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Volume 70 Number 12 Lubbock, Texas 79493 Copyright $12.00 Per Year December 2002 |
The Lord in the Manger Patience ... A Perfect Worker A Matter of Principal The One Mediator How do you ‘study’? From Conception to Reflection Lust Not Candid talk about religious periodicals Read the Bible in one year Justification Tour through the Bible Obituaries Meetings
The outworking of God’s purpose which preceded the creation of the heaven and the earth manifested itself in Bethlehem Judea like a budding flower captured in slow motion come suddenly to full bloom. The indescribable eternity past, and the slow-moving centuries of time did not delay His coming into the world. As the Apostle tells us in his letter to the churches of Galatia the fullness of the time was come and God sent forth his Son that night; Mary’s time came because it was God’s time {Gal. 4:4}. In a city busy with its religion and overflowing with people, complying with the decree from Caesar Augustus to pay their taxes (Luke 1:1), and according to another decree by the eternal triad, the King of kings was born that night. While we often recall the fact that there was no room in the inn, may we not forget that God provided a place. His birth, like His work, is not dependent on the accommodation of men. Even the place of His birth had been before determined (Micah 5:2) “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old from everlasting” (the days of eternity).
The angels of heaven were busy that night. They went to Shepherds, who watched in the darkness. The sun had gene dawn, but the Sun of righteousness was spreading His wings and rising to give light even to the gentiles, who had long sat in darkness. Unnoticed by the multitudes the angels gave unmistakable signs: “and this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”. (Luke 2:12)
In the manger was God incarnate, the eternal Son of God robed in flesh, Immanuel, God with us, in a manger where cattle feed. What a difference the Babe in the manger has made. Every descendent of Adam who will live in heaven will do so because of this One in a cattle stall. Without the heavenly messenger’s instructions, the last place men would search for the Lord of Glory would be a stable.
For some 33 years the sinless Son of God lured in a sinful world. What an awful contrast. He was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. Finally, as a grown man, continuing enmity would be expressed by plucking out His beard, spitting in His face, and crucifying Him on the cross. What He endured, the most eloquent of mortal tongues fail to tell.
As there was no room in the Inn at His birth, neither was there room for Him in the Jews’ religion of that day. He was in the beginning, at the creation, when He created the host of heaven and called them by name, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of the morning shouted for joy, (Job 38:7). He was now in the earth he created. His first night was in a stable, and at his death He was buried in a borrowed tomb. We see him in His humiliation, see him in his exaltation. He came to make the host a certainty, and has changed the lives and has given hope to those who had no hope. We are reminded of the words of the poet “Why should He love me so?” Regarding the announcement made to her, Mary pondered these things in her heart. As we consider that the first night’s stay in “this world” was in a bed of straw, He was safe, as God’s legions of angels watched over Him. The bed which his father provided was a good bed. If God makes our bed it will be a good place. It has been said that Jesus can make the dying bed feel soft; only God can make the dying bed a monument of praise as He has done so many times.
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.
Elder Bill Walden, Pastor
Stratton Primitive Baptist Church
By Elder Frank McCarty
James 1:3. Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have its perfect work that ye may be perfect, and entire wanting nothing.
As we think of patience we learn that time is always involved. The definition of patience is: endurance, continuance, waiting.
It is easy to get laziness and patience mixed up. We have some people that are willing to wait and let others do the things that they should be doing, and actually don't have much patience.
That is not the kind of waiting the scriptures teach.
Isa. 40:31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
We have the promise that the Lord works His will in due time. He works according to His own will and not according to carnal thinking. Romans 5:3-4. And not only so but we glory in tribulations, also, knowing that tribulations worketh patience, and a patience experience and experience hope. Patience comes to us by experiencing tribulations, and seeing that the Lord delivers us from these things. The more we go through the trials of this life the more we see and understand the providence of God, then the more we are willing to wait for the lord to deliver us. This is the way that I believe we come in possession of patience. It comes by suffering and understanding, and thusly being delivered. So we can see that time and waiting are involved. Time means nothing with God as it does with us.
God was patient while the ark was being built. This is what James meant when he said, let patience have its perfect work.
Proverbs 27:18. Whoso keepeth the fig shall eat the fruit thereof. So he that waiteth on his master shall be honored.
It would be foolish to plant a fig tree one day and expect to gather fruit the same day. So there is a waiting period and during that time there will be the storms and even lightning and thunder.
The scriptures say to not be weary in well doing for ye shall reap if you faint not.
Paul said, let us run our race with patience, ever looking to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.
