preach the kingdom of heaven (not the kingdom of Moses) is at hand. The organic Church, and that Jesus, the great Shepherd, the Way, the Truth and the Life, exhorting them to follow Him in the way He commanded. Let us follow our Spiritual Joshua (Saviour) in keeping His commandments for in doing so we shall reap blessings joy, peace and happiness while we are sojourning here below. June 15, 1935 Elder E. J. Norman I will first offer a brief form of an apology for this article lest some reader become alarmed and unduly prejudice at the principles set forth. I realize I am discussing a form of worship which is almost nationally accepted, I am only discussing this subject to get before the minds of all children in the true, light of the Bible teaching, that they may not be intimidated and perplexed when asked why don't you go to Sunday School. First I will say that the modern day Sunday School was not instituted by Jesus Christ nor authorized by Him, it is solely an institution of man, and that one Robert Raike, in 1781 of Gloucester, England, for the Sole purpose of providing literal education for poor and unfortunate children. In 1874 it was suggested by John Wesley and graciously accepted by his people that the foresaid institution become "Nurseries for Christians." Question: Shall we stand by and see the institution that our blessed Saviour gave us set to naught and replaced by one that sinful man has stipulated'? I say no. It is a kingdom of the world. Shall we permit a worldly institution to teach our children that the design and method of teaching that Jesus himself set up, to wit the Church, is insufficient, is obsolete, it is not modern, it is not in keeping with times of the day? Again, I say No! I will not charge such fallacy and insufficiency to our blessed Lord. It is not necessary to set forth an outline of the purposes and intent of the modern day Sunday School, but I shall only give a few Scriptural citations of God's Word and then let the unbiased and unprejudiced reader be the judge. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children, Is. 54:13. Will this source of teaching be sufficient and effective? Yes! "Great shall be the peace of thy children.'" "How" is the Lord going to teach His children? What kind of school and teachers is He going to use and what will He teach them? Before we proceed farther let us notice there are only two classes of people the regenerate and the unregenerate. The unregenerate only has a carnal mind, cannot please God, cannot be taught of the things of the spirit, because the carnal mind is enmity against God not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom 8:7. The regenerate can be taught but in regeneration, God the Spirit is the teacher. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way, Ps 25:8. Again we find where He will make a covenant with Israel. "Israel" means beloved of God those whom He has does and will regenerate, and the teaching that many are endeavoring to do in this day in Sunday School is done in regeneration, as according to this covenant. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for all shall know me from the least to the greatest, Heb. 8:10-11. Now there is some teaching involved in this covenant, but he says emphatically we shall not do it. Jesus says he will do the teaching in this covenant. I maintain that this covenant is substantiated upon the covenant of grace of which His blood is the foundation, and when Christ’s teaching, in His covenant, is set at naught and man's teaching is supplied instead, they have thereby counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith they were sanctified an unholy thing and have done despite unto the Sprit of Grace, read Heb. 10:28-29. We have briefly set forth some of the principles that come under the head of teaching (Spiritual instruction) and have found by God's word that no institution set up by man or set of men can impart these spiritual instructions but come to us by the spirit and grace of God alone. Now I am frank to confess and will boldly assert that there is some teaching for servants, preachers and teachers to do, but that teaching is strictly confined to an institution that Jesus set up, or organized, which is the Church and not man. One of the first commandments to teach given by Jesus, was to His apostles, and are the foundation of the Church, Matt. 28:19. He gave some Apostles, and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, Eph. 4:11. The same who was a pastor was also a teacher, and Jesus gave them to the Church to teach. Paul was a pattern for all that would follow after him, and he was appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles, 2 Tim. 1:11, appointed by Jesus Christ. [If] it is a fact that teachers of God's Word (the Bible) are called and sent by Him, and that is a gift from God to the individual that is to teach, then is it not a fact that anyone who assumes this work or gift of teaching must be in a different class to those whom God calls and sends. I will let, "Thus Saith the Lord," render the final standing of these teachers and let me say kindly and tenderly this is not my ultimatum, but it is Bible. Let us read it. