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Volume 70 Number 5 Lubbock, Texas 79493 Copyright $12.00 Per Year May 2002 |
How Did God Harden Pharaoh's Heart? Heirship Infant Salvation The Wise Men Guided By a Star Impeccability of Jesus Christ The Porter No Condemnation Blessed are the ... troublemakers? Meetings Tour Through the Bible Obituaries New Heavens and New Earth Free Internet Pages for Churches Uncle Ed's Philosophy
I have always felt and believed that God is not the author of sin and I still feel and believe that is the truth, yet scripture does record both that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Since it is God’s inspired word that records it, I sincerely believe both to be true. Here is my explanation for how God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
First, to lay some ground-rules, let me state up-front, clearly, and plainly that God is not the author of sin. God never made and He never wanted anybody to sin, so God hardening Pharaoh’s heart cannot mean that God made or wanted Pharaoh to sin. God’s very nature is holy meaning He cannot sin and will not sin; therefore, He cannot and will not motivate anyone (not even a wicked non-Elect) to sin. Certainly, God has on occasion turned the evil of men into good but this does not mean He caused the evil to happen.
Second, I feel that this lesson's primary concern is the sovereignty of God. Yes, we must be careful not to ascribe sin to God, yet we must be careful that we do not take away from the sovereignty of God in His dealings with men. Romans 9:14-24 has as its core doctrinal theme the sovereignty of God and the Apostle Paul uses the occasion of God hardening the heart of Pharaoh to prove this point. God has the right, as the sovereign ruler of the universe, to do with His creation as He sees fit. We cannot and must not gainsay the words of the Apostle Paul that he wrote by Divine inspiration, "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." Romans 9:18
Exodus 4:21 says, "And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go." If Moses had not done all that the Lord had said and in the manner in which God told Moses to do it, Pharaoh’s heart would not have been hardened; therefore, Pharaoh’s heart was not hardened until after Moses came with this basic message, "The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go."
Herein lies part of the answer to how God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. All God did to harden Pharaoh’s heart was to send a meek and lowly prophet to demand of Pharaoh, the mighty king of Egypt, to let God’s people go. Remember that these people were Pharaoh’s slaves. This "LORD God of the Hebrews" meant nothing to Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s pride was provoked and God, through the pride of Pharaoh, hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
Consider this text from Daniel 5:20, "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him." It cut Pharaoh to the heart for Moses to demand of him to let the Israelites go. In Acts 7, when Stephen preached so ably and God was blessing him with such grace to preach, didn’t the same thing happen to those Jews who were listening as did happen to Pharaoh?
I think so. Acts 7:54 says, "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth." All Stephen did was preach the truth to them just as Moses did to Pharaoh and both the Jews who heard Stephen and Pharaoh who heard Moses had the same basic reaction.
Time and again, Moses came to Pharaoh and essentially said, "Let my people go." His very presence was a nuisance and agitation to Pharaoh and the more Moses appeared to Pharaoh, the more Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. At one point, Pharaoh told Moses that if he ever saw Moses again, Moses would die that very day. Now notice this text from Proverbs 29:1, "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
The more that Moses came to Pharaoh, the more Pharaoh would harden his heart. In other words, God, through His messenger Moses, reproved Pharaoh and this reproof acted to harden Pharaoh’s heart.
Even after some of the plagues had come, Pharaoh would seem to be ready to let them go, but just as soon as the plague was lifted, Pharaoh would revert back to his hard-hearted position and not let the people go. Even after the death of the first-born, when Pharaoh let the Israelites depart, he still reverted to his old hard-hearted position and gathered his army to go after them.
By this time, Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened by wounded pride and persistent reproof that he sent himself and his whole army into destruction. In this, God received the glory.
In all this, God dealt with Pharaoh in such a way as to harden his heart. God raised up Pharaoh for this very purpose: to show His power in both Pharaoh’s downfall and the deliverance of His people. Pharaoh was a proud vain man and God cut right to the core of his pride. The more God through Moses demanded of Pharaoh, the more obstinate Pharaoh became.
God knew Pharaoh inside and out as only God can know. As it is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
God knew the predisposition of Pharaoh, so He sent the very sort of person in Moses, who made the very sort of demand, in the very sort of manner, over the very sort of time-frame, that brought about this very sort of hard-hearted reaction by Pharaoh. In this, Moses is a type of our Lord. Jesus came as the meek and lowly Lamb of God, did no sin, committed no trespass of the Law yet, because of the carnal nature of the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, the way He conducted Himself brought about a very predictable response from them.
God was not any more responsible for their crucifying the Son of God than He was for Pharaoh’s hard-hearted actions.
