CHURCH OF GOD

DOCTRINES

By

Cecil C. Carver

Shreveport, La.

1979 Edition

Digitally Published by

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

www.churchofgodeveninglight.com

Originally Published by

Faith Publishing House

1948

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

ELEMENTARY TRUTHS

The Godhead

Man’s Creation and Fall

The Two Stages of Sin

THE SIN QUESTION

Sin

Is It Possible to Live Free from Sin? Let The Word of God Answer

Is It Absolutely Necessary to Live Free from Sin?

Is It Possible to Go to Hell After Being Born Again?

Some of Christ’s Teaching Concerning Eternal Security

Final Rewards

SALVATION

What Is Salvation?

What Are the Steps Leading to Salvation?

What Is Sanctification?

Types of Sanctification

Divine Healing

DAILY LIVING

Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol

Christian Dress

Marriage and Divorce

THE CHURCH QUESTION

What Is The Church?

Is the Church Building a Church?

Is The Church a Visible Body, Or An Invisible Mystical Body?

Who Are Members of the Church?

Where Is the Temple of God Today?

What Is the Bible Name of the Church?

Church Organization and Government

The Parable of the Vine  (Christ and the Church)

Is Sectism Wrong?

Unity of God’s People

ORDINANCES

Baptism

Feet Washing and the Lord’s Supper

DOCTRINES OFTEN MISCONSTRUED

The Gift of Tongues

The Millennium

THE TABERNACLE, THE BLUEPRINT OF THE CHURCH

Of What Was the Mosaic Tabernacle,  Or the Temple, a Type?

The Court

Brazen Altar and Laver

The Tabernacle (Building)

The Table

The Candlestick

The Golden Altar

The Second Veil

The Most Holy Place

The Ark

The Mercy Seat - Sabbath - Atonement

Aaron’s Rod that Budded

The Golden Pot of Manna

The Tabernacle (Curtains)

The Coverings

The Glory

PREFACE

The most wonderful thing in the world today is the Church of God. It is wonderful because it is heaven brought down to earth, for earthly people to receive. Its saints are the happiest people on the earth. Its members are the born-again souls, sons of God and the heavenly Jerusalem—not members because of creed, knowledge or understanding of the Word of God, but members because of their personal relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. When they associate themselves together you have the visible church, the body of Christ now in the world.

It is a sad fact that there are many professing to be a part of this heaven-born group who do not have the real experience. There are several organizations calling themselves by the name, Church of God. While they cannot be the real church, yet there is a real church. Counterfeits only prove there is a reality.

The real church does and will stand for the real truths of the Bible. Because it is uncompromising, and zealous for the Bible experience and for all Christ’s teachings it is not popular. It is not honored by a worldly minded people who desire the name and the blessings of Christ but who are nevertheless unwilling to pay the price the genuine article costs. Real members of the body of Christ are considered fanatical, visionary, and “narrow-minded.” Thus, to the casual onlooker, the Church of God is not considered up-to-date, progressive, or desirable. Taking up the cross and following Christ is not the easy road the world wants. In God’s sight it is beautiful, glorious, and precious. Its members are as the “apple of His eye.” Its ministers are His “stars,” and its congregations are to Him “golden candlesticks.”

I have felt the need of having a book containing the fundamental teachings of the church, for presentation to people who might be interested in knowing what we teach. Many will read a book who will never be found in the church service. Some do come to the services of the church who would like to know the truth on other lines than those presented at those services. I have endeavored, with the help of the dear Lord, to bring together some of the important subjects found in God’s Word, and have endeavored to answer some of the popular false reasonings concerning the Bible. There are far too many subjects for all to be treated and these are the ones I have felt led to write upon.

Sectism has failed to present the glorious early church to the world. That failure causes a greater responsibility to be upon us. We must show the world not only the theoretical truth, but the way to achieve that truth. WE MUST PRESENT CHRIST TO THE WORLD. To do that, we must have THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, and most important, THE LIFE OF CHRIST. “He that HATH the Son hath LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12. Having the doctrines of the Bible, and having the Son of God in our hearts, we CAN answer the prayer of Christ, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME.” John 17:21.

Since about 1880, God has been gathering His children out of the cages of deception, redeeming sinners out of sin, and bringing forth the glorious truths of the MORNING CHURCH right now in the EVENING TIME of the church. That church is living the Christ-life. His saints are enjoying the experience of living a triumphant life over sin, the flesh, and the devil.

My humble prayer is that God will use this book to enlighten, to edify, and to encourage.

Your brother in the one body,

—C. C. Carver

ELEMENTARY TRUTHS

The Godhead

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deut. 6:4, 5. There is in the land today a teaching denying the trinity of the Godhead, advancing the theory that Jesus Christ is ALL. The teaching is that one and the same GOD has manifested Himself to man in three phases, that Christ is that God, “For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9.

There are some things about the Word of God that are hard for us to understand while we are here in the flesh, but which will be completely understood when we see Him in His glory. The thought of God being ONE, and the thought of God being THREE is one of those mysterious things. I believe there is in the Word enough light for us to understand this matter, however; that is, if we are willing to be open-minded about it. The simple truth is that they are ONE in SPIRIT, WILL, DESIRE, AIM, DURATION, etc., and are THREE in INDIVIDUALITY, MIND, and BODY; that is, in the sense that SPIRITS have BODIES.

First, we shall take up the ONENESS of the Godhead in Scripture:

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:30.

“The Father is in me, and I in him.” John 10:38b.

“Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as WE ARE.” John 17:11b.

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE.” John 17:22.

“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.” John 12:44, 45.

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” John 14:8, 9.

“Who [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Col. 1:15.

“God . . . Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, . . . Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” Heb. 1:1-3.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send IN MY NAME. . . .” John 14:26.

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth FROM THE FATHER, he shall testify of me.” John 15:26.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:6.

I think this will satisfy all as to their ONENESS. Now let us look at and prove their threefold, individual personalities. We shall start with the first chapter of the first book of the Bible,

Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let US make man in OUR image.” This verse gives us God’s own words, using the plural pronouns “us” and “our.” Someone was there beside Himself. Who was there? The WORD. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word WAS WITH GOD, and the Word WAS God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him. . . .” John 1:1-3. That was TWO mentioned. GOD and the WORD. This WORD that was in the beginning WITH God became Jesus Christ. “And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father,)

. . .” John 1:14. We have here ONE who BEGOT, and ONE who was BEGOTTEN. That adds up to TWO. Now, let us turn to Luke first chapter and begin with the 30th verse: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: . . . The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”—ending with the 35th verse. Here the Holy Ghost is added to the scene, making THREE individual personalities brought into view. The angel tells Mary she shall be the mother of God’s Son. The Holy Ghost was the seed-bearer from God the Father to Mary the mother. Any denial of these facts will leave the one denying them with a common man, a bastard at that, for their leader. We prefer to believe the Bible. Let us watch these who compose the Godhead just a little further. “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the HOLY GHOST descended IN A BODILY SHAPE like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art MY beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21, 22. That is THREE, The ONE speaking, claiming Jesus as HIS SON, THE HOLY GHOST in a bodily form, and JESUS, the one who had just been dipped in Jordan. Let me point out that two of these three were in VISIBLE BODIES, the VOICE of the third being audible. Jesus denied being his own father, as some would try to have us believe. “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father IN ME? the words that I speak unto you I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: but the Father that dwelleth in me, HE DOETH THE WORKS.”

John 14:10. Jesus Christ never lied. Thousands of people saw him, and they heard him say, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” John 1:18. What did he mean? He meant that there was another GOD beside himself that NO ONE HAD SEEN. He meant the FATHER. Jesus Christ was not a hypocrite, praying to himself, as some would make out. We hear Him praying, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which THOU GAVEST ME to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I HAD WITH THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS.” John 17:4, 5. Yes, two mentioned here being together BEFORE this old world was created.

Let us go further. “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless NOT AS I WILL, but AS THOU WILT.” Matt. 26:39. He shows here the difference in the desires of TWO SEPARATE PERSONALITIES with one yielding to the other. We see Jesus on the cross, in agony and pain, with His back beaten with the scourge, nails in his hands and feet, forsaken of followers and friends, forsaken even by that Father it seemed, and we hear those pitiful plaintive words, “My God, my God WHY hast THOU forsaken me?”

While this doctrine of only one in the Godhead seems absurd to most people, there are many who accept it as truth. We cannot attempt to give all the Scriptures that prove its falsity, but we desire to give some more. Following the death on the cross and the resurrection, there was an ascension. Christ went back to the Father and the heaven He had left thirty-three years before. His followers began to be persecuted, and we find the first martyr laying down his life for Him. When Stephen accused the council which was trying him, with these words, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost” Acts 7:51, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST [1], looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and JESUS [2] standing on the right hand of GOD [3], And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the SON OF MAN standing on the right hand of GOD.” Acts 7:54-56. There you see THREE—the Holy Ghost in Stephen, and JESUS in heaven, standing at GOD’s right hand. “Oneness” doctrine is that we shall see only ONE when we get to heaven—Jesus. One more Scripture, Mark 13:32, which shows there is something God the Father knows that even Jesus Christ the Son does not KNOW. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the SON, but the Father.” These THREE are ONE in the same way a man and wife are ONE. “And they TWAIN shall be ONE flesh.” Matt. 19:5.

Man’s Creation and Fall

God created MAN for his own personal satisfaction: “And God said, Let us make man IN OUR IMAGE, after OUR LIKENESS: . . . So God created man in his own image, in THE IMAGE OF GOD created he him; male and female created he them.” Gen. 1:26, 27.

Man lost the image of God when he violated the one commandment which God had given him: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.” Gen. 2:16, 17. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. . . . And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” Gen. 3:6, 8. God then drove the man and the woman out of the garden, for He could not associate with sin. Adam died that day. His physical body lived for many years, but HIS SOUL (the real Adam) died, and was separated from God. Adam begat a son named Seth, who was not in THE IMAGE OF GOD, but in the image of Adam—“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, after HIS image.” Gen. 5:3. This is the image borne by all mankind. This is our inheritance from Adam. The seed of sin is in the hearts of all children born into this world. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12.

God immediately set out to redeem man from his fall, for he said in Gen. 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The seed of the woman was Christ, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21. Redemption from sin is called salvation.

God had given man knowledge of the penalty sin would bring: “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17b. Death or separation from God came. That penalty is an eternal penalty. Unless there is a resurrection from death that penalty will keep the soul of the sinner eternally separated from God. During man’s lifetime he will be dead to God spiritually—although alive physically—and following man’s physical death, his soul will share the second death—the eternal unchanging separation from God—WITH the Devil and his angels.

The Two Stages of Sin

There are two kinds of sin. In other words, we can sin in God’s sight—and there never be an actual act. Jesus plainly teaches this in the 5th chapter of Matthew. Beginning with the 27th verse, we read, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Here is the sin of adultery charged to a man’s soul, with his body never actually being a partaker of this sin. Adultery in the heart is sufficient sin to damn the soul in a devil’s hell. Thus we find Jesus going to the heart of man, and not as the law seeing only the actual act. In Moses’ law we read that an adulterer or an adulteress must be put to death. “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” Lev. 20:10. “If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die.” Deut. 22:22a. This law required death for the actual commission of the physical act. It placed no penalty on the lusting after a woman, so long as the act was not actually committed. The heart could be full of wicked desires, but so long as the law was outwardly obeyed there was no penalty. We see Jesus going to the HEART of the matter, and charging the one guilty of evil thoughts—accepted and enjoyed—as equally guilty with the one who put his evil desires into commission.

Sin, then, is a two-fold nature. Sin first is charged when the inner man, that volitional part of man, decides to disobey God. When one becomes willing to commit sin, one becomes a sinner. The act or fruit is rather an anti-climax. We find the word SIN in the New Testament often means that disposition within all men which will lead into committed SINS. On the other hand, “SINS” usually means the different acts of rebellion to the will of God actually fulfilled, either in the heart or by outward performance. When Jesus met the palsied man. He said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matt. 9:2. He still had the nature that would bear other SINS unless it was uprooted. We may pick all the fruit off the tree, but there will be another crop, and another, until the tree is destroyed. Mother Eve was a sinner before she even touched the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden. When she looked at the tree, saw that it was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, and DECIDED to pluck the fruit, SIN entered her HEART, and when Adam DECIDED to accept of this fruit and eat it, SIN entered his heart, and has been in the heart of EVERY CHILD BORN INTO THE WORLD.

This dual nature of sin requires dual cleansings. The first cleansing will be from the committed transgressions (“SINS”). The second cleansing will be purifying the heart of the justified believer—the purging of “SIN” from his heart.

The innocent child will not be separated from God by this nature of SIN because Jesus’ death canceled the debt of sin and SIN is not imputed where there is no law. “God was in Christ, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” 2 Cor. 5:19. Sin that is not imputed is not damning. Christ’s death paid the price for sin, and only the willful rejecting of Christ imputes sin.

THE SIN QUESTION

Sin

Until we understand what we mean by sin, we may never come to an agreement as to our ability to live free from sin. Let us then examine this question.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN is the TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.” 1 John 3:4.

“All unrighteousness is sin.” 1 John 5:17.

“For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20b.

“I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7:7b.

“For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23b.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Jas. 4:17.

“For where no law is, there is no transgression” Rom. 4:15b.

“Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED: (for until the law sin was in the world: but SIN IS NOT IMPUTED when there is no law.)” Rom. 5:12, 13.

These few texts will serve to establish our position. All that is contrary to God’s righteousness is sin. That is in the very absolute sense. But God does not charge a sin to man’s account if he violated God’s law ignorantly. Paul in Rom. 7:7, above stated, shows that lust (concupiscence—margin) was not charged to him until he learned from the law, “Thou shalt not covet THY NEIGHBOUR’S WIFE.” Ex. 20:17. When he learned the law, and continued to covet—then he was charged with sin. “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Rom. 7:8. As we walk in the light we shall find that we learn more of what God expects of us, and I am sure every Christian can testify that things he once indulged in, without feeling condemnation, must be left off—BECAUSE HE HAS LEARNED THEY ARE DISPLEASING TO GOD, and that any continuation thereof would bring separation from God. We must live free of imputed sin. God is keeping a record of our lives, and will not IMPUTE SIN to that one WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF ITS BEING SIN.

After sins have been forgiven God must see WILLFUL disobedience before He imputes sin. The HEART of man is where sin is, or is not. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the HEART of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,” etc. Mark 7:21. Paul shows that one can SIN where God did not consider it sin: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: [talking of meats] but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, TO HIM IT IS UNCLEAN. . . . All things indeed are pure; but it is EVIL for that man who eateth with offence . . . And he that DOUBTETH is DAMNED if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:14, 20, 23. In God’s sight there is no sin in eating ANY KIND OF FLESH, but if there is belief in a man’s heart that God condemns the eating of certain meats, he would be committing IN HIS HEART, the sin of REBELLION against God, if he ate such meats. If later he received LIGHT and saw that God did not condemn such eatings, THEN he could eat, without imputed sin-THERE BEING NO REBELLION IN HIS HEART.

Sin, then, is willful disobedience to a known law of God.

Is It Possible to Live Free from Sin? Let The Word of God Answer

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13.

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:8, 9a.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. . . . If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” John 15:7, 10a.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Pet. 1:35.

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” 2 Thess. 3:3.

“Now unto him that is able to KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24.

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, AND TO MAKE AN END OF SINS, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” Dan. 9:24.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace WHEREIN WE STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1, 2.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8:1-4.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.” Matt. 1:21.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? GOD FORBID. HOW shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? . . . LET NOT SIN THEREFORE REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof . . . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. . . . Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin UNTO DEATH, or of obedience unto RIGHTEOUSNESS? . . . Being then made free from sin, ye became the SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS . . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto HOLINESS, and the end everlasting LIFE. For the wages of sin is DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The sixth chapter of Romans.

“Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified [made holy] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb. 10:8-10.

The above Scriptures are ample proof that God has provided a way to destroy sin in man’s life and heart. God has provided this grace only by the death of Christ. Before His death only SINS were forgiven. SIN (that “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it” nature) remained.

Is It Absolutely Necessary to Live Free from Sin?

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM, NEITHER KNOWN HIM. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, EVEN AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS. He that committeth sin IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil [sin]. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 1 John 3:3-10.

“And he that keepeth HIS COMMANDMENTS [does not sin] dwelleth in him, and he in him.” 1 John 3:24a.

“If a man say, I love God and hateth his brother [a sin], he is a liar.” 1 John 4:20a.

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.” 1 John 5:18a.

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments [commits sin], is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS [commit sin], we lie, and do not the truth.” 1 John 1:6.

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, BE DILIGENT THAT YE MAY BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, without SPOT, and BLAMELESS” (free from sin) 2 Pet. 3:11-14.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to GLORY and VIRTUE: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith VIRTUE; and to virtue KNOWLEDGE: and to knowledge TEMPERANCE; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to patience GODLINESS; and 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. But he THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election SURE: for IF ye do THESE THINGS, ye shall NEVER FALL.” 2 Pet. 1:3-10.

“Then will I [God] sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I [God] cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to WALK IN MY STATUTES, and YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, and DO THEM.” Ezek. 36:25-27.

“Blessed are they that DO HIS COMMANDMENTS [live free from sin], that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs [sinners], and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Rev. 22:14, 15.

“Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14b.

“Go, and sin no more.” (a command) John 8:11b.

“Awake to righteousness, and sin not.” (command) 1 Cor. 15:34a.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Rom. 6:12.

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Tim. 5:20.

“Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS: WHO DID NO SIN, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Pet. 2:21b, 22.

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus] . . . The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” 2 Pet. 2:4, 9.

“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I SHALL BEWAIL MANY WHICH HAVE SINNED ALREADY, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Cor. 12:20, 21.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people FROM their sins.” Matt. 1:21.

“Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.” John 8:21.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. 12:14.

“For as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness . . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Rom. 6:19-22.

“The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS before him, ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE.” Luke 1:73-75.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.” Eph. 4:22-24.

“To the end he may stablish your hearts UNBLAMEABLE IN HOLINESS before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 1 Thess 3:13.

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto HOLINESS.” 1 Thess. 4:7.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved BLAMELESS unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:22, 23.

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh HOLINESS.” Titus 2:3a.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY and GODLY, in this PRESENT WORLD.” Tit. 2:11, 12.

“Mortify [put to death] therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, WHEN YE LIVED IN THEM. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing THAT YE HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN WITH HIS DEEDS; AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM THAT CREATED HIM.” Col. 3:5-10.

“For this is the will of God, even your SANCTIFICATION, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel [body] in sanctification and honour.” 1 Thess. 4:3, 4.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified [made holy], but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1Cor. 6:9-11.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is IN YOU, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: [the blood of Jesus] therefore glorify God in YOUR BODY, and in YOUR SPIRIT, which are God’s. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

YES, only those free from sin when death comes can enter.

If we are to live free from sin, why does Romans 3:10 say, “There is none righteous, no, not one”?

We need to start reading before this verse, also after it. The verse above it says, “For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law”: Rom. 3:9-19. “As it is written” always points back to the law. Paul here in the last verse quoted says, “What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law.” This was the condition under the law. All sinned. No one lived without sin. Only after Jesus’ death was it possible to live free from sin. That is what was wrong with the old covenant. The hearts could not be made perfect under it. Ah! but a BETTER COVENANT [Christ’s] could. God was so tired of a sinning religion. We read about these under the law, “For there is no man that sinneth not,” 1 Kings 8:46, also, “For there is no man which sinneth not,” 2 Chron. 6:36, also, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Eccl. 7:20.

These Scriptures are used by many to justify themselves in sinning. BUT the justification is not there. We only need to continue reading in Romans to find HOLINESS taught under Christ. We shall read further, Rom. 3:23, “For all HAVE sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” THAT is WHY Jesus came. Under the law there was no escape from sin. Under Christ all may escape from sin. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH without the deeds of the law.” Rom. 3:28. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1, 2. “For as by one man’s disobedience [Adam’s fall] many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Christ] shall many be made RIGHTEOUS.” Rom. 5:19. See how we are getting away from the law (with even the High Priest a sinner), to the law of Christ, where the least child of God is FREE from SIN? Some more of Romans: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? GOD FORBID. How shall we, that are DEAD to sin, live any longer therein?” Rom. 6:1, 2. Further, “Let not sin therefore reign in your MORTAL BODY, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Rom. 6:12. But the “saved by grace, a sinner still” folks say, “Let us hurry on to the 7th chapter of Romans, where it says, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, THAT I DO,” Verse 19; and “NOW then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” verse 17. Even Paul sinned they say. NO SUCH THING! The 7th chapter of Romans is telling Paul’s experience under the LAW, not under GRACE. Yes, he says, “I am carnal,” using the PRESENT TENSE, and he used the PRESENT TENSE when he says, “THE LAW IS spiritual” when at the time he said that THE LAW HAD BEEN DEAD FOR about thirty years. In this chapter it is plain enough that he is speaking of himself before he knew Christ, and leading up to WHAT Christ can and will do. He talks “law,” “law,” “law,” all along—“For I speak to them that know the law” verse 1. “Ye also are become dead to the law,” verse 4. “For I was alive without the law once,” verse 9, and verse 14, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Paul WAS carnal, even as the LAW WAS DEAD. Paul said so, I did not say it. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” He had just told them that a woman was bound to her husband so long as he LIVED. But if he died she could be married again and not be called an adulteress. Thus they were allowed to marry Christ because the death of the law freed them from it. Thus we see him describing his life when HE was under the law, how he could not live as he longed, but was failing to do what he wanted to do, and was doing things he abhorred. Hear his cry, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Verse 24. In verse 25 he says, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then he tells us in Rom. 8:3-10, “For what the law COULD NOT DO, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be FULFILLED IN US [under Christ], who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD [If you are in the flesh you had better get out.] But YE are not IN THE FLESH, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he IS NONE OF HIS. And IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is DEAD because of sin; but the Spirit IS LIFE because of righteousness.” Oh! glory! We CAN be HOLY and FREE FROM SIN through Christ. That is Paul’s message. The LAW could not give you holiness—BUT CHRIST CAN and WILL if you let Him.

Is It Possible to Go to Hell After Being Born Again?

“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall DEVOUR THE ADVERSARIES. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he WAS SANCTIFIED, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I WILL RECOMPENSE, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Heb. 10:26-31.

Read that over again, you who believe that because you accepted Christ there is no possibility of going to hell. Just as sure as you fail to live a sinless life you will lose your soul in a devil’s hell. Forsaking the sinless life will bring down the VENGEANCE of an angry God. License to sin is not given by accepting Christ. Power to live above it is given through Him. Sin is just as hateful in God’s eyes after you have been forgiven as it was before. SIN WILL BLOT YOUR NAME OUT OF THE BOOK, TOO.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made PARTAKERS of the HOLY GHOST, and have TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD, AND THE POWERS OF THE WORLD TO COME, if they SHALL FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Heb. 6:4-6.

I listened to one of the false prophets over the radio trying to harmonize this Scripture with his ungodly doctrine, and he said this Scripture was “difficult.” I’ll say it is difficult for him. It dooms his doctrine to the lowest hell. He claimed it applied to the convicted soul, and that if they did not accept Christ when convicted they would have no other chance. Oh! how he warned the convicted! How he pled with them! How my soul cried out to God that he might not deceive innocent souls. Now, “enlightened,” “tasters of the heavenly gift,” “PARTAKERS of the Holy Ghost,” “tasters of the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come,” are not convicted men or women. The Holy Ghost is partaken of only by the “born again” child of God. Sinners cannot PARTAKE of the Holy Ghost. Partakers is a translation of the Greek word “metoXos” and the Greek dictionary defines it as follows: A participant, i.e. (as noun) a sharer; by implication, an associate. The CONVICTED sinner does not “participate” in the Holy Ghost; does not “share” Him; nor is an “associate” with Him.

These two Scriptures DO mean: They were addressed to Jews who had known and lived under the law of Moses. Then they accepted Christ and the new covenant. Now after leaving the old law and accepting the new, there could be no going back to Moses and THE SACRIFICES MADE UNDER THE LAW, for forgiveness for sins. “There remaineth no more SACRIFICE for sins.” They will have to stay with Christ and HIS ONE sacrifice, for if they shall FALL AWAY from the sacrifice of Christ and try to return to Moses’ law they would be crucifying Christ AFRESH. Also I would like to point out that the terms “SIN WILFULLY” and “FALL AWAY” are stronger terms and do not apply to a Christian who fails to be on his guard and is overcome of the enemy. They do not mean that a backslider has no chance to be reclaimed. Not many “sin willfully” or leave Christ for other religions. If you have lost Christ out of your heart, remember the parable of the lost lamb, and that He is seeking you. He left the ninety and nine and went seeking the one who had strayed away.

Let us look further into God’s Word: “Now the just shall LIVE by FAITH: but if any man DRAW BACK, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them WHO DRAW BACK unto PERDITION: but of them that BELIEVE TO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL.” Heb. 10:38, 39.

Paul had been warning them of the troubles that would come to them as children of God, and here points out that a drawing back to escape persecution would lead to PERDITION. In answer to the question, “IS it possible for one to go to hell who has been born again?” Paul here says, “Yes.”

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some SHALL depart from the faith.” 1 Tim. 4:1a.

I believe the Spirit rather than what any false prophet may say. One must be in the faith to be able to depart from it.

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some HAVING PUT AWAY concerning FAITH have made SHIPWRECK: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have DELIVERED

UNTO SATAN, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 1 Tim. 1:19, 20.

Friend, if you put away FAITH, or a GOOD conscience you will make shipwreck of your soul. I surely would hate to be delivered over to Satan.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against ME, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK.” Ex. 32:33. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.” Rev. 20:15.

Being BORN AGAIN writes your name in God’s FAMILY RECORD. Just as surely as that is so, SINNING AGAINST GOD will blot it out. Your final abode is determined by ONE fact. IS or IS NOT your name in the book of life when it is opened at the Judgment Day? It is not, “DID you EVER accept Christ,” but “Were you IN Christ when you DIED?”

We proceed further: “He THAT OVERCOMETH, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not BLOT OUT HIS name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Rev. 3:5. This Scripture was directed to the church at Sardis. Let us read some more of it. “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art DEAD. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready TO DIE. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT.” Most of that church had DIED spiritually. Their names were blotted out of the book of life. Others were about to die, and they were warned to HOLD FAST. Those separated from God must repent. Then came the precious promise: “He THAT OVERCOMETH . . . I will not blot out.” The warning implies this awful truth: “He that overcometh NOT, the same shall NOT be clothed in white raiment; but his name I WILL BLOT OUT of the book of life, and I will NOT confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” Be WARNED, friend, and do not let a false doctrine damn YOUR soul in a devil’s hell.

