Yearly Archives: 1936

Part 5: Studies in Ephesians

Posted on by Pastor Vincent Bennett

THE PLAN AND WORK OF THE TRIUNE GOD

Ephesians 1:3 to 14

We have already dealt with verses Ephesians 1:3 to 6 which reveal the work of the Father in the plan of the God-head. Now we turn our attention to verses Ephesians 1:7 to 12, which make plain to us how the SON realized the Father’s good pleasure.

REDEMPTION IN HIM

Ephesians 1:7. “In whom we have redemption through His blood:”

“In Christ” alone is redemption planned, never apart from Him, and God’s grace made manifest in the forgiveness of sins is only experienced on the basis of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus.

The redemption of the sinner is not through the life and love of Christ displayed in, His earthly walk, but through of His Cross. Peace with God cannot be found in any other remedy. This truth, is the very foundation of the gospel of saving grace, and the touch-stone of the Christian faith. There are at least 120 passages of Scripture that state that Christ died for our sins. From Genesis to Revelation the truth is plain that, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Not that the sacrifices offered up before Christ died could in themselves provide a full satisfaction or an atonement for sin, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and Of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). They simply provided a ‘covering’ for sin until a full and final redemption was accomplished by the blood of Christ. The sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament, were, representative; and pointed to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. When by obedience to God the offering of a sacrifice was made in the Old Testament, atonement was made for the errors of the people and sin was ‘covered’. But how infinitely greater is the redemption in Christ Jesus! He does not cover our sins. He puts them away, and we can thank God that our redemption is through HIS blood.

The whole human family is born by natural birth into the first Adam, and is under the sentence of death. (Romans 5:12). Sin and death are universal facts. “By the offense of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation”. But we thank God that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”. (Romans 5:20). Just as death came through Adam; so life came through Jesus Christ. “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17. We were sold under sin; under the sentence of death. But Christ redeemed us; literally loosed us”. He set us free by paying the price. The price of our redemption was His own blood which He shed when He died in our stead, He became sin for us; He who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21. Many passages could be quoted in continuance of this glorious theme. In summing up, Romans 5:8 and 9 should not be forgotten. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” And the Divine purpose of our redemption as applied to conduct is equally clear in Titus 2:14, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous: of good works.”

We could not redeem ourselves, But He has redeemed us. We could not make our own peace; but He has made peace for us by the blood of His cross. Only by the preaching of the cross can man be saved. To them that perish this is foolishness; but to them that believe its message of redemption, the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Therefore with the Apostle Paul, we present Christ crucified, as the only hope of salvation for poor lost sinners; that their faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. (I Corinthians 2:5)

When we come to the study of Ephesians 1:14, which speaks of “the redemption of the purchased possession” and Ephesians 4:30, “sealed unto the day of redemption”, we see a future phase of our deliverance, the consummation of the work begun. Redemption through His blood is a redemption for the soul; but a day will come when God will do for our bodies what He has done for our souls. That will be the redemption of the body, when the body of humiliation shall be changed into the body of His glory. (Philippians 3:20). That will be the day of redemption.

Ephesians 1:7. “The forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His Grace”.

The psalmist cries in Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” One of the first blessings of grace is the consciousness that redemption in His blood has brought the forgiveness of sin. What a glorious message! For when God forgives our sin, our responsibility for it ceases. The guilt then is no longer ours, therefore, we are freed from any penalty that had been incurred. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.” (Romans 8:1). Who can fathom the grace of our God?

Ephesians 1:8. “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” “Abounded”, that is, made to overflow. This grace has not been stinted and confined; but has been liberally manifested to us in all wisdom and prudence. There is a wide design running through the whole plan, all of God’s plans are a display of His wisdom. His purpose for us in Christ Jesus was not an afterthought; although a secret hid in His own heart from before age times. “Prudence” is wisdom in action or application. God prudently chose the proper time for the revelation and manifestation of His Divine purpose and grace. It was not until Israel as a nation was set aside that the secret that was in His heart, or “the mystery of His will” was made known. How students of God’s Word need to know this! Israel was out of the way with the close of Acts and then Paul proclaimed “the dispensation of the mystery”. Ephesians 3:9.

Ephesians 1:9. “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.”

It has pleased God to make known in Christ the mystery of His will, this is the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret from former generations; and is according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Read; reread; study; believe; preach Colossians 1:24 to 18. The revelation of the “untraceable riches (Ephesians 3:8) was given to the Apostle Paul. Having made known this mystery, our desire should be to fulfill Ephesians 3:9, and “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” The “mystery” is not something mysterious, something not known. It is not a riddle; but a revelation. We do not need a key to an open door: all we have to do is to step inside and invite others to follow. Oh, let us enjoy and appreciate the riches of His grace and glory, by understanding our blessed position in Him and appropriating the truth of the mystery which completes the word of God. (Colossians 1:25).

Ephesians 1:10. “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in. heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.”

The word translated “gather together”, means to bring things under one head. According to the economy of God, all things are to be headed up in Jesus Christ, in heaven and, on earth. The Word of God is progressive. While some talk of “going back to Jesus” the Bible makes it plain that we are “going on to and with the risen Christ”. One day the Church, which is His Body will be completed, and join the Head in the glory. This will be making the “perfect man . . . the stature of the fulness of Christ”. (Ephesians 4:13). And Ephesians 2:7 will be fulfilled and we shall be made the display of His grace in glory. The earth. also is waiting for its deliverance from the thralldom of sin. (Romans 8:22) “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” and this deliverance will come when He who now occupies the Father’s throne receives His own throne and reigns in righteousness, at which time all things will be put in subjection under His feet. Then the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. He will be Lord in heaven and on earth. When Christ came the first time it was “the fulness of time” (Galatians 4:4). When He comes again it will be the dispensation of times’ fulness.