Submitted in love,
Mike Montgomery
From the writings of the late Elder H. G. Richards
"And if children, than heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
The first thing I want to notice about heirship is the underlying cause of the relationship expressed by the word, for one is an heir because of relationship. I don't think anyone will deny that the heirs of God are made heirs by His will. God in His will made some the heirs of promise. I maintain that He embraced them in His will freely, without either restraint or constraint.
In other words He embraced just as many people in His will as He wished and not one more than He wishes. He elected them sovereignly. Nothing on earth could prevent Him from selecting even one person to whom He wishes to bestow that great inheritance. Nothing on earth could induce Him to embrace one to whom He did not wish to bestow it. So the personnel of the heirs is determined by the great merciful, loving, all-wise, omnipotent God of the universe. Who could find fault with it?
Next, let us notice that this is a joint heirship--joint heirs with Christ. The same will that made us heirs made Christ an heir, because the inheritance is a joint one. Whatever made Christ an heir made us all heirs. Whatever can disinherit Christ can disinherit us. If nothing can disinherit Christ, then nothing can disinherit us. Why? Because we are joint heirs with Him. His innocence, righteousness and glory is ours.
To disinherit one of these heirs you would have to break the will. If you decide that one of these heirs is not worthy of the inheritance, upon what grounds will you contest the will? Would you say that God was not sane when He made the will? No? then the will is a sane one. Would you say that will was a conditional. will? If so, you would have to say that Christ was an heir of God only conditionally.
Next, let us notice that suffering of the text. I am sure that the suffering is a part of the inheritance for we suffer with Him. Then the suffering is evidence that we are heirs.
Now, let us sum up a little. What is the intent of all this? Here it is, "That we may be glorified together." Then joint heirship means joint glorification. Then let us not be discouraged because of joint suffering, for the sufferings of this present time are no worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.
Please consider that the word joint does not merely mean equal; it means common, or shared by two or more as joint account.
If three people are parties to joint debt, neither is free until the debt is paid. Therefore, the inheritance is not only an equal one, but it is held in common for Jesus and all the heirs, that we may be glorified together.
"Bold infidelity, turn pale and die.
Beneath this stone four sleeping infants lie:
Say, are they lost or saved?
If death's by sin, they sinned, for they are here.
If heaven's by works, in heaven they can't appear.
Reason, ah, how depraved!
Turn to the Bible's sacred page, the knot's untied:
They died for Adam sinned: they live, for Jesus died."
[From an epitaph, which was engraved on a tombstone, marking the resting place of four children in St. Andrews churchyard in Scotland.]
The above epitaph is printed in many old writings. I have this quote from Elder Len Dalton's book Searchlights From the Roman Letter, page 78-79. I know of no other statement that could state it more clearly and truthfully. It is interesting to read the words of those of our ministers who defended the great truths of the Bible and the church and who were most always confronted with the false charge that "the Primitive Baptists believe there will be infants, not a span long, in hell;" but no one ever remembered who said it; they only "knew someone who heard someone make the statement." Sadly, some Primitive Baptist may have said it.
We believe without reservation that references to the dying infant in the Bible are favorable regarding its salvation, and no person living can prove a baby went to hell. It is interesting to notice that those who acknowledge salvation bay grace and grace alone have no problem with this great comforting truth. Failure to recognize salvation of the dying infant is a self-imposed problem.
It is amazing to hear the theories of man as he tries to devise means that will accommodate his works system.
One theory most interesting by one denomination is that "they are neither saved nor lost." I ask the kind reader to think of that statement; neither saved nor lost. But what does safe mean, and how long are they safe? Where do the multitudes who die in infancy go?
In the Council of Florence it is declared "The infants in limbo are those who die without baptism, and in whose case baptism has not been supplied." "Saint" Bernard taught, "such infants might be saved by faith of their parents." In order to believe in baptismal regeneration, limbo had to be utilized for unbaptized infants and others who died before Christ was born. All of this is in denial of the fact that death passed upon all men. [Romans 5.]
The epitaph above reads, "If death by sin, they sinned, for they are here" [in the grave.] Every person professing a belief in the Scriptures believes something about election. Some say it only pertains to the Apostles; some say it is conditional on the individual; that everyone is elected, but it depends on which way you vote; some just don't believe it at all and don't even want to acknowledge that it's in the Bible.
There is another very grievous error; that God chose his people and predestinated that the gospel would be preached to them and they would respond favorably. But where is the dying infant in this man-made web? Those who advocate such things do not care to consider the poor dying infant since certainly they can't respond to the overtures of the gospel. Is it safe; not saved; is it below the usual catchall phrase "age of accountability"?