We feel like taking up one more lesson on this thought. There WAS a man WHO ACCEPTED CHRIST and yet went to HELL. Let his life be a warning to you. That man was JUDAS ISCARIOT. He accepted Christ, was given power over unclean spirits, was given power to heal all manner of sickness, was given power to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, etc., but after knowing Christ he let covetousness creep into his heart and LOST his soul. We are going to prove all this by the Word: Read the 10th chapter of Matthew: “And when he had called unto him his TWELVE disciples [one was Judas], HE GAVE THEM POWER AGAINST UNCLEAN SPIRITS, TO CAST THEM OUT, AND TO HEAL ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS and ALL MANNER OF DISEASE. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; . . . and Judas Iscariot . . . These twelve Jesus sent forth . . . And as ye go, preach, saying The kingdom of heaven is at hand. HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS: FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE . . . and WHOSOEVER shall not RECEIVE YOU, nor hear your words . . . It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. . . . He that RECEIVETH YOU [JUDAS] RECEIVETH ME, and he that receiveth me receiveth HIM that sent me.” Judas was RIGHT with God then. False teachers will tell you that Jesus said that “Judas was a devil from the beginning.” This is a false statement. It is not found in Holy Writ. Many wish it WERE in there, but IT IS NOT. After Jesus had proclaimed himself the bread of life and had said (John 6:54, 55) “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” MANY of His disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then Jesus asked the twelve if they would go away also. Peter asked to whom might they go, and said they believed. But Jesus told him then, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (Greek diabolos). John 6:70b. Diabolos comes from two Greek words dia meaning “through” and ballo meaning “throw.” The Greek dictionary translates diabolos thus: “to traduce.” The New Century dictionary translates traduce: “to speak evil of maliciously and falsely, slander, calumniate, or malign.” When Jesus spoke these words the word devil (diabolos) had not the meaning we attach to it today. To us devil can only mean an imp of Satan. But in His day it meant one who would “throw through” you, or riddle you with false accusation, slanders, etc. So, Judas was a fleshly man—not a demon from hell. He had sold out to Satan and no longer was in the kingdom of God, but belonged to the kingdom of Satan. When and where he fell from God’s grace and kingdom we know not. We do know that somewhere down the way he changed. He made the WRONG change, from GOOD to BAD. It is sad that he failed to stand by his FIRST change when he accepted Christ. John 6:64 says, (Jesus speaking) “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” I am sure that is why Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve, for to fulfill prophecy one of His followers would betray Him. I am sure God helped Him to pick a man that God in His ALL-WISDOM knew would FALL AWAY. Now let us read some more: “Men and brethren [Peter speaking], this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US and HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY . . . And HIS BISHOPRICK LET ANOTHER TAKE. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and APOSTLESHIP, FROM WHICH JUDAS BY TRANSGRESSION [Greek—parabaino] FELL, that he might go to his own place.” (hell). Acts 1:16-25. The Greek word parahaino means to “go contrary to, that is, violate a command. It means a walking NOT in the way, but OFF the way.” We find this same word used in 2 John 9b. “Whosoever transgresseth [parabainon], and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD.”

This is still truth. If we transgress today after receiving and accepting Christ we have two choices. Peter transgressed and fell too, but repented bitterly and was accepted again, while Judas transgressed and fell and died without repenting with godly sorrow—without which there is no restoration.

Some of Christ’s Teaching Concerning Eternal Security

There is no higher authority to the child of God than Jesus’ own words. If there should seem to be any conflict, or variation, surely the words of our Lord must be given supremacy. And seeming contradiction must be harmonized in accordance with what HE says. Peter said there were some things in Paul’s teachings that were hard to be understood. But Jesus speaks so there need be no misunderstanding. A study of Jesus’ teachings will show beyond possibility of doubt that MANY who once were born again will be unable to enter heaven. Let us start with the parable of the sower. Jesus told His disciples that He talked in parables so that those who did not WANT to learn might have God’s disapproval upon themselves, since they “had ears to hear, but did not hear.” Let us quote from Matt. 13:3-9, 20-23. “Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.”

“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth for A WHILE: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word and he BECOMETH unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth. . . .”

In two out of the four instances given, SPIRITUAL LIFE begins and later DIES. In the first instance LIFE does not begin. In the fourth instance LIFE BEGINS and BRINGS FORTH FRUIT. The true meaning is this: Some people hear the Word of God, but not understanding, the devil keeps them from ever accepting Christ. Then, some are CONVERTED but as soon as they find there are trials and persecutions connected with serving God, they DIE spiritually rather than BEAR THE CROSS. You must remember though that LIFE started for them. Then there are people who are CONVERTED, who let the cares of life and the deceitfulness of riches choke, or kill, the spiritual LIFE which they received back at conversion. Then there are those who are CONVERTED who REACH OUT their ROOTS to God’s great FILLING STATION, and they go on to fruit-bearing. There can be no denial that LIFE started for those who DIED among the rocks, thorns, and cares. Christ is showing that only a percent of those who receive HIS LIFE will enter heaven. The second DEATH (The LAKE OF FIRE) is for the SPIRITUALLY DEAD.

Anywhere the Word of God is read, or preached, it may cause the heart of the sinner to realize his lost and undone condition. He may be taught the necessity of repentance. He may repent and be saved. He then has eternal LIFE. He has passed from death to life. He is a child of God. He has all the privileges that any new Christian has. He then either GROWS spiritually, or begins to wither and die. Seed which springs up in stony places has LIFE. That LIFE IS MANIFESTED. It is just as much alive as the plant that starts in good ground. DEATH comes to one and GROWTH to the other. WHY? Because of the food one receives and the other does not receive. One has nourishment and vitality supplied to it. The other fails to receive such nourishment. There may be good soil in reach of its roots. The Bible IS in reach of all spiritual infants. The plant failing to reach out into the good ground is like the sinner in sectism who hears enough of the Word of God to become awakened and alarmed as to his spiritual condition, and who repents, calling upon God for mercy, and is saved, and who THEN fails to read and understand the Bible, or has false doctrine fed him by a “pastor” who does not know God’s will himself. HE LOSES HIS LIFE.

Again, Jesus teaching: John 15:2, 6, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. . . If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they ARE BURNED.” There can be no consolation for the “once in grace, always in grace” here. “Eternal security” gets a death blow from Jesus’ own lips here. You see Jesus says “EVERY branch IN ME,” showing that it is one who has “accepted” Him, or, what He means is, “Every converted soul that bears not fruit is taken OUT OF CHRIST,” withers, being no longer connected to the source of LIFE. Then God, the husbandman, CASTS THOSE WITHERED BRANCHES INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, where they BURN FOREVER AND FOREVER—branches who had been at ONE TIME in him.

Let us read it again: “Every branch [individual soul] IN ME that beareth not fruit he taketh away: . . . If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch [some think the branches are the different organizations of men called churches, but HE says: A MAN] and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” In these verses Jesus Himself teaches us the terrible truth that everyone who receives His life does not stay ALIVE, but that many die spiritually, and in the end are burned in the fires of hell. Even as men gather the dead branches and burn them, so God will gather the dead souls of men (OF MEN WHO WERE ONCE JOINED TO HIM—WERE ONE WITH HIM) and on the judgment day consign them to the fires of the LAKE OF FIRE. There is high mortality in the natural infant life. It is also a sad fact that the infant mortality in the spiritual life is terribly high. Many are born who only live a few moments, days, or weeks.

Nearly all our nourishment comes from the vine, but the leaves of a vine convert carbon dioxide into nourishment. There is a way God has of using one branch in helping supply another. Let me quote Rom. 10:14a. “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? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” Again 2 Tim. 2:2 we read, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to TEACH OTHERS ALSO.” Now sectism is like putting a wire band around a branch near its juncture with the vine. That band will hinder and finally stop the flow of sap. It will allow the branch to grow no larger than it is. Sectism’s false doctrine is like poison to the soul. As arsenic will kill the vine, so false doctrine will kill the soul. We are taught that the branches should assemble together. Heb. 10:25a says, “Not forsaking the assemblying of ourselves together as the manner of some is.”

Our ability to help other branches is plainly stated in Col. 3:16, where Paul says, “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.” For the lack of these things the “born again” child in sectism is likely to soon wither and die. A sickly mother cannot give strength to her children. Babylon is a sickly mother and her offspring have little chance to develop unless they leave her. We must have the Word of God in its fullness to be fruitful. You do not find that fullness in Babylon. Some truth may be found, and God honors His WORD everywhere, no matter by whom given, but God demands us to live by EVERY WORD. Babylon would not be BABYLON, but the church, IF it lived by every word.

Again Jesus pictures those who believe that once one has been born it is impossible to be lost as—FOOLISH VIRGINS. Let us read, Matt. 25:1-12, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out [or as in the margin—properly speaking, are GOING OUT.] But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were READY went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I KNOW YE NOT.” Poor foolish virgins! How like the poor “once in grace, always in grace” people. Brother, you cannot get enough at conversion to take you through. You must refill your lamp. The Christian must go to the throne of grace continually and GET the GRACE God HAS and OFFERS so freely. Supposing that it is impossible to be lost causes one to neglect his salvation, and TOO LATE wake up to the fact that he is BARRED OUT FOREVER. THE MORAL: ALL who start for God and heaven DO NOT GET THERE. These were virgins—converted souls. They ran out of something required, and which they had at first, and were “once in grace” but NOT ALWAYS IN GRACE. THEY SPENT ETERNITY AWAY FROM GOD.

Now let us read Luke 13:6-9, “He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” Here is a converted soul WHO IS NOT BEARING FRUIT for God. God says, “Cast it out of my vineyard, it is in the way.” But, as the “once in grace” people say, and truly, “WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous” 1 John 2:1b, so Jesus asks for more time to try to get us to the fruit bearing stage. If He succeeds, well and good; but if we do not respond to His urgings, WE WILL HAVE TO BE CUT DOWN. And we ALL know that MANY do not respond to Christ’s efforts. Many get converted and then get cast out. But what about that Scripture in John 6:37b which says, “And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus never refuses or casts out those who come humbly. He receives them joyfully. And HE HOLDS THEM AS LONG AS HE CAN. THEY HAVE TO LEAVE HIM THROUGH REBELLION TO BE SEPARATED FROM HIM. Even as the soul is safe as long as it stays in Jesus, committing itself to Jesus, EVEN SO, the soul becomes dead if through unwillingness to continue in Jesus it forsakes Him. Our “freewill” is not removed by conversion. We do not become automatons. We still have the necessity of making choices. My money is “safe” so long as I leave it in the great vault of the bank. My money is as safe as the vault. While it is “committed” to the vault it IS safe. But I still have the ability to draw it out, and if I do I shall possibly lose it. God’s vault is a safe place for the soul. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38, 39. That vault is a SAFE place for your soul. BUT, remember, YOU and     YOU ALONE can remove your soul from HIS keeping. When you sin you REMOVE YOUR SOUL FROM GOD’S SAFE VAULT. Commit your soul to God’s keeping, and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER check it out. Leave it committed.

When the woman, taken in adultery, was brought to Jesus He said, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and SIN NO MORE.” John 8:10, 11. Jesus forgave, but He plainly showed that forgiveness was based on THE WOMAN LIVING SINLESS IN THE FUTURE.

This belonging to Jesus is conditional. So long as we meet the conditions we stay, but when we rebel, we separate ourselves from Him, as indicated by the advice given to the impotent man whom Jesus healed. He had been afflicted thirty and eight years, yet Jesus said unto him, “Behold, thou art made whole: SIN NO MORE LEST A WORSE THING COME UNTO THEE.” John 5:14b.

Jesus says in Mark 9:43, 44, “And if thy hand offend thee [cause thee to offend—margin], cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into LIFE maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” And so for the foot, and so for the eye. After accepting Christ let nothing cause you to sin again (cause you to offend) and so be separated from Christ and CAST INTO A BURNING, NEVER-ENDING LAKE OF FIRE.

Jesus knew many would start out to follow Him and quit. He knew many would accept Him to forsake Him at a later time. Do you remember what He said of such? Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, and looking back, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Yet many start, are converted, live for God for a time, only to yearn for the fleshpots of the world as Israel yearned for the fleshpots of Egypt. They GO BACK as Jesus knew they would.

Jesus’ warnings to the leaders of the churches in the second and third chapters of Revelation CALLS FOR REPENTANCE from the majority of them, along with warnings if they repent not. Of Ephesus, “Remember therefore from whence thou art FALLEN, and REPENT, and do THE FIRST WORKS; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Of Pergamos, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and WILL FIGHT AGAINST THEM WITH THE SWORD OF MY MOUTH.” Yet they HAD BEEN a part of HIS BRIDE, bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. Of Thyatira, “I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce MY SERVANTS to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to REPENT of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death.” Of Sardis, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, AND ART DEAD. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are READY TO DIE: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT.” He also told them, “He that OVERCOMETH, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Rev. 3:5. Will you dare to believe that He will not blot out ANY name from that book? Certainly He will blot out names. What names? The names of those WHO DO NOT OVERCOME.

Of Laodicea, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH.” Rev. 3:15, 16. That does not sound like “eternal security” to me. God accepted them into His Body, the church, BUT LATER SPUED THEM OUT, because of their lukewarm condition. Do not be misled, friend, we must not only accept Christ, but we must also KEEP IN AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION to Him.

These words have been from the mouth of Christ. Whom shall we believe? The imaginations of men, or the WORDS OF CHRIST?

Final Rewards

The Bible teaches there are two ways of life. The Bible teaches there are two goals. The way we live determines the goal we reach. One way travels up, and those traveling that road land in the paradise of God. The other way is downward, and its travelers find their end in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. We start life innocent in God’s sight, but being sons and daughters of Adam we lose that innocency when we become aware that God has a LAW, for we ALL forsake that law. When we learn of that law we are confronted with the necessity of choosing between it and our own wishes. We invariably take our own way rather than God’s way. We then travel the downward path until God speaks to us, calling our attention to the fact that He wants us to forsake our way, and live according to His way. Through His Word, His Spirit, and His ministers, He calls for our return. Some travel on down the broad way, but a few turn back. To those who turn back and travel the upward way, God promises blessings for this life, and endless bliss in the life beyond the grave. To those who continue the downward way, and fail to heed the many warnings from God, His Word, or His ministers, God can only promise endless pain, suffering, and woe.

Let us read some of God’s Word on these two ways. Jesus says, “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.” Matt. 7:13, 14. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know ye not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Luke 13:24-28. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . . And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matt. 25:31-46. The two rewards are described by the same word: everlasting (aionios). The punishment is as long as the life eternal. This Greek word aion and its derivative aionios are both from the primitive Greek word aei, meaning “continued duration” or “ever.” Aion is given by the dictionary as meaning “properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); specifically, (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future).” Aionios is defined by the dictionary as “perpetual” (also used of past time, or past and future as well).”

Let us see some other Scriptures in which these words are used to show that punishment extends as long as eternal life. We need to do this because there is a teaching that the wicked will be annihilated, or burned up, and that their punishment will, of course, end with their being consumed. We want to show that eternal fire punishes, but that it does not bring obliteration to the soul. While the souls of the just are living in the wonderful presence of their Saviour, the souls of the damned are living in the awful presence of their deceiver—the devil. Also, the LAST AGE is an unending age. The age of Law, the age of Christ, the age of the Holy Spirit will come to an end, but the AGE OF AGES will never end—ETERNITY.

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world [aioni], neither in the world to come.” Matt. 12:32.

“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (aiona)—not forever. John 11:26a.

“To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” (aiona). 2 Pet. 2:17.

“These filthy dreamers . . . wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (aiona) Jude 8, 13.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever.” (aionos ton aionon). Rev. 4:10.

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: [eis aionas aiononj AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT.” Rev. 14:11.

And they “shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (aionos ton aionon) Rev. 20:10.

While the tormented souls are suffering forever and ever, we find the same words used to describe the reign of the blessed, “And they shall reign forever and ever” (aionas ton aionon) Rev. 22:5b.

If the righteous are going to reign for the “ages of the ages,” and the wicked are going to suffer for the “ages of the ages” YOU and I need to see to it that our choice is made NOW while there is time and opportunity.

“These mortal joys; how soon they fade!

How swift they pass away!

The dying flower reclines its head,

The beauty of a day.

“The bags are rent, the treasure’s lost,

We fondly called our own:

Scarce could we the possession boast,

When, lo! we found it gone.

“But there are joys that cannot die,

With God laid up in store;

Treasure, beyond the changing sky,

Brighter than golden ore.

“To that my rising heart aspires,

Secure to find its rest,

And glories in such wide desires,

Of all its wish possessed.

“The seeds which piety and love

Have scattered here below,

In fair, fertile fields above,

To ample harvests grow.

“The mite my willing hands can give;

At Jesus’ feet I lay;

Grace shall the humble gift receive,

And Heaven at large repay.”

SALVATION

What Is Salvation?

“The transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them.” Psa. 37:38-40a.

“We being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:74, 75.

“Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26:1, 2.

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:17-23.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:15.

“I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Rev. 21:6-8.

These Scriptures give us an idea of salvation. The banishing of the wicked from God’s presence, to endure forever in a lake of fire, is the final penalty for sin. Then the escape from that penalty will be known to us as SALVATION. Salvation begins with God’s talking to us by the Holy Spirit, leading us back to Him, and ends with our eternal association with Him in heaven. Thus we will find that Salvation takes in all life between regeneration and death. It starts in this life. So long as SIN is overcome, we enjoy salvation. The only thing that will end Salvation for us is rebellion against God’s LAW. No outside force or power can separate us from God. After we give ourselves to Him, He will keep us in spite of all forces to the contrary. Only we can break that bond. We can only break that bond by sinning knowingly against God. “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK.” Ex. 32:32, 33. So, this BOOK will be opened at the Judgment Day, and if your name is enrolled in it, you will have entrance into heaven, but if on the other hand, your name has been blotted out or never was inscribed therein, you will have to be banished into a never ending lake of fire.

God is anxious to redeem us back to Himself. He sends His Holy Spirit to strive with us, endeavoring to lead us out of death into life. God loved us enough to allow Jesus to die for our sins. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. God has planned for our return to Him. He has made a way for our escape. However, there is no escape outside His plan. He will not alter it to suit us. He demands our acceptance of His WAY. Let us see what will be required of us if we are to enjoy God’s favor again.

What Are the Steps Leading to Salvation?

“Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall [later] receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For GODLY SORROW worketh REPENTANCE TO SALVATION.” 2 Cor. 7:9, 10.

“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I RESTORE him fourfold.” Luke 19:8.

“Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he TURN FROM HIS SIN, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked RESTORE the pledge, GIVE AGAIN THAT HE HAD ROBBED, WALK IN THE STATUTES OF LIFE, WITHOUT COMMITTING INIQUITY; he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Ezekiel 33:14, 15.

“If we CONFESS our sins [to God] he is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our SINS, and to CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

“For if ye FORGIVE men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 6:14, 15.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso CONFESSETH and FORSAKETH THEM shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13.

So we see there is more to do than merely believing that Jesus is the Son of God, for the above Scriptures teach: GODLY SORROW, FORSAKING SIN, CONFESSING SIN, FORGIVENESS, RESTITUTION, REPENTANCE, BELIEVING, and then BAPTISM.

When a man becomes stirred in his soul, and awakens to the fact that his heart is not right with God, that he is lost and undone, without God and hope in this world, THEN that man is in a condition where it will be easy for him to get acquainted with God. God convicts us of sin by sending the Holy Spirit to talk to us. God talks to the sinner through His servants—the ministers; through the Holy Spirit; or even through seeing someone living a godly life. Conviction causes a man to yield to God, or harden his heart toward God. Oftentimes God calls and we ignore Him. There comes a time when we will feel that we are at the real crossroads of life, and that a decision must be made for God, or there will be no other chance to find Him. Bible conviction makes it easier for a man to decide for God. He then feels the weight of sin, he feels the warmth of God’s call, and he also feels the seriousness of saying “No” to God. We should all count the cost, deciding whether we are willing to take the way of Christ, and that decision should always be in God’s favor. When you become really sorry that you have sinned, you will be anxious to escape from the devil’s kingdom. The repentant soul must call mightily on God for pardon, confessing and forsaking every sin. He must be willing to rectify the misdeeds of his sinful life, to the utmost of his power; confess to the man that he has wronged, asking forgiveness of God for the sin and asking man for forgiveness of the sin. God will forgive whether the wronged one will or not. We must ask forgiveness from man whether we receive it or not. We must confess to anyone we have defrauded, or stolen from, and let them know we will pay it back as soon as possible, if it is impossible to do so at once. God goes with those confessing, and it works out much better than the devil tells you it will. Such sorrow of heart and determination to do God’s will will inspire faith, and we will have the blessing of forgiveness. We will know the burden has been rolled away. Praise God! There is joy in returning to Father’s waiting arms.

Quite often the text found in Acts 16:31 is used to teach that believing is the only requirement for salvation. Let us read it: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:30, 31. Now we know that if the jailer believed that would not bring salvation to his family. They would have to believe also. Some people do not understand that believing ON the Lord Jesus Christ will cause them to do ALL the other things required of the sinner. We do not read that Philip said one word about baptism to the eunuch. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him JESUS.” Acts 8:35. Preaching JESUS to that eunuch caused him to say, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” 36, 37. We see that believing on Christ and asking to be baptized followed Philip’s teaching Christ.

Believing on Christ takes in all Christ stands for, or demands of the repentant soul. When you believe on Christ you will find that it makes you REALLY sorry for the sins you have committed. Sin will become distasteful to you. You will abhor it, and FORSAKE IT. You will become willing to confess to God or man whom you have wronged. You will WANT forgiveness so much that YOU will forgive anyone who has wronged you. You will become willing to restore anything you may have stolen. The burden of sin will be the heaviest burden you know of, and you will become willing to do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to be rid of that burden. Such willingness to do God’s will brings FAITH that God hears your cry, and thus you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the blessing of forgiveness, of peace, is yours. Praise God! Brother, sister, do not stop until you know God accepts you as His child; know you are born again.

What Is Sanctification?

The word sanctification comes from a Greek word agios meaning “holy, sacred, or pure, or in a ceremonial sense, consecrated.” Agiasmos is translated “sanctification” or “holiness” in the King James translation of the Bible. The Greek dictionary defines it as follows: “Properly, purification, that is, the STATE OF PURITY.”

Agiasmos is found ten times in the New Testament, as follows:

“For as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto HOLINESS.” (agiasmon). Rom. 6:19b.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto HOLINESS [agiasmon], and the end everlasting life.” Rom. 6:22.

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION [agiasmon], and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30.

“For this is the will of God, even your SANCTIFICATION [agiasmos], that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in SANCTIFICATION [agiasmo] and honour.” 1 Thess. 4:3, 4.

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto HOLINESS.” (agiasmo) 1 Thess. 4:7.

“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through SANCTIFICATION [agiasmo] of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13.

“If they continue in faith and charity and HOLINESS [agiasmo] with sobriety.” 1 Tim. 2:15b.

“Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS [agiasmon], without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION [agiasmo], of the Spirit.” 1 Pet. 1:2a.

By these Scriptures we see that sanctification or holiness is a STATE OF PURITY we must have to see God. It must be continued in. It is God’s will concerning us. It applies to our body as well as our soul. If we bear the fruit of Sanctification we reap the reward of everlasting life.

Now such a state of purity will be obtained by doing those things that God requires. We can feel the longing in the heart of David for this state of purity when he prayed, “Create in me a CLEAN heart, O God.” Psa. 51:10. We find the fulfillment of this desire in the New Testament dispensation when the Holy Ghost was given. Peter, speaking of it, said, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH.” Acts 15:7-9. Peter here is referring back to the time he went to the home of Cornelius and “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” Acts 10:44-47. Peter shows that the receiving of the Holy Ghost was accompanied by a purification of the heart.

This state of PURITY or HOLINESS is the WILL OF GOD FOR US. This is the state in which man was created, and from which he fell by committing sin. By committing ONE SIN man fell from this state of purity. One sin will still bring man’s fall. The four states in which man may live are: The state of INNOCENCY of childhood, the state of SIN, the state of JUSTIFICATION, and the state of SANCTIFICATION or HOLINESS.

Since SANCTIFICATION is the state in which God desires us to live, let us learn how we may attain that state. It is possible for every Christian to be sanctified. Yea, not only possible, but also God’s WILL for us.

Sanctification is for saved people. After His resurrection we find Jesus telling His disciples, gathered together, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. This promise of the Father was the gift of the Holy Ghost. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28, 29. And it was upon the saved disciples, the one hundred and twenty tarrying at Jerusalem that the Holy Spirit was poured out. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4. When the multitude came to hear what was going on, and they had asked Peter what they should do, he told them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins [becoming justified], and ye shall receive [yet future] the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. Sanctification is the perfection of the Christian life. It is the completion of our salvation. So long as inherited sin is in the heart of the Christian he is confronted with the devil from the outside, and has this carnal nature in his heart acting as a “fifth columnist” on the inside. This makes it very hard to hold the fort. This “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it” nature needs to be eliminated, and a complete resignation to God’s will take its place. Sin being two-fold, that is, committed sins or willful acts, and the sinful nature inherited from Adam, we need two-fold deliverance.

We need forgiveness for the actual transgressions, and we need cleansing or purifying of the nature. “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matt. 15:13b. In Hebrews sixth chapter we find the apostle exhorting the saints in these words: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ. LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”

We need to repent of our sins, quit trying to gain heaven by good works. We need to be baptized. We need to exercise faith in God. We need to believe in the resurrection of the dead, but BEYOND all these we need to go on into the deeper things of God. He says, “Let us go on unto PERFECTION.” If we do not go on unto perfection, we shall sooner or later find ourselves back in sin. Then we shall have to be repenting again. We need to get established. We need to get where all the persecutions of the world, or the temptations of the devil will not be able to cause us to sin. Being born again and having milk to drink is very good, and the baby state is a pleasant state, but God’s desire for us is that we be full grown men. We are saved for God’s glory, and the advancement of His church, and we are not discharging our responsibility until we take up the yoke and start working. We are not to require nursing, but we are to work. We are not qualified for work until we are sanctified. We get our POWER with God in sanctification. Jesus said, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49, and “But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME.” Acts 1:8a. Some think this is a physical power, causing them to jerk and quiver and fall around or dance, but that is not so. It is POWER TO WITNESS FOR JESUS, power to overcome sin and the devil, power to heal the sick, power to function as a spiritual body—the body of Christ—in this world of sin.