Ephesians 1:11. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.”

We who are so undeserving, who were one time outcasts; we were dead in sin but now the recipients of His love, mercy and grace, we have been given an inheritance. What an inheritance! Those who are “in Christ” are called of God to share the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. Where He is there we shall be, for the Body must be with the Head to be to the praise of His Glory. Only the ages to come will disclose, in full, the unsearchable riches of the glory of our inheritance in Him. Only then will be brought out in all its splendor, the eternal purpose of our God and the counsel of His own will. It is all “in Him”. We have been blessed “in Him”, chosen “in Him”, accepted “in Him”, redeemed “in Him. Now we have an inheritance “in Him”. Apart from Christ all shall dwell in the darkness of death, without hope, without blessing, redemption or glory.

Ephesians 1:12. “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

The “we” in this verse refers to believing Jews, while the “ye” in Ephesians 1:13, has reference to believing Gentiles, and “our” in Ephesians 1:14 to Jew and Gentile together. The second chapter enters more fully into the uniting of these two in the making of the one New Man. That second chapter shows how both are reconciled unto God in the one Body. We must wait until we reach that part of the epistle for a fuller exposition.

As in Ephesians 1:6, so again all the praise and glory must go to the only One to whom praise is due. For such wonderful and gracious provision made in the planning of our redemption in Christ Jesus, let us lift our hearts again to God and say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

Pauline Mission-Methods

Posted on by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

Many Christians seem to fear that if they do not labor under the Great Commission of Matthew 28, the mission spirit will wax lukewarm and finally disappear. Just the reverse is true. The Pauline principle and practice will be conducive to burning mission zeal.

It will, first of all, mean self-support of the native church. When Paul brought the Gospel of Grace, he taught the believers in the poorest districts, as in Macedonia, the grace of giving, and the greater blessedness of giving than receiving. He did not tell the old mother-church in Jerusalem to help finance the cause of the heathen mission, but he asked the Gentile Christians to help the poor old mother-church in Jerusalem. No saint is ever full-orbed and “perfect” unless he is drilled in the holy art of giving. If a native believer cannot bring a dime, let him bring a chicken, and if he cannot afford to make an offering, let him bring an egg. It is amazing what native Christians can do if they have a heart to give, and it is still more wonderful how God can multiply the widow’s oil. If you teach the natives to expect all the help from the church at home, they may be pleased at first, but it will make them covetous, and covetousness is idolatry, and you were sent, and went to get them out of idolatry.

The Pauline method stands also for self-rule, of the native churches. The Jewish method was to send committees from Jerusalem to investigate, as we see in Acts, but the Pauline method means self-government of the native churches. Do the native saints not have the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth? It was of a Gentile church that the apostle Paul wrote the following eight glorious facts in Ephesians 1:13 and 14: (1) They heard the word of truth. This was a good beginning. Many natives today do not hear, from their missionaries, the word of truth, and I am extremely sorry to say do not start right. (2) The Ephesian heathen believed the word of truth. Their missionary to them had not preached repentance and faith to them. (3) They had been saved, for Paul had not preached a social gospel, but “the gospel of your salvation.” (4) These Gentile believers had been sealed with the Holy Spirit; not after, but at the moment of their belief, consequently they were also safe and secure. Many think this sealing of the Holy Spirit is a fine feeling of assurance or something like that. It is the nature of seal to manifest itself to the outside and that is also true of this seal. (5) They were also in Him, i.e. in the Lord Jesus Christ and this again points to their perfect safety and their exalted position. The expression in whom is found twice for emphasis. They were accepted in the Beloved. (6) They also hoped in Christ. The word trusted should be hoped. These young believers on the mission field had the earnest of their inheritance. This was the “God’s penny”, the part payment to bind the bargain. If the partpayment is so glorious, what shall the full possession be? (8) These products of mission-labors lived “to the praises of His glory.” Not less than three times do we find this expression in the first chapter of Ephesians.

Products of such mission-work should be ready for self propagation. The native Christians need not “halt” on the crutches of lukewarm Christians in the home lands. They should not look askance, nor behind them, but in the simplicity of their faith pass on to victory with Him. It’s better for them also to trust in the Lord at all times and not put confidence in the white church prince at home, often blacker on the inside than the heathen are on the outside.

What would the result of such a Pauline mission-method be? Manifold blessings would accrue from this. All the natives talents would be used for God. Native interest would increase. Some of the most touching stories are extant in regard to the self-sacrifice of native believers. These true stories would be multiplied through this method. Much more money would be collected and more trained missionaries could be sent forth. Far more interest would not only be created in the fields, but also at home, and the real givers would vie with the natives in liberal offerings to the Lord.

In Ephesians alone we find at least ten great mission-texts and even more great principles for foreign missions. If the Ephesian truth would burn in the hearts of all the saints today, all the tribes and tongues would hear the truth in less than a decade. The mission work everywhere is suffering enormously because it has not been run according to Pauline principles and practices.

