Who are the Fundamentalists? The Fundamentalists are the orthodox Christians who have assumed the responsibility of contending earnestly for the faith once-for-all delivered unto the saints, in obedience to Jude 3. But there is considerable commotion in the camp, because Fundamentalists are not agreed among themselves on all the points concerning the faith. Therefore the several different groups are spending much of their time and energy contending against one another for or against some special phase of Bible truth, which some claim is part of that faith delivered unto the saints and which others say is not.

The intelligent student of the Bible might ask, “to which saints do you refer” and “to which faith, or spiritual program do you refer?” The Lord had more than one company of saints and different programs for the different companies.

All Fundamentalists are agreed on some fundamentals. They are not divided as to the plenary inspiration of the Bible, the eternal Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. They are agreed concerning the need of redemption and regeneration on the grounds of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are agreed as to the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are agreed that God’s grace is sufficient for the salvation of any kind of a sinner and is likewise sufficient for the believer’s spiritual walk and life of victory, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

All Fundamentalists claim that they believe that the believing sinner is saved by grace and by grace alone, by nothing but the gospel of the grace of God; and that the believing sinner, justified by God’s grace without a cause (Romans 3:24), is complete in Christ; that he needs nothing to aid toward this completeness except the redemptive work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Colossians 2:10.

It is sad to relate that some leaders among Fundamentalists are making false claims concerning some other Fundamentalists with whom they disagree in some points. They are enemies of other Fundamentalists who are preaching and practicing what all Fundamentalists claim to believe; namely, that Christ is sufficient, without religion. These friendly enemies have added to Christ and grace. In contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, they are contending for a mixture of grace and religion. They not only refuse to have fellowship with those who are satisfied with Christ, without religion; but they persecute them, malign them, and give them the choice of their religious mixture or their religious condemnation.

I have just returned from an eastern city where I enjoyed fellowship with a company of devoted saints who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. They are spiritual, but not religious. There is a great difference. They are members of the Body of Christ, identified with Him in death, burial and resurrection; seated with Him, complete in Him, blessed with all spiritual blessings, seeking those things which are above as they endeavor to walk worthy of their vocation or calling. There are a number of “Fundamentalist” preachers and workers in that same city who claim to be “grace” preachers and “grace” teachers. They are filled with religious zeal because they have failed to obey II Timothy 2 :15. Their “church” programs are mixtures of God’s orders to Israel and His high and holy truth for members of the Body of Christ. Their opposition to the messengers of grace is so subtle that it seems to be directed by one who is superhuman. They apparently have ceased their attacks upon the Modernists, Christian Scientists, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unity, New Thought, the cults that deny the Book, the Blood and the Blessed Hope; and are concentrating on a little company who are standing uncompromisingly, valiantly, and sacrificially for all three. What’s the matter? Why are the leaders of Fundamentalists in Chicago doing the same thing? Such opposition is from one who is very religious, but who has long kept the saints of God from the highest and most blessed truth in the Word of God. “We are not ignorant of his devices.” It is the old spirit in a new movement, “except ye be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Here it is up-to-date; “Except ye agree with us about water baptism, as to when the Body of Christ began (historically), and agree to keep quiet with us about the “Acts” Church program and the sign gifts of I Corinthians so our followers will not see the fallacy of our dispensationalism, we’ll have to disown you, disqualify you and disfellowship you.” Many of these men of God are so determined in their bitter opposition that they do not hesitate to resort to ungracious, unjust and in some cases, untruthful statement to prejudice their followers against fellow-members of the Body of Christ who refuse to include their religious planks in their “grace” platform.

Down through the dark ages of church history and down to the present time church leaders have wanted their followers to look upon them as Job did upon his counselors; but not in the same satirical spirit: “No doubt but ye are the people and wisdom will die with you.” Job 12:2. Moreover, these leaders have insisted that their followers accept their interpretations of the Scriptures, discouraging those who would continue their search for Divine truth beyond the knowledge of those in control of the denominations, circles, or movements with which they are affiliated. Few have been more intolerant than are some of the recognized leaders in Fundamental circles today, who, unable to disprove the teaching of other Fundamentalists by an appeal to the Holy Scriptures, resort to the use of carnal weapons. Religious people have ever done this.

In considering the unhappy divisions that exist among present-day Fundamentalists, we are not referring to the differences designated “premillennialism” and “postmillennialism.” To be sure that is deplorable. Neither are we thinking of the differences of interpretation and practice concerning Holy Spirit baptism (whether it is an experience separate from and subsequent to salvation), with the speaking in tongues and fanatical physical healing, visions, signs, etc. Any true messenger of the grace of God knows that these religious preachers and teachers are ignorant of God’s message and program for this “Grace” dispensation, notwithstanding their boast of orthodoxy, their sincerity and enthusiastic zeal and the apparent success of their movements. We are referring to the unpleasant, although perhaps not unprofitable, discord and controversy found among Fundamentalists, who preach the finished work of Christ as the sinner’s only need and only hope, the eternal security of every sinner saved by pure and unadulterated grace. These Fundamentalists are divided into two general camps, the “so-called dispensationalists”, and the “so-called ultra-dispensationalists.” Their differences concerning the interpretation, appropriation and application of the Bible are “dispensational” and not “inspirational”.

Other differences which exist between these two camps of Fundamentalists are because of their differences concerning the beginning and program of that dispensation of the grace of God to which the Apostle Paul referred to in Ephesians 3:1 and 2.

The dispensationalists declare that the dispensation of the grace of God began on the day of Pentecost, several weeks after Christ; that the commission of Mark 16:15 to 18 introduced that dispensation of the grace of God on the day of Pentecost, and which has continued to the present time and which dispensation will close with the rapture of the Body of Christ, in accordance with I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18. The dispensationalists are not only warm hearted but hotheaded, in their determinate opposition to the ultra-dispensational teaching, that God caused the Apostle Paul, after the close of the “Acts” period, to prevent a revised Church program; after that period not only to present Divine truth that supplemented the truth of the “Acts” period, but some new truth of that period. The dispensationalists give no Scriptural explanation for the absence in present-day Church programs of the program of the Church in the Book of Acts. Neither the dispensationalists, nor the ultra-dispensationalists are proclaiming or preaching the instructions of Christ in Mark 16:15 to 18, or the message, order and program of Acts 2:22 to 43. Neither of them are making any attempt to preach or practice the order of Acts 19:1 to 7. Neither of them are trying to duplicate, perpetuate, or recover, for the church today the signs, ceremonies, visions, miracles and gifts of the Acts period. Not one of the leaders in either camp is trying to exercise any of the gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 10, except as preachers may be called prophets. Without any intelligent Scriptural explanation the dispensationalists arbitrarily select from the “Acts” period, water baptism and the Lord’s supper, to the exclusion of the signs, gifts, imposition of hands, divine judgments, visions, etc. In defense of this inconsistency their appeal is more to “Church history” than obedience to II Timothy 2;15. In their camp quite often is heard, “after all these years,” instead of submitting their dispensationalism to the Berean test. Of course it requires a reformation, or a revolution, to substitute “what saith the Scriptures” for “after all these years”. “Do you mean to say, after all these years Christians have been wrong?” This is not the test.