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, 2 Pet 2:1. Now the truth remains if we are not God sent teachers, then we are false teachers, or if we do not have the gift of teaching, we are sure to teach something that is not the truth, and God is certainly not pleased with it. In Matt. 28:20, He specifies in His commandment of teaching God (to the Apostles) and that was His everlasting Gospel. Another serious objection I assign to modern day Sunday Schools and the reason I cannot conform my ideas to them, makes me believe that Jesus Christ did not and does not authorize them, we find that at least fifty percent of the teachers are women, and that does not conform to the teaching of the Bible. In all the teachings of God's Word, there is not one instance where He gives a teacher, calls a teacher [or] sends a teacher in the person of a woman. "I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence, 1 Tim. 2:12. "Let your women keep silence in the churches: For it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also smith the law, 1 Cur. 14:34." So I maintain that the teachers whom God gives, calls, and sends should teach His people what the Bible teaches and not send our children to a religious institution that Jesus did not authorize, that man originated and is principles [and] teaching [are] an arrangement of some L. L. D. Theologian of some publishing house and there is no more of the spirit and grace of God in it than there is in the dollar for which he does it for. Oh Lord give me grace as a God called teacher to teach God's children the Bible, and give the grace to grow in it until the day I die. Circa 1946 Elder J. A. Barrington "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affections, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry." Col. 8:5. The above enumerated things are of the flesh and when God's children are guilty of any of them they are walking after the flesh. We sometimes hear people say that fornication is such a sin and disgrace that they don't feel like forgiving those who are guilty of such. To be sure this is a very degrading sin, so are the other things mentioned in the above text. Covetousness is just as bad probably but not regarded so much. Many of our churches will hold in their fellowship a covetous person and talk among themselves saying, "I just don't know how to get at him; I'm afraid that I would hurt his feelings if I were to approach him on the question." Suppose you had the same evidence that one of your brethren was guilty of fornication? Would you talk it among the brethren and just keep bearing with it because you fear you might hurt his feelings? Now Paul says covetousness is idolatry, suppose you were to visit one of your brethren and find him worshipping an idol rather than God? There are a number of things that we might make an idol of. We might idolize our families, or our treasures, such as our crops, our homes or our stock and one of the most common is to worship money. [If so] it is a covetous practice and the same penalty is placed on such a one for this as if they were guilty of fornication. I mention these in order to get before the minds of our brethren the necessity of being diligent and faithful one to another. Some one might say, "How can you be sure about these things?" One of the very first symptoms of covetousness is when you ask a brother why he didn't attend church and his reply is, "Oh I had so much work at home, that I just had to cut feed or get out some cotton," or "I just had to plow, my crop is in the weeds or grass." Brethren watch these things. A disease is a lot easier cured when it first starts than it is when it advances farther toward maturity. It is plainly evident that one who would stay from church services to work, when he has at least 24 days of the month to work and still allow [four] days from Church services that he has set his affections on things upon the earth. This is reversing things, Paul, says “set your affections on things above, not on things on earth." Other signs by which you may locate such is when one says, “I am too poor to go to church." Dear brother, you probably do not realize that you are making the first step toward covetousness. Just stop one moment and let us consider first, John the Baptist. His only raiment was camel’s hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his food was locust and wild honey. He did not murmur at his poverty but went preaching the glorious gospel saying repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. And our dear Saviour said, "The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Are you that poor? If you are dear brother, go on to your meetings. Jesus went when He was just that poor. Well, says one I would like to go but I haven't any way. I realize sometimes that people are handicapped in this way but this is some times used for an excuse. I have read of people walking several miles to Church. Another sign of covetousness is when a brother never has anything for the support of his pastor and caring for the incidentals of the Church. Now, let me tell you something. Your pastor is not serving you for filthy lucre, if he is truly serving God; he had rather have a rattlesnake in his pocket than to have one of your coveted dollars. Sometimes a Church has a covetous pastor that is still worse. Some might say that it is no worse for a preacher to be covetous than the members. Yes, it is lots worse. Your minister is compared to the teeth and don't you know that a mashed finger isn't as bad compared to a real bad tooth ache? Your mashed finger will soon heal if you give it the proper care but that old decayed tooth will keep paining the whole body. Brethren if you have such among you, the