Reflect on the tombstone in Scotland over the grave of four infants. Turn to the Bible's sacred pages and the knot is untied. "They died for Adam sinned, They live for Jesus died." To say we see no evidence they are born again does not limit God.
In Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light and there was light"; Verse 4, "And God saw the light that it was good." Notice, God saw the light; God sees light when no one else can; He sees the light of regeneration in our souls when even we ourselves may not be able to. The important thing is God saw the light John the Baptist, before he was even born of his mother, was born of the Spirit and filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb [Luke 1:44, Luke 1:15].
I close for now with an interesting observation. In the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table it shows that 4.18 out of every one thousand male babies die at age 0, and 2.89 of every thousand females die at age 0. The latest figures show some 1,800 infant an hour die before, during and after birth by abortion. These are just the known statistics for this country; think of the worldwide rate.
There is no other system to save the dying infant, but God's grace is sufficient. May this be to the comfort and consolation of every grieving mother and family member who feel the void left with your loss. Those who say Primitive Baptists believe there will be infants in hell not a span long surely misrepresent the belief of the Primitive Baptists, just as anyone today who advocates that the gospel is instrumental in the new birth would be misrepresenting the Primitive Baptists and the revealed truth of God's Word.
David said, regarding his dead child, "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." [2 Samuel 12:23]
"Turn to the Bible's sacred page,
the knot's untied:
They died, for Adam sinned:
they live, for Jesus died."
Matt. 2:1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, Where is He that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him.
When Herod, the king had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him and when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born and they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea for this is written by the prophet. Mich. 5:2.
Then Herod when he had privily called the wise men inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem and said: go and search diligently for the young child. And when ye have found him bring me word again that I may come and worship Him also.
When they had heard the king, they the wise men departed and lo the star they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy and when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary, his mother and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures they presented unto Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, and being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod. They departed into their own country another way.
From all of the above Scriptures there is one subject I would like to discuss here, namely the wise men. For centuries people have taught that the wise men were three. The decorative Christmas cards we see always picture the three wise men. In no place does the text above mention three, or is the number of the wise men stated. Although, we realize that this is of no doctrinal importance, still we believe that we should go only as far as the Bible goes on any subject. For this reason we should find if there were, by the scriptural teachings, then by taking up history and tradition we may find out the source of these pictures are false.
But first read Gen. 25:6. But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had. Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from Isaac, his son while he yet lived. Eastward unto the last country, so these wise men from the east were descendants of Abraham and had special gifts given them of their father, Abraham.
In 1 Kings 4:30 and Solomons Wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east contrary, proving the above statement that these people were endowed with great natural wisdom.
The Jews were expecting that when Jesus came He would again gather the dispersed Israelites together into their once great glory as a nation, and would reign as their king.
Herod, fearing that this would take away from him his power over the Jews and he would no longer be able to use them to profit his kingdom desired the death of the child Jesus.
Now, we have to rely on history, which is good only as much as it is in harmony with Scriptures.
Herod knew of the wisdom of the people of the east. This country was east of Babylon and east of Assyria and was the land of Media, a nation of six tribes with a worship similar to the Israelites, worshipping not idols of stone or wood but of a supreme being, not calling him god or jehovah. Their priestly tribe was called Magi from which word comes magic and magician. This priestly tribe or caste had penetrated many of the secrets of nature to the extent that they could perform acts of a miraculous nature, their wisdom being greatly respected in all of the countries.
But these people received the Jewish worship with great respect and were exceeding sociable with them in spiritual matters.
King Herod believing they could solve the mystery of Christs birth called these wise men to his aide as he could not fathom the mystery of a child being born without a natural father. He brought the wise men in to investigate the matter. The story of this is in the gospel of Matthew, of their mission, and how it ended. God intervening in it, gave the wise men instructions of how to proceed after guiding them to the child Jesus.
But at no time did Matthew state that there were three. We can be sure there were more than one.
But, beginning with the Greek Orthodox Church the number has been placed as being three, the supposed date being celebrated in their services and great honor given the wise men, whose names were said to be Gasper, Melchoir and Balthasar. The gifts were three symbols gold, the kingly dignity, and royal rank, frankincense to show their worship and adoration of Him. Myrrh the bitterness of His suffering and passion on the cross.
And when He hung on the cross He was offered wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but refused it. But, to prove there were three wise men is impossible for there is no known history to confirm the idea.
We feel that if the number of men had been important God would have by His thorough furnisher provided us with such knowledge.
The Banner of Love, Feb. 1, 1964
THANK GOD!
Thank God for America, [U.S.A.] and The Banner of Love.
Jimmie Burleson
San Antonio, Texas
THE PAPER MEANS A LOT
Please renew my subscription to The Banner of Love for another year. Use the rest as needed I am not able to get out much, and the paper means a lot. But, I am able to go to the church again, and for that, I am most grateful.