May Our Thoughts and Meditations Be Acceptable

Posted on by Pastor Henry Bultema

“Let the unrighteous man forsake his thoughts” said God, “for My thoughts are not your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:7 and 8.

God has a good deal to say about our thoughts in His Word: He saw that his thoughts are only evil. Genesis 6:5 The Lord understands the thoughts. I Chronicles 28:9. This is comfort to the godly, terror to the wicked. No thought can be withholden from God. Job 42:2. He knoweth the thought of man. Psalm 94:11. It is the desire of the godly that God may know his thoughts. Psalms 139:23. The thoughts of the wicked words are an abomination to God. Proverbs 15:26.

We read several times that Christ knew the thoughts of the wicked religious leaders. Matthew 9:4; Matthew 12:25; Luke 5:22; Luke 6:8; Luke 11:17. He knew that the heart was the origin of the thoughts. Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21.

The Apostle Paul desired to bring every thought into captivity to the Lord, II Corinthians 10:5, and the Word of God is a discerner, or, critic, of our thoughts. The things true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, think on these things: Philippians 4:8. Some dear folks loudly boast of their frankness, because they just say what they think, flinging out the words right and left as they come, no matter where they strike, or whom the wound; for words can be more cutting than sorrows. Call this never frankness or outspokenness, call it rather miserable impertinence, impudence. It is not only extremely rude and crude, brusque and brutal, but it is unethical and unscriptural; for we have no right to unload our bad humors, ill tempers and spites and envies upon our neighbor’s heart. Of every vain word we must give an account by and by.

If we want to unload our hearts, let us go to the Lord and empty ourselves into His great heart. He knows, He loves, He cares. In every pang that rends the heart, the Man of glory has a part, but He has no part in the boasted frankness of uttering whatever rolls over the lips. Lord Jesus, may our thoughts and meditations be acceptable unto Thee!

Part 3: The Great Commission

Posted on by Charles F. Baker

An intelligent grasp of the facts thus far given would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for one to accept without reservation the statement that the so-called “Great Commission” stands unaltered as the marching orders for the Body of Christ today. If the writer believed that it was God’s will in this dispensation of the mystery to make disciples of all nations by preaching to them the kingdom gospel, to baptize them in water for the remission of sins, to heal the sick, to speak with tongues, and to work miracles, he would be among the first to undertake that program. But if God has revealed that this program has been temporarily interrupted by a new, secret dispensation, then he would be the last to want to frustrate God’s purposes by mixing the old and the new. In order to further ascertain the real meaning of this commission, the following question will be considered: “Was the commission of Matthew 28:19, 20 ever carried out by the Twelve?”

They were commissioned to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, but according to the Bible record they never obeyed this command, but instead baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5). From the practice of the apostles they evidently understood that they were not supposed to obey this commission.

As touching the discipling of all nations, there is no record of any nation ever having been made a disciple. Christians for centuries have understood this expression to mean the conversion of nations, not merely making disciples of some out of all nations. For this reason missionaries have tried to claim China or Africa for Christ, and while this is a noble aspiration the Bible clearly teaches that no nation will be thus won for Christ until Christ Himself returns to the earth. Until His return our Lord told His Apostles that they would be hated of all nations for His sake (Matthew 24:9), thus making it impossible for even one nation to be won for Christ until His return; that the Jews would be led away captive into all nations until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24); that when He came the second time, all nations should be gathered before Him in judgment (Matthew 25:32); and that they were to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). With these facts in mind it should be plain that discipling all nations would be an impossibility as long as all nations were at enmity, but after their judgment at Christ’s coming it would be a possibility and an accomplished fact.

Upon the day of Pentecost there were Jews out of all nations in Jerusalem who heard the message (Acts 2:5), and several years later there were scattered abroad many Jewish believers who went everywhere preaching to none but unto the Jews only (Acts 11:19); and then seven or eight years after Pentecost Peter was given a special revelation to preach to a God-fearing Gentile household; but so far as God has given us record, none of the Twelve ministered to any other Gentile during the period of the Acts. The Twelve made no attempt to disciple all nations, but Paul, whom we have before proved did not labor under the Great Commission, tells us: “by whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name (Romans 1:5), and “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but is now made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:25 and 26); and also “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and, strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (II Timothy 4:17). Paul was not fulfilling the Great Commission; he was not discipling all nations; but he had a world-wide commission to preach to all nations and he fulfilled it. Thus it may be seen that the Kingdom and the Body commissions are both worldwide in scope, but they differ in content of message.It is not necessary to go to the Great Commission for a universal appeal: Paul’s writings are full of that.

As to teaching all things which Jesus commanded while He was on earth, it is significant that Paul nowhere instructs believers to do so, but instead gives the commands of the ascended Christ. Paul refers to the birth and the death of Christ, but to nothing in between. The Kingdom teachings are not for the Body of Christ; hence Paul says: “yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him so no more” (II Corinthians 5:16). Christ was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4), and His earthly teachings were the intensification of the law (Matthew 7:12), but if any thing is plain it is that the believer today is not under the law. The rule of Law will be resumed in the Kingdom, when Christ shall rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 12:5).