The ultra-dispensationalists declare that they cannot harmonize the message of Ephesians 2:8 and 9; Titus 3:5 and 6; II Timothy 1:9 and Romans 3:24 with Mark 16:15 to 18; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:5, 12 and 15; Acts 10:34 to 37; Acts 19:3 to 6. This dispensationalists declare that they can, but they never do. In their futile attempt to do so they do that which they are forbidden to do; they change the Word of God. We quote the Scriptures above mentioned:

Ephesians 2:8 and 9:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Titus 3:5 and 6:

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

“Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

II Timothy 1:9”

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

Romans 3:24:

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Mark 16:15 to 18:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

“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.”

Acts 2:38:

“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 8:5, 12, 15:

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:”

Acts 10:34 to 37:

‘Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”

“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”

“That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;”

Acts 19:3 to 6:

:And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.”

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.’

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

Let us repeat, that not a “grace” preacher among Fundamentalists preaches to any sinner Acts 2:38, repentance and baptism, for the reception of the Holy Spirit. What student of the Word of God cannot see, by comparing the second chapter of Acts with the second chapter of Ephesians, that the messages are different messages addressed to different people, offering them different blessings and different hope? Are we not to test the things that differ? Philippians 1:10 (R.V.). Here is a simple test.

Not one of these “grace” preachers among Fundamentalists preaches Mark 16:16 to any sinner; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”; “and signs shall follow.” Does it not seem ridiculous that they will claim they are working under this commission and then refuse to preach the message and observe the order of the commission? Who has the right to preach “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved?” Where are the signs following? They are not found following the preaching of the grace of God gospel in the first century after Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 3:1 to 11. Where is the verse of Scripture that instructs a believer already in the Body of Christ to baptize another believer already in the same Body?

A SIMPLE MESSAGE ON BAPTISM

Judging from the present-day controversy about water baptism it would seem that it is not possible to write a simple message on the subject. Most assuredly it requires more than a superficial study of the Scriptures to produce a strong conviction in the matter, based upon an intelligent understanding of the different verses in the Bible relating to the subject, instead of a bitter prejudice produced by a misunderstanding of all these Scriptures. With most Christians baptism is a habit rather than an intelligent act of obedience given to members of the Body of Christ.

Among the most spiritual of God’s people, including the most competent and fruitful preachers and teachers, there is much difference of opinion as to what the Bible teaches concerning water baptism. But how many of them, or rather, how few of them, have opened the Book with unprejudiced minds and unafraid hearts to search diligently and honestly for the truth, willing to accept and propagate what they find even though it is contrary to all of the traditions of church fathers and church creeds! It is no coward’s nor compromiser’s task to proclaim a message that is not in agreement with Christendom’s creeds.

But can the honest searcher of the Word of God answer the question, “to be or not to be baptized?” If he decides to be, can he say, “I have decided to be, because of a certain chapter or verse in the Book which gives instructions to members of the Body of Christ?” Most certainly not.

There are living today more than 200 million persons who have been baptized with water. With the great majority of them it was a case of involuntary baptism. Of the number of those who were baptized in infancy and have reached the age to render a decision, more than fifty per cent of them have approved the motive, the religious belief and act of the parent, guardian, priest, or preacher responsible for the religious ceremony or church ordinance, although they are by no means agreed as to the spiritual benefits derived therefrom. Certainly with none of them was it a case of the answer of a good conscience toward God. I Peter 3:21. The answer was by proxy.

The mode, formula and meaning of infant baptism vary with different church creeds and programs. In some cases the child is immersed to comply with the example of I Corinthians 10:1 to 13. In some cases the made is pouring. In most cases infant baptism is by sprinkling. With the Roman Catholics the ceremony by the priest is with water that has been blessed and is a water ceremony to remove original sin. With other denominations sprinkling is the seal of the New Covenant, taking the place of circumcision which was the seal of the Old Covenant. In such cases it is required that the parents of the infant be professing Christians. In other denominations the sprinkling is the manner in which. the parents dedicate the child to the Lord. Many teach that the child presented by believing parents, by the act of baptism, then and there becomes a Christian and a member of the Church of Christ. I heard a preacher of one of the leading socalled Protestant denominations say, “most of our people become Christians by accident, being presented for baptism in infancy.”

It has been argued by many that the Greek word “baptizo” means “immerse”, but this can not be verified by the Holy Scriptures. The word, in noun form, is used in Hebrews 9:10, translated “washings”. Israel’s ceremonial washings were sprinklings, pourings, as well as dippings.

From four Scriptures the immersionists reason that Scriptural baptism must have been by immersion. Mark 1:9 and 10. John 3:23, Acts 8:38 and 39, Romans 6:4. In defense, or support, of infant baptism, the following Scriptures concerning the baptism of households are used: Acts 11:14 and 10:18; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:31 to 33; I Corinthians 1:16; I Corinthians 7:14; I Corinthians 10:2 and 11.

Those who refute the teaching and practice of household baptism, including infants, quote Mark 16:16, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Acts 8:12, “when they believed they were baptized, both men and women”. Acts 18:8, “many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.”

One of the leading authorities on the subject of baptism, although he teaches infant baptism by sprinkling, acknowledges in his printed message on the subject, that he cannot prove this doctrine by any clear statement in the Bible. His claim is that the practice is taught by implication or inference.

Others who teach water baptism for believers in the Body of Christ with any other significance need not ridicule this theologian’s “implication” or “inference” doctrine; for they employ precisely the same method, regardless of their interpretation as to the formula, mode and meaning of their water ceremony. It is all by implication or inference. As we look into the different interpretations of evangelical Christians who teach and practice water baptism, we must conclude that if any one of them is the correct Scriptural interpretation, some of the others are unscriptural theories. If the watery grave is Scriptural, the sprinkling seal is absurd.

But remember, hundreds of thousands of real Christians have believed each and every one of the following interpretations:

1. The seal of the New Covenant as circumcision was of the Old Covenant.

2. Baptismal regeneration, or unto repentance for the remission of sins for the reception of the Holy Spirit.

3. An outward symbol of an inward work of grace.

4. A witness of the believer’s salvation to the world.

5. A door of entrance into the Church.

6. A watery burial to acknowledge identification with Christ in death, burial and resurrection.

Five out of the six interpretations must be supported by implication or inference and by the creeds and practices of certain denominations which were organized centuries after the death of the apostles of Christ. There is not one verse to prove that water baptism was received by the believer as a witness to the world that he had become a member of the Body of Christ.