How may I become sanctified then? Since sanctification is for the justified man, you must know your actual sins have been forgiven. Many have failed to find sanctification because they were seeking it when what they really needed was justification. After you have walked with the Lord a while and felt the need of a deeper work of grace, you will feel God leading you toward sanctification. You have found it difficult to keep the natural desires subjected to God. You have found it hard to be the overcomer you wanted to be. God has been showing you your needs. Appreciate that. Yearn for a higher, closer walk with God. As the need for greater grace from God becomes apparent, ask God to help you get to the place where He can trust you with more. Consecrate every human desire to His will. Dedicate yourself to Him, to be His, and His alone. When you came to God at first you presented a life dead in sin and trespasses. You had nothing to offer Him. Now, you have been born into His family, now you are alive unto Him, and now you can obey the injunction of Rom. 12:1, 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 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.” The sanctified life is a dead life—dead to the things of this world. It is a continual “Yes” to God’s desires, and a continual “No” to the world and its desires. To get it we must want it more than anything else. So long as there is ONE thing we hold back on we will pray for it in VAIN. Sanctification comes by FAITH, just like the other good things of God. So we consecrate, dedicate, yield completely to His dear will. Ask God for the Spirit—He has promised it! When we have everything out of the way FAITH leads us THROUGH THE DOOR toward which we have been traveling. The FAITH that God sanctifies, causes God to SANCTIFY. BELIEVE!

Let us follow one seeking sanctification. He realizes he is God’s child, but there are times in his life when he feels, FEELS, feelings arising in his heart that he does not want. He wants to have a CLEAN HEART. His conflict with self reminds him of having a dog by the ears. So long as he can hold tight he will not get bitten, but he feels himself getting tired, or his hold slipping. Now if he can just get that dog killed, he knows it will be better. Self needs to die! He begins to search himself, endeavoring to cleanse himself as much as possible. He begins to examine his willingness to go all the way with God. He begins to say, “Yes,” “Yes” to God. He realizes only God can crucify self, and that AFTER he has given God the privilege of doing so. He prays for God to take his heart, cleanse it by the BLOOD OF CHRIST, destroy self, and prepare the heart for His INDWELLING. He consecrates his life, time, talents, family, pocket-book, home, job, ALL he knows, AND ALL HE DOES NOT KNOW, telling God that he gives Him the right to call upon him for ANYTHING He wants, and tells God HE WILL MEET EVERY DEMAND GOD MAKES. Since we have faith God will not require anything from us that would not be for our good, we should not hesitate to offer God a blank check for him to fill out as He sees fit. Oh, this dying! Some die so hard. One says, “I just could not forgive if someone did me wrong.” Well, brother, sister, God requires forgiveness, and if you cannot forgive, you have not digged deep enough. Just take a little more time and DIE. A corpse does not resent being mistreated. That is what you must be, figuratively, to receive sanctification. I have watched self dying at many an altar, having to stay with them until even one o’clock in the morning. I have urged them to die, telling them they HAD to yield whatever point they were holding before God would sanctify. When they yielded, THEY GOT THE BLESSING. When you have met EVERY condition, you will know it—and God will know it, and you WILL believe God does the work, AND WHEN YOU BELIEVE, the WORK IS DONE.

Types of Sanctification

There are many beautiful applications of the two works of grace found in the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament: Egypt is typical of the bondage of sin. The deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt represents justification. However, they were not in the Promised Land. Their rebellion against entering the Promised Land, and their willingness to return to Egyptian bondage was a backsliding. Their 40 years in the Wilderness was not typical of the justified life, but typified the death that comes to the soul of those who rebel against God’s Word. 1 Thess. 4:3 says, “For this is the WILL OF GOD, even your sanctification,” and 1 Sam. 15:23 says (God speaking), “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” Heb. 4:1, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, ANY of you should seem to come short of it.” Heb. 6:1, “. . . let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” Of that great host only Joshua and Caleb and those under twenty years of age were privileged to enter the Promised Land. All those who rebelled died in the Wilderness. Don’t be rebellious and die (go back to Egypt—sinning—means you will have to be delivered from Egypt AGAIN. Those who 40 years later crossed over Jordan represents attaining sanctification by those who did not rebel.

We have the direct testimony of the Bible, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come.” Heb. 10:1 and “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME.” Col. 2:16, 17a. The things that were taught the Jews were also for our profit in the things of God. The building of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of the temple in Jerusalem were commanded of God. God told Moses in a very particular manner how to build the tabernacle, and how necessary it was for him to follow the pattern. Following the pattern was necessary because the tabernacle was to show the two works of grace in the gospel day. It had a Holy Place, and it had THE MOST HOLY PLACE. We do not stop at entering the Holy Place (justification), but since the death of Christ the rending of the veil of the temple, we are enjoined to go on to perfection—to enter the Most Holy Place (sanctification).

We find Jesus telling Lazarus to “Come forth,” John 11:43. He received life then, typical of justification, but Jesus did not stop there, but said, “Loose him [give him power—sanctification] and let him go.”

When the prodigal son came home he received compassion, forgiveness, a kiss and his father’s embrace. He was justified. Then the father said, “Bring forth THE BEST ROBE, and put it on him” (sanctification). Luke 15:22.

We read of servants and LOVE SERVANTS in Exodus 21:2. “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.” 5th and 6th verses, “And if the servant shall plainly say, I LOVE my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he SHALL SERVE HIM FOR EVER.” Christ purchased us with His blood, and if we love Him well enough, we will never leave Him but will in turn offer ourselves to Him AS LOVE SERVANTS FOR EVER.

Sanctification is the Christian’s REST. It is his SABBATH DAY. We read in Hebrews the 3rd and 4th chapters some things about sanctification. The Hebrews who failed to believe were not permitted to enter into Canaan land. Their unbelief caused them to die in the wilderness. Those who did believe entered Canaan land, but God sware concerning those who did not believe, “So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my REST.” 3:11. Canaan land was spoken of as REST. Canaan land for the Christian is sanctification. “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his REST, but to them that believed not?” 3:18. I quote from Hebrews 4:1-11, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his REST, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into REST, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus [Joshua—the margin] had given them [the Israelites] rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of ANOTHER DAY. There remaineth therefore a REST [keeping of a sabbath—margin] to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased from his OWN WORKS, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into THAT REST, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief—closing with the 11th verse. Children of God are here rated as being in the sixth day of their own WORKS until they enter sanctification. Upon becoming sanctified they no longer “have their own way” but are COMPLETELY SUBMISSIVE to God’s will, and so have ceased from their own works. From that time on they are to allow God to use them—spirit, soul, mind, and body—as HE desires. Thus their self-life has ceased and they have personal REST—soul rest is theirs. They have entered their SABBATH DAY. Saturday was the Jew’s Sabbath. Sanctification is the Christian’s Sabbath. That is why we do not have to keep Saturday. The type or shadow has ended and we have the real rest. Some who fail to understand think Sunday is the Christian’s Sabbath, but they are mistaken. We observe Sunday out of love and respect to God, not because of the commandment, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8. We remember “our sabbath day”—SANCTIFICATION—and we keep it holy. If we break our holy living we lose our spiritual life, even as the Israelite lost his physical life. “Whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall SURELY be put to death. Wherefore the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout THEIR generations, for a perpetual covenant.” Ex. 31:15, 16. The “generation of literal Israel” ceased at the cross, no longer to be dealt with by God as a nation, and the “generation of SPIRITUAL ISRAEL” began. In Christ the middle wall of partition was broken down, and all races, kindreds, and tongues are made one in Him. (Eph. 2:13-16.)

Should we break our Sabbath day (Sanctification) our souls will die, as surely as the body of the Jew died who broke his rest and was stoned to death.

Divine Healing

“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that HEALETH THEE.” Ex. 15:26.

“The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” Psalms 41:3.

“And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will TAKE SICKNESS AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF THEE.” Ex. 23:25.

“Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.” Deut. 8:4.

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal . . .” Deut. 32:39.

“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.” 2 Kings 20:5.

“I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; AND I WILL HEAL HIM.” Isa. 57:18, 19.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE ARE HEALED.” Isa. 53:5.

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, TEACHING in their synagogues, and PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom, and HEALING all manner of SICKNESS and all manner of DISEASE among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with DIVERS DISEASES and TORMENTS, and those which were POSSESSED WITH DEVILS, and those which were LUNATICK, and those that had the PALSY; and HE HEALED THEM.” Matthew 4:23, 24.

“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were POSSESSED WITH DEVILS: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and HEALED ALL that were SICK: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and BARE OUR SICKNESSES.” Matt. 8:16, 17.

“And great multitudes followed him, and HE HEALED them ALL.” Matt. 12:15b.

“Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on EVERY ONE of them, and HEALED them.” Luke 4:40.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their SIGHT, and the lame WALK, the lepers are CLEANSED, and the deaf HEAR, the dead are RAISED UP, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Matt. 11:4, 5.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave THEM power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to HEAL all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. HEAL the sick, CLEANSE the lepers, RAISE the dead, CAST OUT devils.” Matt. 10:1, 7, 8a.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two . . . And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And HEAL the sick that are therein . . .” Luke 10:1, 8, 9.

“And these signs shall follow THEM THAT BELIEVE; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall RECOVER.” Mark 16:17, 18.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” Acts 3:6-8.

“And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; . . . Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were HEALED EVERY ONE.” Acts 5:11-16.

Thus we have traced healing down through the ages. God was the Israelite’s healer. The prophets prophesied of it. Christ fulfilled the prophecies concerning Himself, and gave this healing power to His disciples and followers. Now let us see if He put this power in His CHURCH to be used as long as there is a church. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Cor. 12:28. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:4-9.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, AND TO DAY, AND FOR EVER.” Heb. 13:8.

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them PRAY over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the PRAYER of FAITH shall save the sick, and the Lord shall RAISE HIM UP; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:13-16.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17, 18.

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 18:19.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” John 17:20.

“For there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom. 2:11.

We have thus shown God’s plan for healing of HIS people. He is a jealous God. He demands first place in our hearts. We are to have no other gods except Him. He demands us to have faith in Him. He is displeased by people not having confidence in Him. “How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and LIMITED the Holy One of Israel.” Psa. 78:40, 41. Let us see if God can help. Turn to the 11th chapter of Numbers and read, beginning with verse 4. “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. . . and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased . . . And the Lord said unto Moses, . . . And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? And Moses said, The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, IS THE LORD’S HAND WAXED SHORT? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. . . . And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a DAY’S JOURNEY on this side, and as it were a DAY’S JOURNEY on the other side, ROUND ABOUT THE CAMP, and as it were TWO CUBITS HIGH upon the face of the earth; And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: . . . And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.”

Brother, sister, God is still a God of power. He still demands faith in Him. He still punishes the one who disbelieves. Did you ever see a ring of quails thirty to fifty miles across and three feet deep? God gave this prodigious quantity of quails to show His power. Even Moses doubted God’s ability to provide meat for 600,000 footmen, beside women and children, for a month’s feasting; but God verified His promise. He gave enough meat to feed them much longer than they were willing to eat. Friend, do you doubt the promises of God? They are for all who believe; not for the disciples only, but for all who believe on Him through their (the disciples’) word. We who believe today do so because of the written word of His disciples—the Bible.

The life, the teaching and the healings Jesus performed while on earth were the direct will of God concerning Him. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38, and again in John 4:34, Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” So when Jesus went about teaching and preaching, and HEALING THE SICK, He was doing the will of God. The reason more is not healed is because of unbelief. The promises are many, and they are ours, but if we LIMIT God and refuse to believe that he loves us today, or refuse that He can and WILL heal us today, we of course, will not receive healing from Him. On the other hand, FAITH today will bring the desired results even as it did in the days of Jesus.

If we are willing to trust our souls in His hands, we should be more willing to trust our bodies in His hands. When we are given over completely to God, when our life is a continual “Not my will but thine be done,” we cannot help but have faith that He will deal with us as He knows best. If we are ready to die, IF WE ARE READY TO DIE, I say, we will be willing to die if God desires it. You know one reason many are not willing to trust God for healing is that their soul is not ready to meet God, and they are afraid to MEET him. If we are clear before Him we will be willing to die, even if He does not see fit to heal. Usually we find that when sickness comes our way there is a lesson for us to learn. God sometimes lets sickness provide us time to talk to Him and get acquainted with Him. He is a wonderful Saviour when we really get to know Him. The affairs of life will keep us from having time to know Him intimately, if we let them. Let us look for the hand of God in our sickness and find the precious lessons it will bring us. Then when we learn our lesson, we will receive our reward- healing.

Some say, “I believe God put the doctors and the medicines here for our healing.” Others say, “I believe in taking medicine, and praying for the Lord to bless the doctor and the medicine.” Another says, “I believe in doing all that can be done first and then asking God to do what man cannot do.” Let us consider these sayings, and see if they harmonize with the Bible.

Modern medicine goes back to Hippocrates, a Greek physician born about 460 B.C. He is called the “Father of Medicine.” He disassociated medicine from magic and philosophy, crystallized the knowledge of the two schools of practice of his time into a systematic science and gave medicine its conception of ethics. He introduced the bed-side method of observation and diagnosis still standard today. Many medical graduates are still given the oath of Hippocrates upon graduation. It begins: “I swear by Apollo, the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according in my ability and judgment, I will keep this oath and stipulation.” Sounds rather heathenish, does it not? According to the Scriptures we have quoted in the beginning of this article, God was to be His children’s Healer. Those that knew not God had physicians. But we find that Luke, “the beloved physician” who traveled with Paul as told in the Acts of the Apostles, was not called on to help Paul when he was bitten by the viper. No, Paul shook it off into the fire, and felt no harm, through his faith in God. Luke was not called upon when Publius’ father lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux. No, Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid HIS hands on him, and healed him. Acts 28th chapter. We can tell when Luke was present in the things he tells about when he says “us” or “we,” and he said of this case, “Who received US, and lodged US three days courteously” 7th verse. “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honoured US with many honours” verses 9 and 10. Yes, “the beloved physician” had given up his practice of medicine, and was seeing God work through His faithful apostle Paul. Now, if God can bless the doctor, or bless the medicine, could he not bless the sick one directly? Would it not be as easy for God to work on me as to work on medicine? Could He not bless me as easily as he could bless the doctor? If God is to work at all, He can work directly. He will tell you to do something, and if you are obedient you will receive your desire. He tells the sick what to do—send for the elders of the church, and have them pray over him. Nowhere in the New Testament are we taught, . . . suggested, that we send for the doctors. When Peter cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant, Jesus did not suggest sending for a doctor or getting the iodine, or mercurochrome, but He touched and healed it. When the young man fell asleep during Paul’s long sermon at Troas (Acts 20th chapter) and fell from a window from the third loft and was taken up dead, they did not call for the doctor, but Paul prayed and his life came back to him. We find it this way in the New Testament times. The saints of God trusted in God and were healed. Since their faith was in God, God worked for them. Remember, God’s love for us did not cease with the apostles. He is no respecter of persons. What He did for one He will do for another. When Jesus said, “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” Mark 16:18b, He was talking about those who believed the world-wide preaching of the gospel. “And these signs shall follow THEM THAT BELIEVE.” Mark 16:17a. Are you a believer? If you are a BELIEVER, these signs will follow YOUR faith. If you have had much experience with doctors you will find that they do not make believers out of you: that is, believers in the power of God. If they had faith in God as their healer, they would be praying for the sick rather than doping, drugging, and operating on people. As the alarming symptoms are pictured to you by the doctor, DOWN GOES FAITH. Let the people of the world have the doctors. They surely do need help. God is merciful to the sinners, and it might be that He allows the doctors to help the people of the world, but that is not His plan for His own people. God’s Kingdom is an absolute monarchy, and He is the Monarch. When people want some other king besides Him, He allows it. BUT HE THEN CONSIDERS THAT THEY HAVE REJECTED HIM AS THEIR KING. “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they [all the elders of Israel] said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED ME, THAT I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM.” I Sam. 8:6, 7.

If we want to stay in the Kingdom of God we will have to do as the King says. He will have no disobedient servants. He demands that we have love for Him, and faith in Him. “Thou shalt have none other gods before me . . . for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” Deut. 5:7-9. “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” Jer. 17:5. God rates the physicians as being in competition with Him, and He demands us to put Him first. You say I am too fanatical? You say I am exaggerating? Let us read what the Bible says. “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the PHYSICIANS. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.” 2 Chron. 12:13. There is the competition! Seek the LORD, or seek the PHYSICIAN. A few verses after God said, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Jer. 17:7. We have pictured the contrast. Which do you want to be? Blessed or cursed? God can and does care for all people. He is able to look after the millions of people in this world. He is so interested in each individual that He even numbers the hairs of each head. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are ALL numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt. 10:29-31.

Yes, when we yield all to Him, we can rest assured that “No good thing [even healing] will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psa. 84:11b.

DAILY LIVING

Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol

The widespread use of habit-forming drugs is increasing. The world is being flooded with advertisements advocating the use of tobacco in many forms. It has been advertised over the radio, on billboards, in the newspapers and magazines. The same may be said for alcohol in its many forms. One’s eyes and ears continually are bombarded with its claims. Beers, wines, cordials, whiskeys, and gins all are putting forth their best attempts to ensnare the unwise. Coffees, teas, and colas all set before one attractions promising fulfillment of lusts of the flesh. The devil has and is using the God-given sense of taste to ensnare the souls of men with chains that only God seems able to break. Some escape from the chains of habit through sheer willpower, but they are very few.

Let us now examine the Scriptures and find out if God is willing for us to be bound with these appetites, and if He can break the chains of habit with which we have long been bound. None of the above mentioned things except wine are mentioned by name in the Bible. On the other hand principles are laid down by God. The principles of the Word of God are broad enough to direct our lives in many things not mentioned by name. Anything conflicting with a principle of God’s Word must be shunned. We will now endeavor to give Scriptures that will set forth principles of truth that will cause us to leave off all the above mentioned products. We shall take up:

1. The proper use and conception of our bodies.

2. Lusts of the flesh contrary to the Spirit.

3. Stewardship.

4. Example.

We find that our physical body has been created for the Spirit of God to inhabit. This created body is for the use of Christ rather than for ourselves. We read 1 Cor. 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God DWELLETH in YOU? If any man defile the temple of God [his body], him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, WHICH TEMPLE YE ARE.” “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost WHICH IS IN YOU, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your BODY, and in your spirit which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. “For ye are THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; as God hath said, I will DWELL IN THEM, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Cor. 6:16b. “Whether therefore ye eat, or DRINK, or whatsoever ye do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” 1 Cor. 10:31. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; YET NOT I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL FILTHINESS of the FLESH and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be ONCE named among you, as becometh saints; neither FILTHINESS, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient”: Eph. 5:3, 4. “Wherefore lay apart ALL FILTHINESS and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21.

The nicotine of tobacco, the caffeine of coffee and colas, and the alcohol of fermented and distilled liquors all are poisons to the body. They all have undesired reactions. They are all foreign to the natural appetites and needs of the body. They are NOT FOODS. They supply no needed elements for the proper functioning of the body. They must all be thrown off if the body is to remain healthy. They contaminate and defile this physical body. Some are more filthy than others, true, but all are binding in character. They become habits that are hard to break, and that will cause the body to suffer when they are omitted. The failure to receive daily portions, after the body has become habituated to them, will cause headaches, nervousness, irritation, irritabilities, and the like. We are responsible to God, our body is for His use, and we are merely custodians over it. We must, therefore, keep it clean, and undefiled, and not submit it to sufferings that are unnecessary. The suffering, or craving for nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol is a suffering we can only inflict on our bodies by becoming habituated to their use. The God-given cravings, such as hunger, can be satisfied with any of several foods, but the craving for a particular drug to which the body has become accustomed CAN ONLY BE SATISFIED BY THAT PARTICULAR DRUG, or poison. One cannot satisfy the craving for a cigarette with any kind of food. We must cleanse ourselves of these habits if we are bound by them. We must care for our bodies in a way to satisfy God, and must not defile them in any way that would displease the Holy Spirit of God who desires and expects the right to dwell therein. We have no more right to use these things ourselves than we would have to give them to Jesus and expect Him to use them. God can and will deliver any who go to Him in earnest prayer and with a determination to be free for His service. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be FREE indeed.” John 8:36.

Next, let us see if the satisfying of the lusts of the flesh is pleasing to God. I have never heard anyone say he believed God wanted him to use these things that he might better glorify HIM. We find the desire for all these comes from within. They are all selfish. 1 want a cigarette. I want a dip of snuff. I want a drink (alcoholic). All these desires and wants are unnatural, acquired desires that bring disease and distress to the body, and shorten its life. Rom. 8:5-11 says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace . . . So then they that are in the flesh can not please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” Verse 13 says, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, ye shall live.” God has placed bounds within which we may satisfy the natural, God-given desires (or lusts, as King James version says) of the body, and it is our duty to be sure that we do not go beyond those bounds. The Word is very plain concerning these. Temperance is required. We will give a few Scriptures showing this: “And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, TEMPERANCE, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. . . .” Acts 24:25. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, TEMPERANCE: against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22, 23. “And to knowledge [add] TEMPERANCE; and to TEMPERANCE patience.” 2 Pet. 1:6a. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is TEMPERATE in all things.” 1 Cor. 9:25a. “For a bishop must be . . . TEMPERATE.” Titus 1:7, 8. “That the aged men be sober, grave, TEMPERATE.” Titus 2:2a. Even in the things allowed we will find that the more self is denied, the stronger will be our spiritual life. The thicker the veil of the flesh, the less our ability to see Christ. The thinner the veil of the flesh, the greater our spiritual sight. So, in the things allowed, TEMPERANCE, and in the forbidden—ABSTINENCE. We find that Paul remained unmarried that he might better please God. By denying himself in this matter he was better able to satisfy the demands of Christ upon him. His interests were undivided. Let us read what he said in 1 Cor. 9:26, 27, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” When Paul used those words KEEP UNDER, he was using the prizefighter’s language, the literal meaning of which was: “A punch under the eye.” So we find him saying, “I (meaning the spiritual man or soul of Paul) give my body a punch under the eye, and become a SLAVE DRIVER over it, lest I should be REJECTED.” We spoke of the stewardship over our bodies under the paragraph concerning our body being a temple for the Holy Ghost, but now we want to consider the matter of stewardship from the standpoint of finance. Under the law of Moses the Israelite was required to give one tenth of all he received to the storehouse of God. He was allowed to use the rest as He desired. Under Christ we find we must use our ALL under His guidance. We can claim NOTHING as our own. We can not say of even one penny, “I can spend this any way I WANT TO.” We have quoted 1 Cor. 10:31 already, but here it is again, “Whether therefore ye EAT, or DRINK, or WHATSOEVER YE DO, do all TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” “For ye are bought with a price [we are slaves of Christ, bought by His blood—howbeit willing, love slaves]: therefore glorify God in your BODY, and in your SPIRIT, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:20. These habits are admittedly expensive. Think of the millions spent for flavors, tastes, smells. Can we spend the money God allows us for the necessary things of life—for food, for shelter, for clothing, for the spread of the gospel—upon SELFISH TASTES, and still be FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? Indeed NOT! Let us learn more about stewardship.

Last, let us take example. The child wants to follow in the footsteps of its parents. We want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We follow ONE who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Most parents do not want their children to become slaves of habits while young. Many fathers ask their sons not to smoke until they are 21 years of age. They will advise them to not do as they do. We would hardly expect to find Jesus bound up with bad habits. What would we think of Him if He had to spit out a mouthful of tobacco juice before He could take the stand to preach? We must be examples, too. Paul said, “Be ye followers of ME, even as I also am of CHRIST.” 1 Cor. 11:1. Are you an example?

Christian Dress

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Tim. 2:8-10.

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.” 1 Pet. 3:1-5.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15, 16.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Rom. 8:5.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, PRIDE, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21, 23.

“And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, PAINTEDST THY EYES, and deckedst thyself with ornaments . . . men . . . which put bracelets upon their hands.” Ezek. 23:40-42.

“And she painted her face, and tired [made beautiful] her head, and looked out at a window . . . And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down. . . .” 2 Kings 9:30, 33.

God was very displeased with the daughters of Zion, who were supposed to be His children. He prophesied dire things upon them because they were not living meek and lowly as He desired, but were “haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [margin—tripping nicely] as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls [margin-networks], and their round tires like the moon [Heb. dictionary—round pendant for the neck], the chains [Heb. dictionary—a pendant for the ears, especially of pearls], and the bracelets, and the mufflers [margin—spangled ornaments], the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets [margin—houses of the soul], and the earrings, the rings, and nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses [Heb. die.—mirrors], and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.” Isa. 3:16-23.

“. . . Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest [Heb. die.—paint the eyes, as if enlarging them] thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee.” Jer. 4:30.

I believe those Scriptures are sufficient to show us what God desires, and what will bring upon us His disapproval. Let us look into them for a while and see what we find. We notice that God is interested in man’s heart being right, and for man’s heart to be right it must be interested in other than fleshly, or worldly things. We find that we are not our own, and are not even living our own lives, but are brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ continuing His life here in the world. In other words, we give our bodies over to Christ, subjecting our wills and desires to His, and allowing Him to have complete control of us—spirit, mind, soul, and body. If we are to live out His life, our desire will be to display HIM rather than SELF. We find many things mentioned in the Scriptures we have quoted, and the object of the things mentioned was to attract to SELF. Jezebel painted her face and beautified her head to attract Jehu. Paul instructs Timothy to teach modesty, shamefacedness and sobriety, which we find to be in opposition to the way the daughters of Zion (literal daughters) were living—“haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet.” Pride and self are destructive of meekness, humility and the Spirit of Christ. The more Christ is manifested, the less self will be manifested. Since “we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Cor. 4:9), it is necessary for us to examine our lives minutely, clearing out of them everything unlike the Spirit of Christ. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31.

When a question arises concerning what we shall wear, let us ask ourselves this question, “Is Christ urging me to wear this, or is SELF calling for it?” Will Christ be gratified or will self?—there is the issue. God taught us modesty in the beginning. When Adam and Eve sinned and became aware of their nakedness, they took fig leaves and made themselves aprons of them. God was not satisfied with this and made coats of skins for both Adam and Eve. Modesty was approved by the apostle Paul, in his day, and we find nothing in the Bible showing that God is approving the immodest dressing of today. Covetousness is just as sinful today as ever, and we find it to be the root of many evils. Yes, “I WANT an engagement ring, I WANT a wedding ring, I WANT a diamond ring, I WANT PEARLS, GOLD, SILKS, BEADS, BRACELETS, ROUGE, LIP-STICK, EAR-RINGS, LOCKETS, BOBBED HAIR, A PERMANENT WAVE, CRISPING PINS, FINE CLOTHES, NECK-TIES, TIE-CLASPS, COLLAR ORNAMENTS, ETC., ETC., etc., etc.,” and then some more. We are only stewards over what passes through our hands. It should all belong to God. What DOES God get out of what comes to us in this life? Not “how much of MINE does GOD get,” but “HOW MUCH OF GOD’S DO I KEEP FOR MYSELF?” The money spent on the things mentioned above would evangelize the world, build a meeting house in every community, and give every minister of God all he needs.