Having seen that the commission in Matthew has never been fulfilled and cannot be until Christ returns, the commission in Mark 16:15 to 18 must likewise be examined “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel in or to the whole creation” (R.V.), is the first command. This commission seems to have been interrupted before it was completed, for there is no record in the Bible of the Twelve going into all the world. Instead they stayed at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), but the peculiar fact is that the believers who were scattered preached only to Jews. Even more peculiar is the fact that about seven years after this command was given, God had to give a special revelation to Peter that he could now go to a Gentile. Peter, in justifying his action which up to that time had been unlawful (Acts 10:28), told of his vision but made no reference to this command. Surely if Jesus had given the apostles authority to go to the Gentiles, Peter would never have been called on the carpet for his action; and if he had been, he would have made use of this commission as the chief point in his argument. Evidently most Christians today make this commission mean something entirely different from what the Twelve understood it to be. Of course, they could not go into all the world at once; for they were instructed in Acts 1:8 to cover Jerusalem first, then all Judea, then Samaria, and finally the uttermost parts. Whether or not Christ so meant it, it seems that the Apostles understood that they were supposed to get all Israel saved before the Gentiles could hear. At least this is what Christ had taught them in dealing with the Syro-Phenician woman: “Let the children (Israel) first be filled” (Mark 7:27). “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the-dogs (Gentiles)”. Not only had Jesus taught this, but every Old Testament prophet is in accord with it. The prophets spoke much of Gentile salvation, but none gave the slightest intimation that Gentiles would be blessed before Israel as a nation was first saved and blessed. It was only “after this” that all the Gentiles were to call upon the name of the Lord (Acts 15:16 and 17). Gentile salvation because of Israel’s blindness and fall, instead of through Israel’s salvation and blessing, is a part of the Mystery which was committed to Paul (Romans 11:11 and 25).

The program of “filling the children first” began on the day of Pentecost. Peter said to Israel, “Ye are the children—unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you” (Acts 3:25 and 26). Paul likewise began his ministry in this way: “children—It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you”. (Acts 13:26, 33 and 46). Paul then turned to the Gentiles, not because the Great Commission said to do so, but because Israel judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Peter had said on Pentecost: “the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off”. (Acts 2:39), but Daniel 9:7 makes it clear that Gentiles are not meant: “unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou has driven them.” This program of going into all the world with the Kingdom Gospel was begun, but never finished because it was interrupted by the ministry of Paul. It will again be resumed before the end of the age (Matthew 24:14).

The second command is: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned.” This statement was developed quite fully under point six in last month’s installment. (Suffice it here to say the Acts gives record of this order being carried out. The Twelve baptized with water for the remission of sins, not as a testimony that the baptized had been saved by receiving the Holy Spirit, but in order that they might receive the Spirit (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12 to 17; Acts 19:5 and 6; Acts 22:16). Circumcision never saved any one, but under the old dispensation it was impossible to be saved apart from it (Genesis 17:10 to14). Water baptism never saved any one, but according to the Mark commission and the practice of to Twelve, it was a necessary act of obedience and a factor in salvation and receiving the Holy Spirit. This is one of the great differences between the Gospel of the Circumcision and Paul’s Gospel of the Uncircumcision, which carried no command to baptize (I Corinthians 1:17). The third section of this Mark commission deals with the signs which were to follow them that believe. Casting out demons, speaking with tongues, working miracles, and healing the sick, is a record of the Acts in a nut-shell. These signs were given because the Jews require a sign (I Corinthians 1:22) and God was dealing with the Jew first. Paul made it plain, however, that these signs were to pass away as soon, as the revelation of the “perfect man” was come (I Corinthians 13:8 to 11). That which was perfect came after Israel was set aside Israel was set aside at the close of the Acts, and the two distinctive orders for believing Jews and believing Gentiles (Acts 21:20 to 25) gave place to the one order during the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:25 and 26).

It thus appears that the Twelve Apostles did undertake to carry out the commission as given in Mark 16; Luke 24; and Acts 1; but they did not undertake that of Matthew 28. Paul in his Gentile ministry never labored under any of these. Since it has been shown that the so-called Great Commission is not for the Body of Christ, it must now be explained just what is the commission for the Church. God willing, this subject will be covered in the last of this series to appear next month.

Our Easter Message

Posted on by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

GOD OPENED THE DOOR

When the fulness of time was come God sent forth His Son, to be the Redeemer. Galatians 4:4 and 5. “We testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” I John 4:14. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. “Christ Jesus was made for the suffering of death”. “Christ Jesus came down from heaven.” “Christ Jesus appeared once in the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” “This man after He had made one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God.” Christ Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He abolished death and hath brought life and incorruptibility to light in the gospel. Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. So we see it is all Christ. It was by the grace of God that He tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:8, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 10:10 to 14, Hebrews 12:2. God raised Him from the dead and gave Him the highest place in the highest heavenlies. There today, in glory, sits, the omnipotent, eternal Christ, able to, save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him, because He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25.

The world waited 4000 years for God’s fulness of time; for the Second Man to come from heaven to die, according to the Scriptures, and to be raised the third day, according to the Scriptures. By that coming, by that death and resurrection God opened the door of salvation, the door of grace wide open.

Hear these words:

“Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:8. Who opened the door? God. Good news, sinner, believe it and enter in. Hear this word of Christ: “I am the door by me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” John 10:9. Nothing here to be reasoned out. It cannot be. This is Divine truth; good news for sinners of all kinds. You are just the right kind of a sinner for this message of salvation. It is eternal life. Christ said: “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.