The interpretation of water baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins, is supported by Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:3; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12 to 16; Acts 19:3 to 7. This baptism began with the ministry of John the Baptist: Hear his own words: John 1:31:

“AND I KNEW HIM NOT: BUT THAT HE SHOULD BE MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, THEREFORE AM I COME BAPTIZING WITH WATER.”

There was one baptism for God’s people while Christ was on earth. Christ’s baptism unto death took place on the cross. Luke 12:47 to 52. After the close of the Book of Acts, the statement in Ephesians 4:5, is “one baptism”. Baptism was not something new with Israel. Hebrews 9:10. But the baptism committed to John had a special significance. There were three baptisms in the “Acts” period, “water baptism”, “Holy Spirit baptism”, and “death baptism”. Acts 1:5; Acts 11:14 and 15; I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Acts 19:2 to 7 and Romans 8:3.

When the twelve apostles were baptized, many months before Christ’s baptism unto death, before His resurrection, the Twelve knew not what the rising from the dead meant and knew nothing concerning Christ’s death baptism. Matthew 16:21 to 23; Mark 9:10; Luke 9:44 and 45; Luke 18:31 to 34; John 20:9. Therefore we observe that the Twelve were certainly not baptized with water as an indication or acknowledgment that they had been buried with Christ by baptism. And certainly not to indicate that they had joined the Church, which is His Body. That Church was not when they were baptized. The Twelve never received the second water baptism after Christ’s death baptism. Water baptism is called by different names “a kingdom ordinance,” “a church ordinance,” “New Testament baptism”, “kingdom baptism”, “Christian baptism”. But all of these names have been suggested by men: they are not found in the Bible.

All students of the Word of God are greed that the baptism of I Corinthians 12:13 is not water baptism.

I Corinthians 12:13:

“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.”

“Baptized in One Spirit into One Body.” In Ephesians 4:4 to 6 there is mention of one Body, one Spirit, one Baptism. Jews and Greeks were not baptized in one Spirit into one Body at the time John Baptist was baptizing with water that Christ might be made manifest to Israel; at the time the Twelve were baptized with water. It is one thing for Israel to have water baptism to have their Messiah manifested to them: it is quite a different thing for Israelites and Gentiles to be united in One Body by Holy Spirit baptism. John’s water baptism was in connection with Christ’s proclamation of the kingdom to Israel. Therefore there is Scriptural authority for “kingdom baptism”. But “Christian baptism” is an indefinite, uncertain expression; an expression from the pen of theologians but not found in the Bible: Some differentiate between kingdom water baptism while Christ was on earth, and what they call Christian water baptism after the Spirit came from heaven. But they cannot Scripturally prove the two different water baptisms by the experience of Twelve. According to this discrimination the Twelve never received Christian baptism; only Israelitish kingdom baptism.

If John’s baptism was New Covenant baptism, and if there is anything to the law of first occurrence, what meaning had water baptism until the last occurrence of water baptism in Acts 19:2 to 7? We should not prove the meaning by the exception to the order set forth in Acts 10:34 to 48, the experience of Cornelius and his house; remembering that Cornelius was the first Gentile to come in with the Jews who required a sign.

There is no Scriptural authority for the two-fold designation of water baptism. “kingdom baptism”, and “Christian baptism”. This is theory and tradition.

Neither has a Christian Scriptural authority for changing the order of Mark 16:16, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”, to “he that believeth and is saved shall be baptized”. If we are to hold on to water on the authority of that Scripture, let us observe the order. If we do, how can we reconcile that gospel with the gospel of Romans 3:24 and Ephesians 2:8 and 9? Water baptism has no place in the message of pure grace as it had in Mark 16:16. Christ sent Paul not to baptize. I Corinthians 1:17.

This leads us to this important declaration. No Scripture instructs one member of the Body of Ephesians to baptize with water another believer who is already a member of that Body. The one baptism of Ephesians 4:5, like the one baptism of Romans 6:3, produces a spiritual change in the sinner. By that one baptism the believing sinner is identified with Christ in death, burial and resurrection. As the result of that one baptism, the believer is seated in the heavenlies in Christ and blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. Forever is he a member of the Body of Christ. Water baptism today produces no spiritual change in any sinner or saint: Water baptism neither helps to save any sinner nor helps to keep him saved. All such messengers admit that water baptism has absolutely no efficacy to aid toward, or add to, the believer’s completeness in Christ or membership in His Body. Colossians 2:10. Water baptism is not required by God for membership in the true Church, which is the Body of Christ. Water baptism is not required for salvation or regeneration. Water baptism is not demanded as a condition for receiving the Holy Spirit. Then water baptism, according to Ephesians, and according to the admissions of present-day grace preachers, does not have the meaning that it had in Acts 2:38 and Acts 19:3 to 7 or in Acts 8:12 to 17.

What is its meaning? Can you give a Scriptural answer and not a human theory?, What men have been teaching and preaching will never satisfy the searching mind of the true Berean. Do not follow established creeds or the tradition of the elders. Church habits and Bible truth may differ. After you have prayed earnestly and searched the Scriptures, diligently and have been thereby convinced as to which of the more than one dozen interpretations, modes and signification’s practiced by orthodox Christians is demanded for members of the Body of Christ, obey the demand and then look for the man who is Scripturally qualified to baptize.

But remember; study diligently the Word of God before you answer to God, “to be or not to be baptized”. When you ask men, however spiritual they may be, as a rule they cannot give you any definite Scripture to prove that water baptism is compatible with the gospel of the grace of God. If they quote the so-called Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20 and Mark 16:14 to 18, they must admit that the instructions there were given to apostles, who were not yet in the Body of Christ, apostles who will be on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28). These apostles were ministers to the circumcision with the gospel of the circumcision. Galatians 2:7 to 9. They were commissioned before the Body began historically. They were baptized many months before the Body began historically. Then the Twelve were not baptized with water as members of the church of Ephesians 1:19 to 22. The apostle to the Gentiles plainly declared, “Christ sent me not to baptize”. I Corinthians 1:17. As members of the Body of Christ from which Scriptures are we to get our instructions concerning water baptism and the gospel of the grace of God? There is not a single word instructing members of Christ’s Body to be baptized.

The great majority of Christians are practicing what their human leaders have taught them; what church creeds demand of them, and seem to think that they are in the will of God because they comply with a denominational demand instead of obeying the Scriptures rightly divided.

If a man or a group of men demand a religious ceremony as a door of entrance into any of their churches and the Lord does not demand that ceremony to become a member of His Church, what is your duty? Something may happen to your church membership here below if you obey the Head of the church in the heavenlies.

Be a Berean. Ask for chapter and verse. Do not do something because it has long been a religious habit.