Let us as children of the Most High God dress not after the fashions of the world, but in plain, modest, neat, unadorned apparel. Leave to the world the short sleeves, the short dresses, the low necked dresses, the beauty shops, the bobbed hair (“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering” (margin—veil).

1 Cor. 11:14, 15. (And right here let me say that the next verse, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” is beginning a new thought—opposition to division and contention—and is not a final thought tacked on to his teaching against bobbed hair, and leaving the way open for a contentious woman to cut her hair.) Let us leave to the world the jewelry—rings, pins, clasps, earrings, etc., the costly array, that especial display of man’s pride, vanity, and desire to be adorned—the necktie—and adorn ourselves with meekness, humility, and all the other graces with which Christ adorns HIS BRIDE. The glory of the temple of the Jews—the gold, the silver, the fine linens, the wonderful workmanship displayed in its construction—all these are types of the graces with which the church is adorned today. We do not need those literal things. No, INDEED NOT, for the spiritual graces are eternal, while those were temporal.

Marriage and Divorce

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help MEET for him” (a helper, appropriate for him). “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be ONE FLESH.” Gen. 2:18, 21-24. This is God’s unchanging matrimonial standard.

Divorce was instituted by Moses. Jesus said it was because of the hardness of their hearts. The reason for which Moses permitted divorce was given as “because he hath found some uncleanness in her [margin says: matter of nakedness!” Deut. 24:1, indicating that divorce was to be given only when pre-marital fornication was discovered after marriage. There was no divorce for adultery according to Moses’ law. There was something far worse than that—DEATH. Let us see what the Scripture says: “If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall STONE THEM WITH STONES that THEY DIE; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: . . . For . . . the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” Deut. 22:22-29. When an adulterer was stoned to death, that left his innocent companion at liberty to remarry—death had separated them. The Jews seemed to have become unwilling to carry out this provision of the law. Also they attempted to justify divorce for other reasons than that given by Moses. There was a clause in the Mosaic law, explained by the next clause, but which they took out of its real meaning and used as justification for divorce, even for the most trivial of reasons. Deut. 24:1 reads as follows: “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass THAT SHE FIND NO FAVOR IN HIS EYES, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” They began stopping at “that she find no favor in his eyes,” and divorcing for that reason.

The Jews were forbidden to marry outside of their own race. They were told that after they had been given the promised land they were not to intermarry with the inhabitants: “Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.” Deut. 7:3.

We find that they sinned in this matter during the captivity in Babylon. When they returned to Jerusalem Ezra was informed that many had married Gentiles. When he heard this he rent his garments, plucked off the hair of his head, and beard, and sat down astonished until the evening sacrifice. Then those that trembled at the word of the Lord being assembled with him, Ezra confessed their sins, and placed themselves in the hands of the Lord. They all wept sore. Then Shechaniah said, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.” Ezra 10:2, 3. They decided to follow this counsel, only they asked for time to arrange it all, as there were many in this trouble. They were several months in working it out. Even some of the priests’ sons were involved; but they “gave their hands that they would put away their [strange] wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.” Ezra 10:19.

Following Ezra, Nehemiah was leader of the Jews and some twenty years later finding “Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab”: (Neh. 13:23) also the grandson of the high priest had married the daughter of Sanballat, their arch enemy, Nehemiah “contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. . . . therefore I chased him from me. . . . Thus cleansed I them from all strangers.” Neh. 13:23-30.

In the above we find that their cleansing of the congregation followed the reading of the law. Nehemiah had been gathering the people together and reading and expounding the law unto them. Many probably had never heard it and few knew much of what was demanded of them. As they learned they accepted and followed those things Ezra read unto them.

Nehemiah 13:1, 3 reads: “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.”

We have been reading how God dealt with Israel. Now let us study the Word as found in the New Testament.

The first text concerning divorce is found in Matt. 5:31, 32, and reads, “It hath been said [Law of Moses], whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I [Law of Christ] say unto you, that whosoever SHALL PUT AWAY HIS WIFE, saving for the cause of fornication, CAUSETH HER TO COMMIT ADULTERY: and whosoever SHALL MARRY HER THAT IS DIVORCED COMMITTETH ADULTERY.” How does he cause her to commit adultery? The “writing of divorcement” stated that the divorced party was free to marry again. Christ denied this when HE said, “Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery,” but since she WAS LIKELY to marry again that made the maker of the divorce the ROOT CAUSE of the adulterous remarriage. He was not charged with her adultery in remarriage if fornication WAS THE CAUSE FOR WHICH HE HAD PUT HER AWAY, because she was already adulterous when he put her away. If he put her away for ANY OTHER CAUSE he would be charged with causing her to commit adultery. But let us see Christ as he gives them more light. Moses’ law was in effect at this time. It was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. God’s recognition—as well as Jesus’—of divorce ENDED with that cross. With the fulfillment of Moses’ law, we, of necessity return to God’s law as from “the beginning,” as no new DIVORCE LAW WAS GIVEN. He says so in Matt. 19:7, 8, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? HE saith unto them, Moses because of THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEARTS SUFFERED YOU TO PUT AWAY YOUR WIVES: BUT from the BEGINNING, it WAS NOT SO.” Are we to live under Moses or Christ? Divorce was for those who had HARD HEARTS. Christ’s people are not hard-hearted.

Luke 16:18 says, “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”

Mark 10:11, 12 says, “And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”

These Scriptures sound as if the marriage bond was unbreakable. Is such the case? The marriage bond MAY be broken. Death breaks it. One may remarry if his (or her) companion has died. Marriage is of this world. There is no husband-and-wife relationship in the future world. The Sadducees told Jesus of a woman who had married seven men during her lifetime, and asked of which one would she be the wife in the resurrection. Jesus told them, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection THEY NEITHER MARRY, NOR ARE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matt. 22:29, 30. Marriage is for this world only, and when one’s companion crosses over into the future world that bond is broken. “Until death do us part” limits the length of married life. We find this pointed out in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 7, beginning with verse 2, “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but IF THE HUSBAND BE DEAD, she is LOOSED from the law of her husband. So then, if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she SHALL be called an ADULTERESS: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is NO adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

Paul was showing the Roman brethren that they had a right to marry Christ, even though they had been married to the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law was dead, so that marriage was over, hence they were at liberty to accept the law of Christ, and in doing so were not adulterers (spiritual adulterers). This thought is also brought out in 1 Cor. 7:39, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; ONLY IN THE LORD.” And here is a new thought about marriage. The child of God is not at liberty to marry a sinner. One of God’s children must, if he marries, marry a child of God. Failing to heed this command has brought soul destruction to many. Surely in marriage we need the leadings of the Lord! When I think of the many I know who have lost out spiritually because they were unwilling to remain single until God provided the proper companion, I feel like crying out to all, especially the young, “Brother, sister, call earnestly upon God and KNOW what He wants before marrying ANY ONE.” In reading the words of Jesus and Paul we find they both want the unwed to stay unwed if possible. I shall quote from Paul in the 7th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Read the whole chapter, please. “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. [Paul was a single man.] But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn [be tempted by passion continually]” 1 Cor. 7:8, 9. Verse 27 says, “Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such SHALL have trouble in the flesh.” “He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord; that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband” verses 32-34. This teaching of Paul harmonized with what Jesus said in Matt. 19:8-12, “. . . Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: BUT FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall PUT AWAY his wife, EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, IT IS NOT GOOD TO MARRY. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs [literally castrated—figuratively unmarried], which were so from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. HE THAT IS ABLE TO RECEIVE IT, LET HIM RECEIVE IT.” So, when we see a brother or sister going along for God unmarried, married to HIM only, let us respect and appreciate them for their denial of the flesh, that they might better do HIS will.

Divorce was instituted by Moses because of the hardness of hearts of the children of Israel. When Jesus was asked concerning divorce He made that statement. He also flatly denied that privilege the Jew expected to receive from divorce. I believe we will understand better Jesus’ views on divorce if we will read a copy of the bill of divorce given by the Jews. I will here quote that reading, as given by Clark’s Commentary:

“On the day of the week A. in the month B. in the year C. from the beginning of the world, according to the common computation in the province of D., I., N. the son of N. by whatever name I am called, of the city of E. with entire consent of mind, and without any compulsion, have divorced, dismissed, and expelled thee—thee, I say, M. the daughter of M. by whatever name thou art called, of the city of E. who wast heretofore my wife: but now I have dismissed thee—thee, I say, M. the daughter of M. by whatever name thou art called of the city of E. so as to be free, and at thine own disposal, to marry whomsoever thou pleasest, without hinderance from any one, from this day for ever. Thou art therefore free for any man. Let this thy bill of divorce from me, a writing of separation and expulsion, according to the law of Moses and Israel.

Reuben, son of Jacob, Witness.

Eliezar, son of Gilead, Witness.”

According to the “Jewish Encyclopedia” the divorce to be legal, must be of one’s own free will, before witness, giving the names of the parties involved, their residence, etc., and the most important part was that the divorced party was completely free, FREE TO MARRY ANY MAN she chose. If this freedom to remarry was in any way denied, the divorce was not legal.

Divorce was flourishing. It was one of the big questions of the day. There were two or more schools of thought concerning divorce, some divorcing for only one cause, and others divorcing for “if she find no favor in his eyes.” When Jesus was put on the spot to see with what group He would ally Himself, we see Him going against all. He said it was of Moses and from the beginning there was NONE. Also, and this is important, He knocked out the HEART of the divorce, that freedom to marry any man, which was specifically granted in the writing of divorce, by saying, “Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

By this we see Jesus flatly denying to HIS FOLLOWERS the rights which had been given the Jews by the law of Moses. THE LAW OF MOSES was fast being fulfilled, coming to an end with Christ’s death on the cross, and we find Jesus forbidding this privilege divorce was supposed to give, even before He died. The law of Moses was the law under which the Pharisees were living, and it was these same Pharisees who “came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” He points out to them that in the beginning God made them male and female, and said, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but ONE FLESH. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

We do not find Jesus giving a NEW LAW of divorce, to take the place of that law of divorce given by Moses, and soon to be fulfilled by His death on the cross, BUT, we do find Him DENYING the PRIVILEGE (that privilege of BEING FREE FOR ANY MAN) even to those Pharisees WHILE THE LAW WAS STILL IN EFFECT.

The Scriptures used so far have forbidden remarriage of divorced persons. While the divorce was popular at that time, we find Jesus forbidding that for which the divorce was obtained—that is, remarriage. If He forbids the remarriage—which the “writing of divorcement” promised—where is the profit in divorce? Then as we see Him pointing them back to “the beginning” with its NO DIVORCE, we feel safe in saying that Jesus expected divorce to end with the LAW OF MOSES.

We now come to another Scripture, which many use as an excuse for divorce and remarriage. “Whosoever shall put away his wife, EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Matt. 19:9. The clause “except it be for fornication” (Greek, porneia—whoredom) is the thought in mind. If this Scripture stood alone and unsupported we might conclude that the innocent party in a divorce, CAUSED BY WHOREDOM, might remarry, but taken with the other verses quoted, with the words of the marriage contract, “until DEATH do us part” and with Jesus Himself pointing back to the beginning where there was NO divorce, we may safely say that Jesus intended NO SECOND MARRIAGE during the lifetime of one’s companion. We should also keep in mind the last clause of that sentence: “and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” That makes no distinction between the one put away for adultery, and the one put away being innocent. If remarriage was to be allowed for one who put away an adulterous companion, would not remarriage of necessity have to be allowed for an INNOCENT COMPANION put away? Suppose a man put his innocent wife away because he found another woman he wanted to marry, the last clause of this verse still FORBIDS HER REMARRIAGE. If it had said, “And whoso marrieth her which is put away, EXCEPT SHE BE INNOCENT, doth commit adultery,” we might have enough “excepts” to cause us to believe there was remarriage for the innocent. Such is not the case.

Let us read again, Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 7:39, “The wife is bound by the law AS LONG AS HER HUSBAND LIVETH; but if her husband be DEAD, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” Now, some say one’s companion is “dead” when he (or she) commits adultery. But the Word used here means LITERALLY dead. It is translated “fallen asleep” when Jesus spoke of Lazarus.

Let us read again, 1 Cor. 7:10, 11, “And unto the married I command, yet NOT I, BUT THE LORD, LET NOT THE WIFE DEPART FROM HER HUSBAND [A command of the LORD, Paul says]: but and IF she depart, LET HER REMAIN UNMARRIED, or BE RECONCILED TO HER HUSBAND: and let not the husband put away his wife.” This Scripture cannot be ignored. If unbearable conditions bring SEPARATION, there MUST NOT be another MARRIAGE. If unbearable conditions bring a SEPARATION, there are two courses which may be followed: Either live in a continent, single state, or bring about a reconciliation with your lifetime companion.

As the church of the living God, it is our solemn duty to warn all against marriages that are out of the order of the Lord. Mothers and fathers should teach their children to never marry divorced persons. Boys, girls, if your friend has been divorced, at once give up any idea of marriage with them. This is one of the devil’s most useful traps in keeping people from getting saved. When our affections become involved it is terribly hard to do what God wants. It is better to suffer UNMARRIED than to suffer MARRIED OUT OF THE LORD’S ORDER. To give up the unscriptural family brought suffering to the Jews in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and HUMAN NATURE HAS NOT CHANGED.

The world has not had the standard of the Bible held up before it. Men calling themselves ministers of God, really wolves in sheep’s clothing, have lowered, and lowered, and lowered the standard until they accept into their man-made organizations almost every kind of sin. We as saints of God must teach, and preach, and practice the Bible standard. Many have not studied the WORD for themselves and have blindly followed blind leaders who have taught people that it was all right in God’s sight to divorce and remarry. Such are to be pitied! On the other hand the preachers have preached what the people wanted them to preach. If they were bold enough to stand up for the real truths of the Bible they would likely lose their place of preaching. While people have not read the Bible very much for themselves, God has been very gracious in these last days, by putting His laws in our minds and hearts. “. . . After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. . . .” Jer. 31:33. Not many have fallen into this remarriage trap without a warning from God, I am sure. If any have, it is our duty to bear with them, teach them, and pray for them while at the same time showing love for them, UNTIL THEY SEE WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO DO. Any who have willfully, and with a knowledge of God’s disapproval gone ahead and remarried have to escape from it the best they can. Children may have been brought into the world contrary to God’s plan. Sin has always brought suffering, often to the innocent. When the Jews put away their heathen wives and children as Ezra and Nehemiah told us, I am sure there was real genuine suffering for all concerned. God came first though.

We want to be true to people’s souls, and deal carefully with them, even as God has been gracious and long-suffering with us. Some will see and come to God’s demands at once. Others may take longer. OUR UNDERSTANDING of God’s will, does not imply that our brother understands. In God’s great school there are some in the PRIMER, some in GRADE SCHOOL, some in HIGH SCHOOL, and some perhaps in COLLEGE, but no one has ever GRADUATED. We will receive additional light so long as we are in the flesh. I remember in my algebra class years ago, how that the teacher explained, and explained, and explained. The explanation was with words I understood, but the result of the speech to me was only blankness of mind. Others grasped it, but not I. For about two hours this went on. Finally light broke through, and then I, too, understood, and was able to work the problems. If we are as patient with others as Christ has been with us, I know HE will bring needed light to the honest soul. Sometimes we think we are bringing light,—oh, yes, we are reading it right out of the Bible—when we are not bringing LIGHT, and then through our lack of patience and understanding we can undo precious work the Holy Spirit has done. If WE are not able to solve every situation, we are acquainted with ONE who is. Let us work with Him. If the heart is honest, Christ will give the solution. If the heart is not honest, or balks at the Words of Life when LIGHT does come, that one will be no asset to a congregation anywhere.

THE CHURCH QUESTION

What Is The Church?

. . . Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.

Note:—This is the first mention of the word church in the Bible. Since it is something that the gates of hell should not prevail against, it behooves us to know just what it is. The word CHURCH is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia which is two Greek words ek, meaning the point of origin—usually translated FROM, or OUT OF—and the Greek word “Kaleo” meaning I CALL. So a church is a CALLED OUT group. We find the word ekklesia 115 times in the New Testament, and it is translated church or churches 112 times and is translated assembly 3 times—Acts 19:32, 39, 41 (The ASSEMBLY was confused; in a lawful ASSEMBLY; and, he dismissed the ASSEMBLY.)

We next find this word in Matt. 18:17, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear the CHURCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” We find it no more until we read in Acts 2:47, “. . . And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved.” “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28. Let us read it thus: “Feed the CALLED OUT GROUP OF GOD (church of God).” We see that the CHURCH was not a building or place of worship, but men and women who were disciples of Jesus Christ. They had been CALLED OUT of various things: sin, the religion of the Jews, Pharisees, Sadduccees, being fishermen, tax-collectors, and the like. They all had been brought into something common. They had fellowship together and with the Lord. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:20.

Is the Church Building a Church?

The meeting house, or the church house as it is commonly called, is for the “church” to assemble in. It is not the church. God does not live there all the time like He did in the temple at Jerusalem. Today He lives IN THE HEARTS OF HIS CHILDREN, and when they come to meeting THEY BRING HIM with them. “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:56. “Ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:17b. “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15. “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us.” 1 John 4:12b. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8:11. “. . . Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them. . . .” 2 Cor. 6:16. “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” 2 Tim. 1:14. “. . . The most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Acts 7:48. “Abide in me, and I in you. . . . He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. . . .” John 15:4, 5. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor 3:16, 17.

So we see that where two or three of God’s called out children come together we have a local unit of the Church of God. A saved man or woman is in the family and when more than one is present in the name of the Lord He is there and thus has a working, active, visible local church. Saved men and women do not go to “church,” but when saved men and women go to meeting, they automatically constitute a church. The meeting house is a place where the “church” assembles.

Is The Church a Visible Body, Or An Invisible Mystical Body?

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47b.

“. . . And at that time there was a great persecution against the church WHICH WAS AT JERUSALEM. . . .” Acts 8:1.

“And when they had ordained them elders in every CHURCH, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord . . . And when they were come, and had gathered the church TOGETHER, they rehearsed all that God had done with them. . . .” Acts 14:23, 27.

Who Are Members of the Church?

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47b.

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9a.

“And he is the head of the body, the church.” Col. 1:18a.

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” 1 Cor. 6:15a.

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” 1 Cor. 12:13a.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Cor. 12:18. “That there should be no schism [division] in the body” verse 25. “Now YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues,” verses 27, 28.

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Heb. 12:22, 23. “Except a man be born again [or, from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Ye must be born again.” John 3:3, 6. See Verse 7.

Note:—Thus we see that a member of the church has the following qualifications:

He is a saved man.

He was added by the Lord, not some preacher.

He came through the door, Christ Jesus.

He has become a part of the actual BODY OF CHRIST. The church is the body of Christ today. His body is in this world and we can become a part of it. The church is that body and He is its head.

His body is now a part of the BODY OF CHIRST.

That body is ONE (not divided up).

His name is written in heaven.

He is a just man.

He is a perfect man.

Membership in the Church of God is a matter between the individual and Christ. One may become a member all alone, far removed from human contacts. If an individual is convicted by the Holy Spirit of his sins, and he calls on God for mercy, repenting and forsaking all sin, and believing in the atoning blood of Christ, placing his sins on Christ by faith, he is born into the family of God. The new birth is the only entrance into the church. You cannot join it, be baptized into it, or be accepted by vote of the other members. You may not join by letter, nor by any other means than the new birth. All who experience the new birth are automatically members of the Church of God. You need to get acquainted with your brothers and sisters, but they have nothing to do with your becoming a member of the family. Do the children of ANY earthly family come together when a little brother or sister is born into their home and VOTE as to whether it shall be accepted into that family? Certainly not! The analogy is perfect concerning the child of God. Neither does that infant need to seek a “home,” for it is God’s own child. God is its Father. If this new child of God goes and joins some “church” it has moved that much out of God’s will, and will have to forsake that which it joined if it desires to remain in fellowship with God.

This born-again individual will remain in the Church of God as long as he remains free from sin. Sin brings death to the soul. Sin will cause God’s child to die, and that child will be separated from God as truly as physical death causes a separation in the earthly family. We may not become “unborn” after being born again, but we may DIE. “The wages of sin is DEATH.”

Where Is the Temple of God Today?

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying . . . And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell AMONG them.”

Ex. 25:1, 8.

Note:—This was in Moses’ time, and God dwelt in the ark which was in the tabernacle as He said in Ex. 25:22, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee. . . .”

“The house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the GLORY OF THE LORD had filled the HOUSE OF GOD.” 2 Chron. 5:13, 14.

Note:—This was in Solomon’s time, and God was moving into the temple which Solomon had built for Him to dwell in that He might be AMONG THEM.

“. . . And his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matt. 24:1, 2. “Jesus . . . yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Matt. 27:50,51a.

Note:—The temple at Jerusalem was to be destroyed as Jesus had predicted. God moved out of that temple, and showed His departure by ripping the veil open from the top to the bottom as He left. Now let us watch God moving into His new temple, the church, and let us see if there is glory in the entrance.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . . And they were all amazed. . . . But Peter . . . said . . . This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh . . . And I will shew wonders in heaven above, . . . whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved . . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2nd chapter.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for YE are the TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; as God hath said, I will dwell IN them, and walk IN them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore COME OUT from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

This shows us that God’s PEOPLE are now HIS TEMPLE. They do not have to go to the place of worship to find God, but He is dwelling, living, working, and using THEM as HIS TEMPLE. NOW—not AMONG them, but IN them.

What Is the Bible Name of the Church?

The Bible speaks of only ONE CHURCH belonging to Jesus. Its name is found several times in the New Testament. There being only ONE church, the name was not always given in full, but there are enough times in which the name is given to satisfy us all. Let us examine some instances:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.

“Paul . . . and Sosthenes . . . Unto the CHURCH OF GOD which is at Corinth.” 1 Cor. 1:1, 2a.

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the CHURCH OF GOD.” 1 Cor. 10:32.

“What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the CHURCH OF GOD, and shame them that have not?” 1 Cor. 11:22a.

“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the CHURCH OF GOD.” 1 Cor. 15:9.

“Paul . . . and Timothy . . . unto the CHURCH OF GOD which is at Corinth.” 2 Cor. 1:1a.

“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the CHURCH OF GOD, and wasted it.” Gal. 1:13.

“For ye, brethren, became followers of THE CHURCHES OF GOD which in Judea are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 2:14a.

“So that we ourselves glory in you in THE CHURCHES OF GOD for your patience and faith.” 2 Thess. 1:4a.

“(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the CHURCH OF GOD?)” 1 Timothy 3:5.

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the CHURCH OF the living GOD, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15.

The above Scriptures show us that the body of believers in the morning time was spoken of as being THE CHURCH OF GOD. Each town or community that had a group of “called out” people had a “CHURCH OF GOD.” The geographical locations were the only differences. Paul could preach in THE CHURCH OF GOD at Corinth, and THE CHURCH OF GOD at THESSALONICA, etc., and that is what is meant when the church is spoken of in the plural. There is one instance: “But if any man seem to be CONTENTIOUS, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” 1 Cor. 11:16. Paul preached against contention to the CHURCH OF GOD at CORINTH, and to the CHURCH OF GOD at ROME—(Rom. 2:8.)

Rom. 16:16, Paul writing to the church at Rome said, “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” This is not a name for the body, but shows the churches belonged to Christ, in fact they are His wife. Eph. 3:14, 15 says, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth [you do not die out of the church, only move over into the group on the other side] is named.” Now, my father is a Carver, and when Miss May Jackson married me, she took my father’s name—Carver—even as I had. She is now Cecil’s wife, but her NAME IS MAY CARVER. The churches belonging to Christ are the Churches of God.

Church Organization and Government

The Holy Spirit is the Organizer, and Executive Officer of the Church of God. It is the only properly organized body in the world. Both Protestantism and Catholicism are organized, but their organization is of man. Their common denominator is ecclesiastical organization, or simply, MAN RULE. The Roman church is an organization of men, with the pope as head. He is elected by the Cardinals. He exercises power over that church, AFTER his election by MEN, POWER HE COULD NOT EXERCISE BEFORE HIS ELECTION. He loses this authority in case he is dethroned. However, during his rule as Pope, his is the supreme authority in that church (Understand, I am using the word church in the commonly accepted sense—there being but ONE church, the Church of God.) He claims to be the vicar of the Son of God, AFTER HIS ELECTION BY MEN, not because he has been called to this office by the Holy Spirit. It is the same way down through that complex organization to the priest. Each exercises power in the organization after men have elected or appointed him to the place of authority. The office has the authority, not the man. When he has the office, he has the authority; no office, no authority. This is the way it is in our civil government. When a man is elected sheriff, by the people, he has the sheriff’s authority. When the term for which he is elected expires, he no longer has a sheriff’s authority. When we have this kind of church government, we are seeing man-rule, and not Holy Spirit rule. Man-rule is the image to the beast, only the Church of God being free from it.

The Church of God is governed by the Holy Spirit—through men and women to whom He gives GIFTS or CALLINGS. Let us observe how the Church of God is governed and ruled. 1 Cor. 12:4-12, 18, 28, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations [ministeries], but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of WISDOM; to another the word of KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of HEALING by the same Spirit; to another the working of MIRACLES: to another PROPHECY; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another divers kinds of TONGUES; to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man SEVERALLY AS HE WILL. For as the body is ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that ONE BODY being many, are ONE BODY: so also is Christ. . . . But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, AS IT HATH PLEASED HIM. And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily, PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then gifts of HEALING, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS, DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES.”

We see the Holy Spirit setting the members in the body. We see Him first GIFTING someone, then setting that one in the body as it pleases HIM. Man has nothing to do with it, unless it be to “covet earnestly the best gifts.” Man can only recognize what God has already done.

A man’s GIFT, received from the Holy Spirit, gives him the work, position, or authority that that GIFT provides. His authority will extend only as far as his gift is recognized. Yet he has all the authority that the gift gives. That GIFT will make a place for him. He exercises that authority wherever he proves his gift. It is not limited to a congregation, or locality. Also, there is no end to his term of office. He has his gift as long as he is in the kingdom.

“For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.” Rom. 11:29. God’s bestowal of gifts is not like the elections men hold. Man continues to have the old gift, and receives others as he proves worthy. Gifted men’s authority comes from the Holy Spirit in the Church of God; while the man-made organization bestows the authority in sectism, they can also, and often do, revoke that authority. It is held only as long as men permit.

There are many forms of man-rule. We may have DEMOCRATIC, REPRESENTATIVE, OLIGARCHIC, or ABSOLUTE MONARCHY, but however manifested, it is rulership by men—whether one man, a group, an elected group, or every member having equal say. When there is a man, or a group of men, a committee, or a board holding spiritual authority in an organization, AND THAT AUTHORITY WAS BESTOWED BY ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT OF MEN, you have the IMAGE TO THE BEAST, not Holy Spirit rule. In the Church of God the pastors are called by the Holy Spirit. They have the calling to “FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD.” God will place upon them the burden for working in a certain locality. The church in that locality will feel and recognize that call. They are not ELECTED for a year, but stay until the SPIRIT directs elsewhere. The part of the congregation is to try the spirits and see whether they be of God. When a pastor is called of God to a community, a spiritual congregation will recognize that fact and cooperate to the best of its ability. Should he be mistaken or an imposter, they will recognize that also, and act accordingly.