THE CLOSED DOOR

“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 you not whence ye are.” Luke 13:25. Who opened the door? God. Who is going to close the door? God. When? It may be soon. For you it may be sooner than soon; for you may put off this earthly tabernacle any moment. Then this door will be forever shut. “After death the judgment.” When Noah went into the ark God shut him in and shut the others out. God longs to shut you in with Christ. He willeth not the death of any man. “If any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

THE OPEN SEPULCHRE—DOOR

“Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” Mark 16:4.

What would have happened had that door of the sepulchre failed to open? Hear the answer: “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain.” I Corinthians 15:14 and 17, Without the bodily resurrection of Christ who died for our sins, there would be no door of salvation. Christians down through the ages have been false witnesses, and Christianity is a fraud or a superstition, if there is not a man, the Man Christ Jesus, alive at God’s right hand in heaven.

That stone was a very great stone. Mark 16:4. Christ called Himself a Stone. He was a very great Stone. In the beginning He made the stones, yea, all the great stones. A very great stone could not keep the door of His sepulchre closed. Before the Mary’s had finished their question, they had their answer: “They saw the stone was rolled away.” Mark 16:4. Within a short time they saw the Stone which the builders had rejected. They saw the resurrected Christ. The Jews had endeavored to thwart the report of His resurrection. They said to Pilate: “Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure.” To them Pilate replied, “Make it as sure as ye can.” Matthew 27:64 to 66. They did. But God loosed the pains of death; “because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:24.

If the door of the sepulchre had not been opened, the Messenger of God could never have said, “Behold a door was opened in heaven.” Revelation 4:1. If you will read the fourth and fifth chapters of Revelation, you may look through the open door of heaven and get a vision of the glorified Christ worshipped as Creator and Redeemer; and perhaps, you can see yourself in that picture, singing with other redeemed ones; “Thou art worthy . . . for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God.” Revelation 5:9.

GOD OPENED OUR DOOR ABOUT 45 A.D.

“And when they were come, and had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27.

When Jesus was here among men, He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24. Certain Greeks wanted to see Him. But He refused to see them. Because they were to be blessed by receiving Him as the corn of wheat dying and coming forth; that is, by His death and resurrection. John 12:20 to 31. Even some years after His death and resurrection His disciples preached the Word to none but Jews only. Acts 11:19. It was not lawful for them to associate with Gentiles. Acts 10:28. Peter was directed by the Lord to preach to the Household of Cornelius; and did. Then the apostles rejoiced that repentance unto life was granted unto the Gentiles. Acts 11:18. Cornelius, a most respectable, God-fearing, religious, Jew-loving, benevolent, praying Gentile was unlike many of the Gentiles to whom Paul afterward preached. Paul was debtor even to the Barbarians; and heathen were turned to God from idols.

Now any Jew or any Gentile may enter through the Door, which is Christ, and be declared righteous without a cause, without the deeds of the law, without religion, character or reputation. Romans 3:24 to 28. Salvation is just as free as the air we breathe and will be so long as this day of grace continues; that is, until the last member of the Body of Christ has been baptized into Christ. Some day—and it may be very soon—the door of salvation will be closed. Then it will be too late to enter in. But now, “if any man”, or “whosoever”, or as many as”. You are included. Have you entered in? If not, why not? Don’t be foolish, come on in.

ANOTHER DOOR—IS IT OPEN?

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.” Colossians 4:3.

In this Scripture, the Apostle to the Gentiles is asking every Christian to join with him in prayer that God would open a door of utterance. Undoubtedly at that time a multitude of the disciples of Christ were propagating Christianity all over the known world. But here, the Apostle Paul is concerned about a door of utterance for the special phase of Christianity, that specific message which he calls “the mystery of Christ.” He adds that he is in bonds because of that message. We quote also Ephesians 6:19 and 20 touching on the same thought. “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

In Ephesians 5:20 the correct translation is “in chains.” Paul was an ambassador in jail. The jail door had been opened for him but he was concerned about open doors to proclaim the mystery. This message differed from the message that had been proclaimed by the twelve apostles. A few years before Paul’s imprisonment he wrote to the Galatians and said, “I certify that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man . . . but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11 and 12. From this statement it is apparent that Paul was not perpetuating the message that had been proclaimed by the Twelve. The gospel which Paul preached was revealed to him from the risen Christ in heaven. And later on the same Christ added by revelation the glorious truth concerning the heavenly position, citizenship and hope of the members of His Body, and the pure message of grace wholly separated from religion or Judaism. Paul was the recipient and custodian of the special dispensation of grace and that revelation which he designated, the mystery. Ephesians 3:1 and 3; Ephesians 3:8 and 9. Undoubtedly, Satan was unceasingly active in his opposition to that glorious truth, and religious doors were closed against it. In II Timothy 1:12 Paul called it, “my deposit” (original text).

That opposition has not ceased to this day. There are many open doors for the preaching of the Christian religion. But when the servant of the Lord gives forth a message of pure Christianity, without religion, and sounds forth the truth of God concerning Christ’s revelation through Paul, he will find the same opposition, persecution and closed doors. There is an urgent need today for the prayers of God’s people that a door of utterance will be open for the mystery of Christ, which is no longer a mystery, but a revealed truth, although unknown to the great majority of the members of the Body of Christ, because withheld from them by their religious leaders and instructors.

Satan will do all possible to keep the sinner from hearing the unmixed gospel of grace. If not successful, he will keep him from believing it, if possible. Then he will do everything possible to keep the believer from obeying Ephesians 3:9. See what astir has been recently created in the camp of the Fundamentalists because some of God’s children have given themselves to the study of the blessed truth of the mystery.