The God of the Bible is omnipotent. Man looketh on the outward appearance; God looketh into the heart. According to the estimate of some men, God has looked into the hearts of more than twenty billion individuals. God has an infallible record of all of the thoughts, words and deeds of all who have ever inhabited the earth. These thoughts, words and deeds have either been righteous or unrighteous. There are two kinds of righteousness; “self-righteousness” and God-righteousness”, or “human righteousness” and “Divine righteousness.” In God’s Divine ledger, the righteous acts of the, self-righteous are posted on the debit side; the righteous acts of the “God-righteous” are posted on the credit side. But what about the unrighteous acts? What is it that God forgets not? Let us turn to God’s Word for our answer:

“WHEN I SAY TO THE RIGHTEOUS THAT HE SHALL SURELY LIVE: IF HE TRUST TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY, ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESSES SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED; BUT FOR HIS INIQUITY THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, HE SHALL DIE FOR IT.” EZEKIEL 33:13.

“AND THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE . . . HAVING THEREFORE BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS . . . LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART, IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.” HEBREWS 10:17 AND 19.

“FOR GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE, WHICH YE HAVE SHOWED TOWARD HIS NAME, IN THAT YE HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS, AND DO MINISTER. AND WE DESIRE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTO THE END.” HEBREWS 6:10 AND 11.

No Divine truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than the fact that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt.” Romans 4:3 and 4. The righteous, or religious, acts of a self-righteous man are not acceptable unto God; such acts are dead works. Christ died to save religious men from dead works. Hebrews 9:14. Humanity is willing to ascribe praise and honor to the philanthropist who endows the hospital for the relief and cure of the sick and helpless, who provides food for the hungry and clothing for the naked, who finances the asylum for the orphans; for all who minister to the physical needs of the unfortunate. Such benevolences are truly praiseworthy. But God says: “if he trust in his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

Thus we see that some benefactions that are remembered by men are forgotten by God. “Man’s ways are not God’s ways.” “There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Whether or not we may be dogmatic in the statement that the good deeds of an unsaved man displease God, we may be sure that the unrighteous or selfrighteous man never receives credit or reward from God for his acts of righteousness.

How about Cornelius, the just and religious man? To him Peter preached “in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him.” Acts 10:34 to 37. While it is true that Cornelius had to hear from Peter’s mouth “words whereby he and all his house should be saved”, yet Cornelius was by no means a self-righteous man. Cornelius prayed to God alway: he was a just and devout, Godfearing man, who gave much alms to God’s people. Cornelius was not trusting to his own righteousness. From the record, we can say that Cornelius believed the gospel the first time he heard it. He was apparently eager to be saved. He was conscious of his unworthiness and his need of grace.

The “sin” controversy between God and man is of a very serious nature, and must be entirely settled before God can give credit for deeds. Only righteous deeds will be rewarded by God. The doer must be righteous before his deeds are righteous in God’s sight. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Because all have sinned, death has passed upon all men. All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins. Some dead men are more religious than others. Some dead men do not sink as deep into immoral habits and lustful practices as do others. Some dead men do not possess and manifest the same traits of gentleness, kindness, patience and charity as do others. But with respect to life and salvation, all dead men, religious and irreligious, have the same need. Regardless of the language used, the theological terms employed or the doctrine presented, the sinner’s need is Christ. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” He said, “I am the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Christ died to abolish death and bring life to humanity in the Gospel. II Timothy 1:9. It was Christ who said that believers “have passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. He gave to His servant Paul this message: “The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. “You hath He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1 to 5.

The sinner’s first need is life and righteousness. Christ is the believer’s life and righteousness. He is available for all. On the cross of Calvary this sinless Christ was made sin that sinners might be made the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21. He had power to lay down His life and take it up again. John 10:17 and 18. Christ received the sinner’s wages; death. Christ on the cross received the penalty for sin, when He by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:9. Then by His inherent Divine omnipotence He was able to abolish death, Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26.

The believing sinner is redeemed by the precious blood of Christ: “in whose Blood we have redemption even the forgiveness of sins.” “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” When God forgives the sinner, it is because his sins have been dealt with, have been put away. When the worshipper came to the Lord, under the Old Covenant, his sins were covered by the blood of the sacrifice which spoke of the once-for-all sacrifice of the coming Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins are not covered; they are put away. We are pardoned, exonerated, freed, forgiven and justified, by the blood of the sinless Son of God. And our God, who has the perfect Divine right to forgive the sinner who receives Christ as his worthy Substitute, says: “their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE

The unbeliever’s good deeds are not remembered. The believer’s sins are not remembered. This is the way God does things. He is just and the justifier of every one that accepts the redemptive work of His well-beloved Son. Romans 3:24 to 26. God’s grace is marvelous. We are saved from sin because God is rich in mercy and great in love. Ephesians 2:4 and 5. The believer is in Christ. God cannot find fault with the helpless sinner who has taken refuge in Christ. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.” “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” It is all by and of grace. Believing sinners are the recipients of God’s grace. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves.”

One of our difficulties is, that we have no way of measuring the grace of God, or of putting the true value on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign. God is just and holy. Christ received the just penalty for sin. He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. By His vicarious work of redemption God can and does forgive and forget and justify the penitent, believing sinner.

Another difficulty with us is, that we inventory our blunders, weaknesses and faults, that we consider our unworthiness, and try to measure God by human standards. Because we cannot forget our history of sin, our miserable past record, because of our present shortcomings, because we find it so difficult to forgive others, and especially to forget their offenses against us, our minds and hearts are filled with doubts as to the obliteration and obviousness of our sins in God’s sight. But we should believe God, take His Word at full face value: “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Gone forever. Forever put away, by the grace of God and the work of Christ. God looked, and still looks, upon His Son, obedient unto death and exalted to His own right hand, where He now appears in heaven for us; and we should do the same thing; “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” When we look at ourselves, or at others, we will be disappointed, dissatisfied and doubtful. But not when we look unto Him who loved us and gave himself for us; unto Him who is our redemption, holiness, righteousness, peace, hope and life. Such a look will make us confident of this very, thing that He that hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ, As Christians we should obey Ephesians 4:32; “And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” We should do this, not to influence or cause God to forgive us our sins, but because, for Christ’s sake, He has already done that.

Just this morning I had a very sad message from a sorrowing, broken-hearted wife. Two weeks ago she and her husband received Christ. They were in earnest, truly convicted by the Holy Spirit. After struggling and doubting they believed the gospel of redemption and were both saved. They acknowledged that God had put away their sins, because Christ had shed His blood to make forgiveness possible. The wife had already confessed her unfaithfulness to her husband. Yesterday he told her that he could not forgive her, and that they would have to separate. Surely this is disobedience to the Word of God. But God is the God of all grace, and in spite of the determination of this man to give up his wife, God will not give him up. His sins have been judged and put away by the Lord. The sinner is forgiven; his past has been blotted out and forgotten. How blessed it should be to know that God is not dealing with us, under grace, on the terms of the “Our Father” prayer; “if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15. “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

Because of the value of the blood of Christ, because of the superabounding, all sufficient grace of God, the believer is exhorted to draw nigh in full assurance of faith. If we are trusting in the redemptive work of Christ, if we are depending upon the grace of God, surely we should be delivered from doubts and fears, from any feeling of insecurity. God wants us to have assurance, full assurance.

TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE

As God will not remember the sins of the justified sinner, He will not remember the good deeds of the unbelieving sinner. But God will not forget the good deeds of the believer. “Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58. “Not in vain in the Lord.” Does Job serve God for naught? No. No Christian serves God for naught. “Every man shall be rewarded according to his works.” Matthew 16:26. As there will be rewards for the saved, undoubtedly there will be different degrees of punishment for the unsaved, although, all unbelievers are lost.

God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” I Corinthians 3:14. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

No sinner can lay his foundation. No sinner needs to lay a foundation; the foundation has been laid. The only works that are “good works” in God’s sight are the works that are built on the foundation. Faith in the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the believing sinner’s passport to heaven. No other works are necessary to get the believer into heaven. But every good work done by the believer, who is in Christ, will be rewarded by God, if that good work is done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will not forget a single deed done by the redeemed sinner in the Name of His Son.

Therefore believers are urged, “that ye be not slothful.” “Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” Hebrews 6:12 and 13. As the believer should have no doubt that all of his sins have been put away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, he should have no doubt as to receiving a full reward for every service of love, for every sacrifice, for all suffering in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In the world ye shall have tribulation”, “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.” Let us not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

“If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” I Peter 2:20.

If we suffer with Christ we shall reign with Him. We should work for Him, walk for Him, witness for Him, wait for Him. We should constantly be occupied with Christ and for Christ, and we shall not regret when God proves in that day that He shall not forget.

The God of the Bible is omnipotent. Man looketh on the outward appearance; God looketh into the heart. According to the estimate of some men, God has looked into the hearts of more than twenty billion individuals. God has an infallible record of all of the thoughts, words and deeds of all who have ever inhabited the earth. These thoughts, words and deeds have either been righteous or unrighteous. There are two kinds of righteousness; “self-righteousness” and God-righteousness”, or “human righteousness” and “Divine righteousness.” In God’s Divine ledger, the righteous acts of the, self-righteous are posted on the debit side; the righteous acts of the “God-righteous” are posted on the credit side. But what about the unrighteous acts? What is it that God forgets not? Let us turn to God’s Word for our answer:

“WHEN I SAY TO THE RIGHTEOUS THAT HE SHALL SURELY LIVE: IF HE TRUST TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY, ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESSES SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED; BUT FOR HIS INIQUITY THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, HE SHALL DIE FOR IT.” EZEKIEL 33:13.

“AND THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE . . . HAVING THEREFORE BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS . . . LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART, IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.” HEBREWS 10:17 AND 19.

“FOR GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE, WHICH YE HAVE SHOWED TOWARD HIS NAME, IN THAT YE HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS, AND DO MINISTER. AND WE DESIRE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTO THE END.” HEBREWS 6:10 AND 11.

No Divine truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than the fact that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt.” Romans 4:3 and 4. The righteous, or religious, acts of a self-righteous man are not acceptable unto God; such acts are dead works. Christ died to save religious men from dead works. Hebrews 9:14. Humanity is willing to ascribe praise and honor to the philanthropist who endows the hospital for the relief and cure of the sick and helpless, who provides food for the hungry and clothing for the naked, who finances the asylum for the orphans; for all who minister to the physical needs of the unfortunate. Such benevolences are truly praiseworthy. But God says: “if he trust in his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

Thus we see that some benefactions that are remembered by men are forgotten by God. “Man’s ways are not God’s ways.” “There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Whether or not we may be dogmatic in the statement that the good deeds of an unsaved man displease God, we may be sure that the unrighteous or selfrighteous man never receives credit or reward from God for his acts of righteousness.

How about Cornelius, the just and religious man? To him Peter preached “in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him.” Acts 10:34 to 37. While it is true that Cornelius had to hear from Peter’s mouth “words whereby he and all his house should be saved”, yet Cornelius was by no means a self-righteous man. Cornelius prayed to God alway: he was a just and devout, Godfearing man, who gave much alms to God’s people. Cornelius was not trusting to his own righteousness. From the record, we can say that Cornelius believed the gospel the first time he heard it. He was apparently eager to be saved. He was conscious of his unworthiness and his need of grace.

The “sin” controversy between God and man is of a very serious nature, and must be entirely settled before God can give credit for deeds. Only righteous deeds will be rewarded by God. The doer must be righteous before his deeds are righteous in God’s sight. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Because all have sinned, death has passed upon all men. All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins. Some dead men are more religious than others. Some dead men do not sink as deep into immoral habits and lustful practices as do others. Some dead men do not possess and manifest the same traits of gentleness, kindness, patience and charity as do others. But with respect to life and salvation, all dead men, religious and irreligious, have the same need. Regardless of the language used, the theological terms employed or the doctrine presented, the sinner’s need is Christ. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” He said, “I am the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Christ died to abolish death and bring life to humanity in the Gospel. II Timothy 1:9. It was Christ who said that believers “have passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. He gave to His servant Paul this message: “The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. “You hath He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1 to 5.

The sinner’s first need is life and righteousness. Christ is the believer’s life and righteousness. He is available for all. On the cross of Calvary this sinless Christ was made sin that sinners might be made the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21. He had power to lay down His life and take it up again. John 10:17 and 18. Christ received the sinner’s wages; death. Christ on the cross received the penalty for sin, when He by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:9. Then by His inherent Divine omnipotence He was able to abolish death, Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26.

The believing sinner is redeemed by the precious blood of Christ: “in whose Blood we have redemption even the forgiveness of sins.” “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” When God forgives the sinner, it is because his sins have been dealt with, have been put away. When the worshipper came to the Lord, under the Old Covenant, his sins were covered by the blood of the sacrifice which spoke of the once-for-all sacrifice of the coming Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins are not covered; they are put away. We are pardoned, exonerated, freed, forgiven and justified, by the blood of the sinless Son of God. And our God, who has the perfect Divine right to forgive the sinner who receives Christ as his worthy Substitute, says: “their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE

The unbeliever’s good deeds are not remembered. The believer’s sins are not remembered. This is the way God does things. He is just and the justifier of every one that accepts the redemptive work of His well-beloved Son. Romans 3:24 to 26. God’s grace is marvelous. We are saved from sin because God is rich in mercy and great in love. Ephesians 2:4 and 5. The believer is in Christ. God cannot find fault with the helpless sinner who has taken refuge in Christ. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.” “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” It is all by and of grace. Believing sinners are the recipients of God’s grace. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves.”