May God bless you in your efforts to publish the paper.
Thanks to you very much,
Peggy Johnson
Levelland, Texas
Note: So happy to hear from you Sister Peggy. Thank you for the extra. Opal Richards.
We read in Roman's chapter 8, verse 1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” As raised up in the Primitive Baptist belief I have received great comfort through the years reading, studying and hearing the gospel preached of the wonderful grace of God. Yet for many years in my ministry Roman's 8:1 was a mystery to me that it seemed as if I could not settle on exactly what it was teaching due to the fact that I knew by other scriptures that we were not saved by the works of righteousness that we have done, but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. At first glance at this verse we might draw the conclusion that if we would walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh, then there is no condemnation, yet when we back up into chapter 7, we read the words of Paul, “For I know that in me dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Then in verse 24 he says; “Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
So based upon these words of Paul in chapter 7, Paul knew that it would take more than trying to walk after the Spirit to make us righteous, because even in our best estate evil is present with us. Now back to chapter 8, verse 1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There is therefore carries the thought of the idea of, {drawing a conclusion, or there is no doubt}. There is therefore now no condemnation. These words no condemnation carries with it, that there is no judgment to them that are in Christ Jesus. Why would there be no judgment to us that are in Christ? This is because Christ came into the world and became sin for us, who knew no sin that the righteousness of God might be revealed in us. We are not dealing with the outward man, but with the inward man. We are speaking of those that are in Christ Jesus; we are dealing with Christ in you the hope of glory.
In first John chapter 3, verse 9 we read, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” We realize that through what Paul spoke in Roman's 7 that we all sin in our best estate, yet this verse tells us that whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin and he cannot sin because the seed of Christ remaineth in him. There is a part of man that does not sin and cannot sin because Christ has cleansed a place in man and takes up and dwells in him. This we call the new creation, the new birth, regeneration, being born again, the taking away of the hard and stony heart and putting in a heart of feeling. So we find that there is no judgment, no condemnation for this person because Christ stood our judgment, he satisfied all of God's righteous laws and demands and as we stand before God, we stand as if we never committed one sin.
In Romans 8:2 we read, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death was pronounced upon all of us through the sin of Adam. As Adam sinned, we all sinned, when Adam died we all died in him, but thanks be unto God for the gift of his Son Jesus Christ. I want to close this with the words of Paul in Roman's chapter 5, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men onto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” I am so thankful to know and to understand that there is no judgment for me, Paul was thankful that there was no judgment for him and as we travel here in this world let us thank God that Christ sent his Son to stand our judgment and took away the sin of the world. Glory and praise to God. AMEN:
ENJOY MY PAPER SO MUCH
Dear Sister Opal: Enclosed is a small donation; use it where ever it is needed.
When I was traveling, I believed that I would get to visit in your part of the world; but the Lord did not bless me to meet you.
I pray you and your loved ones are being blessed with good health.
I enjoy my paper so much. Often I see names of people who traveled with me. I was blessed to have so many Primitive Baptist join my groups. The Lord has been so good to me.
May God richly bless you and yours.
In Christian Love,
Opal Burcham,
Chattanooga, TN
Note: Sister Opal, thank you so much for the donation. I used to wish that we could go on one of your tours. But it never happened. May God richly bless you. Opal Richards
TRULY ENJOY THE BANNER
I am sending a check for my paper. I truly do enjoy the Banner.
I keep them and I go back and read them again.
We are so blessed to have visitors, [Cuero Primitive Baptist Church, Elder Bill Walden, pastor.] Also, I think we have good interest. The Lord has surely blessed us. Excuse my writing as I've just passed 97 years of age.
Julia Dunn
Cuero, Texas
A REPORT FROM BROTHER AND SISTER BARRINGTON
Dear Friends:
Thanks so much for your calls, visits, and letters to Brother and Sister Barrington. Please continue to pray for them, as they face the daily struggles of life.
Sister Barrington has a fractured scapula [shoulder blade] and has been in a lot of pain from it. Brother Barrington continues to struggle with his own battles. He keeps a good outlook and still enjoys coming to church. They welcome your visits and your prayers!
Love in Christ,
Martha Barrington
P. S. Thank you for all your labors of love!
WONDERFUL MEETING
I enjoy the paper so much.
We just had a two day meeting. It was a wonderful meeting; had good fellowship and love. We had three visiting ministers; heard lots of good preaching and singing. We felt God was with us in our meeting.