Christ is now in the heavenlies Head over all things to the Church. which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:19 to 22.

Declared Righteous Without a Cause, By Grace

Posted on by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?

The believing sinner is justified freely by God’s grace; that is, he is declared righteous “without a cause”. Romans 3:24. “Without a cause by His grace”. Little wonder, after the glorious gospel of grace, is presented, beginning with these words of Romans 3:24, “being justified freely” (or declared righteous without a cause) by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”, and on to the close of the fifth chapter of Romans, that the question follows, “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” It was because the human race, from the days of Adam, had continued in sin, without any human cure, or natural remedy, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, was made to abound. Abounding grace is because of abounding sin. Therefore, the question, shall the justified believer continue to live in sin because of the more abundant Divine grace; or sin to make grace abound? The answer is, “Gods forbid”.

You will note that we have changed the reading from “justified freely by His grace”, to “declared righteous without a cause, by His grace.” “Without a cause.” “Without a cause.” The Hebrew word is “chinnam”. The Greek word is “dorean”. The word is sometimes translated “freely”, sometimes, “for nought”, sometimes, “without a cause.” It comes from the verb meaning, to bestow gratuitously. In Genesis 29:15 Laban tells Jacob that he is not to serve him “for nought”; that is, wholly without any wages. This is the word translated in Psalms 69:4, “without a cause”; “that hated me without a cause”. Perhaps you remember the question which Satan put to God, concerning God’s righteous servant Job, “doth Job fear God for nought; that is without a cause, or without pay?” No; Job was a very prosperous man. The word is translated “without a cause” in Lamentations 3:52—Job 9:17—Ezekiel 14:23—Psalm 35:7—Proverbs 1:11—28:29 and 24:28. We quote Proverbs 24:28: “Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.” It is translated “freely” in Numbers 11:5.

In the Book of Matthew, the Greek word “doron” is translated “gift” eight times. The word used by Christ in offering to give to the woman at the well in Samaria the water of salvation is “dorea”. The word “dorean” used in the Scripture, “being declared righteous without a cause” is translated freely in Revelation 21:6 and 22:17, which read

“I will give unto Him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. “And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely,”

Paul refused to permit the Corinthians to pay him for preaching to them the gospel. The word “dorean” is translated “freely” in II Corinthians 11:17.

We are told in very plain language, in Ephesians 2:8, that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves. Then are added these words: “It is the gift (doron) of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” “Doron” excludes any kind of work; so that all boasting must be excluded and all glory go to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God desires the redeemed sinner to say with Paul, “thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. (dorea)”.

Messengers of the unmixed grace of God are few and far between, and what a time they do have trying to convince sinners that eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ; that salvation is the gift of God, without the requirement of a single work, without any striving or struggling, without any feeling of worthiness, without any religious ceremony.

Perhaps it will help some to see this blessed truth of grace if they will compare John 15:25 with the Scripture “declared righteous without a cause”. We quote John 15:25: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause”.

Christ was the greatest benefactor that ever ministered unto suffering humanity. Surely He was hated without a cause. He graciously permitted Himself to be hated. The wages of sin is death. He died, but He did not sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” “Christ knew no sin.” He was wholly without sin. In that sense He died without a cause. But in the shadow of the cross that meant to Him cruel suffering, He cried; “for this cause came I unto this hour.” He came to die, to save others from the wages of sin. On the cross the Lord of glory was made what He was not: He was made sin. That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21. Christ’s work was that God might be just and the justifier of all who believe in Christ. Romans 3:25 and 26. As Christ was hated without a cause (dorean), so believing sinners are declared righteous without a cause (dorean).

As we read the remaining verses of the third chapter of Romans and then pass on to the fourth and fifth chapters of Romans we learn that the sinner is made righteous by God with God’s own righteousness, “without works” and without religion, “without the deeds of the law”, Romans 3:28—Romans 4:3 and 4; all on the basis of the substitutionary redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. All boasting is excluded by the law of faith. Romans 3:27. Then on into the sixth chapter of Romans we pass, and learn that the believer has died with Christ, has been buried with Christ, and, has been raised with Christ to walk-in newness of life; that he is not under the law, but under grace. But some would also put him under the water. For what? They hardly know. Some say the water ceremony is efficacious and necessary to give the believer his newness of life. But this makes the other statements untrue, declared righteous “without a cause”, “without works”. The water ceremony is work. Others say; “no, I am a grace preacher” Romans 6:3 is spiritual baptism, but of course, Romans 6:4 is water baptism. Whatever that baptism is, it is meritorious, and is the cause that produces the effect; placing the believer in Christ, dead, buried and raised to walk in newness of life. If the water is meritorious in Romans 6:4, then the believer is not declared righteous “without a cause” or “without works”. If the believer’s salvation is wholly by grace, and if he, by grace alone, by a Divine baptism not made with hands, is brought to the newness of life, then there is no water baptism in Romans 6:4; for the believer is buried and raised by the same baptism that brings him to death in Christ and with Christ.