One of our difficulties is, that we have no way of measuring the grace of God, or of putting the true value on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign. God is just and holy. Christ received the just penalty for sin. He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. By His vicarious work of redemption God can and does forgive and forget and justify the penitent, believing sinner.

Another difficulty with us is, that we inventory our blunders, weaknesses and faults, that we consider our unworthiness, and try to measure God by human standards. Because we cannot forget our history of sin, our miserable past record, because of our present shortcomings, because we find it so difficult to forgive others, and especially to forget their offenses against us, our minds and hearts are filled with doubts as to the obliteration and obviousness of our sins in God’s sight. But we should believe God, take His Word at full face value: “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Gone forever. Forever put away, by the grace of God and the work of Christ. God looked, and still looks, upon His Son, obedient unto death and exalted to His own right hand, where He now appears in heaven for us; and we should do the same thing; “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” When we look at ourselves, or at others, we will be disappointed, dissatisfied and doubtful. But not when we look unto Him who loved us and gave himself for us; unto Him who is our redemption, holiness, righteousness, peace, hope and life. Such a look will make us confident of this very, thing that He that hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ, As Christians we should obey Ephesians 4:32; “And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” We should do this, not to influence or cause God to forgive us our sins, but because, for Christ’s sake, He has already done that.

Just this morning I had a very sad message from a sorrowing, broken-hearted wife. Two weeks ago she and her husband received Christ. They were in earnest, truly convicted by the Holy Spirit. After struggling and doubting they believed the gospel of redemption and were both saved. They acknowledged that God had put away their sins, because Christ had shed His blood to make forgiveness possible. The wife had already confessed her unfaithfulness to her husband. Yesterday he told her that he could not forgive her, and that they would have to separate. Surely this is disobedience to the Word of God. But God is the God of all grace, and in spite of the determination of this man to give up his wife, God will not give him up. His sins have been judged and put away by the Lord. The sinner is forgiven; his past has been blotted out and forgotten. How blessed it should be to know that God is not dealing with us, under grace, on the terms of the “Our Father” prayer; “if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15. “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

Because of the value of the blood of Christ, because of the superabounding, all sufficient grace of God, the believer is exhorted to draw nigh in full assurance of faith. If we are trusting in the redemptive work of Christ, if we are depending upon the grace of God, surely we should be delivered from doubts and fears, from any feeling of insecurity. God wants us to have assurance, full assurance.

TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE

As God will not remember the sins of the justified sinner, He will not remember the good deeds of the unbelieving sinner. But God will not forget the good deeds of the believer. “Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58. “Not in vain in the Lord.” Does Job serve God for naught? No. No Christian serves God for naught. “Every man shall be rewarded according to his works.” Matthew 16:26. As there will be rewards for the saved, undoubtedly there will be different degrees of punishment for the unsaved, although, all unbelievers are lost.

God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” I Corinthians 3:14. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

No sinner can lay his foundation. No sinner needs to lay a foundation; the foundation has been laid. The only works that are “good works” in God’s sight are the works that are built on the foundation. Faith in the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the believing sinner’s passport to heaven. No other works are necessary to get the believer into heaven. But every good work done by the believer, who is in Christ, will be rewarded by God, if that good work is done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will not forget a single deed done by the redeemed sinner in the Name of His Son.

Therefore believers are urged, “that ye be not slothful.” “Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” Hebrews 6:12 and 13. As the believer should have no doubt that all of his sins have been put away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, he should have no doubt as to receiving a full reward for every service of love, for every sacrifice, for all suffering in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In the world ye shall have tribulation”, “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.” Let us not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

“If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” I Peter 2:20.

If we suffer with Christ we shall reign with Him. We should work for Him, walk for Him, witness for Him, wait for Him. We should constantly be occupied with Christ and for Christ, and we shall not regret when God proves in that day that He shall not forget.

There is no more interesting study in all of the Bible than the study of the Book of Acts, generally called the Acts of the Apostles. While there is much that can be gleaned by even a superficial study of that Book, yet it is one of the most difficult portions of the inspired Word of God to understand.

When the student has read the first two chapters of Acts he has been taught that something new has begun with the resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon and into the disciples gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. With the close of the second chapter, the student also has learned that the Lord has added to the little company of believers, three thousand. In the closing verse of the fifth chapter there is recorded concerning the leaders, “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” In the meantime, in addition to the three thousand, it is recorded in Acts 4:4 that “many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” Thus we see that within a few months the new movement was well under way. Now the question arises, what was the new movement? In Galatians 1:13 is recorded the confession of the Apostle Paul, whose name was Saul, at the time he was converted. His confession was, “I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” He wrote a similar confession to the Corinthians “am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” I Corinthians 15:9.

In the light of this confession of the Apostle Paul, no one can prove Scripturally that the new movement was not the Church of God. Even those who insist that the Church of God existed before the Day of Pentecost must acknowledge that that Church had a new beginning on the Day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit came down from heaven.

Now we ask this question to provoke the student to prayerful, serious, thoughtful study: granted that the Bible teaches clearly that there was a new beginning of the Church of God on the Day of Pentecost, with the opening of the Book of Acts, can we not state with Scriptural authority that there was a new beginning of the Church of God with the close of the Book of Acts?

I am sure that every serious intelligent and faithful Christian is more concerned as to what God has to say than with man’s comments, and yet we do thank God for the light on His Word which we have received from the helpful ministry of every able human teacher. In my own Bible study, I know of no one man whose teaching has meant more to me in the understanding of the Bible than the beloved Dr. C. I. Scofield, who departed several years ago to be with the Lord, after a most faithful and fruitful ministry.

Not long before Dr. Scofield was called to meet the Lord, he commended, without reservation, this statement of one of his co-laborers:

“After repeated study of the Epistles written after Paul’s arrival at Rome, I am convinced that in them is found a curative teaching for all of the present-day delusions and fanaticisms found among many of the most sincere saints in the Church.”

That statement is found on page 5 of a little booklet, (Copyist’s note: A copy of A. E. Bishop’s book, “Tongues, Signs and Visions” can be found on this CD.) containing the message of a faithful servant of the Lord, A. E. Bishop. On that same page the writer stated that those who contend that the sign gifts are still in the Church are deceived by Satan. We quote six other statements in the same printed message, all endorsed, without reservation, by Dr. Scofield:

“From Romans 9 to 11, it is evident that Israel was set aside nationally before the close of the Acts. That the Jew is in the forefront right down to the end of the Acts cannot be disproved.”

On page 12 the writer stated,

“Jewish rites, vows and ceremonies were in vogue among the truly regenerated even down to the close of the Book of the Acts period. But the Epistles unfold grace, and reveal light for the elimination from the Church of the last vestige of Judaism.”

On page 15 the writer stated that the sign gifts of I Corinthians 12 were “operative only during the Book of the Acts period.”