Sister Brooksie Pitney
Columbus Grove, Ohio
MISSES CHURCH
I have lived up here in [Canon City] Colorado for ten years. I have no way to go to the [Colorado] Springs to church. I have missed church so much, but thank God, He has kept me with strength and courage enough to live these last ten years away from church. I have not lost out completely. He has kept me on my feet for 98 1/2 years, but it has been almost more than I could do. As long as my husband lived we went to several other churches, but nothing can be like home.
I read every word of the Banner. Brother McCoy was up here a few time and just seeing him gave me so much joy.
Sister Opal, you have been so faithful. May God bless all all of you.
Sister Messer
Canon City, CO.
Note: Sister Messer, we are so proud to hear from you. It has been two or three years since I have talked with you. Love you, Opal Richards
In thinking of writing during the different experiences in this age of time, Lam. 3:21-26 is really encouraging.
It is real good to know, God is always faithful to see us through. May He strengthen you all in honor to Him. It is my understanding that God does not change, He changes things.
It's precious to seek to live in the way God is pleased; looking forward to the brighter day.
In dear hope,
Sister Loretta Lilly
Akron, Ohio
HAVE BEEN SICK
I have been very sick through the month of April and in he hospital. Many friends and brothers and sisters in my church at Paris, TX prayed for me. I am home and much better. Thank God who heard and answered their prayers and mine.
Keep up the good work publishing the paper. We enjoy it very much. Sorry to hear the West Texas Association is discontinued. I attended it as a child with my parents.
Mrs. Jane Welch
Avery, Texas
A SPECIAL THANKS
My wife recently wrote you a resolution of respect for our son, Lewis.
He had been on disability for a couple of years, and had no burial insurance. With the help of friends and relatives and some Primitive Baptist Churches and members in particularly, we were able to pay all of funeral expenses, including the burial plot.
We are truly thankful for those whom the Lord has put in their hearts to show true charity, and for those that have called us and written to us giving us words of encouragement and sympathy. Also for the beautiful flowers and cards.
We still miss him terribly, but do not sorrow as those who have no hope. He has given us a blessed hope and the Comforter, which He has promised us in time of need and those who love him. We know, he is no longer suffering, but in sweet Jesus. We know that these things come from God and are the greatest gifts of all.
We recently had to put my wife's mother, Lola Mullins, in a nursing home. She is almost 96. We still pick her up and take her to church.
Again, it is with heart felt thanks that I write unto you. Please pray for us.
In Christian love,
Elder and Sister Wayne Poss
A RENEWED INTEREST IN THE BANNER
Dear Brother Richards, I am seeing a renewed interest in The Banner of Love among God's people. I have always loved the paper and I know it means a lot to Primitive Baptist all over. At our home we anxiously await each month's issue.
May God continue to bless you all for your wonderful Labor of Love in printing the Banner.
Thank you and God Bless!
Elder Andrew Stull
Katy, Texas
ALWAYS GOOD READING
Enclosed is my check to renew the Banner of love for another year.
May God bless you to keep publishing the paper. It is always good reading.
In love,
Earline L. McCormack
Eastland, Texas
Part 3
The efficacy of the work of Christ cannot exceed the authenticity of the person and character of Christ. In a word, that is to say if the essence and character of Christ contained a capacity to sin, the works of Christ would not be efficacious, and He would be, therefore, a failure.
A perfect work is required of a perfect Christ to accomplish the perfect purpose of the perfect Godhead. If the Eternal Son of God, who was and is eternally perfect, holy, and sinless, assumed a nature in His incarnation capable of sinning, the result would be a deterioration in the Godhead from perfection to imperfection. This would, therefore, disqualify the Lord Jesus Christ to be a worthy, willing, and able redeemer.
A redeemer of sinners must be worthy (possessed with entire holiness and righteousness), willing (diligently inclined with purposeful determination and without the least possibility of failure), and able (having sufficient ability and capable resources with which to perform). Jesus Christ is the only one who could meet the requirements.
Sinners cannot redeem sinners. "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Psalm 49:7).
The cross of Christ was successful because the One crucified on the cross was the sinless and impeccable Son of God. Notice the prophecy in Isaiah 53:11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
Emphasis is given to the fact that the Father called His Son, "...My righteous Servant...." Jesus was satisfied with His success on the cross because the iniquities he bore on the cross were not His. They were the sins of God's children that had been laid on Him. Jesus, in His flesh, was the real man and the real God (God manifest in the flesh).
As a man, He was made subject to all the infirmities of the flesh, yet without sin (Hebrew 4:15). The phrase "yet without sin" means that Jesus was without a sin-nature; therefore, He was not able to sin. Jesus, being without a sin-nature, could not have died except that God transferred His children's sins to His Son's own body on the tree of the cross. The sins of all the elect were imputed to Him (1st Pet. 2:24). It is exclusively by reason of the conveyance of sins from others to Jesus that He could die. Jesus could not have died merely because He was God incarnate in the flesh.