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” God forbid that we should either teach this, or try to prove abounding grace by continuing in sin. On the contrary, the believer should prove by a life of righteousness, peace and joy, that the same abundant grace that saved him from the wages or penalty of sin is altogether sufficient to give victory over sinful practices. “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; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11 to 13.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that yet always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” II Corinthians 9:8. The unbeliever is without Christ and is dead in sins. The believer is in Christ and is dead to sin. “How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2. The Divine power of the omnipotent God, that raised Christ from the dead is given to us. Ephesians 1:19. God is the God of all grace. God is faithful who will not, suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but with every temptation will make a way of escape.

“My grace is sufficient”, are the words of the risen Christ: God’s grace and power are altogether sufficient for the believer to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

That We Should Not Be Condemned with the World

Posted on by Harry Bultema

In what sense are members of Christ’s Body to be judged? The Scriptures plainly declares, Romans 8:1, “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus”. The remainder of that verse is missing in the original text. The Lord Jesus plainly declares, John 5:24, believers “shall not come into condemnation”. In John 3:18 the Scriptures declare that believers are not condemned. In Romans 8:34, the question is asked, “Who is he that condemneth”? “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

These Scriptures seem to settle the matter that believers are not now condemned and shall not come into condemnation. But now we must find the correct explanation of some other Scriptures which are addressed to believers.

1—I Corinthians 11:31 and 32—“For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

2—II Corinthians 5:10 and 11—“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

3—Romans 14:10 to 12—“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.”

4—Colossians 3:23 to 25—“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons”.

When we carefully study Acts 5:1 to 11, the experiences of Ananias and Sapphira, and those men in the assembly at Corinth, I Corinthians 5:5, who were delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and I Timothy 1:20, who were delivered unto Satan, we appreciate the fact that there are no believers today who have Divine authority to deliver fellow-believers to judgment. In that sense, present judgment of saints must be different. And perhaps there may be some difference in this day of Gentile favor as to the manner in which the Father chastens His children. However, we may be sure that self judgment is still in order and will save the believer from judgment from the hands of God.

From the Scriptures which we have quoted, it is apparent that members of the Body of Christ are going to receive for the wrong which they have done. The question is suggested: “what are they going to receive?”

When according to Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10, the believers stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, it is certain they will not be there to learn whether or not they have earned eternal life. Eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23. We are saved with an everlasting salvation, by because God is rich in mercy and great in love. Ephesians 2:4 to 8.

When we read I Corinthians 15:58 and Hebrews 6:10, Luke 14:14, I Corinthians 3:14 and II Timothy 2:12, certainly we are taught that we shall be rewarded, by our blessed Lord, for the service we have rendered in His Name and the sufferings we have endured for His sake.

The verses that follow II Corinthians 5:10 seem to teach us that we shall have to give an account to the Lord for our faithfulness or neglect in giving the saving message of reconciliation to the unbelievers. Surely in II Corinthians 5:10 to 21 a great responsibility is placed upon the members of the Body of Christ. In giving account for the deeds done in the body, we shall answer to the Lord as to our faithfulness as ambassadors of Christ. Many teachers teach from Thessalonians and Philippians that the crown of joy or rejoicing will be given to those who are faithfully telling the Gospel message to sinners.

But we are sure that God is not unrighteousness to forget our labor of love, that our labor is not in vain in the Lord, and that if we suffer with Christ we shall reign with Him.

We can never get into heaven by serving the Lord, for it is altogether by grace through faith in the redemptive work of Christ. But we shall receive the reward for service when we shall appear with Him in glory.

Three Gospels

Posted on by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

1—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. Matthew 4:23.

2—When they saw that the GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION was committed unto me (Paul). Galatians 2:7.

3—As the GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION was unto Peter. Three preachers are mentioned in the Scriptures which we have quoted. Three GOSPELS are mentioned. The Gospels preached by the three preachers are called; by three different names.

There are Christian preachers and Bible teachers who insist that there is but one Gospel in the Bible; that there are many different names given to the same Gospel. In Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25 and II Timothy 2:8, Paul writes of “my Gospel”.

In II Timothy 1:12 he writes of “my deposit” (literal translation from the Greek). In I Timothy 1:11 he writes, “according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed unto my trust” In Galatians 1:11 and 12 Paul writes that he received the Gospel, that he preached, by the revelation of Jesus Christ. In Acts 20:24 Paul declared “my course” “I received of the Lord Jesus”, “to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.” In Ephesians 3:1 to 3, Paul writes as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles with the dispensation of the grace of God “given me to you-ward (Gentiles)”, and the mystery, “by revelation He made known unto me.” In II Corinthians 4:4 Paul’s message is the Gospel of the glory of Christ. In II Corinthians 5:18, “the ministry of reconciliation” in which the messenger is used by the Lord to beseech and to pray, to men that they be reconciled to God.

In the following Scriptures we read of Paul’s Divine authority for preaching to the Gentiles; Acts 22:17 to 21, Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:16, Galatians 2:9, Romans 11:13, Romans 15:16, Ephesians 3:8 and 9, Colossians 1:24 to 28, I Timothy 2:7, II Timothy 1:11; II Timothy 4:17.