best thing to do is to a dentist at once. It may be that a treatment will do some good but most of the time an extraction is necessary. Now the penalty for such things is that the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. And again if you live after the flesh ye shall die. Now, death is as sure to follow as you walk after the flesh and covetousness is that very thing. Now, some one might say I am hinting for money myself. Yes, I knew someone would think that before I said what I did. Am I to become your enemy because I tell you the truth? I will just say that I have been cared for abundantly more than I deserve and I am thankful for such but I do know some of my precious brethren who are laboring faithfully and go at their own expense. Brethren, if you are letting such go on, you are as sure to suffer for it as God sits on His throne. Sometimes a Church can be guilty of covetous practice as well as individuals. Let us purge ourselves from these things that [we] might be vessels of honor and sanctification and meet for the Masters use. April 1, 1933 Elder H. L. Collings "And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat or of some other grain, thou sowest not that body that shall be." Paul here is very emphatically presenting the resurrection of Christ's body. And why? He begins by saying that he declared unto them the gospel he had preached unto them how that Christ died, and that he (that died) rose again the third day. He died, according to the Scriptures, and that for your sins. Verse 4. And that He was buried and that he rose again the third day. Now it was his body that was spoken of in the 37th verse when he said we sow not that body that shall be, but that it, (Christ's body) shall bear a chance (quantity) of wheat or some other grain. Then says the 38th verse. But God giveth it (Christ's body) a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed his own body. Christ's body, although human, although born of a woman, was unlike our bodies, for although it could and did die, it was not possible that it [could] decompose. It saw no corruption. The body of Lazarus could molder and stink, but His body saw no corruption. It did not die that it alone should live [and] was delivered (died) for our offenses and it was raised again for our justification, Rom. 4:25. Hence it was not sown that we might have it again, but bare all the blood washed throng that now or ever will be in heaven. Hence a chance of wheat. God's people are often called wheat [as] in the Scripture, saying His fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly purge His flour and gather his wheat into his garner. Let me say just here, when they saved that wheat, they did not sow it that they might have that grain sown, but that great crop they are not gathering into the garner. Also I want to say, if redemption does not go to the grave and bring again the bodies; if it does not go to the bottom of the sea, and to the ends of the, earth, yea and to hell itself and get the dead, then man is not redeemed and the Bible is wrong. If it is the body that dies and redemption or resurrection does not bring again these bodies from the dust, then man that dies does not live again. Jesus died just like you or I. If the dead rise not, and He went into death, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. If He did not rise again from the grave, then that grave was not empty, and Mary, Peter, John and all of the apostles are false witnesses because they all testified that He did rise from the dead, the same body that hung on the cross, that drank the bitter cup for you and me, and that bowed His head and said, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me. It was taken down and laid in the tomb. It (that very body) came up and was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain, but some were (are) fallen asleep. After that He was seen of James, then of all the apostles, and last of all He was seen of me (Paul) as one born out of due season. Glory to God, He is risen, bless His Holy Name. These are not false witnesses. When the blessed angels said, "He is not here, He is risen." He did not lie. When he said I am he that was dead, but I am alive forever more. Thank God, He did not lie. If all these that have testified that He has risen again, or as the Greek has it, "He is roused up from sleep, and is awake," thank God we are not yet in our sins. We are only waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies. Some sweet day those graves that lately we visited they too will be empty. Bless His Holy Name, for they and we too, will be wafted where there is no death. No wonder the apostle would say, "therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, 1 Cor. 15:8. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Oh God, Almighty, let me live and labor. Pray for me a poor little sinner, saved by grace, and in hope of the resurrection of the dead. March 15, 1941 Elder L. J. McCarty John 3:6-7 reads, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again." 1 Cor. 15:47-48, "The man is of the earth earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy such are they also that are earthly; and as the heavenly; such are they that are heavenly. 