Category: Reflections Articles

Mel Gibson, a famous Hollywood actor and director, recently made a movie entitled “The Passion”, which purports to accurately depict the biblical accounts of the crucifixion. Without defending the movie, (Hollywood is hardly known for “accuracy”), it is interesting to note that the movie has incited quite a tumult as many groups are protesting the film’s depiction of Jews.

In the October 4, 2003 edition of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, R. Scott Colglazier, the senior minister of the University Christian Church in Fort Worth, wrote an article titled “Gibson movie opens old wounds of anti-Semitism.” Among other things, the article states:

“…in making this film, he has unwittingly opened a deep theological wound by portraying the Jews as killers of Christ.”

Readers of the New Testament are no doubt aware of the gospel accounts, which detail the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. (cf. Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19).

Continue reading “Revisionist History” →

Quantifying the collective worship of the local church is a rather simple thing to do. One need only read the New Testament and find out exactly what acts of worship the Christians of that time engaged in. If we are able to establish what God commanded the disciples to do, or to establish examples of them engaging in worship that was endorsed by God, we can then know what is constituted in God’s divine directives for congregational worship.

Continue reading “The Five Acts of Collective Worship” →

There are several things necessary for worship to be “true worship.” First, God must be the object. By this we mean the one true God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God referred to by Paul when he told the Athenians, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands…” (Acts 17: 22-24). The God to which Paul refers here is the One true God. He is the Creator of the universe. He is the omnipotent, omniscient, self-existent One. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). All other gods are figments of man’s imagination.

Continue reading “Surely You Have It Turned Around!” →

Man is a worshipful being. Through the history of mankind, in every culture, whether in ignorance or knowledge, man has appealed to someone or something outside of himself for guidance and protection. Pagan idolatry is an example of that “ignorant” worship. Paul declared to the idolatrous Athenians, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23).

Continue reading “The Concept of Worship to God” →

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

It has been established that God is holy, and demands holiness from those who would belong to Him. God demands and rightfully expects obedience from man because he is God, “Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:37).

Continue reading “God’s Attitude Toward Sin” →

In the Old Testament, the concept of sanctification and holiness was broad.  It included not only living in accord with God’s standard of morality, but, for the Jews, it also included the ritualistic requirements of the covenant He had with Israel.

The book of Leviticus contains many laws required of the Israelites that they might be undefiled before Jehovah.  It was necessary that they observe these laws, both moral and ceremonial, in order to be considered clean and worthy of worshipping Him.  Concerning these laws, Jehovah said, “Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them:  I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:37). Continue reading “Holiness As Defined by Christ” →

A series of articles dealing with moral issues from the standpoint of Man’s call to be sanctified, based upon the Holiness of God

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

Peter’s text expresses the fundamental nature of discipleship. The term sanctify (hagiazo) is defined by Arndt and Gingrich as “treat as holy, reverence.” Thayer states “to render or acknowledge to be venerable, to hallow.” The Lord God is to be enthroned in our heart. Such veneration is logical, as He is Lord. A failure to reverence Him is a failure in discipleship.

The text is very similar to a passage found in the book of Isaiah. The King James version renders Isaiah 8:13, “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” A contrast is here made between men and God. God is the one to be feared. He is the one we are to concern ourselves with, rather than men. The Christian ought never to make decisions based upon what men think. Rather, our sole concern should be to please God. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Leviticus 19 serves to establish what God expects of man, and why. Note the following examples:

“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God” (vs. 3).

“Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God” (vs. 4).

“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.” (vs. 11-12).

“You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (vs. 30).

“Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the LORD“ (vs. 37).

God requires us to live lives of righteousness, submitting ourselves to His will. This is required of us because He is “the LORD.” Remember Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'”

Here is the lesson: In order for us to truly sanctify God in our hearts, we must live consecrated lives. This truth is established time and again in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul wrote of the past conduct of some of the Christians in that city. He wrote of fornication, idolatry, homosexuality, thievery and drunkenness. Concerning those characterized by ungodliness, Paul wrote in verse 11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

As we are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2), we must put off sinful practices, and live lives of holiness before Him.