While the Holy Spirit has suited Himself in the bestowal of GIFTS, we must remember that all are WORKERS, SERVANTS, or SLAVES of that same Holy Spirit. Being tools used by Him, we find no grounds for the elevation of self. We find no reason to elevate certain individuals, making them of a superior order, for Jesus plainly tells us that all are equal. “But be not ye called Rabbi [the title the Jews conferred on their doctors of the Law; approximating our D. D.]: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Matt. 23:8. Being brethren there is no room for elevated individuals. When we see some GIFTED individual doing great things for God, we must remember it is not THEIR great works, but it is GOD working GREATLY through them. The honor goes to HIM. Since the GIFTS exercised are BESTOWED gifts, there are no grounds for the exaltation of SELF. Titles have a tendency to elevate. Leave the D. D.’s, the Reverends, the Bishops, etc., to sectism, being ourselves satisfied with the simple fact that we are brethren. Honor belongs to God. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10.

Ministers are ordained after they have proven themselves in their ministry. The Word teaches that a minister should not be ordained until he has shown his worthiness. “Not a novice” shows that care should be exercised before ordination. On the other hand, ministers should not delay ordination too long.

While there are many gifts, those who are ordained are ordained only as ELDERS or deacons. There is only the ELDER and the DEACON.

Episkope is translated in Acts 1:20, “his BISHOPRIC let another take.” It is translated in 1 Tim. 3:1 . . . “If a man desire the OFFICE OF A BISHOP . . .”

Episkops is translated in Acts 20:28, “the Holy Ghost hath made you OVERSEERS,” and is translated BISHOP the other four times: Phil. 1:1, “with the BISHOPS and deacons”; 1 Tim. 3:2, “A BISHOP then must be blameless”; Titus 1:7, “For a BISHOP must be blameless”; and in 1 Pet. 2:25, “Shepherd and BISHOP of your souls.” We have the word presbuterion in 1 Tim. 4:14, “the laying on of the hands of the PRESBYTERY.” We find “presbuter-os” often in the gospels, speaking of the scribes and ELDERS of the Jews, but it is used in the church as ELDERS, meaning ministers. In Acts 11:30, the disciples at Antioch sent relief to the Judean brethren, “to the ELDERS by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 14:23a, “And when they had ordained them ELDERS in every church.” Titus 1:5, “Ordain ELDERS in every city”; and the beloved John in his 2nd Epistle, “The ELDER unto the elect lady,” and “The ELDER unto the well- beloved Gaius . . .” 3rd John, and then Peter in 1 Pet. 5:1, “who am ALSO an ELDER” (lit. a co-elder: “umpresbu-teros.”) When we find John and Peter are ELDERS, when we should expect them to be BISHOPS if there were to be BISHOPS, and see how interchangeably the words were used, we find ELDER covering all. The “OVERSEERS” of Acts 20:28 (episkopos—overseer, bishop) were the ELDERS of Acts 20:17 (Paul), “called the ELDERS of the church.” Whatever the gift the ordination is only to be ELDER. The gift must be proven.

At campmeetings where there are many ministers, one usually finds an elected group controlling the pulpit-deciding who is to preach, when he is to preach, and quite probably, the subject he is to discuss. This is NOT Holy Spirit leadership. The Holy Spirit is capable of giving the message, the messenger, AND THE TIME OF DELIVERY. This throws the responsibility of being in the Holy Spirit’s order squarely upon the individual minister. He must be close enough to God to hear His voice and know that voice. He must be close enough to God to get the leadings, and the other ministers must be close enough to God to know to sit still. If the Holy Spirit is not allowed free right of way, how can He accomplish His desire? The cut and dried program appeals to those who are unable to get the voice of the Lord. Saul went to the witch of Endor because he could not hear from God. Sometimes an overzealous minister gets up without really having the message, but that only shows one man’s mistake. The system is right. The Holy Spirit is competent, and we should not fear to let Him lead.

Truly there is GOVERNMENT in the Church of God, and it is exercised by men—God-gifted men working together with other God-gifted men under Holy Spirit leadership. The difference in the true church and sectism IS THE SOURCE OF THIS AUTHORITY. Does it come as a gift of God, or from an election by men? That determines the real from the false.

Many fail to see that the Church of God is ORGANIZED. Truly it is organized. It is organized by the Holy Spirit however, and not by man; and there are not many people willing to allow the Holy Spirit to do His office work, believing that MEN can do better. That is why men try to organize the church. They feel they know just what to do. Things seem to run so smoothly when the

program is planned in advance. When men organize, they simply organize themselves out of the body.

The Parable of the Vine

(Christ and the Church)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” John 15:1.

Jesus here teaches there is only one true church. He had said before, “Upon this rock I will build MY church” and now begins to show that His CHURCH is real. All others are untrue. Jesus shows here His knowledge of future events. He knew there would be many organizations calling themselves after His name. There are many organizations calling themselves followers of Christ—Christian. Outside of these many man-made organizations bearing the Christian name, there is ONE that is genuine. There is a true CHURCH. Christ says His Father is the husbandman, or vinedresser, or owner of this vine. God is in charge of this TRUE vine. He works with and through it. Christ says He and His Father are one, and that WE can be ONE with them. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21.

In looking for the church, many have made the mistake of looking for a great organization, but it is not a big group, but rather individuals for which one should look.

When Jesus says, “I am the vine, YE are the branches” and “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered” we see that the relationship between Christ and the individual is DIRECT. There is no third party to it. It is not through organization. It is not through a mediator. It is not through a “church” or organized body. It is direct connection with Christ. We either have that connection, or we do not. If we have it, we are a branch of this vine, and if not, we are NOT A BRANCH. We are not to look for a congregation, but for individuals. If we can find a GROUP of individuals, fine, but if not, look for individuals. A congregation may have some that are saved, some that are backsliding, some that have backslidden, and some that are only professing to know Christ but do not. Those saved ones are the “church.” This is a point we must clearly emphasize. If the world is able to point to sin in a member of a congregation, we must let the world know that he is not a member of the “church,” only a professor—a sinner. Since we look on the outward appearance, we may fellowship one who is not right. If we live close to God we shall soon find them out, but it may take time. Remember, however, that GOD knows His own. As genuine gasoline ration coupons had secret markings that ultra-violet light revealed, but that could not be seen in ordinary light, so God’s eyes see the heart, which we cannot. He knows the true and the counterfeit.

Some members of God’s vine are tangled up with branches of false vines. When the branches of the false vine come together, this true branch meets with them, and takes part perhaps in the services. On the other hand some branches of false vines may come to the gatherings of the real vine, and perhaps take part in its services. Now God is not pleased with such confusion. To the real branch mixed up with false branches, He says, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4. He wants us to carry His message while keeping ourselves unentangled. Associate with, and help sinners and “church members.” Do all you can to help them to Christ and salvation, but remember that while we are IN the world, we are not OF it. Keeping your relationship with Christ continually, keeps you related to all who are in Christ. Accept no man-made relationship. The Father is the caretaker of the vine. He, through the Holy Spirit, organized the first congregation, and is still the only organizer. He perfects His organization through giving GIFTS—spiritual gifts—to whom He will. The GIFTED individual, exercising his GIFT, is the working of the organization under the Holy Spirit. Some say that such an arrangement would be anarchy—that man must control. The contrary is the truth. With man in the background and the Holy Spirit working, the vine will grow, blossom, and bring forth much fruit. If you have seen differently, it must have been where man and not God was working. Man MUST be in the background—and STAY there.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches.”

This typifies the relationship of Jesus and His church. All who have been born again are JOINED to the vine. They are not JOINED to each other except through their common association with the vine. A branch is not a church (so-called), but an individual member. “Every branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away” would not apply to a (church) organization because in cutting off the unfruitful organization some SAVED SOULS could be included. As an individual though, it shows that anyone who accepts Christ and then does not bear fruit as a Christian will lose his relationship with the vine and be cut off and die, and will be burned (in hell fire forever). When we think of the vine and branches representing Jesus and His followers, we can see how close the relationship is between Christ and the church. THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF JESUS’ SAVED BELIEVERS. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I.” So when two or three of the followers of Jesus come together to worship Him, He is with them and THERE you have a Church of God in that community. Where they had been individual disciples, they NOW constitute a visible church in that town or community.

When members of the vine get tangled up with members of the wild vine (the wild vines represent the many man-made churches), they will get into trouble. There are so many ways that their freedom will be restricted. They cannot be free as they were in Jesus. Jesus is everywhere and they do not have to get out of Him to work with His people anywhere, but man-made organization restricts them to a certain locality, conference, synod, or group. In Christ you only look to Him for leadership, while in the wild vines you have some man or committee or conference with power to interfere with your leadings from Christ. When your right to “Go” is subject to MAN, you are in a “wild vine.” When ANY man or group of men must be satisfied before you have liberty to follow the leadings of Christ, you are tangled up with wild vines. In the “true vine” you have no man-made interference with your leadings to “Go.”

Is Sectism Wrong?

“Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are . . . Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:11, 20-23.

“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezek. 34:12.

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. All that found them have devoured them.” Jer. 50:5, 6, 7a.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

“And upon her forehead was a name written. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Rev. 17:5.

“. . . Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird . . . And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Rev. 18:2, 4, 5.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor. 1:10.

“That there should be NO SCHISM in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1 Cor. 12:25.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” 2 Pet. 2:1, 2.

The above mentioned Scriptures plainly teach that sectism is wrong. It is not, and never will be what God wants. We cannot please God and stay in sectism. It is abhorrent to the very heart of God. We know with what displeasure God looks upon adultery. Well, He likens being joined to any of the man-made organizations, calling themselves churches, as being in adultery. It is SPIRITUAL ADULTERY. We are to be joined unto ONE husband, and that husband is CHRIST. When we are converted, or born again, we are born into Christ’s church, or WIFE. Then if we go and join an organization of men, we have placed ourselves in such a position that Christ would have to be a bigamist to recognize us as HIS. He is not married to the many divisions of sectism. His bride is ONE. How can the many warring, fighting, selfish, proud, or unholy organizations be the BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST? They cannot. The only reason there are any saved people in any of them is because sin is not imputed where there is no (known) law. There is light on God’s Word that has been revealed in these last days. So long as people are bound up in these organizations and do not see the error of being there, God does not charge that sin to them. However, God is, and has been, since about 1880, using His ministers to thunder forth the truths of the wrong of sectism, and the necessity of God’s true children COMING OUT OF BABYLON. When this light of truth breaks in on the heart of the true child of God in Babylon, there comes into his heart a yearning to escape. He cannot stay there and KEEP God’s approval upon his soul. We must walk in the light as it shines on our pathway. The failure to walk in the light leaves us walking behind it—in darkness. Brother, sister, do not stay cooped up in a little pen with only a few, if any, of God’s children, but leave the man-made organization, and step out into the light of truth with all of God’s true followers. If every Christian resigned his affiliation with the creeds of men and stood on the Word of God alone, being satisfied with being in only the church into which he was born at conversion, we would see the sects losing what little power they have. We would see God’s approval manifested in the hearts He is now having to look upon as being ignorantly in sin.

We want to picture the awfulness of sectism as God sees it. That description is found in Revelation 17th chapter. In the 12th chapter of Revelation we found the real church pictured as a beautiful woman, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered,” verses 1 and 2. This was the early church, ready to bring forth her host of converts. On the other hand, we find the apostatized church pictured as a great whore. “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus              “Rev. 17:1-6. This great whore clothed in purple and scarlet and riding a scarlet colored beast was the apostatized church (not the bride of Christ) committing fornication with the great men of the earth. She was not a beautiful sun-clothed, and star-crowned woman, but a filthy, degraded, polluted harlot. Her name was BABYLON THE GREAT, and she was spoken of as being a mother, too. What of her children? They were spoken of as being harlots, also. BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. She was riding a scarlet colored beast, and was spoken of as “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Rev. 17:18b. She used her temporal power to destroy the children of God, the saints, and she is to be destroyed in the lake of fire along with all who do not serve God. We see that Rome, and those churches which sprang out of her, constitute the Babylon of today. Daughters are of the same flesh and blood as their mothers. Protestantism broke the yoke of human organization. In the church of Rome, human organization was supreme. The pope served as the head of a great priestly organization. Power was delegated to men in varying degrees. This substitution of man-rule for Holy Spirit rule is the great sin of the Roman Catholic Church. We find the reformers, after seeing the sin of Roman Catholicism, and abandoning it, being deceived, and “. . . saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST. . . .” Rev. 13:14. We find PROTESTANTISM copying CATHOLICISM’S man-rule. Man-rule varies in its forms among the denominations. It makes no difference if man-rule be democratic as some have, each member having a say in church government, or whether it be vested in fewer, duly elected as delegates or representatives, or whether it be vested in the clergy with still fewer numbers, or whether it be in the ultimate of man-rule, with one man as head; it is all MAN-RULE. This substitution of MAN-RULE for HOLY SPIRIT rule is common to both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. When a group organize themselves, THEY assume the rights that the Holy Spirit has reserved for Himself. The Church of God is organized, but its organization comes from the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit bestows a GIFT upon a child of God, he is duty bound to exercise that gift. His exercise of that GIFT, in accord with, and in obedience to the command of the Holy Spirit, in cooperation with all other GIFTS GIVEN children of God, will manifest a complete, living, functioning organism. When the leadership is vested in the Holy Spirit, it will be uniform. Only in that way can we all be one. If ONE is our leader we will follow in the same path. God’s church is an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY, and Christ demands and has “all power in heaven and in earth,” and the Holy Spirit is the instrument used by Christ in organizing and governing HIS CHURCH. Men’s failure to be aware of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit has caused them to assume this power as their own, and in doing so they have led their followers into the hundreds of organizations that go to make up SO-CALLED Christendom. Let all who read this truth and see its beauty, drop the bars that have penned them in, and thus get where God can be leader to each individual. We do not need, nor should we have to get our directions from any man. If you get your leadings from the Holy Spirit and I get my leadings from Him, we shall never be in conflict. Never be afraid of His ability to govern. We have no more right to doubt His ability in this matter than in any other matter. There are some calling themselves by His name who have made their image to the beast. When you find men (church members) electing committees to govern the body, you will find that it has made its image to the beast. Where you find the elected PULPIT COMMITTEE, the ORDINATION COMMITTEE, the FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE, the HOME MISSIONS COMMITTEE, the YEARBOOK COMMITTEE, the STATE COMMITTEE, the NATIONAL COMMITTEE, the SEMINARY (where the student buys his learning to sell later), the PROGRAM COMMITTEE, the FINANCIAL COMMITTEE, etc., you will find MAN-RULE rather than Holy Ghost rule, and man-rule is called the image to the beast. In God’s church, His children recognize and appreciate the gift in others. You will find them endeavoring to help their brothers and sisters exercise their gifts, rather than insisting on their subjection to some man-made committee. There will be work performed in the body that may be performed in sectism by the committee, but the worker will feel his call from, and responsibility to, the Holy Spirit rather than to some conference, committee, or group. Of course, the Church of God is organized and its organizer is One who makes NO mistakes, putting in the body the members as it pleases HIM. If you are having to look to some man or committee to exercise your duties in the CHURCH, you are in Babylon, and God’s call is, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4b. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, to rise no more!

Unity of God’s People

There is nowhere in the Bible any excuse for the multiplicity of so-called churches which we find today. The Bible teachings are plain, forceful, and explicit concerning the church. Let us examine some of them:

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, AS WE ARE. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled . . . They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world . . . Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOU, FATHER, ART IN ME, AND I IN THEE, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: I in them, and thou in me, THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE.” John 17:11-23. This prayer that came from the very depths of the heart of Jesus can never be answered by fighting, hating, self-seeking, divided churches. The only thing that will satisfy Jesus and God the Father is united followers. Jesus beautifully portrays the church as a woman, as a bride, the bride of Christ—the Christ who said, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they TWAIN shall be ONE flesh. Wherefore they are no more TWAIN, but ONE flesh. . . . He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his WIFE [not wives], except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Matt. 19:59. We see by this that Jesus did not allow more than one wife. He was no polygamist. He neither had nor allowed a harem. ONE MAN-ONE WOMAN-ONE HOME. Now, let us read it, “For the husband is the head of the WIFE, even as Christ is the head of the CHURCH: and he is the saviour of the BODY [the church]. Therefore as the CHURCH is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the CHURCH, and gave himself for IT; That he might sanctify and cleanse IT with the washing of water by the word, That he might present IT to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that IT should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his WIFE loveth HIMSELF. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as THE LORD the CHURCH: For WE are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a MAN leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his WIFE, and they two shall be ONE flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” Eph. 5:23-32. ONE CHRIST—ONE CHURCH. Now this one church is composed of many believers, but the many believers are UNITED believers. “Endeavoring to keep the UNITY of THE SPIRIT in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph. 4:3-6. This united church is further spoken of in Eph. 4:11-16, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;. . . for the edifying of the BODY OF CHRIST: till we ALL come in the UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: FROM WHOM THE WHOLE BODY fitly joined TOGETHER and COMPACTED by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

It is going to require the infilling of the Holy Ghost to bring about this condition. As long as men are carnally minded they will not be united. We find the apostle Paul chiding carnally minded saints at Corinth. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and DIVISIONS, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? Now he that planteth and he that watereth are ONE  . . .” So should their converts be. (1 Cor. 3:3-5, 8). The leadership of men has brought about the divided state of so-called Christianity. The leadership of the Holy Spirit is a uniting, rather than a dividing leadership. When we look to Him rather than man we shall be one. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you ALL things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. If we are all taught by the same teacher, surely we shall believe the same thing. Paul demands this going on to the baptizing of the Holy Ghost in Heb. 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto PERFECTION; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”

We find other Scriptures teaching this oneness. Not only oneness with one another, but oneness with God. “He that is joined unto the Lord is ONE Spirit.” 1 Cor. 6:17. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are ONE BREAD, and ONE BODY: for we are all partakers of THAT ONE bread.” 1 Cor. 10:16, 17. Paul, in the 12th chapter of 1 Cor., uses the human body and its members in picturing the spiritual body with its many functions. Men have different gifts, and do different works in the spiritual body, but all those works are coordinated by the Holy Spirit, which gave out those gifts as He saw fit. He says, “For as the body is ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that ONE body, being many, are ONE BODY: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the BODY is not one member, but many  . . . But God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no SCHISM [DIVISION] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now YE are the BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular.” 1 Cor. 12:11-27. We cannot conceive of the body of Christ being divided into warring factions and schisms. No! Its members suffer one with the other. They bear one another’s burdens. CHRIST IS IN THE WORLD TODAY! The church is HIS BRIDE. When two are married they become ONE. We are married to HIM. He is in US. “As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee. . . . I IN THEM, and thou in me.” John 17:21, 23. The apostle John writing about 60 years after Jesus’ ascension into heaven emphatically states that Jesus Christ was in the flesh of His disciples at that time. He says, 1 John 4:3, 4, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ IS COME in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: BECAUSE greater is HE THAT IS IN YOU, than he that is in the world.” Another Scripture showing that we, the church, are one is found in Gal. 3:27, 28, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for YE are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.”

All nations and kindreds and tongues become ONE in CHRIST. When any one is born into the Church of God, he becomes a part of it. This Church of God, which is the bride of Christ, which is without division or schism, receives unto herself all races, kindreds, tongues, and classes, and makes them ONE. “That at that time ye [the Gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both ONE, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; . . . for to make IN himself of twain ONE new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile BOTH unto God in ONE body by the cross, . . . Now therefore YE are no more strangers and foreigners, but FELLOWCITIZENS with the SAINTS, and of the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom All the building fitly FRAMED TOGETHER groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are BUILDED TOGETHER for an HABITATION OF GOD through the Spirit.” Eph. 2:12-22.

We must remain united in faith, mind, and judgment. If a division or split comes, that part separated from the Body DIES. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye ALL speak the SAME thing, and that there be no DIVISIONS [SCHISMS] among you; but that ye be PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER in the SAME MIND and in the SAME JUDGMENT.” 1 Cor. 1:10. “Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast IN ONE SPIRIT, with ONE MIND striving TOGETHER for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27. “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be LIKEMINDED, having the same love, being of ONE ACCORD, of ONE MIND.” Phil. 2:2. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in ONE BODY; and be ye thankful.” Col. 3:15. It is going to take sanctification to achieve it though. Every selfish motive must be removed from our heart. Every root that God did not plant must be rooted out. While there is to be ONE WILL only, that will is to be the WILL OF CHRIST, not ours. We must become ONE with Him; not Him become one with us. He is not going to divide Himself up among us to suit us. On the contrary, we must give up our all to be His alone. “For both he that sanctifieth and THEY WHO ARE SANCTIFIED are all ONE: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Heb. 2:11.

THAT is the theory. THAT is God’s plan. THAT is what Christ died for. Now, what are the practical steps to take to achieve unity? “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen . . . and I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:2, 4. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [Now here is what to do.] Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU, And will be a FATHER unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:14-18. Babylon, which is the great confusion of religions, calling themselves Christian, is not the home for God’s people. These sects grew up around partial truths of the Bible and God worked with them, often in a mighty way, but their failing to walk in additional light as it came, caused them to lose their contact with God. There was a time when people could be saved and live in them, but as more of the truth of God’s Word comes we must accept and receive it into our hearts and lives. The Church of God is the only God-recognized, Holy Ghost organized and Holy Ghost ruled organization in the world. It is the only one claiming ALL saved people. It is the only one having and walking in all God’s truth. It is the only one that will welcome more light from God. You, yourself, know, brother, that your organization only claims as members those who have joined it. You cannot join the Church of God. You can only be born into it. All born again souls are IN IT ALREADY. THEY ONLY HAVE TO DROP THEIR MAN-MADE NAMES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN HARMONY WITH THE TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD EVERYWHERE; GIVE UP THE ERROR FOUND IN THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND ACCEPT THE ADDITIONAL TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE THAT THEIR ORGANIZATION HAS REJECTED. Thus we have the basis for complete UNITY. Man-made creeds, disciplines, and articles of faith cause division. Acceptance of the whole Bible brings unity. Only accept what the Bible demands. Refuse all that is not in harmony with it. The man-made creed leaves out something, or it would be the Bible. Just accept and live by the Bible and its truths, and unity will follow.

You may ask, “Why does the Church of God have the right to call all to it rather than me call all to my church?”

Let me illustrate: If a large number of people are lost and wandering around in a great forest, which one should call “Come out”? NONE. No one in the forest can help matters by having others come to him. But, if one gets out of the forest into the broad plain, he can then call, “Come out. Come this way. Here is deliverance.”

Brother, as soon as you get free from man-made organizations, out in the truth of God’s Word, you too, will be able to call others to the light. The Church of God is the only organization you can become a member of all alone. You can be born into it without a preacher or any one even being around. All alone with God you can call on Him for mercy and salvation and become a member of His church. He will receive YOU. Then when opportunity comes your way, be baptized.

In the beginning of the evening light of God’s church, there were many who began to see these truths and live by them. They were scorned and persecuted by sectarians of that day; yet they stood true to God and the plain truths of the Bible. Many lived for years before they met anyone else who believed as they did. When they did meet, oh! the wonderful love and unity and harmony they had together. They would say, “I wondered if I would EVER find anyone who believed as I did.” I think of my father-in-law who lived fourteen years before he found anyone who believed as he did. All this time, however, God was raising up congregations who believed as he did, and when he did meet the saints, he learned that there were thousands already believing as he did.

Right here let me exhort you who read this to COME OUT of confusion, strife, and error, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save your soul.

ORDINANCES

Baptism

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt. 28:19.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:37, 38.

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” Acts 2:41a.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both INTO the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were COME UP OUT OF THE WATER, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:35-39.

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, WENT UP STRAIGHTWAY OUT OF THE WATER: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:13-17.

“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, BECAUSE there was MUCH WATER there.” John 3:22, 23.

“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples), he left Judea.” John 4:1-3.

“. . . The ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like FIGURE where-unto even BAPTISM doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, BUT THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD) . . .” 1 Pet. 3:20, 21.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are BURIED with him by BAPTISM into death: that like as Christ was RAISED UP from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been PLANTED together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his RESURRECTION: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is DEAD is freed from sin. Now if WE be DEAD with Christ, we believe that we shall also LIVE with him: Knowing that Christ being RAISED FROM THE DEAD dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves TO BE DEAD indeed unto sin, but ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:4-11.

From the above Scriptures we gather the following thoughts concerning baptism:

1. It was commanded by Jesus Christ.

2. It was practiced by the early church.

3. It was practiced where much water was found.

4. It was given to believers.

5. It is only a figure of a spiritual work which God works in the heart. Literal water cannot cleanse the soul of man. The blood of Christ does.

6. A good conscience requires it.

7. The figure can only be carried out by immersion. A DEATH, a BURIAL, and a RESURRECTION could not be portrayed by sprinkling or pouring.

In the English we have the root word DIP (to whelm, or cover with a fluid), DIPPER (one who dips), DIPPING (the act going on), DIPPED (the act completed); so in the Greek we have the root word BAPTO (to whelm, or cover with fluid). It is found three times in the New Testament and is translated DIP each time. Luke 16:24, “that he may DIP the tip of his finger”; John 13:26, “Shall give a sop when I have DIPPED it”; and Rev. 19:13, “clothed with a vesture DIPPED in blood.” Then we have BAPTISMOS four times and translated WASHING three times, and Anglicized into BAPTISMS once:

Mark 7:4, the WASHING of cups, and pots;

Mark 7:8, the WASHING of pots and cups;

Heb. 6:2, Of the doctrine of BAPTISMS, and of;

Heb. 9:10, meats and drinks, and divers WASHINGS.

Then BAPTIZO is found 80 times and is transferred without translating 78 times and is translated WASH in Mark 7:4, “except they WASH, they eat not,” and is translated WASHED in Luke 11:38, “HAD not first WASHED before dinner.” The Greeks had a word for sprinkle, and it was not “bapto,” but “rantizo”; and is found four times in:

Heb. 9:13, SPRINKLING the unclean;

9:19, and SPRINKLED both the book;

9:21, he SPRINKLED with blood;

10:22, our hearts SPRINKLED from an evil conscience.

We have rantismos twice, translated “sprinkling” both times:

Heb. 12:24, the blood of SPRINKLING;

1 Pet. 1:2, SPRINKLING of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Greeks had a word for pouring and it was not “bapto,” but “kataXeo” as found in Matt. 26:7, “There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and POURED it on his head, as he sat at meat” and the story found in Mark 14:3, “and she brake the box, and POURED it on his head.”