He could die only by reason of sin (Rom. 6:23). Since He had no sin of His own, it was the imputed sins of those He represented that killed the Lord of Glory. We repeat, He had none of His own. It took the death of this Holy Person to expiate the sins of His people to satisfy the Justice of God. God’s redemptive purpose was thus fulfilled. Amen!
In the 10th chapter of John the Lord tells us, "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep, to him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: And he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."
A porter or a doorkeeper had to open the door of the sheepfold in order for Christ to call his sheep. Who is this porter? Some say that this is the work of the ministry, that the preacher opens the door. Others say that the porter was John the Baptist.
Their main argument for this is the prophesy of Isaiah in the 40th chapter verses 3 to 5. "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." Although John the Baptist prepared the way preaching repentance and remission of sins, yet it is doubtful that he is the porter. Others say that the porter is the Holy Spirit. This seems more likely because when Christ announced his ministry in the 4th chapter of Luke, verse 18, he read the following passage of scripture in the synagogue: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
Christ at the beginning of his ministry shows in this passage that the work that he did was with the Spirit to help him as man. {Remember that although Christ possessed all power in heaven and earth he laid this power down when he became man} At his baptism we read in Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." So we see by these two quotations that the Spirit descended upon him as he started his public ministry to shepherd his sheep. The Spirit dwelling with Jesus Christ acts as his voice. In John 5:25 we read, "Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." We know that it is the Spirit that calls one to life. In John 6:63 we read, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." When the porter opens the door of the sheepfold his sheep hear the voice of Christ and he calls them out by name and leads them out. The sheep follow him for they know his voice and will not follow the voice of a stranger.
As Christ tells us they do not know the voice of strangers. Christ is the door that every sheep goes in and out to find pasture. All of these things are the work of the Holy Spirit in performing the work of Christ. After he has given us life he is our Comforter to lead us into all truth. One of the most beautiful things is that Christ indwells us through the Spirit: "Which is Christ in you the hope of glory." {Col. 1:27} Man never ushers in Christ nor opens the door for him. The Spirit always precedes the work of man.
God would never use a mere man that is sinful to open the door for the Savior to call his sheep. Even the gospel is revealed from faith to faith. To be revealed from faith to faith requires the Spirit being with the preacher and revealing the truth to the hearer. All of grace is God's work. AMEN:
Blessed are the . . .troublemakers.
How does that sound? Doesn’t sound quite right, does it? Does that sound like something Jesus would say?
What would Jesus say? See if this doesn’t sound a little more familiar: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matt. 5:9.
Ever stop to think which category you fit in? Know anyone who fits in either of those categories: troublemaker, or peacemaker?
In your church, in your association, which are you? Is your energy going to spreading peace, or discord?
We are reminded of this issue regularly as we publish the Banner of Love. As best we can, we attempt to keep discord out of our news columns. We prefer to spread the words of peace.
This newspaper was established on the foundation of love, forgiveness, and peace, and not to serve as a battleground of disputed issues or church internal and/or external disagreements.
We recently read on an internet posting an interesting account of a story related by Elder Norman Jones in a recent sermon in the Texas Panhandle. His sermon dealt with the subject of "love" and that love is contagious, even in the face of strife.
Elder Jones described an associational meeting held several years ago in Oklahoma. There was a lot of trouble, strife, and tension at the meeting as troubles brewed and people paired off into little groups. The spirit was missing as the conversation centered on troubles and discord among the churches and ministers.
Then a car drove up from West Texas. Out stepped Elder Jimmie Bass, and he went around and started shaking hands and hugging everyone, smiling and wishing them God’s blessings. Soon the attitude at the meeting changed. Other people were soon hugging each other and the entire attitude changed. The spirit returned to the meeting.
Elder Jones’ point was that love is contagious. So is bitterness, strife, envy and hate.
We were appreciative of an article written last year for the Banner of Love by Bro. Leon Watson. Brother Leon served as editor of the Banner of Love during the interim period after my father’s death; and it’s clear from his writings he understands the doctrine of peace.
In the August 2001 issue of the Banner of Love, Brother Leon wrote under the title of "Be on the side of peace". He referenced Elder Jimmie Bass’ philosophy of "If it’s not peace with all, it’s not peace at all."
Brother Leon wrote that many times a church will answer that it is "at peace", but will note that ANOTHER church "is out of order". Repeating what Elder Bass said: "If it’s not peace with all, it’s not peace at all."
"Discipline your own members according to the scriptures, and leave other churches alone. You will remain at peace in your own church by doing so."