Paul stated it clearly to the Thessalonians.

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7).

God desires that we be holy and righteous in our life. When he called us, (remember, sanctify basically means to consecrate or set apart), he did not intend for us to live as does the world. The calling of God is of a higher order and requires moral, ethical and doctrinal purity. In this specific context, we are to “abstain from sexual immorality,” but the principle applies equally in every facet of our lives before God.

As Christians we will be tempted to compromise our calling. A lowering of standards is unacceptable. Remember, we must hallow God in our hearts. Paul wrote:

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter [in this context, false doctrine], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:21-22)

We are sanctified (called out) to live holy (sanctified) lives. This we must do if we are truly venerating (sanctifying) the Lord God in our hearts.

A series of articles dealing with moral issues from the standpoint of Man’s call to be sanctified, based upon the Holiness of God

In 1 Peter 1:13-16, the apostle Peter wrote:

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Here Peter revealed the basis of the appeal made to holy living on the part of those who name Christ as their savior. We are to be holy because God is Holy. It is not an arbitrary requirement, nor is it capricious. Further, holiness is to be defined by the nature of God rather than the customs of men. Finally, holiness should be present in every aspect of the Christian’s conduct.

Because the call to holiness is so important, God’s children should have a clear idea of what is required of them. In our time the call is muted and distorted by the static of worldliness. Too often Christians either ignore or are unaware of the standard God has set for his people. They compromise the mark God has set, and are guilty of embracing a morality that has its genesis in the mind of man rather than the mind of the Creator. Let’s examine the basis of God’s call to his children to be Holy.

The Holiness of God

The reference in 1 Peter is to a passage in Leviticus, (the phrase is used in 11:44-45, 19:2; 20:7). In Leviticus 19:1-2, it is recorded:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”

The phrase bookends a section of scripture detailing various laws prescribed by God to maintain the purity of the people. Sins such as fornication, adultery, incest and idolatry are condemned. The term holy is the Hebrew qadowsh, and is defined as “pure, clean, free from defilement of crimes, idolatry, and other unclean and profane things.” (Gesenius, pg. 722). While application will later be made regarding the call for holiness on our part, note that characteristically, God is holy. He is pure, clean, and free from any defilement. As James wrote, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13). He is perfect in His holiness.

Numerous Old Testament passages can be cited to establish how Jehovah God was known to Israel. Note the following:

“To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing” (Isaiah 40:25-26).

“God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise” (Habakkuk 3:3).

“Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 78:41).

Isaiah again and again referred to God as the “Holy One of Israel” (cf. 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:17, 20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19, 23; 30:11, 12, 15; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 45:11; 47:4; 48:17).

What becomes obvious, both in the view Israel held toward God, and God’s own actions against sin and ungodliness, is His utter abhorrence of anything unclean.

An interesting example of this is the law given to Israel respecting the purging of human filth from the camp in Deuteronomy 23. Verse 14 says, “For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you.” The term holy here is the same qadowsh, and here indicates cleanliness.

The message of the Old Testament trumpets the Holiness of God. When God first introduced himself to Moses as he tended the flocks of Jethro, He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5)

Israel at Mount Sinai was not able to go up the mountain, as it was consecrated in the presence of God. God said, “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain” (Exodus 19:12-13). And, it was necessary for the priests to “consecrate” (purify, sanctify) themselves before approaching God “lest the Lord break out against them” (vs. 22).

When the tabernacle was built, and later the temple, the inner sanctum of Jehovah was designated at the Most Holy Place. “Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim” (2 Chronicles 5:7).

When Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire in a sacrifice to God, “fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” God gave the reason for such a punishment, saying, “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3).