50th Verse, "Now this I say brethren that flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." With all this before us, we see the great need of a change of all that have an earthly relation and are born of the flesh. If we were not sinners, we would need to be born of the spirit because flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God - so the need of the change to come to our little [deceased] infants. John was filled with the holy ghost from is mother's womb, perfecting a change: putting another life, which is the spirit, dwelling in his spirit and brings to him the assurance of the change that yet awaits him. I feel that in this work there is a real change of soul or spirit and is thereby prepared to live in heaven. For in the first birth we partook of the natural life, so as is the earthy such are they also that are earthy, received just what they all had - sin and condemnation. So, as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. The pure heavenly spirit comes into our hearts and renews it and makes it to partake of the heavenly life with all its blessings, which mean so much. . We could never tell it all. We feel sure that God is watching over all His children and none can die without His notice. "Behold I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." It even tells how quick, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." It just takes a moment for Him to apply the blood of Jesus and fit their souls for heaven and when He comes again, then will our bodies come forth in His likeness with the glorious change that we are expecting yet to come to us. His spirit bears witness in our hearts to that end and the gospel bears witness to the same end so that in the mouth of two witnesses every word shall be established. So much could be said on this, but will say, ye must be born again. The thing which concerns me "have I truly been born of His spirit - do I know Him, and the power of His resurrection?" April 1, 1933 Elder W. W. Fowler "Wherefore he saith, when he ascended upon high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men, and he save some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, Eph. 4:8-11-12. The minister of the gospel has a very solemn and responsible position. It is his duty to teach, instruct, edify and build up God's little children. The Scriptures abundantly prove that God calls men into the ministry by a direct work of His spirit. Paul says "No man taketh this honor unto himself save he that is called as was Aaron." No man can just assume to be a minister of the gospel and enter into this great work in the same manner that one enters any other worldly occupation or profession he must be put into the ministry by divine call. The minister is supposed to be the servant of the Lord's people and the servant of the church. He has no right or authority to "lord it over God's heritage.” But he should abide [in] his calling as a true servant. He is also called a watchman upon the walls of Zion. He is charged with the obligation of warning God's people against the enemy and if he fails to do so and they die in their sin, then their blood is required at his hands, but if he warns them and they die in their sins, he is clear. While it is the sacred duty of the watchman to warn God's people, God has never delegated to him the authority to dictate to them in all the many things they are called upon to do. He is no dictator, he is no boss. The Church does not belong to him, but he belongs to the Church. It is not his business to undertake to regulate the affairs of the church, neither locally nor in a general way, but to be subject to the Church. [However], he is very important. Without the minister there would be no Church. God perpetuates His Church upon earth by using His ministers as the instruments in His Hands. They are the means: God uses the means but the means do not use God as is taught by some. The minister should not become puffed up and use his great office to persecute the Lord's people. He should not be guilty of meddling with strife or of sowing seeds of discord among brethren assuming the authority to pass judgment upon church conditions that do not come under his jurisdiction. It is his solemn duty to feed the Church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood. It is his solemn duty to admonish them to let brotherly love continue, to admonish them to watch over each other for good and not for evil. It is his solemn obligation to preach peace by Jesus Christ and not peddle strife and division. He should be content with the goodness of God's house and “inquire for the old paths wherein is the good way and walk therein", that he may find rest to his soul and to teach the same thing to God's little children. "He should not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach." He should be "no brawler, not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he should fall into condemnation of the devil." His life should be an example to all the flock. What a solemn responsibility rests upon his shoulders. If he conducts himself, as he should, God's people will be drawn together in love and sweet fellowship. If he fails to do that, strife confusion and division will be the result. May God help His poor servants that they may "bring none offense to Jew nor Gentile, nor to the Church of the Living God." May God help His poor and afflicted people that they may have true under shepherds to minister to them so that instead of strife confusion and division, peace and fellowship and union may exist. July 15, 1941 |
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Edited 10/10/2006
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