On page 17 he stated,

“There is no foundation in the Word of God for the prevailing popular doctrine of divine healing.”,

On page 19 he stated,

“A careful study of the Epistles, especially of the latest Epistles of Paul, which give the normal course of the Church during the present dispensation, would dismount all from their hobbies, eliminate the last vestige of Judaism from their lives.”

On page 21 the writer stated,

“After this clear revelation of the mystery hid in God from all ages, removing the Jew from the position of superiority . . . . which kept the Jew in the forefront right on to the close of the Book of the Acts.”

These facts are not true either because they were written by Mr. Bishop, or heartily endorsed by Dr. Scofield. Both of these men were very humble and able servants of the Lord, and neither claimed any monopoly of the Holy Spirit, or special revelation as to the interpretation of any special Scripture. Neither of them would want any child of God to believe his statements unless they could stand the Berean Scriptural test. We repeat one of the statements; “that the Jew is in the forefront right down to the end of the Acts”, cannot be disproved.

With whom does the Book of Acts begin? It begins with a company of Galilaean Jews. These Jews had been with Jesus of Nazareth before His death and were now waiting for the advent of the Holy Spirit They spoke to Jews on a Jewish feast day. “There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:5.

How does the Book of Acts close, thirty years later? We quote Acts 28:17, “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together; and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” 28:23—“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” 28:29— “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”

Thus we see that the Book of Acts opened with a message from Peter and the Eleven to a company of Jews in Jerusalem; and closed with a message from the Apostle Paul to a company of Jews in Rome. The events recorded in the second chapter of Acts took place in 33 A.D. The message of Paul in Rome was delivered in 63 A.D. So the Book of Acts period covered about thirty years. It was in the year 45 A.D. that the Apostle Paul spoke these words; in a Jewish synagogue in Asia, to the Jews “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46. Several years after that declaration, Paul was in the City of Corinth, in Europe, again preaching, to Jews, in a Jewish Synagogue, and in the year 54 A.D. spoke these words: “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” Acts 18:6. It is apparent; however, to anyone who will carefully read the last ten chapters of the Book of Acts that even after both of Paul’s pronouncements the Jew was kept in the forefront right on to the close of the Book of the Acts. Referring to the statement quoted above from the pamphlet, “Jewish rites, vows, and ceremonies were in vogue among the truly regenerated even down to the close of the Book of the Acts period;” how true that is. We call your attention to the many references in the Book of Acts to things Jewish. In the Book of Acts, the word Abraham occurs 8 times; Moses occurs 19 times; Isaac occurs 4 times; Jacob occurs 7 times; the fathers occurs 28 times; the sabbath occurs 9 times; Israel occurs 21 times; Jerusalem occurs 60 times; Judaea occurs 13 times; the temple occurs 24 times; synagogue occurs 23 times; circumcision occurs 9 times; the law occurs 22 times; David occurs 11 times; vision occurs 12 times; miracle occurs 8 times; priest occurs 27 times; tongues occurs 5 times, and signs 8 times. According to Acts 11:19, during the first years after Pentecost, the preaching was to Jews exclusively. Up to the year 41 A.D., according to Peter’s testimony, recorded in Acts 10:28, it was unlawful for come unto a Gentile. However, in that year the Lord caused the disciples, in spite of the Jews’ prejudice, to glorify Him, for granting repentance unto a respectable, Godfearing, Jew-loving, religious Gentile who lived in their land. In the year 41 A. D. the household of Cornelius heard the message of Christ and they were saved. It was because Cornelius feared God and worked righteousness. Acts 10:35.

Eighteen years after the conversion of these Gentiles the Apostle Paul said to a company of disciples in Ephesus, “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem.” Then some months later this same Apostle Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin in the presence of Israel’s highpriest. We quote here Acts 23:1 to 5: “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day. And the high-priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high-priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

Carefully consider these words concerning the high-priest in the light of Paul’s statement written in his Epistle to the Romans the same year: “Ye are not under the law.” Romans 6:14. Was Paul guilty of duplicity? Why did he apologize, on the basis of the law, to the high priest? Was the high-priest the servant of God, in spite of the fact he did not believe that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah, twenty-seven years after the death of the Saviour? Did God recognize highpriest after the veil in the temple rent when Christ died on the Cross?

Now this most important question “Were all of the twelve apostles, and the Apostle Paul, and all of the elders and disciples out of the will of God because they carried the law and a part of Israel’s program on through the Book of Acts?”

And another question: “Is the program of the Book of Acts the program of Church of God for today?” If not all program of Acts, how much of the program of Acts? Who has the wisdom or discernment to select or reject certain parts of that program for the practice of the members of the Body Christ? If the Book of Acts was the program of the Church, and is not now, why?

A conscientious, earnest Christian said a few days ago; “My, but I’m mixed up, and I don’t want to reject anything that the Lord has for me, but it is so difficult to know what to accept and what to reject in the program of the Church for that period covered by the Book of Acts; and so few Fundamentalist Bible teachers can give me any light.”

The Book of Acts is truly a book of signs and wonders. There are the cloven tongues of fire on the Day of Pentecost, followed by the speaking with tongues. In the third chapter is recorded the miraculous healing of the man lame from his mother’s womb; and in the 28th chapter is recorded the miraculous escape of Paul from the venom of the serpent, followed by the miraculous healing of Publius. Acts 28:8. Between the second chapter and the twenty-eighth chapter are recorded many miracles and signs, including visions, supernatural judgments, jail deliverances, raising the dead, earthquakes, and divine manifestations and Visitations, revelations and tongues. Hebrews 2:4—“God also bearing them witness; both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.”

Was not the whole program of the Book of Acts in accordance with the commission of Christ as recorded in Mark 16:15 to 18? Hear it: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; 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 during the Book of Acts period signs and divers miracles followed. During that thirty-year period Paul wrote I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, Galatians, I Corinthians, II Corinthians and Romans. In Romans 15:19 he referred to signs. He called those signs the signs of an apostle. II Corinthians 12:12. He thanked God that he spake in tongues. I Corinthians 14:18. In that same Epistle, I Corinthians, he included tongues, healing and miracles among the signs that followed believers. I Corinthians 12:4 to 9. So most assuredly signs followed.

Now, this question: What process of elimination is the Christian to employ today to separate the “signs following” from water baptism. Certainly the Lord joined them together. And He joined them both with the Gospel of the Kingdom. Let us read of the Lord upbraiding the Eleven with their unbelief and the hardness of their heart when He commissioned them, according to Mark 16:14, to 18, and then consider thoughtfully their command to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” Compare these words with Acts 20:24, concerning the gospel of the grace of God, twenty years later. Do you think the Eleven knew anything about the Gospel of Grace when they preached to none but Jews only? Acts 11:9. And surely, they did not preach the Gospel of the Grace of God; in its purity to Cornelius. And if they were preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, then while they were preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, would not the “Kingdom” prayer have been in order, “thy kingdom come?” How can any man claim to be an intelligent exegete of the Word of God, and eliminate from the program of the Body of Christ, the so-called Lord’s prayer, on the basis that it was a Kingdom prayer, and retain water baptism, although acknowledging that it was a Kingdom ordinance?