Conclusion

The text of Leviticus 10 establishes the same principle stated by our initial text in 1 Peter 1. Because God is holy, we must also be holy. To conduct ourselves in a manner less than that prescribed by the nature of God is to treat Him with contempt. His nature and treatment of man demands a commensurate respect and obeisance on our part. The Old Testament shows this in Israel’s fear and respect for Jehovah, and in God’s response when they rebelled. He expects no less from His children today.

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 9 and Final of Series)

The assertion of thiese articles (Later self-published in booklet form) has been that the Lord’s teaching regarding marriage and divorce is straightforward, and easily understood. Simply stated, it is: One man, One woman, for a lifetime. Continue reading “An Addendum” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 8 of Series)

When error is taught religiously, history shows people to be divided into one of three groups. First, there are those who advocate the error. Second, there are those who combat the error. And, finally, there are those who seek to minimize the differences, thus compromising with the error. Issues in the past 150 years have shown this to be true with the battles over the instrument in worship, and with the institutional issues that troubled brethren in the middle of the last century. Continue reading “Fellowship and Controversy” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 6 in Series)

To define the “mental divorce” position, we refer to both formal propositions, and a common scenario. First, the proposition, which some who advocate the position have signed:

The scriptures teach that the innocent person (free of fornication) who has been put away without God’s or his/her approval and against whom adultery has been committed may remarry.

Next, the scenario, which establishes the contention in plain language:

When Jack puts away Jill for a reason other than fornication, though he obtains a civil divorce, they are not really divorced. It is called divorce only “accomodatively”. If Jack then remarries another woman, he is guilty of adultery. So, he can now be mentally put away by Jill. This is the real divorce. Now, Jill is free to remarry.

Both the above proposition and the scenario is used by Donnie Rader in his book, Divorce and Remarriage: What Does the Text Say, page 74. Rader states, “Actually this is an effort by some to justify remarriage following an unlawful divorce.”
Rader’s assessment of the position is accurate, and the mental divorce position is not defensible from scripture. Continue reading “Mental Divorce” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage
(Article 5 of Series)

Sophistry is defined by Webster as “deceptively subtle reasoning or argumentation”. That which is sophistic is “plausible but fallacious”. Another term used for fallacious reasoning or argumentation is specious. Webster defines specious as, “having a false look of truth or genuineness”. Continue reading “Defining and Redefining Adultery” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 4 of Series)

There are myriad positions taken regarding who has the right to divorce and remarry. Most of these positions do violence to the rule established in this series, one man, one woman, for a lifetime. It may be an attempt to bring in more “exceptions” in addition to the one specified by Jesus in Matthew 19:9, fornication. It may be speculation regarding what happens after the bond is broken. It may be a blatant denial of plain teaching. One of these positions contends that while the rule is valid, it applies only to those who are Christians. Continue reading “Are Non-Christians Amenable to Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce and Remarriage?” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 7 of Series)

In the January 2001 issue of Watchman Magazine 1, Terence Sheridan and Harry Osborne debated the following proposition under the heading, “Biblical Putting Away.”

The scriptures teach that biblical putting away is synonymous with the civil procedure for divorce in one’s respective society and that the innocent one must secure that civil divorce in order to have a right to remarry.

Sheridan affirmed the proposition, while Osborne denied it. Continue reading “A Race to the Courthouse” →

Let None Deal Treacherously
An examination of God’s Law (and the error of men) on the subject of Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage
(Article 3 in Series)

(1 Corinthians 7)

In establishing the Lord’s law regarding marriage, (one man, one woman, for a lifetime), and noting the one exception to that law (fornication), the question is sometimes asked, “What about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:15?”

The verse reads, “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.” Some have taken this to be a privilege granted by Paul to the Christian to remarry if she (or he) is deserted by her/his unbelieving mate. The “Pauline Privilege” has been added to the Lord’s “exception” of Matthew 19:9 as another just reason for divorce and remarriage. Continue reading “Paul’s Instructions Regarding Marriage” →