"We often show more courtesy and feeling for denominations of this world than we do for other Primitive Baptist Churches. " Brother Leon pointed out that we are instructed to "love our enemies" but that we seem to be having difficulties loving and praying for our own sister churches.
If we have problems with the actions of our sister churches, what is our duty. Is it to interfere in their business? Is it to travel and spread discord about those churches?
If we have problems with our sister churches, our duty is to love them and to pray for them.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear which side each of us should be on: "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Read the 6th chapter of Proverbs about the seven deadly sins. "These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him:" Proverbs 6:16.
The six deadly sins are (1) a proud look, (2) a lying tongue, (3) hands that shed innocent blood, (4) a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, (5) feet that are swift to mischief, and (6) a false witness that speaketh lies. Prov. 6:17-19.
Do you know the 7th deadly sin: (7) "he that soweth discord among brethren."
Skip over to Proverbs 20:3: "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling."
If you find yourself involved in a discussion regarding actions, or accusations, about other brethren or churches, follow this advice if you are wondering which side to choose: "Be on the side of peace"
Our duty is always to pray for peace. Let’s leave judgment to the Lord. He’s fairer and better at it than we are.
(Part 1 of 2 Parts)
Gen. 1:1 First Heaven & Earth
Deut. 32:1 First Heavens & Earth
Psalms 115:16 Heaven, even Heavens are The Lord's
The Jews named three parts in heaven:
1. Place of clouds in the air
2. Place of The Sun, Moon, Stars
3. Place of God & His Angels
Note: Heavens (plural) meant the entire universe...
THREE HEAVENS =
1. 1st Heaven Spiritual Inner-Man - 2nd Cor. 4:16; Luke 17:21
2. 2nd Heaven N. T. Visible, Organic, Organized, Militant Church on Earth - Canaan's Land
3. 3rd Heaven Abode of God & those closely associated with Him, and the ultimate destination Luke 22:29-30 of His Elect Saints on Earth... 2nd Cor. 12:1--4
Paul's experience in - 2nd Cor. 12:1-4 3rd Heaven
Phil. 1:21-23 3rd Heaven
John's experience in - Rev. 4:1-6 3rd Heaven
Rev. 10:1-7 3rd Heaven
Rev. 14:1-8 3rd Heaven
Rev. 21:10 3rd Heaven
New Heavens & New Earth:
Isaiah 65:17-19; Isaiah 66:22
In these two verses of Prophecy, we find a direct view pointing to the New Testament Church Kingdom on Earth, the Visible, Organic, Organized, Militant Literal Called-0ut Ekklesia Body of Believers.
However, we must be quick to announce that this is just a picture or prelude to the literal coming End-Time of the Gospel Age, when the fullness of the NEW will be ushered in. Prophecy always precedes the fulfilled realized substance in its completed final format. The N.T. Church was a Timely Affair, the Church Age, Dispensation of many Generations, but all this points us still further into the final eternal ecstasy. It is just a prelude, foretaste or earnest of the full total everlasting entity.
So the Church on Earth was the Divine Instrument exemplifying the New Heavens and New Earth. In John’s Vision in Rev. 21:1—4 he further declares that he saw this in full color and in the 3rd dimension. He also saw in this same vision even further fullness and even a higher phenomenon that was difficult for him to explain. In Rev. 10:1--6 he was about to write and the seven thunders uttered their voices, and said to him – write them not, that there should be time no longer.
As to the TIMING of the events of this End-Time Parousia, at the point of the Second (2nd) Coming of Jesus Christ, with all the Holy Angels, the 144,000, Enoch and Elijah, and any others who are NOW in The 3rd Heaven Immortal Glory - Soul, Body and Spirit, including all the Holy Angels, who will follow Jesus on White Horses also (Rev. 19:14) no one knows - Matt. 24:36; Rev. 20:4.
Just as surprised as were The Israelites - Pharisees & Sadducees – at the mode and method of Jesus First (1st) Physical-Coming, in the Flesh, I perceive most of the so-called biblical scholars, historians and theologians will be equally surprised at the mode, method and TIMING of Jesus Second (2nd) and Final Coming - Parousia-Arrival. There will not be an interval of 1000 years as the Dispensationalists and the PreMillennialist Arminians believe.
There will be no "Rapture" of only the Gospel Believers. Jesus will not come to "set-up" His Kingdom to replace The Church Age, since the "CHURCH-KINGDOM" has been active since His Resurrection, over 2000 years ago. Jesus will never set foot on this earth again. We will meet him in the air - 1st Thess. 4:17...
This is only Part One, of a Two-Part Writing.
Hulan F. Bass (elder)
Lockhart, Tx.