Baptism therefore comes from bapto, “dip” and not rantizo, “sprinkle,” or kataXeo, “pour.”

Josephus, who was born 37 A.D. and died 95 A.D., a Jewish historian, speaks of baptism as a washing, not a sprinkling. In his “Antiquities of the Jews,” Book 18, chapter 5, he says, “Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the WASHING would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away of some sins, but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified by righteousness.”

In the Encyclopedia Britannica we read under the article on BAPTISTERY the following: “Many baptisteries of the earlier type, especially in Italy, are of great size and richly decorated. When the CHANGE FROM IMMERSION TO SPRINKLING as the method of baptism rendered large baptisteries unnecessary, the baptistery became a mere chapel within a church, or even disappeared entirely, the FONT being placed at any convenient spot.” We should be able to see from the above that IMMERSION is the only form of baptism that fulfills the Biblical teachings. Whoever changed the form from immersion to sprinkling or pouring did not have Divine Authority to do so. We accept the Bible way, not some man’s way.

Feet Washing and the Lord’s Supper

“Thou shalt never wash my feet.” John 13:8.

This sounds like statements made today concerning feet-washing. It is a statement that should be modified and retracted by earnest followers of the lowly Lamb of God. When the beautiful example left by Jesus is understood and appreciated, and those words of warning and exhortation and promise are brought home to us, we then like Peter are constrained to say, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Verse 9.

Feet-washing is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ just before His betrayal. Ecclesiastically, an ordinance is an established rite or ceremony. We have three ordinances under the New Testament dispensation—baptism, feet-washing, and the Lord’s Supper. An ordinance to be binding on us is to be given or followed by Christ. It is to be commanded by Him, practiced by Him, and its continuation directed by Him. We find Jesus is our example in all three ordinances. He was baptized by John the Baptist, and commanded the disciples to baptize after His ascension into heaven. He washed the feet of the disciples, and He gave the Lord’s Supper to them, the same night. Jesus had assembled with the disciples to eat the Jewish Passover supper. “And supper being ended [It was the cooking, the preparation, that was ended, not the eating] . . . He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, WHAT I DO THOU KNOWEST NOT NOW; but thou shalt know HEREAFTER. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, IF I WASH THEE NOT, THOU HAST NO PART WITH ME. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. [Jesus is speaking of spiritual cleanness here. He had eleven clean disciples at this time, and one who had backslid, yet He was humble enough to wash Judas’ feet along with the other eleven, that He might set us an example of real humility.] So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. [And now Jesus is going to explain to Peter that which He had in mind in verse 7 when He said, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet [Now here is the command]; 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent [a disciple] greater than he that sent him [Jesus]. [And now we have the precious promise] If ye know these things, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM.” John 13:2-17.

Then, as they were continuing to eat the Passover Supper, Jesus mentioned that one of the disciples would betray Him. They began to ask who was going to betray Him, and Jesus told them it was the one to whom He gave the sop after He had dipped (bapto—the Greek root of baptize) it. After baptizing the sop He gave it to Judas, and Judas went out at once.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying Drink YE ALL of it (or, EACH ONE OF YOU DRINK SOME OF THIS); For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” Matt. 26:26-30.

John is the only one of the gospels telling of the feet-washing. Some would belittle it for that reason. On the other hand he never mentioned the Lord’s Supper. Reading the accounts separately, we might think Judas was at the Lord’s Supper, but I believe that he left before the assembly broke up, “He then having received the sop went immediately out.” Since they all went out after singing a psalm following the eating of the Lord’s Supper, it is evident that all twelve were there at first, or part of that evening and night, but that only eleven went out following the Supper. It is plain to me, therefore, that Jesus washed Judas’ feet but did not give him of the Supper.

Practically all denominations partake of the Lord’s Supper in some form or another, and we shall not say much concerning it, other than to say that it is a type or symbol of Christ suffering and dying and bleeding for our salvation. Also, that the loaf of unleavened bread before being broken might represent the body of Christ, that is the Church of God. It is composed of many grains, perhaps from different fields, or even countries, then assembled together into ONE LOAF, undivided by divisions or schisms. The bread and the wine are not actually the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, but symbols of it, and we take it as such. It is a memorial to bring to our minds what Jesus has done for us. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Cor. 11:26. The Israelites had eaten the Passover Supper for hundreds of years, that supper commemorating their deliverance from the death angel for each blood-sprinkled home back in Egypt. They ate roasted lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Jesus used elements found on the table at this last supper to institute an ordinance for HIS followers, similar to the Jewish Passover. He is the LAMB whose blood is to bring deliverance from eternal death. “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:56. We figuratively eat His flesh and drink His blood in this ordinance. Let us partake of this ordinance reverently, thankfully, and with a full assurance of our personal relationship with Him.

While most denominations practice the taking of the Lord’s Supper, there are not many willing to wash one another’s feet. They try to reason it out as being unnecessary as only a Jewish custom, or the desire of Jesus to give the disciples a lesson in humility, which we can fulfill by any small act of charity to one in need. The reason these teachings are so universally unaccepted is that there are not many humble people in this world. An escape from this command is wanted and an EXCUSE can always be found if desired. One may fake humility and wash feet, his heart not being right with God, but when one absolutely refuses, we can know humility and the willingness to follow Christ are absent. Had Jesus been only following a Jewish custom, Peter would have understood, and Jesus would not have said, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” Had He only been wanting to give a lesson in humility, that any act of charity would satisfy, He would not have said, “I have given you an EXAMPLE, that ye should do AS I HAVE DONE to you.” AS I HAVE DONE meant He had washed their feet, and no amount of reasoning will change it. Note also that He told Peter, “IF I wash thee not, THOU HAST NO PART WITH ME.” If we are too proud-hearted to follow HIS example, we, too shall hear Him say, “THOU hast no part with me.” He tells us, His followers, that we are not greater than He, and if He was not too “good” to wash their feet, WE are not too “good” to wash our brother’s feet. The Word says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Cor. 14:40. Then when we assemble together to wash feet, let us use separate rooms for the brethren and the sisters, that none have occasion to speak evil of our service.

Again others spiritualize the feet-washing, saying Jesus was teaching the following lesson: People who have been born again have been washed clean spiritually. But, as the walking from the public bath-house to home caused the feet to become dirty and need re-washing, so we cannot live above sin. That we are sinning daily (or getting our feet dirty), and they need to be washed again. “Oh, no! He is washed all over! His body needs no other washing! He is bound for heaven if he dies, but he does need to have his feet washed again now and then to cleanse him from his daily sins.”

Those who pet sin will tell you some such story. But, friend, remember, Jesus said for US to do as HE had done. I KNOW I CANNOT FORGIVE YOU YOUR DAILY SINS—only God can do that. That application falls down. The ONLY way we can do as He did is to wash one another’s feet in an ordinance meeting. “For I have given you an example, that YE should do as I have done to you.” The Lord was teaching concerning humility this this time—not cleansings. Although BAPTISM has SPIRITUAL meanings, we are yet required to go down into literal water, and be LITERALLY dipped. That is, we are required to do so, if we expect to follow Christ, the example.

There is a spiritual lesson in the feet-washing, and this it is: As Luke tells us about the Lord’s Supper in chapter 22, “And there was also a strife among them, WHICH OF THEM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED THE GREATEST. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? BUT I AM AMONG YOU AS HE THAT SERVETH.” Luke 22:24-27. This lesson is to teach HUMILITY and SERVICE; not being high-minded, but humble; not being one who receives service, but as one who serves. “If I then your Lord, and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet . . . The servant is NOT greater than his lord; neither he that is SENT greater than he that sent him.”

Thus we see in spite of the spiritual meaning of baptism, we MUST be baptized, SO feet-washing with its lesson of humility REQUIRES actual observance of the ordinance.

DOCTRINES OFTEN MISCONSTRUED

The Gift of Tongues

We feel that some thoughts should be presented concerning the gift of tongues. It is one of the gifts of the Church of God. It was first heard on the day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost. We read about the initial experience in the second chapter of Acts. I shall give this account in the literal translation of the Greek, as found in the book “A NEW NEW TESTAMENT,” which is an interlinear translation—each Greek word having the English equivalent immediately under it. I shall, however, put the words in the English order rather than follow the Greek order. Acts 2: “And during the accomplishing of the day of Pentecost, they were all with one accord in the same place. And suddenly came out of the heaven a sound as of a violent breath rushing, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave to them to utter forth. Now in Jerusalem were dwelling Jews, pious men from every nation of those under the heaven. But the rumor of this having arisen, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And all were amazed and wondered, saying to one another, Lo, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? and how hear we each in our own language in which we were born, Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which (is) about Cyrene, and the Romans sojourning (here), both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the great things of God?”

This account is clear and distinct. There is no question as to what happened. Men who were acquainted only with the language of Galilee were heard in a public meeting talking in languages with which they were known to be unfamiliar. A remarkable miracle was witnessed that day. Simple, ignorant fishermen were heard telling of the marvelous works of God in languages of men—men who were present—and who declared they had heard these Galileans talking in THEIR language. In how many earthly languages did these Galileans speak? Oh, about a dozen. They did this to fulfill the prophecy of Joel, says Peter, “And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy . . . and even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.” I am so thankful that the foreigners present at that gathering of the church heard prophecies IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE or tongue. Suppose only the language of the Galileans had been spoken—THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LANGUAGE OF GALILEE WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD OF GOD’S GREAT WORKS. Suppose those Galileans had jabbered and muttered mouthings which NO ONE PRESENT UNDERSTOOD? All still would have been unenlightened. There still would have been no learning of God’s GREAT WORKS. Thank God, the Holy Spirit gave men the ability to prophesy in languages with which they were naturally unfamiliar. God was glorified for giving this miracle along with the Holy Spirit, and men were edified by the good things they heard some foreigner telling them—IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

Any deviation from this initial pattern will be deviation from the TRUE WAY. When we see what the TRUE IS, the FALSE is easily detected. So, let us get it firmly rooted in our minds beyond question—MEN of God, spoke in EARTHLY languages, to FOREIGNERS, in the foreigner’s EARTHLY LANGUAGE. They had not been taught these languages—the Holy Spirit used their vocal organs, and spoke through them. I might study Greek until I could speak it, BUT, GOD COULD GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO SPEAK GREEK WITHOUT MY EVER STUDYING, and THAT would be the GIFT OF TONGUES. This is what happened on the day of Pentecost.

The modern “tongues” movement is united around the idea that ALL Holy Ghost baptized people will talk in “unknown tongues.” To them the only acceptable evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is a manifestation of a gibberish no one understands. Unintelligible speech is expected, and required before the seeker for the baptism of the Holy Ghost may testify of such baptism. If the seeker demonstrates this phenomenon he is allowed to testify that he has been so baptized. That is, of course, if he received it among those whom the first one fellowships. If he received it in a contrary group to that which the first one recognizes, his unintelligible speech is condemned as counterfeit. There are many branches, and each branch only recognizes the “gift” of their own group. The other groups they say are spurious.

We shall show by the Bible that ALL Holy Ghost baptized people will NOT speak with “tongues.” There are MANY gifts, given as the Holy Ghost sees best. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” 1 Cor. 12:4-11. Some prophesy, some have faith, some heal, some have knowledge, some wisdom, some (not all) tongues, some interpret. “And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? [Obviously, NO.] Are all prophets? [Certainly not.] Are all teachers? [NO.] Are all workers of miracles? [Again, NO.] Have all the gifts of healing? [NO.] Do all speak with tongues? [Yet to this question the “tongues” man will give you an emphatic, “Yes.”]. Do all interpret? [“No.”] 1 Cor. 12:28-30. As for me, I believe in taking God’s Word rather than man’s. Do all speak with tongues? NO.

Mark 16:17, 18 is often given as proof that ALL shall speak with tongues. It fails them as proof. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” All these are in the body of Christ—the church. Any seeker after the truth will admit that ONE man will not possess all the gifts. They are divided among the members of Christ’s body. Christ had told them just before to go and preach the gospel to every creature. One man could not preach the gospel to every creature! It would take hundreds and thousands to do that. We will also have to admit that there are many who never help cast out devils. There are many who do not heal the sick. There are many who do not take up serpents. All do not drink deadly poisons, AND neither do all speak in “unknown tongues.” There are NEW TONGUES for ALL in one sense of the word—lying, cursing, swearing, hateful sayings are gone. The language of the speaker is now Christ-like, whereas before conversion it was NOT Christ-like at all times.

So, the gift of languages is in the body of Christ, to be given as the Holy Spirit directs, BUT it is pointed out by the apostle Paul to be the LEAST of the gifts, and he tells us to “covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (charity). 1 Cor. 12:31.

Modern “tongues” movements probably would not have arisen had the translators of the New Testament properly translated the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians. The insertion of the word unknown before the word tongues six times in that chapter has helped promote the idea. Had the translators left out this word unknown—there is no justification whatever for their placing it in there—many would not have been deceived. The translators put the word in italics, as they had to do with ALL the words they inserted, but thousands of people do not know the significance of those words that are printed in italics. The Greek word agnostos meaning “unknown” is found only once in the New Testament: Acts 17:23, “To the UNKNOWN God,” and Paul surely would have placed it in there had he meant “unknown tongues,” for he used the word agnostos when preaching at Athens. To show the absurdity of the translation, let us add “unknown” to the story of Pentecost. If it should be added when speaking of the GIFT, let us add it where the GIFT was first demonstrated.

Here is how our story would read: Acts 2:7, 8, 11, “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own [UNKNOWN] TONGUE [Greek: dialekto, that is dialect, or language], wherein we were born? . . . We do hear them speak in our [UNKNOWN] TONGUES [Greek: glossais, tongue] the wonderful works of God.” We must use Pentecost as a pattern—we cannot use Corinth, because Paul’s first letter to Corinth was almost entirely given over to rebukes concerning their wrong ideas. He had to reprove them for having a divisional spirit in chapter one. He pointed out their carnality in chapter three; being puffed up in chapter four; fornication in chapter five; about going to law in chapter six; conscience and eating of meats in chapters eight to ten; warning for women to have long hair, to cease division, and the proper eating of the Lord’s Supper in chapter eleven; and in the fourteenth chapter he reproves their elevation of the gift of tongues. We see they cannot be looked upon as EXAMPLES.

There is one other Greek word translated unknown in the New Testament, but it is not the word which would have been used in connection with the word tongues. That other word which is irregularly translated unknown is “agnoeo” which means “not to know” through lack of information, and is usually translated “ignorant” or “understand not.” However it is translated “unknown” twice: “as unknown” 2 Cor. 6:9; and in Gal. 1:22, “was unknown by face.” This word agnoeo is found in the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians, but NOT in connection with the word tongues. Let us give the 38th verse where it occurs twice, “But if any man BE IGNORANT, LET him BE IGNORANT.”

Another verse upon which they place so much importance is the second verse of the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: FOR NO MAN UNDERSTANDETH HIM. . . . When one tries to tell them the true gift is LANGUAGES, they immediately run to this verse, “NO man UNDERSTANDETH him.” They will tell you that means that NO MAN UNDERSTANDS what the speaker is saying. Here is another faulty translation. The translators translated the Greek word akouei here as “understandeth,” but this is the only place in the New Testament where they used the word understandeth for “akouei.” Its real meaning here is “HEARKENS.” The sentence means no one listens attentively to a man talking in a language with which he is unfamiliar. A foreign language sounds like gibberish to the listener. He is not edified. He does not understand. The words leave him as ignorant after hearing them as he was before. He naturally ignores what is gibberish to him. In all other cases the translators used for, either: hearken, hear, heard, heareth, hearest, come to the ear, noised, hearing, in the audience of, give audience, gave audience, reported, the hearers; and only in 1 Cor. 14:2, understandeth. I have gone into detail here because this verse means so much to them.

Let us read this 2nd verse properly, “For he that speaks in a foreign language speaks to God and not to men, FOR NO MAN HEARS (or HEARKENS, or GIVES the man AUDIENCE, LISTENS ATTENTIVELY).” Jesus spoke in parables that men might “hearing ye might hear” and not understand. A foreigner may speak mysteries in and with the Spirit of God, but he has to tell it to God. I do not pay attention because it is A FOREIGN language to me.

Since it is the 14th chapter of 1Cor. that has caused the misunderstanding of God’s Word, let us study it further. In reading this chapter, we see Paul’s reproof of their exaltation of the gift of tongues. If the devil could use the gift of tongues to bring in trouble away back there, he surely would not throw away that deception as long as he could use it to deceive. Remember, Paul has told them in the 3rd chapter that he had to deal with them as CHILDREN, giving them MILK, and not MEAT. Let us watch how gently he points out to them the fact that they are on the wrong track.

Paraphrasing—“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but RATHER that ye may prophesy. When you speak to a man in a foreign language you are wasting your time; but prophesy. When you prophesy you can edify another, you can comfort him and exhort him to do better. Do not speak so only you will understand and be edified, but you should prophesy so ALL the CHURCH will be edified. I would like for you to have the gift of tongues—No, I’ll take that back; I’d rather that ye prophesied. I would like for you to have the BEST, and THAT is to PROPHESY. Yet if people who speak foreign languages would get the gift of INTERPRETATION, then THEY could edify the church. If I should come to you talking languages you could not understand, WHAT PROFIT COULD I BE TO YOU? GIFTS OF KNOWLEDGE, PROPHECY, TEACHING THE DOCTRINE, REVEALING GOD’S WILL TO YOU, those are the things that profit you. You understand a tune because your ears HEAR the different notes and they bring a pleasing reaction, but if the playing were off key and the player never did hit a series of notes you were acquainted with, what would happen? So, you, do not speak to the air, but use simple words easy to be understood. Have a message, and HOLD THE ATTENTION of those you are speaking to, by using THEIR language. I know you are zealous for spiritual things, so endeavor to excel in edifying. If you use a foreign language, pray for the gift of interpretation. If you pray in a foreign language you pray but you do not bring forth fruit. Pray for interpretation so that those who are UNLEARNED may learn from your mind and spirit. They have to know what you say or they cannot say “Amen” to your prayer. I, Paul, talk in more foreign languages than you all, but five words of edification are better than ten thousand words foreign to the listeners. Brethren, let us get above the child stage, let us become MEN in spiritual things, only remaining childlike in malice. When a brother talks in a foreign language that will cause the unbeliever to marvel, but after people are believers they need to be preached to. Preaching will convince the believer and cause him to worship God. Do not be divided in worship, as you are—one wants psalms, one doctrine, one tongues, one revelations, one interpretations. Edifying is the essential thing. If a man wants to speak in a foreign language, someone must interpret. Do not let but two or three at the most thus speak, and that one after the other, or in succession. Do not have foreign languages if there is no interpreter. Two or three may PREACH though, and the other judge. In fact ALL may edify by preaching, all learning, and all being comforted.”

The more nearly perfect a counterfeit is, the harder it is to detect. So, the more nearly perfect a deception is, the more will be ensnared. Satan will use ANY MEANS to deceive. Most deceived people are sincere. The sincerity of my believing I am on my way to Chicago, when in reality I am going straight toward New York WILL NOT LAND ME IN CHICAGO. We must examine a doctrine by God’s Word—not the sincerity of the followers.

I am going to tell you of two instances with which I am personally acquainted, showing the devil’s hand. Some tongues people are having to admit that real earthly languages were spoken at Pentecost, and are seeking for that manifestation in their meetings. I met a lady at the Monark Springs, Mo. campmeeting who was “Pentecostal” in belief. She told me she talked in “tongues” when she was baptized with the Holy Ghost. I asked her in what language did she speak? She said, “The interpreter told me I was talking in German, saying over and over, ‘Our heavenly Father.’ “Sister Eck and her children were on the grounds, and since the lady told me the words she had said were in “German” and which she could still say, and did, I called young Bro. Eck (He is of German descent) and asked him if he understood what was being said. He said he did not, but that it was German though, for he understood two words she said. Then we had his mother, Sister Eck, come over and the lady told her. She understood immediately. To me it sounded like this, “Eesh gon lou yell, ven eesh vill.” Shall I tell you how Sister Eck interpreted it? Now these words are what an earnest seeker for the “baptism of the Holy Ghost by SPEAKING IN TONGUES” was given by SOME power, and interpreted by “THE INTERPRETER” as German for “OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.” The words mean, “I can LIE when I wish.” I think the words came from the one WHO CAN and DOES LIE, the FATHER OF LIES. Yet the lady said, “Well, I am satisfied.” She would not admit the deception.

The other incident was of a man who had newly received his “baptism,” and who came to a meeting where I was. He felt sure that when he told of his wonderful experience of speaking in tongues we would all immediately accept and seek for the same. He said he was “seeking” and while praying, God suddenly removed the tobacco habit from him. Being delivered from the tobacco habit IS a WONDERFUL thing which God can and does do. But notice how deception works. The man said he immediately began to go around over the room, going from one to another, thinking he was telling them that God had DELIVERED him from the tobacco habit. But did he EDIFY those to whom he talked? No! No! Why did he not EDIFY them? BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING IN “TONGUES” AND THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND A WORD HE WAS SAYING.

Brother and sister, let us remember that tongues and the interpretation of tongues are gifts of the Church of God. When they are given, it will be to EDIFICATION. A brother or sister called to work among foreigners will be given the GIFT of talking to the same foreigners in the foreign language. We expect such to happen, and it has happened to the EDIFICATION of the listeners.

The Millennium

The idea of a 1000 year period of time in which Christ will reign on this earth, and in which the devil will be bound and unable to tempt anyone, a time in which the world will be filled with righteousness and goodness, is the root of the millennial doctrines. We shall endeavor to set forth the real truth about this idea, rather than try to take up and expose all the different ideas and opinions now prevalent concerning it. The whole millennial theory is a Christian application of the desires of the Jews for a continuation of the old kingdom of David with its glories. We find that the Jews of Jesus’ time expected the Messiah to bring a return of the literal reign of David. The disciples seemed unable to grasp the words of Jesus. The Jews expected Christ to liberate them from the yoke of bondage Rome had imposed upon them. They were interested in Him until they found that He had no such idea. When they found out that He had no such purpose in mind they rejected Him and crucified Him. “Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.” John 19:21. Jesus tried to show them during His ministry that there would never be such a kingdom as they expected. “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the The kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation [with outward show—margin]: Neither shall they say, Lo, here! or lo, there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20, 21. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 14:17. After the resurrection we find the disciples assembled with Jesus and asking, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6b. They seemed to have forgotten the time when one of the company said to Jesus: “Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made ME a JUDGE or a DIVIDER over you?” Luke 12:13, 14. Jesus will never set up a court in the world and be a judge over people. They seemed to have forgotten the time: “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, TO MAKE HIM A KING, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” John 6:15. They should have remembered the answer He gave Pilate. “Jesus answered, My kingdom IS NOT OF THIS WORLD: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM NOT FROM HENCE.” John 18:36. When Jesus stood before Pilate and Pilate asked Him: “Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.” Matt. 27:11b. Jesus claimed to be King, but not a king of this world. This old Jewish expectation that Messiah would reign on the earth as an earthly king has not died out completely. Since He would not reign during His first coming, they now want to place it in the future and have Him reign at His second coming. We shall endeavor, by the help of the Lord, to show what will actually happen at His second coming. If we show how it really will be, that will automatically answer every false conception. Let us start with the first resurrection:

Instead of the first resurrection taking place at Christ’s second coming, then 1000 years later there being a resurrection of the wicked, Christ’s second coming will bring the end of the FIRST RESURRECTION. The first resurrection is the spiritual resurrection of the soul from its dead state of sin, to a live state in Christ Jesus. All sinners are dead. They need to be made alive. Christ can and will do that. “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” 1 Tim. 5:6. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [make alive, vitalize, give life to] them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” John 5:21, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall LIVE.” John 5:25. This resurrection from the dead state of sin to a living state in Christ Jesus is the FIRST RESURRECTION. If we will keep this thought in mind we shall not have any trouble later. This thought is shown in Rom. 8:5-9, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD. But ye are not IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” The first resurrection makes men holy. Accepting Christ is the only thing that makes men holy. Being saved is the only way to escape the second death; that is, being cast into the lake of fire. “Blessed and HOLY is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. 20:6a. Now, what is the first resurrection? BEING BORN AGAIN, BEING CONVERTED, BEING SAVED, ACCEPTING CHRIST, BECOMING A SON OF GOD, BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF GOD—these are terms describing THE FIRST RESURRECTION. When I said that Christ’s second coming would be the END of the FIRST RESURRECTION, I meant that salvation work would cease with that coming. The first resurrection has been going on ever since Christ came into the world, except for a 1000 year period when real Christianity was practically non-existent in this world. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST RESURRECTION.” Rev. 20:5. For a 1000 year period salvation work practically ceased. The “rest of the dead,” the sinners, lived not again—did not get saved—during this 1000 year period. Then salvation work started up again. Sinners began to get saved again. The REFORMATION had started. Please note that the “living again” started again when the 1000 year period ended. And the Spirit of God put it right there in the Word, “This is the FIRST RESURRECTION.” We find the FIRST RESURRECTION before the dark ages, then interrupted for 1000 years, and then starting up again. This puts this 1000 year period that millennialists are looking for, in the far-distant past instead of out in the future.

Did Christ have a church during this 1000 year period? Yes, surely, but that church had such a few in it that it was not on display in this world. Was it on display anywhere? Yes, that part of the church that had crossed over into Paradise was on display. “. . . And I saw the SOULS of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and THEY [THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WHERE BEHEADED] lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20:4. Nothing is even hinted at here of a reign with Christ at Jerusalem or some other city of this world, with living MEN AND WOMEN.

The church is to be forever! When it looked as if Satan had banished it from this world, the curtain was rolled back and we see the triumphant church reigning in Paradise with God. Those saints that have crossed the river of death are still part of the church. They have entered into the REST that is spoken of as Abraham’s bosom. This is the same time in which the church is spoken of as being in the wilderness: “And the woman [the church] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (1260 years) Rev. 12:6. The picture of the souls at rest during the 1000 year period also shown under the 5th seal, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should REST yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:9-11.

Physical death will come to all whose lifetime is prior to Christ’s second coming. Physical death is a result of the spiritual death that Adam suffered when he sinned against God. There is a second death spoken of in the Word, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.” Rev. 20:14. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH.” Rev. 21:7, 8.