Here is a most proper question: “If the program of signs and supernatural visitations and demonstrations, found in the four Gospels and all during the Book of Acts period, including the Pauline Epistles of that period, did not cease with the close of the Book of Acts period, are there any true Christians today?” We must admit that there are none with those “sign” credentials; none who witness their salvation with gifts from above similar to those that accompanied salvation during the period covered by the Book of Acts. What a sad and pitiable spectacle one can behold today among poor ignorant, deluded, sincere believers here and there who are futilely endeavoring to perpetuate the signs of Christ’s and His first disciples. Their delusion is one of Satan’s instruments to wreck Fundamentalism.

Today, as never before, Christians are thoughtfully seeking for the Scriptural curative for this fanaticism, but when they learn the cure, they are as afraid of the cure as they are of the disease, because they are the victims of the traditions of men and fettered by the religious ceremonies imposed by historic Christianity. They are afraid to sail out into the beautiful stream of pure and unadulterated Grace, and Body truth for this age. Many are finding the antidote in the Messages of the Lord given to and through the Apostle Paul after he reached Rome, in which Messages there is a marked absence of signs and miracles and Jewish ceremonies; and much about the revelation of the Mystery which was hid in God, hidden from men, not made known to any of Israel’s prophets, or any other prophets before Paul reached Rome, after the Book of Acts was closed. Truly there is just as much Scriptural authority for saying that Church of God had a new beginning with the close of the Book of Acts period as to say that it had a new beginning with the opening of the Book of Acts.

The Fundamentalists who say that the company of saved Gentiles, to whom Peter and James, in the presence of Paul and Barnabas, referred in Acts 15:14 and 17, gathered into the same Church of God, as were the company of saved Gentiles, to whom Paul referred in Ephesians 3:1 to 9, are charging the Holy Spirit with contradiction. Peter and James said of the former company that their salvation into the Church, to which they were gathered, was the subject of Prophecy; that they were being called out with a company of elect Jews, in accordance with the ninth chapter of Amos. Acts 15:14 and 17. Whereas Paul plainly declared that the position of the saved Gentiles, mentioned in Ephesians 3:6, was wholly unknown to Amos or any other Prophet of Israel. What about the contradiction? Did Paul contradict Peter, or are the great majority of Fundamentalists mistaken? The latter, we may be sure, is a fact.

If we insist that Peter and Paul spoke of the same Church of saved Gentiles there is a plain, undeniable contradiction in God’s Word. And no Christian believes that there are contradictions when the Word of Truth is rightly divided.

If the Church of God today, the Body of Christ, is to be delivered from “fanaticism”; if Fundamentalism is not to be wrecked by Pentecostalism and similar counterfeit movements and delusions, the Fundamentalists must wake up and apply the one and only curative to rid the Body of Christ of the so-called tongues and signs and visions which are so prevalent, by teaching that the program of the Church today, concerning signs and gifts, must be found this side of the twenty-eighth chapter of Acts and that all truth must be studied in the light of Body Truth.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring 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.

It should be obvious that there can be no unity to keep so long as some members of the one Body insist on the sign gifts of the Book of Acts period while other members of the same Body ignore them, without giving a good and sufficient Scriptural reason for so doing. And truly those members who cling to the sign gifts and water baptism are more consistent than those members who cling to the water without the signs; for in the Book of Acts there are two baptisms with the signs, and after the Book of Acts, one baptism and no signs.

Any intelligent student of the Word of God knows that Body truth is not to be found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John There are many truths in those four Record: that can and should be applied to the life of the individual member of the Body of Christ. But the subject of those four Records is the King and the Kingdom rather than the Head and the Body. Those four Records are at least 98 per cent Jewish, yes more than 98 per cent. Is not the Book of ‘‘ Acts 80 per cent, or more, Jewish? Is not the subject of the King and the Kingdom carried through the Book of Acts rather than the truth concerning the Head and the Body? Most assuredly there is as much Scriptural evidence that the same Kingdom truth, that is the subject of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is carried through the Book of Acts as that the same Church of God that is dealt with in the Book of Acts, is the subject of the Apostle Paul in his messages written after he reached Rome.

If the Body of Christ, dealt with in those closing Epistles, is identical with the Church which began on the day of Pentecost, where can be found the Scriptural explanation of that most radical change that took place in the program of the Church of God after the period covered by the Book of Acts ceased?

It is our Christian duty to join with the Pentecostalist, in an earnest endeavor to recover for the Church today the entire “Book of Acts” Church program, or recover for the Church today the “Body” truth that has been lost since the close of the first century; for it is in that revealed Mystery that the risen Lord has given, with the dispensation of the Grace of God, the only intelligent Scriptural explanation of the cessation of signs, and “that which is in part,” which was God’s order during the Transition period covered by the Book of Acts, in which Book we have learned there were nearly 400 Jewish expressions. Why the absence of those things Jewish in Paul’s closing epistles?

Who authorized any preacher or teacher of the Word to select from the Book of Acts period that part of the early Church program that may please the particular assembly or group of Christians with which he is identified and wholly ignore the signs; ceremonies and gifts that may seem to them objectionable or unnecessary? A strange process of elimination this. Such arbitrary rejection or selection of God’s established order will be practiced only by the sheeplike, who do their thinking by proxy. True Bereans will submit the entire program of the Pentecostal, or Book of Acts, Church to the test of the final truth revealed by the risen Christ to and through the Apostle Paul.

Little wonder that some have believed that the Red-letter New Testament is a work of Satan to hinder Christians from going on with the risen Christ and Paul to perfection rather than going back to Jesus under the law. And on to perfection means beyond the twenty-eighth chapter of Acts; for although Christ by His death on the cross made provision for the abolition of the law dispensation, there was an overlapping of the law and kingdom all through the Book of Acts.

Perhaps you are among those who have elected to drop tongues, healings, visions, casting out demons and other signs and miracles and just hold on to water baptism. Be sure you have Scriptural authority for putting asunder that which God hath joined together. Surely the Lord is trying to get the ear of Fundamentalists today to recover for the Church, Body truth; and more and more. He will use the rod of fanaticism to bring them to their senses. Let’s wake up before it is too late. There are many preachers who know the truth for this age, but their desire for popularity or doors opened by men, that is, some personal advantage, keeps them silent. In the meantime behold the wreck going steadily on .

Shall we suffer with Paul? In Ephesians 6:19 and 20 and Colossians 4:3 we learn that Paul was in jail for this truth; so we can afford to suffer, if we can only get it to God’s people.