Have you any church troubles? If so, keep them a home, we do not care to hear about them. Please do not write us about such things. If all will do this, they will do us a great favor, for we will not let this little paper be made agent of disturbers of the peace of God’s church.
--Elder H. G. Richards, Editor
The Banner of Love,
First issue, January, 1933
The Banner of Love is making available on it’s new internet site free space for each church.
We already have a number of churches who are using the Banner of Love internet site for providing to the public information concerning their church." said Don Richards, publisher.
"We are offering any interested church a free "page" to list the church’s basic directory-type information — including the church, its address and directions, meeting dates and times, and a picture of the church and/or pastors."
Interested churches may review the free church listing and see existing church listings there by going to the internet web site at "banneroflove.net" and clicking "Churches" on the index at the left side of the opening page.
Those desiring to have a free listing should contact the Banner of Love, either by mail or by responding with email on the web site, and providing the basic directory-listing information of church name, address, directions, meeting times and, if desired, provide accompanying pictures.
The white headed old gentleman is sitting on a bench in the park near the post office. He is approached by a younger man, who stops, and says:
Well, Uncle Ed, it is good to see you out this morning. It is warm today, and the sunshine feels good.
Ed: Yes, indeed, it is good. I have been hemmed in all winter, and I needed to get out and stretch my limbs a bit, so I decided to walk to the post office. But, you know, walking kinda' gets my breath.
How have you been doing Brother Tom?
Tom: Well, good, the Lord has been blessing me far beyond what I deserve.
Ed: I know what you mean. Who of us could be deserving of the rich blessings of the Lord?
Tom: Well, I just want to tell you, one of the blessings I enjoy is the privilege of coming and chatting with you every now and then.
Ed: Well, now that is nice of you to say such a thing. I guess things are going well with you at church?
Tom: Oh yes, we had the house just about full Sunday, and many of our people were not present. If we ever get them all at church at one time, I don't know just where we will put them. But that is nice anyway.
Ed: Well, I wish I could have been there, but you know the condition of my wife, and I just can't leave her at home by herself.
Tom: Right. But we thought of you, and you were mentioned to the Lord in our prayers.
Say, there is something I would like to discuss with you. With one of our good families in the church, there is a member, who has been real sick The doctors seem to think she has a malignancy, or cancer. Some of the people got to talking about this, and some could not understand why the Lord sends such things, or lets them happen to such good people. Why, they say, if the Lord is going to send such sickness, it doesn't happen to the "mean people" rather than to the good people?
Ed: Well, first I want to tell you, people have just run out of something to talk about when they start to questioning the acts of God. And, secondly, it is plain ignorance to charge evil and wickedness to God, and to blame him with sickness. Tom: Oh, I see, and you don't think God has anything to do with such things?
Ed: I Didn't say that. But I wouldn't charge God with sending sickness. I know that God rules and controls, and nothing happens outside of the knowledge of God, but we are told sickness, and disease are the results of sin, and are sent, and are sanctioned by Satan, and not by God. You even take the sickness of Job, and the thorn in the flesh of Paul, God knew about them, but Satan sent them, and was responsible for them. The big thing about this is, that after Satan sent them, God took them and turned them around and brought good out of them. Do you see the difference?
Tom: That does put a new light on the situation, doesn't it?
Ed: It certainly does. And something else I want you to understand, and you tell your people who are worrying about it, that how good or how bad you are has nothing to do with God's relationship to you, in so far as Him sending trouble. God let Satan really put it on Job in a big way, and I am sure the determining factor in the whole thing was because Job was really a good man. He was chosen as a test case. God proved to Satan there are some people who would be faithful to God, in spite of all Satan could do. And we hear Paul pointing out how he was thankful because the Lord counted him to be worthy to suffer with him.
Tom: Good, I thought I already understood these things, but you have helped me a lot.
Ed: One more thing, Paul, looking at this, summed it all up, and then said that he reckoned the sufferings of this life are not to be compared with the joy he was expecting to receive when he realized the new life he told about in Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie, promised me before the world began."
Tom: My, my, it gets better all the time.
Ed: Sure thing. The big mistake we make, we have things just reversed. We look upon life as a blessing and death as a curse, which it would be ordinarily, but when we anticipate that Christ abolished death, and then brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, then we realize that life can be bad, and death can open the door to a newer and a better life.
Tom: Well, I must be going. I have enjoyed talking to you.
Ed: Sure thing. I will be seeing you.
(Editor’s Note: Uncle Ed’s Philosophy was written by the late Elder A. E. Richards when he served as publisher of The Banner of Love. The series of Uncle Ed’s articles appeared in the Banner over several years and was Elder Richards’ efforts to help explain the Old Baptist doctrine in conversational language).