In the light of the Scriptures which we have quoted, and in the light of all of Paul’s messages to the Gentiles, it is certainly not the mark of spiritual intelligence to teach that there is only one Gospel in the Bible. And to teach that the Lord Jesus Christ committed to Peter and Paul the same ministry is unworthy of any intelligent student of the Scriptures. To so teach is to wholly ignore II Timothy 2:15, rightly dividing the Word of truth. Undoubtedly we have observed that the disciples of Alexander Campbell, the disciples of Mrs. White (Seventh-Day Adventists), the disciples of Pastor Charles Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses), the Pentecostalists, the Church of God disciples, and many other groups of religious people, have propagated a counterfeit Christianity with great zeal and sincerity, because their teachers have kept their followers wholly ignorant of Paul’s “my gospel”, “my deposit”, “the Dispensation of the Grace of God”, the unsearchable (untraceable) riches of Christ for the Gentiles”, “the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God committed to Paul’s trust”; and have led them into their religious confusion or delusion by giving them Jesus’ “gospel of the kingdom”, claiming prophecies made to the Nation Israel, or Peter’s Gospel of the circumcision given to Israel, in fulfillment of the prophecies to the Nation Israel.

Fundamental Bible teachers are somewhat to blame for these conditions, because they fail to show the difference between these different Gospels and continue to be like parrots and sheep in teaching that the last commissions of Jesus to His apostles were the great commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20 and the orders in Acts 1:8. The Commissions of Galatians 1:11 to 18; Galatians 2:7 to 9, Ephesians 3:1 to 9, Colossians 1:24 to 28, II Timothy 1:12; II Timothy 1:14, and II Timothy 2:2 are much later commissions. And unless they are adopted by the Church of Christ there is no scriptural cure for the abounding and ever-increasing number of heresies and counterfeit Christian movements in which another gospel is being preached.

Christ gave a program to the Twelve, in Matthew 10:5 to 10, for the Twelve Tribes, which He never gave to Paul for the Gentiles. Christ gave to Eleven of the same Twelve a commission in Matthew 28:19 and 20 and Mark 16:14 to 18, which He never gave to Paul or to us for the Gentiles.

Christ never authorized Paul to preach to Gentiles of this dispensation the kingdom message and program of John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, or the Twelve. Paul never preached Acts 2:38 to any Gentile. Acts 3:14 to 21 and Acts 5:29 to 32 is not the Gospel of the Grace of God. And no Gentile believers are authorized by the Lord to follow the order of Acts 8:5 to 16 or Acts 19:2 to 7.

Christ committed to Peter and his associates the Gospel of the circumcision. They preached the message to one company of God-fearing, Israel-loving Gentiles, in the Book of Acts, the Word which God sent to Israel. Acts 10:36. Mark in the first ten chapters of Acts where Peter with the Eleven preached justification, reconciliation or the unsearchable riches of Christ, or one word concerning the Body of Christ and the believer’s identification with the risen Christ, seated with Christ in the heavenlies. As humble, spiritual, diligent students of the Word of God, if we will be Bereans, and obey Philippians 1:10, “test the things that differ” (R. V.), we shall learn that the Pauline truth given him from the risen Christ for the Church, which is His body, is the answer to every religious cult and counterfeit Christian movement that is menacing the Body of Christ, leading multitudes into error, corrupting the Word of God, and frustrating the grace of God.

This should lead all spiritual students of the Word of God to the conclusion that if the Body of Christ, described in Ephesians and Colossians, began on the day of Pentecost, at some later date a most radical change in that Church’s message and program occurred. When did it occur?

Short Messages by Henry Bultema

Posted on by Henry Bultema

A new world war may burst upon the world with destructive fury almost any day. According to the Word of God the earth must yet be deluged with blood. Terrible wars and revolutions shall shake all the nations of the earth. Just read of the many Scriptures where this is predicted; the following: Psalms 2; Isaiah 29:1 to 8; Daniel 11 and 12; Ezekiel 38; Joel 3:9 to 11; Haggai 3:22; Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 12:1 to 9; Revelation 16:16; Revelation 19:11 to 16.

If England should fight Italy, then Holland will fight with England, and there is great danger that Japan will plunge in and then the world war will have started, for all the colored races will rise as one man against the superiority of the white race and in that case it will be next to impossible for America to remain neutral.

Why do the nations rage? They will soon wind up in their rage against the blessed Lord. The main question soon will be as to victory, but no one will have victory. They will all suffer dismal defeat at the hands, not of the King of Kings of Ethiopia, but at the hands of the King of Kings from heaven.

Thank God we have already the victory, for victory does not center in feelings and strivings but it is found wholly in the Lord Himself. We need not even be occupied with the strength and chicanery of our foe, for Christ has overcome him, and faith is the victory over the world.

There are three great foes: the world, the flesh and the devil. The world is especially the enemy of the Father, the flesh of the Spirit, the devil of Christ, and we can shout in all these things “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

“Victory! Victory! Precious blood-bought victory,
As Jehovah liveth, strength Divine He giveth,
Unto those who trust Him, victory all the time!”
Victory! Victory! All along the line.

Hymeneus and Philetus were once upon a time faithful church members, but there came a day in their life that they turned their back upon Paul and upon the rightly divided Word and they became cankerous. They believed in a resurrection, but the trouble was, they misplaced it; they taught it was already past and not future and so they overthrew the faith of some.

This shows that truth must not be misplaced. What is to be may not be put in the past. When the Word is not rightly divided, it ceases to be the Word of God. When the doctrines are put in the wrong tense, they cease to be sound doctrine. These two men could not overthrow the one sure foundation Christ, but they did succeed in overthrowing the faith of some. Hymeneus did not only teach wrongly, but he also blasphemed; and he had put away a good conscience as we see in I Timothy 1:19 and 20. Hence Paul had given him up to Satan that he should learn not to blaspheme. That shows the importance of sound teaching.