Let us look now into what will happen before the second death and after Christ has left the mediatorial throne. When the angel stands with his “right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth” and swears “that there should be time no longer” Rev. 10:2, 6, Christ will leave the mediatorial throne, thus bringing THE FIRST RESURRECTION to a close. No one may be saved after that event. No one will be given the call to the FIRST RESURRECTION any more, that call we read of in Eph. 5:14. “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and ARISE FROM THE DEAD, and Christ shall give thee light.” No, our mediator now becomes our judge. Christ is coming through Paradise, bringing the SOULS, now resting there, with Him. The living righteous will be changed into glorified bodies as soon as the bodies of the dead have been resurrected. There will be the reunion of the bodies with the souls that Jesus brings from the “unseen world”—that world that the Greek called “Hades.” The “rich man” now in “hell” will have his soul restored to his newly resurrected body, and “Lazarus” will have his soul, which is in “Abraham’s bosom,” restored to that resurrected body, which may never even have been buried. Immediately following the resurrection of the dead, and the re-uniting of soul and body, these corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible bodies. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die. Some will be living when Jesus comes], but we shall ALL be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMP [There can be no 1000 years after the LAST TRUMP]: for the trumpet shall sound, AND THE DEAD [good and bad] shall be RAISED incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When this corruption shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave [hades, or hell], where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin . . .” 1 Cor. 15:51-56. With the final resurrection over and the bodies of ALL (good and bad; those who had been dead and those who had never tasted death) changed into bodies that will not decay, but exist throughout eternity, we (righteous) will meet Him in the air. The great judgment day will be on. Yes, Christ must reign until all enemies are put under His feet. “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH. FOR he [God, the Father] hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [God, the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued, unto him [Christ] and DEATH is the last enemy to be subdued, and it is destroyed by the RESURRECTION] then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [God, the Father] that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Cor. 15:25-28. Christ is reigning NOW, King of kings and Lord of lords. When we die, we go “to be with Christ.” Christ’s reign ceases at the resurrection. Following Christ’s triumph over the last enemy, DEATH, and all will gather for the last judgment. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory [He is only coming one time; not twice, separated by 1000 years], and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. . . . And these [the goats on His left] shall go away into everlasting punishment [the second DEATH]: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matt. 25:31-46.

There is a Scripture that advocates of two literal resurrections will invariably use in trying to prove their point. Let us examine that Scripture, “And the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thess. 4:16. The apostle Paul wants to comfort the saints concerning their beloved dead. He explains some things about the resurrection to them. Not one time in that lesson does he speak of the wicked dead. Paul would not try to comfort anyone about their wicked friends who are dead. For such there is no comfort. But he can and does comfort the saints concerning their saved brethren who have gone on before. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others WHICH HAVE NO HOPE. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which SLEEP IN JESUS will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not PREVENT them which are asleep.” (Prevent here is an archaic word which used to mean ‘To come or go before, or precede, from the Latin words ‘prae’—before, plus ‘venire—come”—New Century Dictionary. The Greek word is “phthasomen” from “phthano” which my Greek dictionary translates as follows: “to be beforehand, i.e. ANTICIPATE or PRECEDE). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [BEFORE we GO TO HEAVEN, not 1000 years BEFORE the wicked are resurrected. We have here a FIRST, and we have a SECOND. He gave the SECOND before he gave the FIRST—the SECOND WAS, “we shall not run off and leave the dead in their graves” for they shall rise FIRST, and we will go together to the judgment in the air]: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

This is one of those places in Paul’s teachings, I believe that Peter had in mind when he said some of Paul’s teachings were “hard to be understood, which they that are unstable wrest.” 2 Pet. 3:16. Had Paul left out the words in Christ and had said, “and the dead shall rise first” rather than “and the dead in Christ shall rise first” there would have been no difficulty in harmonizing this Scripture with the other plain Scriptures concerning the one literal resurrection. BUT he did have to qualify the statement, since the unsaved dead are not going to be caught up together with God’s saints TO BE EVER WITH THE LORD. Only the dead in Christ will be mingled with the alive in Christ, to be never parted from the Lord. Many millennialists understanding is rather obscure about that word prevent. Prevent to us means “to hinder or keep from” and they see nothing connecting the “prevent or go first” with the “first,” and so to them that FIRST must mean that there is a second resurrection. I asked one what that ‘prevent” meant, and he said, vaguely, I guess he meant hinder him from rising, or something. The millennialist says: First the resurrection of the righteous; second, the resurrection of the wicked 1000 years later. The meaning is: First, the resurrection of all the dead; second, the gathering together of the righteous living and resurrected righteous to be EVER WITH THE LORD.

“There shall be A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, BOTH of the JUST and UNJUST.” Acts 24:15.

Too many Scriptures teach only ONE RESURRECTION for this one Scripture to offset. All the dead will come out of the graves AT THE SAME TIME. “For the trumpet shall sound, and THE DEAD [all the dead] shall be raised incorruptible [with bodies that do not decay], and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52. That is a picture of the resurrection. The wicked will be raised and they will attend the judgment, for “every eye shall see him, and they also WHICH PIERCED HIM.” Rev. 1:7. But instead of being “ever with the Lord,” they will hear those awful words, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matt. 25:41.

We shall now quote other Scriptures to prove only one literal resurrection:

You have never heard a millennialist claim the wicked will be raised BEFORE the righteous, have you? Yet that is the way it would have to be to harmonize these Scriptures with their teaching. In John 6:39, 40, 44, and 54 we read: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me [the righteous] I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the LAST DAY.” “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY.” “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me dr?iw him: and I will RAISE him up at the LAST DAY.” “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.” Now if the righteous are to be raised at the last day, the wicked will have to be raised before that, or at the same time. 1000 years is about 365,000 days. Now if the Scripture said, “I will raise the righteous 365,000 days before the LAST DAY” they would have an argument. Such is not the case. Martha knew the last day was the resurrection day, for she said, “I know that he [Lazarus shall rise again in THE resurrection at the LAST DAY.” John 11:24. Notice, THE RESURRECTION, not ONE OF THE RESURRECTIONS. “Marvel not at this: for THE HOUR is coming, in the which ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE, and SHALL COME FORTH; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life [will go to heaven]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [they will go to the lake of fire, the second DEATH.]” John 5:28, 29. Note, the HOUR is coming. Wicked and righteous rise at the same time, not 8,760,000 hours apart (1000 years, 365 days per year, 24 hours per day). Now here is proof that the Lord raises the righteous: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [a wicked man, surely] hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken . . . shall judge him in the LAST DAY.” John 12:48.

You will find only ONE resurrection taught in the following Scriptures: “Therefore in THE resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven?” Matt. 22:28a. In the same chapter, verse 30, Jesus says, “For in THE resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD,” etc. “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be A [ONE] RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, both of the JUST and UNJUST.” Acts 24:15. A resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust cannot by any stretch of the imagination mean TWO resurrections, one thousand years apart. “For since by man came death, by man came also THE resurrection of THE DEAD.” 1 Cor. 15:21.

Someone will say, “Brother, that all sounds fine, but what about that binding of Satan for 1000 years? Is not that in the future?” Let us now look at the first part of Revelation 20.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on THE DRAGON, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:1-3.

Since Revelation is a book of symbols, these events are symbolic, as well as the agents spoken of. If we literalize it we shall never understand it. Christianity is Christ living in men in this world. Christ has all power in heaven and earth. He worked literally about three and one-half years here, and then returned to heaven, leaving His disciples to carry on for Him through His power. Christ gave the keys of the kingdom to His apostles and ministers. Peter was one, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:19. He gave the keys to the disciples, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever YE shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever YE shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 18:19. Again, to the disciples, “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23. That leader of the Saracens, Mohammed, represented as a falling star, was said to have the key of the bottomless pit. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given THE KEY OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT.” Rev. 9:1. Christ works through the instrumentality of men as well as of the Holy Spirit. Satan works through the instrumentality of men as well as through his evil spirits. The devil was working through the Roman government, that heathen government, that PAGAN government, that government with its multitude of gods, for the overthrow of Christianity. Christ was working through His ministers, His children, His followers, for the deliverance of a bound world. This 20th chapter of Revelation is a continuation of the 12th chapter. As a novel deals with one set of characters for awhile, then shifts to another group, and returns again to the first group, so does Revelation. It deals with a line of thought, then takes up another, and then returns to the former line. It is not in chronological sequence. It may begin a thought in one chapter and then return again and carry it through to eternity. This we have here.

In the twelfth chapter we first learned of the DRAGON. “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a GREAT RED DRAGON, having SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS, and SEVEN CROWNS upon his HEADS. And his tail drew the THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN, and did cast them to the earth: and THE DRAGON stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Rev. 12:3, 4. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the DRAGON; and THE DRAGON fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great DRAGON was cast out, that old SERPENT, called THE DEVIL, and SATAN, which deceiveth the whole world: He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and by the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; and they loved not their lives unto the death. . . . And the DRAGON was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the REMNANT of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Christ.” Rev. 12:7-11, 17. If the Revelation had been placed in chronological order the next verse would have been Rev. 20:1 and the story would have been finished as follows: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on THE DRAGON, that old SERPENT, which is the DEVIL, and SATAN [The same language used to describe the dragon of the 12th chapter.], and bound him a thousand years.” And then we would have seen the connection more easily. In these two chapters we see CHRISTIANITY [under its leader, Christ] struggling with PAGANISM (under its author, Satan). This conflict between right and wrong was pictured to him (John) as a mighty conflict in the sky, or heavens, with him standing on the ground. He saw the fight. He saw the triumph of the RIGHT. He saw the enemy fall to the ground. While this mighty moving scene was pictured in the sky, it was what was to take place spiritually right here on the earth. It was a PICTURE OF THE FIGHT BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND PAGANISM. Christians do not fight with carnal weapons. Our fight is against spiritual wickedness in high places. Christians will never engage in earthly, human warfare to protect themselves or their rights. No, they meekly suffer martyrdom rather than fight. But their resistance of wrong is spiritual resistance, and their resistance inspires others to take up the fight. THIS IS ARMAGEDDON—not a physical battle, but a spiritual battle.

Now let us get the complete picture of the 12th and 20th chapters of Revelation. The woman clothed with the sun, travailing in birth, represented the early church of God, ready to bring forth her host of converts. They WERE born, and the forces of PAGANISM killed them by the thousands. Thus, her child was “caught up to God.” We all know from history how paganism did persecute Christianity. Here we find this persecuting force called “A GREAT RED DRAGON,” called “THAT OLD SERPENT,” called “THE DEVIL,” and called “SATAN.” It was Satan working through human instrumentality-paganism. There is only ONE DRAGON in Revelation. At first mention he is A dragon, and from then on, THE dragon. In the 13th chapter we read of the same dragon. “And THE DRAGON gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. . . . And they worshipped THE DRAGON which gave power unto the beast.” Rev. 13:2, 4. He is next mentioned in chapter 16, verse 13, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of THE DRAGON, and out of the mouth of THE BEAST, and out of the mouth of THE FALSE PROPHET.” This conclusively shows that “the dragon called Satan” of which we speak, is not Beelzebub, or the head of hell. No, Satan works in any guise he can. And the above verse shows three of his forms of deception—The DRAGON form, or PAGANISM; THE BEAST form, or PAPALISM; and THE FALSE PROPHET form, or PROTESTANTISM. We also know that Beelzebub has never resigned his power over to anyone as Rev. 13:2, 4 mentions. Now when we find in the 20th chapter the angel coming down and binding the DRAGON, that OLD SERPENT, which is the DEVIL, and SATAN, let us understand the real meaning—that MINISTERS OF GOD, under the leadership of Christ, preaching the TRUTH, brought such light into the world that Paganism was able to deceive the NATIONS “no more.” Under Constantine we find this old world’s religion changing from paganism to Christianity—in name. “The emperor’s (Constantine’s) attitude towards paganism gradually revealed itself as one of contemptuous toleration. From being the established religion of the state it sank into a mere SUPERSTITIO”—Encyclopedia Britannica. The pitiful part of this is that it was not real Christianity that took paganism’s place. When Christianity began to be accepted and became the emperor’s religion, the heathen began to “get on the band-wagon”—JOINING the organization rather than being born again, and it was prostituted, man-ruled, so-called Christianity that was on exhibition. Real Christianity was banished. THE REAL CHURCH WENT INTO THE WILDERNESS, NOT TO BE SEEN FOR 1000 YEARS, WHILE A FALSE USURPER REIGNED OVER THE KNOWN WORLD. At the end of that 1000 year period, light began to break through onto a darkened, benighted world and THE FIRST RESURRECTION RESTARTED in the hearts of “THE REST OF THE DEAD.” A literal resurrection would not make anyone BLESSED or HOLY, but THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL MAKE ANY PARTAKER THEREOF BLESSED AND HOLY.

If we will consider the times, and the affairs of this world, we cannot help seeing that PAGANISM is being, and has been for some time, loosed on the world again. WE ARE NOW LIVING IN THE TIME WHEN THE DRAGON HAS BEEN RELEASED. Look at Russia with its anti-God doctrine. Look at Germany, with its revival of the old Germanic heathen gods, and their worship. Look at the spread of the THEORY OF EVOLUTION, with its utter denial of God’s creation of the universe and its people. Look at the heathen temples now open in New York and California. All these are indications to the true believer that the end of time is near. “And after that he [heathenism] must be loosed a LITTLE season.” “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come QUICKLY. Amen. Even so, COME, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20.

THE TABERNACLE, THE BLUEPRINT OF THE CHURCH

Of What Was the Mosaic Tabernacle,

Or the Temple, a Type?

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: . . . And let them make me a sanctuary; that I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM.” “ . . According to all that I shew thee, after the PATTERN OF THE TABERNACLE, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Ex. 25:1, 8, 9.

“For if he [Christ] were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the EXAMPLE AND SHADOW of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Heb. 8:4, 5.

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which ARE THE FIGURES OF THE TRUE.” Hebrews 9:24a.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the corners thereunto perfect.” Heb. 10:1.

God wanted to dwell among His people since He could not dwell in them. Because SIN had entered into the world, a separation had taken place between man and God. God was working with a people who were the children of Abraham. God was working with them because Abraham was faithful and had proven his faith in God. God had Moses build a tabernacle according to the pattern He had in mind since He expected that earthly tabernacle of the law to represent a perfect tabernacle which would be instituted by the sufferings and death of Christ. Jesus showed His disciples that they were to be that tabernacle when He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and SHALL BE IN YOU.” John 14:15-17. “And they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.” Acts 2:4a.

Since this tabernacle of God is connected with us today, and we, in fact, become God’s dwelling place, it will be well for us to look at the tabernacle, and the pattern, and examine each part of the type, so that we may more fully understand the anti-type. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Cor. 6:19. “Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God DWELLETH IN YOU?” 1 Cor. 3:16.

WE find the GLORY OF GOD resting in and upon the first tabernacle: “And he [Moses] reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the GLORY OF THE LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the GLORY OF THE LORD filled the tabernacle.” Ex. 40:33-35.

The GLORY OF THE LORD also filled the temple at Jerusalem at its dedication: “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord: SO THAT THE PRIESTS COULD NOT STAND TO MINISTER BY REASON OF THE CLOUD: for the GLORY of the LORD HAD FILLED THE HOUSE OF GOD.” 2 Chron. 5:11-14. Likewise we find in the later anti-type tabernacle the ONENESS and the GLORY: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And THEY were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . . But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved . . . Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls . . . and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles . . . And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:l-4a, 16-21, 41, 43b, 47b.

These three passages give us the two literal buildings, the temple merely being a larger, modified permanent structure, patterned after the tabernacle of Moses—with the real sanctuary display in the newly built CHURCH of Pentecost. Let us now take up in detail the tabernacle of Moses, looking at the individual parts of it and finding their counterparts in the TEMPLE OF GOD today, that is, THE CHURCH OF GOD.

Coming into the camp of the Israelites down in the wilderness, we first see:

The Court

This court is described in Ex. 27:9-18 as being an enclosure one hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and five cubits high; made of fine twined linen hung on brass pillars five cubits apart, by means of silver hooks and fillets. This enclosure had a gate, facing the East, which was twenty cubits wide, made of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

We find this court open to ALL THE PEOPLE, while only the priests could enter the first room, or holy place, and that the High Priest only, could enter the Most Holy Place, or second room. “And gather thou all the congregation together unto the DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE of the congregation. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Lev. 8:3, 4. All the people were not allowed entrance into the holy place—only the priests—but all were allowed entrance into the court. Today we all become priests and kings when we are born again, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5.

“But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Pet. 2:9a. “. . . Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and PRIESTS unto God and his Father. . . .” Rev. 1:5, 6.

Since all born-again people become priests unto God and can offer acceptable sacrifices unto Him, we see we can enter into this later tabernacle further than the ordinary Israelite. Well, then, whom does the congregation represent; that is, those who had entrance into the COURT? All who were not priests could come into it. All who wanted to offer a sacrifice could enter it. All who were friendly to the Israelites could enter it. The very fact that one entered this court and partook of the services thereof showed his interest in, or friendliness to the religious service taking place therein. Today we will find many people who are friendly to the truth, who enjoy coming to the services of the church, and who are willing to help of their means in its work. The penitent who is seeking Christ comes here to offer himself as a dead sacrifice. “Dead in trespasses and sins.” The altar of brass is located outside the building itself, but within this court. We find in one of Jesus’ parables that the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that brings in all manner of fish—some good, some not good. (Matt. 13:47-50.) The influence of the church goes out and affects many people. They come into the congregation for awhile, but never go through the door into the building; so, in the court of the congregation, we find friends of the truth, penitents, backsliders, curiosity seekers, and the like. All people have access to the church’s gatherings. In like manner, when Christ comes for His CHURCH, all the members of a congregation will NOT be accepted by Him and taken to glory. Only those who have offered themselves on the altar, and have been washed in the laver of regeneration will be taken to heaven. Yes, the real church will be taken out from among the professors of religion at the coming of Christ at the Judgment Day. He knows His own, and will separate between them and those who “say and do not.”

Brazen Altar and Laver

Within this court, outside the door to the tabernacle, we find a brazen altar, and a laver of water. Here let us quote Ex. 40:1-8 to show how the whole tabernacle was arranged, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the ALTAR OF THE BURNT OFFERING before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt set the LAVER between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.” This description started at the inside and worked to the outside. We started at the outside and are going in. We first find this brazen altar. “And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the heighth thereof. And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with BRASS.” Ex. 38:1, 2. Lev. 6:13 says, “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” Here is where Israel offered a sacrifice for his sins. Here is where God was appeased for the wrongs His children committed. Here is where the lamb or other sacrifice was burned. Here is where legal reconciliation between God and sinful man took place. This type clearly shows what the anti-type was to be. “And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. And he shall LAY HIS HAND UPON THE HEAD of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering . . . And the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.” Lev. 4:32-35. Here the sinner figuratively transferred his SIN to the innocent lamb by placing his hand upon its head. Then it was slain, and through its death, the sinner found LIFE for himself—pardon for his sin. This is indeed a beautiful type of redemption! In Christ, we who deserve DEATH for the sins we have committed, find LIFE for ourselves through His death-WHEN WE TRANSFER OUR SINS TO HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN, HIS DEATH RELEASES US FROM DYING. He who knew no sin died for OUR SIN, and we escape the LAKE OF FIRE which is the final destination of ALL WHO DIE IN SIN.

The lamb of the flock represents THE LAMB OF GOD.

The sinning ISRAELITE represents ME, or YOU.

The transferral of sin from the Israelite to the lamb represents MY placing of MY SINS on Jesus Christ.

The death of the lamb atoned for ONE SIN. The death of the glorious CHRIST atones for ALL SINS for ALL MEN. (The sin against the Holy Ghost excepted).

The death of the lamb brought forgiveness then, while the death of the LAMB OF GOD brings forgiveness, and life.

As this sacrificial fire never went out, NEITHER DOES THE FIRE OF REGENERATION AND REDEMPTION GO OUT! Praises be to our God! We come to the altar of regeneration stained with sin. We come with godly sorrow, repenting, and forsaking all sin. We come willing to straighten up our lives with God and man. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come offer thy gift.” Matt. 5:23, 24. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt. 7:12. “If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Ezek. 33:15. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso CONFESSETH AND FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13. Thus, when we come sorrowful, repenting, confessing, restoring, and forsaking all sins, we find peace with God through Jesus Christ. We are reconciled.

Then there is the LAVER. “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat.” Ex. 30:18, 19. These things of the tabernacle are types of things today. This laver of washing represents the washing of the soul in the blood of Jesus. You note it was priests who washed here. When we have offered ourselves to Christ at the altar he accepts and receives us, and we are washed and made clean. When a child is born into the world it receives a washing the very first thing. How beautiful the picture of the sin-stained soul being washed in Calvary’s flow! This washing in Christ’s blood, too, is TYPIFIED in baptism. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law . . . Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, BROTHER SAUL, receive thy sight. . . . And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:12-16. Ananias spoke of baptism as a washing away of sin, but he was not intending this literally, but in its spiritual meaning. Water does not cleanse the soul: Christ’s blood can. Ananias recognized Saul as saved already by calling him, Brother Saul. Yet he insisted that he be baptized as Jesus had commanded.

The Tabernacle (Building)

Now we are ready to enter the tabernacle. We have seen the court, the altar, and the laver. The building proper is composed of two rooms, separated by a veil. We go through a door, or veil, fifteen feet square, made of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, to enter the building. “And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.” Ex. 26:36. This hanging veil or door, represents Jesus Christ in the church today. “I am the DOOR: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9a. Brother, there is no other entrance. We must come in through Christ. If any try to come in any other way they are thieves and robbers. When Peter and John were imprisoned they were asked by what power or by what name they had healed the impotent man. Peter told them it was by the name of Jesus Christ, and said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

When we have entered through this veil, which represents Christ, we find a room ten cubits wide and twenty cubits long. A cubit was about 18 inches, making this room fifteen feet wide, fifteen feet high, and thirty feet long. This room was very beautiful. The walls were formed of upright boards 27 inches wide and 15 feet high. They were made of shittim wood, which we know as acacia wood. These board surfaces were covered on both sides with pure gold. Thus when they were fitted together very closely and accurately, they formed a solid golden wall. Josephus tells us they were fitted so accurately that the joints did not appear, but the wall seemed to be one solid piece. Overhead we see a flat roof, of the same material as the entrance veil—fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet. The wall at the rear is another veil, like the roof overhead, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen covered with cherubims, all blended together in a very cunning way. The first veil was also covered with needlework. This beautiful room was not without its furniture. On our right as we come in—and since the tabernacle faced the East, this would be the North—we see a beautiful golden table. This table was of the same acacia wood, covered with gold. It was 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high, with a border of gold, surmounted with a golden molding. In each corner of this table was a golden ring. Staves, made of acacia wood and covered with pure gold, were to be fitted through the rings, and the table was to be carried from place to place by means of these staves. The table itself was not to be touched when it was being moved. On this table we see twelve loaves of bread, in two stacks of six each, and some dishes, spoons, bowls, and covers, all made of pure gold.

God had given Moses instructions to prepare a sweet perfume of spices, stacte, onicha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, and Josephus tells us that the perfume was put in two vials and placed above the loaves of bread on the table.

On our left we see a beautiful golden candlestick of exquisite workmanship. Rising from a single base we see a central shaft with three branches coming out of two opposite sides, all rising to the same height and each ending in a lamp. This makes a row of seven lights. The shaft and branches were ornamented with knobs, bowls, and flowers (a total of 70 ornaments) and the whole candlestick is made of pure gold. A talent of gold was used in the making of this candlestick.

In the center of the room, at the rear, near the veil, we see a beautiful golden altar. It is 18 inches square and 36 inches high, made of the same durable acacia wood, covered with gold, with a golden molding round about. There are two golden rings on opposite sides, through which staves of acacia wood, covered with gold, are to be placed when it is to be moved. There is a fire burning in its golden grate, sweet incense burning, sending up its fragrant odor, night and morning, a perpetual incense before the Lord.

Let us now slip under the beautiful curtain at the rear and see what we find. We now enter a room fifteen feet high, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet long. Its walls are of the same gold covered acacia wood boards, and the roof over is the same curtain as the first room. The rear wall of this room is of the same golden acacia boards as the sides. In the corners at the rear were extra boards to make the width a full fifteen feet. The six boards of one and one-half width only made nine cubits, but the corner boards brought it up to the full ten cubits. We notice the curtain we have just come under has a row of four golden pillars each with a golden hook from which to hang the veil, and the pillars were set in sockets of silver. In this room we see an ark of acacia wood covered with pure gold inside and outside. This ark is 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. It has a golden molding around the top. Two golden rings were placed on each side, and through these

golden rings two gold covered acacia wood staves were placed. These staves were to remain in their rings—never to be removed.

A beautiful solid gold cover was made for this ark. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide, fitting exactly into the top of the ark. Upon the two ends of this cover were cherubims facing each other, with their wings stretched on high over the cover, covering it over. These two cherubims and the cover itself were made together in one piece, and was known as the mercy seat. Its Hebrew name was “kaporeth” derived from the word kaphar which means “to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel.” It was the place from which God promised to meet Moses, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony.” Ex. 25:22a. Here was the place to meet God, to commune with Him, and to receive mercy of Him. It was the place of atonement. It was the place of AT-ONEness with God.

If we should tip back the golden mercy seat upon its golden hinges, we should see inside the ark the tables of stone, or ten commandments, which God delivered to Moses. In front of the ark was a golden pot filled with manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, bloomed, and blossomed when he was selected as High Priest. Later on when Solomon built the temple, which was to replace the tent of the sanctuary, the ten commandments again were placed in the ark. “There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb.” 2 Chron. 5:10a. The ten commandments were in there from the beginning. Paul considered that the staff and pot of manna were supposed to be there all the time, as we understand from Heb. 9:4, “Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat. . . .” Later the pot of manna and the rod of Aaron seemed to be missing. From Ex. 16:33, 34, “And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.” And in Num. 17:10a, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token.” It seems to me that the rod and pot of manna were in the most holy room rather than in the ark. The same verses in Moffet’s translation read in part: “So Aaron placed it in front of the ark of the Presence, to be kept there,” and “Put Aaron’s stick back in front of the ark of the Presence.”

Now we want to learn the spiritual significance of the different things we have seen. Since this building is a type of the church today, we want to find our individual place in it.

The Table

After we came through the door which was Christ, we saw on our right the table with its shewbread, bowls, spoons, and perfume. This represents the church’s ability to feed its members with spiritual bread. The table is composed of members who hold the bread available for all to eat. This table being made of acacia wood and then completely covered with gold, shows that our fleshly bodies are to be covered with the gold of God’s life. We are to be people who manifest the gold of God and not the flesh of self. Self is to be hidden with that which God supplies. God’s church is to be fed with Christ. He is the bread of life. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh. . . John 6:35, 51. We find oil in the bowls for the lamps. We find spoons to transfer the oil from bowl to lamp. Had the foolish virgins kept the oil of salvation in their lamps, they would not have been found wanting when the bridegroom came. We want to keep plenty of oil on hand. This oil was to be beaten olive oil. We read of it in Ex. 27:20, “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” From the parable of the ten virgins we find that oil represents our salvation, and those virgins who still had their profession but had lost the salvation from their souls were sent back for more. Our salvation is of Christ, and when we think of how He was beaten we see the fulfillment of another type pictured in the tabernacle. This oil was pure, unmixed and beaten. What a precious picture of the pure unadulterated salvation, procured for us by the breaking of the fleshly body of Jesus. Even as this light was to burn always, so our light of salvation is to shine at all times in this world. A bountiful supply of this oil of salvation is to be kept on hand, on the table at all times.

There was something else on this table. Lev. 24:7 reads: “And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row [the bread was in two rows], that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Josephus says of this, “Upon this table, which was placed on the north side of the temple, not far from the most holy place, were laid twelve unleavened loaves of bread, six upon each heap, one above another . . . and above those loaves were put two vials full of frankincense.” Josephus, Chap. IV. p. 89. This frankincense was burned and the bread replaced with fresh each Sabbath.

We find that PRAYER is in the church continually. Prayer is represented as odors from golden vials in Rev. 5:8, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS.” We want to note the completeness of this typical home of God. It was fixed up suitable for living in. This table had something to eat, fragrant odors rising from it, and set with bowls and spoons—Yes, God’s HOME here in this world.

Then there is another application which we should not fail to mention. That is that bread is spoken of as God’s gift of healing. When the woman came to Him desiring that he heal her daughter who was vexed with a devil, Jesus answered her not a word. Then the disciples asked Him to send her away. Then Jesus told her that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. However, she would not be denied, but worshipped Him saying, “Lord, help me.” Then Jesus answered her saying, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matt. 15:25-28. The bread of the tabernacle thus typifies the healing that God gives His people. Healing is very prominently mentioned in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. When we eat of that bread that came down from heaven, even Jesus Christ, we are partakers of the best means of healing the world has ever seen. Healing was given for both soul and body. They go along together. We read in James 5:14, 15, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.” Isa. 53:5 also shows that Jesus, our bread from heaven, provides healing as well as salvation, when we partake of Him, “But he was wounded for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, he was bruised for OUR INIQUITIES: the chastisement of OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM; and with his stripes WE ARE HEALED.” Yes, brother, in this house of God is everything we need. As one dear brother says so often in his testimony, “He is my drug store, my doctor; He has everything I need.”

The Candlestick

On the south side we saw the golden candlestick, holding seven lights. All light was excluded from the tabernacle; what light there was inside came from this candlestick. The gold of the tabernacle represents God, or the eternal, spiritual life that God imparts to His people. When we become born of God we become members of that spiritual Jerusalem which is from above, who is the mother of us all. It is a city of gold. And so the gold we find in the tabernacle represents that divine quality of God. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is divine; He had both deity and humanity. We partake of the divine when we become sons of God. Thus we are represented in this light, this golden light, by being clothed with that divine quality God imparts to us. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world . . .” and, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14, 16. The way we can be a light in this world is by letting Jesus shine out through us. We have no light of ourselves for men to see. If they see not Christ in us, we are not the light here spoken of.

The candlestick was made of a talent of gold, worth about $29,000. A talent was about 108 lbs. We see that this was something very expensive for these wandering people to furnish. Surely the light we have and the light we are enabled to supply to the world was brought us at a great cost. It cost Christ the leaving of heaven and living in this world for us to have this light. It cost us everything of ourselves, the giving up of our own will and desires, to become a part of the light of the world. You notice this candlestick was of gold only—nothing else. This shows how completely self must be destroyed and godliness manifested.

The Church of God is not a place of darkness but is filled with the light of God. You will find generally that when outsiders hear the real truth preached, they acknowledge it as such, but then, becoming unwilling to go all the way with Christ, they back up; and, failing to accept it, lose what light they had.

The Golden Altar

We then see at the rear of the first room a beautiful golden altar, from which clouds of incense rise. The room is filled with the odor of this burning incense.

“And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.” Ex. 30:7-9.

We see that this altar of acacia wood was covered with pure gold. Only the gold was visible. The human side of man is not to be manifested to the world, but the godliness of God. Jesus said, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” Matt. 19:17. Human goodness that we speak of is not the goodness God wants or demands. The goodness that we receive from God is the only goodness He acknowledges. Our own goodness, or righteousness is, to Him, as filthy rags. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isa. 64:6a. We must put off our own righteousness and put on the righteousness of God. Not long ago I read where a man was arguing that Jesus was not God, but was man, and he used the above Scripture, “There is none good but one, that is, God” to deny that Jesus was God. The real purpose for Jesus saying that was to acknowledge Him as being good, He was being acknowledged as being God. Yes, and we are to become sons of God, too.

This second altar in the tabernacle, which is a blueprint of the plan of salvation, typifies the second work of grace, that is, sanctification. There is a second altar for us. That brazen altar where we offered ourselves to Christ, we being dead in sins and trespasses, was as much a picture of justification as this second offering is a picture of sanctification. We have not finished our holiness, we have not perfected our salvation, until we are sanctified—baptized with the Holy Ghost. There is a preparation for sanctification, there is a dying out to self, a presentation to God, a dedication to service, our will no more ruling us, but a complete acceptance of, and willingness to do the will of God. God could not live in the heart stained with sin, but He gladly and willingly moves into the heart given completely to Him. There is a purifying of the heart in sanctification. This purification is brought about by the fire of God. John the Baptist, baptizing the people unto repentance, said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt. 3:11. Fire is purifying; fire is sterilizing. When the fire of the Holy Spirit is applied to our natures, they become pure enough for God to dwell in.

Paul urges the brethren to go on to sanctification in Rom. 12:1, 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 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.” We were dead in sins when we presented ourselves at the brazen altar. But here we find a new sacrifice, A LIVING SACRIFICE! Who ever heard of such a thing, A LIVING SACRIFICE? The sacrifices of the Old Testament were all killed, all dead. Here we find something living, continuing to live, and yet a sacrifice.

When we presented our dead, sin-stained soul to God at the brazen altar, He performed a glorious work for us. He gave us LIFE. We were born again. We were rid of the sins we had committed. They had been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psa. 103:12). Then as we grew and developed we became aware of the fact that there was in our heart something that called for more power, more grace, more of the likeness of God. We realized that we had not received as much as we expected to receive. We felt something yet unsatisfied. We were lacking. We had not received all God had for us. That need is only filled in sanctification. That power to live for, testify for, and serve God absolutely, and be all we wanted to be, is found in the sanctified life only. It comes with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. It comes when God moves into our hearts. Only then is the longing completely satisfied. As we present ourselves at the beautiful golden altar we realize that we are to be a living sacrifice for God the remainder of our lives. No more are we to have a will. We are to be completely God’s, sacrificing self that He might be completely manifested. The only will we are to have in the future is God’s will. If there should arise a conflict between the desires of self and the desire of God, SELF IS TO BE DEAD.

While the High Priest made an atonement here once a year, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, only had to make one atonement for all time.

Someone might object that the altar is in the Holy Place, a type of justification. The brazen altar however, was outside the tabernacle, and the sinner offered himself dead in sins and trespasses outside the tabernacle, or church, or building of God. When he made the sacrifice, he was cleansed from his SINS, that is, actual transgressions, and entered in through Christ, the door, or veil, into the Holy Place; that is, into the Church of God. Even so, the justified man, living in the Holy Place presents himself at this golden altar to be sanctified. When his offer is accepted, that is, when his faith takes in the promise, and he believes that God, through the shed blood of Jesus, purifies and cleanses his heart from SIN—the sinful nature—and the Holy Spirit moves into it, then the justified man enters in through the second veil, which also is Christ, into the Most Holy Place—the SANCTIFIED LIFE. He met the altar outside the Most Holy Place, presented himself, not a dead soul now, but alive in Christ and holy, and there consecrated and dedicated himself completely to God, which offer Christ gladly accepted and entered him in through the second veil into a complete restoration of love for, and harmony with God. Our preparation for sanctification is outside the Most Holy Place—in the justified life.

The Second Veil

As we entered this building through the first veil, which we found to represent Christ, the door, we now come to another veil, described in Exodus 26:31-33 as follows: “And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” We find Paul explaining this veil to us in Heb. 10:16-22, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their HEARTS, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin [In coming to Christ for sanctification we do not have any sins to confess. We come for a cleansing of the sinful nature—the “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it” nature. Our coming this time is a dedication or consecration of a holy life.] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the HOLIEST by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, HIS FLESH; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” We find the second veil is also Christ. We also read in Heb. 13:12, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” Jesus died outside the gates of Jerusalem to make this sanctifying plan possible.

We need to understand also that Christ, the second veil, is different from Christ, the first veil. “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. . . .” Matt. 27:50, 51. “And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Luke 23:45. We see that while the fleshly body of Jesus was being rent asunder on the cross, the type of that body, the second veil, was rent asunder also. It was not removed as some would have it, opening up entrance to a one-room building, but it was split from top to bottom, showing that access to the MOST HOLY PLACE was now available to all; that is if they would come through the RENT VEIL, which was HIS FLESH. As the High Priest offered blood before entering, and while entering, so “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with HIS OWN BLOOD, suffered without the camp.” “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the FIRST tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, THAT THE WAY INTO THE HOLIEST OF ALL WAS NOT YET MADE MANIFEST, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. Which was a FIGURE for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service PERFECT, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in ONCE into the HOLY PLACE, having ordained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Heb. 9:6-14. Christ forgave sins (justification) before His body was rent on the cross (the first veil), but the entrance into the Most Holy Place (sanctification) WAS MADE MANIFEST TO ALL by a rent body (the second veil). Thank God! we live in the time when the way into the HOLIEST OF ALL is manifest. How our hearts are made to magnify God for that rent veil!

The Rent Veil

The Sanctuary had two veils:

The first concealed the Holy Place,

The first room of our God’s abode,

‘Twas entered only through Christ’s grace,

“Thy sins forgiven,” Jesus said,

He entered through the veil right then—

That veil was Christ before He bled,

Whose love forgave the sinner’s sin.

The Second Veil concealed so long

That room of peace and perfect rest;

While millions yearned with longings strong,

For blessings not yet manifest.

That Second Veil died on the cross,

‘Twas rent, His precious flesh was rent,

Revealing the Most Holy Place,

God’s place of dwelling in the tent.

He bids His children enter in

And share the Mercy Seat with Him;

Cleansing their hearts from in-bred sin,

Making His Law their only aim.

The Most Holy Place

As we described the contents of this room already, the ARK, the MERCY-SEAT, the POT OF MANNA, and AARON S ROD THAT BUDDED, we shall now take up their spiritual significance. Some of these have more than one significance, and we shall endeavor to point out some of these meanings, not all of them.

In the tabernacle as the BLUEPRINT OF THE CHURCH, this room with its contents typifies the sanctified condition, or state. God’s very presence was here. Let me show you the sacredness of this place by quoting Lev. 16:12, 13, “And he [the High Priest when entering this room once a year] shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, THAT HE DIE NOT.” “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Ex. 25:8. Here was the dwelling of the Almighty God. No wonder it was sacred. However, this was only a type of what God wanted. God wanted the heart of man to be holy, sacred, sanctified wholly unto Him, that He might dwell in it. We have the promise of God dwelling in man’s heart in John 14:16, 17. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH YOU, and SHALL BE IN YOU.” How much more glorious is the anti-type than the type! While they were only privileged to have God WITH them, we are privileged to have Him IN us today.

The Ark

Thus we see that the ark as the place of God’s actual presence typifies the HEART OF MAN. When I say the heart of man, of course, I mean the heart of the SANCTIFIED man. When we looked into this ark we saw only the Ten Commandments, or Testimony of God. That is what God demands today before He will dwell in our hearts. We must have God’s WORD, or WILL, as our hearts’ only occupant; given over completely to God: No will of our own, only His will! The humanity of man is covered completely by the godliness of God. All the acacia wood was hidden with a covering of pure gold!

The Mercy Seat - Sabbath - Atonement

In the first room, or justified state of man, we found no place of rest. In the sanctified state, or second room, we see a gorgeous golden seat, over which two golden cherubims arch their wings. It is in sanctification that we find our SABBATH, or rest. Our Sabbath is not the sectarian’s Sunday keeping, but God’s sanctification. We keep all days holy unto God. We have the REST God promised His children, but which could not be found in the type. Saturday keeping, or enforced physical rest, TYPIFIED that real, soul-satisfying peace of God which only the truly sanctified man knows. God rested from His labors after working six days, and that seventh day of His rest still continues. We have to rest from our own will, or desire, and submit to the Divine will; when we do that, we have entered REST. It may be a REST that wears out this old body working for God, but it is GOD’S WILL working, and not ours. God is occupying and USING HIS HOME. God communed with man here at the mercy seat. It was here that the Divine Will was revealed. It was here that the Atonement was complete. It was here God met man as actually as a Holy God could meet the sin-stained creature He had created. It was not a perfect meeting, however. The Holiness of God could not be properly approached until Jesus perfected God’s plan of redemption.

All the ceremonial rites performed by the people, the priests, and the High Priest were leading TOWARDS God, but it took more than ceremonial holiness, or sanctification, to bring the real restoration of man to God’s favor. It took a better covenant than Moses was given. Thank God, we have that better covenant today!

Aaron’s Rod that Budded

God had answered the prayer of Moses, causing the earth to open her mouth and swallow up Korah and the men that rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and God had sent fire and burned up 250 men on Korah’s side. God then had the heads of the tribes present their staves, or rods, to Moses, for Moses to put in the tabernacle of the congregation, before the testimony, for God to choose a tribe to be keepers of the tabernacle, and a family to be priests. God promised to cause the rod of the man He had chosen to bud. Aaron, representing the tribe of Levi, was one of the ones who presented his rod. The rods were placed as directed in the tabernacle of witness. The next morning the rod of Aaron was found to not only have budded, but to have bloomed, and to have yielded almonds. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away murmurings from me, that they die not.” Num. 17:10. Aaron’s rod is usually spoken of as typifying the resurrection. That a dead staff, used probably as a walking stick, could bud, blossom, and yield fruit in one night, surely shows the power of God to bring about a resurrection; but to me the significant meaning of the rod of Aaron being in the Most Holy Place was to show the necessity of KEEPING TRUE TO GOD. It was to show that God would not countenance rebellion on the part of HIS CHILDREN. The Levites had been selected as helpers to the priests, or Aaron and his sons. They had been set apart and were supported by the tithes of the remaining tribes, yet these rebelled against God, Moses and Aaron, and God destroyed them by earthquake and fire. Then others murmured against Moses because God destroyed these, and then God caused 14,700 more to die of the plague. The only justified conclusion is this: God had this rod placed in the tabernacle as a warning against rebellion, or sin. Any sin against God will bring death to the soul. The verse quoted, “that they die not” shows the purpose of the rod. We need to remember the warnings God has placed in the church today against sin. The Bible is full of warnings against sin, and yet we find great organizations, claiming to be churches teaching that all sin; that no one lives a holy life; that we cannot help sinning, etc. God help us to remember the warnings. “The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE.” Ezek. 18:4, 20. “For the wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” 1 John 3:6a. “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” 1 John 3:8a. “He that saith, I KNOW HIM, and KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, is a LIAR, and THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM.” 1 John 2:4.

The Golden Pot of Manna

In this second room, or Most Holy Place, we found a pot of gold, containing manna—the food with which God had fed the children of Israel in the wilderness. In the 16th chapter of Exodus we read where Israel came to the wilderness of Sin. They began to murmur against Moses and Aaron because of their lack of food. God sent them quails in the evening and caused the dew, when it dried up, to leave a “small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.” Exodus 16:14, 15. “And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, . . . so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.” Ex. 16:32-34. As the ROD OF AARON was placed in the Tabernacle as a warning against sin, the POT OF MANNA was placed in there as a promise of God’s loving care for His children. He will feed us literally and spiritually. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? . . . Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? . . . But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:26, 30, 33.

The Tabernacle (Curtains)

We have studied the framework of the tabernacle and the furniture, but there has been lacking in my mind, until recently, the understanding as to where the great body of people was pictured. We have seen the pillars, the feeders, the light-bearers, Christ, etc., but what represented the large number of saints, not particularly pictured in the furniture or framework? Surely, they must be in the picture somewhere. And then I saw, and it was so plain. While reading Exodus 26:1-6 and trying to fit these curtains together, it dawned on me. Let us quote it: “Moreover thou shalt make the TABERNACLE with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be ONE TABERNACLE.” There they are. Each of the many threads in the curtains representing one of God’s children. Think how closely they are woven, or knitted together. Of course this harmonizes with the stones comprising the walls of the temple at Jerusalem. As we read in 1 Pet. 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” These curtains were THE TABERNACLE shaped by the walls, even as the stones gave form to the temple. We have always been able to see ourselves as a stone being placed in the wall of God’s spiritual building, but now we can see ourselves as a thread in one of these ten curtains. We find curtains spiritually comprising the tabernacle, too. The upright planks covered with gold shaped and gave form to it, but the curtains were called THE TABERNACLE. In studying these curtains and trying to rebuild the tabernacle, I fastened my curtains together end to end. That made two large curtains 4 by 140 cubits. That would not do. Then when I fastened them together side by side it made two large curtains each 20 by 28. And these fastened together made ONE TABERNACLE 40 by 28. Spreading this large tabernacle over the framework of gold plated planks, we find it reaching from the ground at the back up ten cubits and then the remaining thirty cubits reached to the veil at the front. The tabernacle complete was ten cubits high and thirty cubits long. The second vail was to be fastened under the taches which joined the two large 20 by 28 curtains together, and we find that this makes the second veil the proper ten cubits from the rear of the building. Thus the Most Holy Place used one of the sets of five curtains permanently fastened together, and the Holy Place used the other set of five curtains permanently fastened together. Why five? There are five races in the world. They are the red, yellow, brown, black, and white. They all have equal access to this building of God. We find representatives of the five races in the justified room, or Holy Place, and we find representatives of the five races in the sanctified room, or Most Holy Place. Out of all races God creates one building for His DWELLING PLACE, or SANCTUARY, here in this old world. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Cor. 12:12-14. Paul here uses the natural body of man to picture the Church of God, the place of God’s dwelling.

Perhaps the colors used in these curtains are: PURPLE, the color of royalty. “But ye are a chosen generation, a ROYAL priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Pet. 2:9a. BLUE, the color of heaven. “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God OUT OF HEAVEN [another type of the church, and the same thing as the tabernacle], prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE OF GOD is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. 21:2, 3. SCARLET, the color of blood or sacrifice. From the time of Abel on we see the BLOOD. Blood was shed for the Israelite, round the literal tabernacle, and blood is still, and will continue as long as the world stands, to be the means of atonement. The blood of Christ is the blood that saves. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.

The Coverings

God had Moses make a covering for the Tabernacle of goats hair woven into eleven curtains. Five of these curtains were to be fastened together as the curtains of the tabernacle were, and six fastened together in the same way. This covering completely covered the curtain of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. Also one curtain folded back at the front to make a kind of entrance similar to a portico.

God had Moses then make another covering of red ram’s skins, and not being satisfied with that yet another covering of badgers’ skins. So the curtains of blue, and scarlet, and purple, of fine twined linen were enveloped in three sets of coverings. These coverings were for protection from the sun, the rain, and the heat. Josephus tells us of a covering for the first veil also, that was drawn back to the sides when not in use. He said it was for protection from the sun, rain, and snow.

Now there must be something in the anti-type to which these curtains are analogous. When we start looking for the anti-types of these coverings, I believe we can find them in the Word of God. Surely the church is covered or protected today. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Eph. 6:16. Faith is the real protection the church has. “By faith” says the apostle: Saved by faith, sanctified by faith, kept by faith, healed by faith, and knowing God by faith. 1 Cor. 13:13 seems to me to give us the clue to the other two protectors, “And now abideth FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, these THREE; but the greatest of these is CHARITY.” We read in 1 Thess. 5:8, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of FAITH and LOVE; and for an helmet, the HOPE of salvation.” All are protectors, breastplates, helmets, shields. And what greater protector is there for the church than the mighty LOVE of God? The word CHARITY of 1 Cor. 13:13 is nothing else but the LOVE of God. It is not charity to the poor at all, but a grace which God puts in men’s hearts—His LOVE.

The Glory

“. . . So Moses finished the work [rearing the tabernacle]. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the GLORY OF THE LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the GLORY OF THE LORD filled the TABERNACLE.” Ex. 40:33-35. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” Ex. 13:21, 22.

This GLORY was something visible, something tangible, something that could be seen and appreciated. It was not seen by priests alone, but the entire camp. It is spoken of many times. The later Israelites began using the word shechinah, or shekinah (pronounced she-ki’-na) for this glory. It is translated, “that which dwells,” meaning that God was dwelling in this cloud among them. I quote Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary, page 613, “The idea which the different accounts in Scripture convey is that of a most brilliant and glorious light, enveloped in a cloud, and usually concealed by the cloud, so that the cloud itself was for the most part alone visible; but on particular occasions the glory appeared.” I want to give other Scriptures concerning the shekinah, or glory.

Ex. 16:7, 10, “And in the morning, then ye shall see the GLORY of the Lord; . . . And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold the GLORY of the Lord appeared in the cloud.” “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the GLORY of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” Lev. 9:23, 24. When the Israelites rejected the advice of Joshua and Caleb, that they go over Jordan and take the land of Canaan, and listened to the other ten spies, God was angry with them, and revealed His GLORY before telling them what He was going to do to them. In Num. 14:10, 21-23, we read, “But all the congregation bade stone them with stones [Joshua and Caleb]. And the GLORY of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before ALL the children of Israel. . . . But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen my GLORY, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.” Then we read that the temple which was built in Jerusalem, after they had entered Canaan, was filled with the GLORY at its dedication by Solomon, as we read in the 8th chapter of 1 Kings. Verse 5, “And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing . . . (9) There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb. . . . (10, 11) And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the GLORY of the Lord had filled the HOUSE of the Lord.” We read a little more about this dedication of the temple in 2 Chron. 5:11-14, “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were SANCTIFIED, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in WHITE LINEN, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with TRUMPETS:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as ONE, to make ONE sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the GLORY of the Lord had filled the HOUSE of God.” There are several lines of thought in the above Scripture that we might consider. I want to point out that these priests were sanctified. That is, they were sanctified according to the Old Testament sanctification, which was a SETTING APART for duty, and certain ceremonial cleansings. The Levites were clothed in white linen. They were worshipping in a gorgeous temple, ornamented with gold, silver, brass, fine tapestries, precious stones, and marvelous cedar woods, marble, and fine stone. The singers and the players on instruments of music were highly trained, and performed as one man. The ceremonies were eye-filling, attractive, and awe-inspiring. This was GOD’S HOME. But yet it is only a type. We have the real thing today, OUR SANCTIFICATION is inward, is real, is soul-filling, and satisfying. OUR HEARTS are purified, are cleansed of the nature of sin, and God’s love is to us the most important thing in life. Today OUR HEARTS enjoy the actual graces of which the gold, silver, brass, and marvelous workmanship were EMBLEMS. We have LOVE, JOY, PEACE, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, LONG-SUFFERING, GRACE, POWER TO SERVE GOD, etc., and these are the anti-types of the gorgeous decorations of the temple. We have UNITY, the ONENESS of heart shown by the singers and players back there. We have the REAL white linen—THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS—of which they only had the type. In all this outward demonstration of worship to God, there was not a pure heart present. There was not a CLEAN HEART there! There was not one heart in which God was willing to dwell. There was not a man there who did not have a consciousness of sin. All was outward show. God wants us to have inward possession. Some, not understanding the types and symbols, try to bring them over into the present church, or dispensation. They have tried to turn another day into the Sabbath of the Jew. They have tried to make Sunday a so-called Christian Sabbath. They fail to know that the Christian’s Sabbath is SANCTIFICATION, or, our own WILL being at rest, God having complete control of us. They try to bring over the instruments of music, because they were used in the temple worship, not discerning that today the worship is not for outward show, or entertainment, but is HEART-WORSHIP. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your HEART to the Lord.” Eph. 5:18, 19. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.” Acts 16:25a. “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” 1 Cor. 14:15b. “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Heb. 2:12. “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Jas. 5:13b. “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.” Col. 3:16. No, Jesus did not come with pomp and display. That is why the Jews rejected Him. They could not understand that His kingdom was to be spiritual. They demanded the continuation of the literal, glorious, earthly, sensual kingdom of David. They wanted to rule—not be ruled by Rome. Christ’s kingdom and following was too humble for them. The worship with Christ—prayers, hymns, and psalms was not enough display for them. The disciples could not drag around a piano or organ to the upper room with Christ. They did not need it. After the Lord’s Supper, they sang a hymn and went out.

The disciples of Christ’s day did not need instruments of music with which to worship God. Neither do we. Now we are the instruments, played on by the Holy Ghost. Paul and Silas prayed and sang the GLORY down and an earthquake opened the jail.

The oneness on the day of Pentecost brought the GLORY down in the anti-type, greater glory than the tabernacle. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were ALL WITH ONE ACCORD in one place, And suddenly there came a sound from HEAVEN as of a rushing mighty wind, and it FILLED ALL THE HOUSE where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon EACH OF THEM. And they were ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4. The presence of God moving into these men of God was so glorious that the multitude heard about it and came running to see. Peter preached a wonderful sermon, and conviction seized upon the people, and over 3,000 were saved and baptized that day. Then the lame man was healed, which caused such a stir among the people. Peter preached another sermon on repentance and about 5,000 men were converted. Then the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees arrested them and they were ordered not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. This they refused to do, and when released went to the rest of the company, and there they prayed. God sent the GLORY down again, and the place was shaken, and a second outpouring of the Holy Ghost was experienced. Acts 4th chapter.

I am glad that God’s GLORY still is manifested in His Temple, the church. After Moses had been in God’s presence, his face shone so that he put a veil over it when talking to the people. When talking with God he had no veil over his face. (Ex. 34:29-35.) We see people today living so in the presence of God that we can see and feel a shine or beauty in their faces that they did not have as sinners. Today we experience at times, even as they did then, fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit. We, today, can ENJOY experiences that caused fear to the uncleansed hearts of the children of Israel. Spiritual Israel today ENJOYS the relationship that caused awe and fear to natural Israel.

When Jesus talked with the woman of Samaria at the well, He told her that the temple worship was coming to an end, and that a spiritual worship would take its place. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at JERUSALEM, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, AND NOW IS, when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT and in truth: for the Father seeketh SUCH to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24.

Now, we look not for gorgeous buildings, gold, silver, precious stones, trained choirs, instrumental music, white lines, etc., but since WE are the building now, and the worshippers, WE worship God spiritually, singing and praying, and teaching, and preaching, and testifying—manifesting to the world the precious graces with which God beautifies His people today. The humble heart, the forgiving spirit, the patience of the saints, the thankful soul—these mean more to God than SILVER or GOLD, or ANY earthly, material beauty.

—C. C. Carver