I pray that the Lord will grant me more patience, even if it will have to come through suffering.
Now is the time that we all need to wait upon the Lord and ask His guidance and to give us strength to fight the good fight of faith.
Many things have been done wrong in the past, by not exercising patience and that is not of faith.
When we do things contrary to the scriptures, James said that which is not of faith is sin.
2 Cor. 1:10. Who delivereth us from so great a death, and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.
Written in bonds of love.
From the writings of Elder Frank McCarty
[The Banner of Love, April 1972]
I would like to draw your attention to the following text as I believe it helps explain the principles behind Old Line Primitive Baptist practice.
Hebrews 7:11-14
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Hebrews Chapter 7 makes the case for not adding to the commandment or precept crystal clear.
In chapter 7, we find the changing of the Levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Christ is being taught. There are some important things to consider.
1) Without a change of the law, Jesus Christ could not assume the role of our High Priest unto God. Heb. 7:11
2) The Law only prescribed for those of the tribe of Levi to hold the office of the priest. Jesus Christ was disqualified from this service under the Levitical Law because He was of the tribe of Judah. Heb. 7:12-13
3) While the Law only prescribed Levites to fulfill this office, it did not FORBID those of the tribe of Judah. Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood in relation to the tribe of Judah. In other words, the scriptures were silent as far a command against one of the tribe of Judah holding the office of the priest was concerned. Heb. 7:14
With these things in mind, please notice the scriptural principle being describe here in Hebrews 7. There was only a positive precept laid forth concerning the priesthood under the Law - that Levites were to be priests. It did not take such a precept in conjunction with an equally authoritative commandment against those of other tribes holding this office to keep the precept reasonably enforced. God did not have to give a negative command to each of the other tribes to keep them out of the office of the priesthood. God simply said it was left to the Levites. That is all it took. It was clearly understood by God's people even in ancient times that no alternatives were allowable.
In the same light consider: Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
The same is clearly demonstrated by God telling Moses to simply speak to the rock. God did not forbid Moses to strike it, but Moses was clearly and justly condemned for doing so. Moses had violated God's command and the scriptural precept that God's commands are exclusive in nature.
Now, returning to our Hebrews 7 text, Jesus Christ was not forbidden to assume the priesthood according to any positive delineated command of the Law. He was excluded from that office by a very simple principle - God's precepts are exclusive in nature. The Law had to be changed to change that facts of who could serve in this office.
This very simple principle is the backbone of adherence to the concepts of the New Testament Church and the basis of Old Line Primitive Baptist Practice. It is a doctrinal difference in how one views his obligations with respect to God's word. One who holds to this disagrees, as a matter of principle, with those who feel that anything is allowable to be included in the corporate worship of God in His Church if it is not expressly forbidden. This becomes most clear when applied to church practices.
This following church practices are good examples:
1) Baptizing properly by immersion instead of sprinkling. The bible only says to baptize. It does not expressly forbid sprinkling although the Greek word "baptizo" means to immerse and the descriptions of the act given in scripture also show that immersion only is what is being taught. Those who sprinkle have violated the exclusivity principle of scripture.
2) Use of wine and unleavened bread instead of anything else in the Lords' Supper. The bible does not expressly forbid grape juice, leavened bread, or other substitutes for the elements of the communion. However, those who do make such substitutions have violated the exclusivity principle of scripture because God only has to say what the proper elements are and does not have to give a detailed list of all possible disallowed substitutes for right practice to be established.
3) Praying without the use of incense or candles. Again, the addition of incense or candles to the prayers would be addition unto prayer that is not expressly forbidden, but understood to be excluded by the exclusivity principle when we are told simply to pray. If God wanted incense or candles to be employed, He would have said expressly to pray with incense.
4) Singing without the addition of instrumental music. This is yet another good example of where men so easily abandon the exclusivity principle. Those who employ instrumental music in their corporate worship demand for those of us who say it is wrong to do so to produce scripture forbidding it.
I would say that they should produce New Testament scripture commanding it.
The New Testament says clearly in both Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16 to sing. 1 Cor. 14:15 makes singing clearly a self-contained activity.
Christ gives the example of singing in the Hebrews 2:12. The apostles gave the example as well in Acts 16:25. Christ and the disciples sang together in Mark 14:26. In none of these texts is instrumental music commanded, demonstrated, or even implied by the very language of the texts, either in the English or the Greek. Positive precepts and examples of vocal only singing are given. While instrumental music is not expressly forbidden, the exclusivity principle demands that it not be added to the singing.
Adherence to this principle and having this as one's mindset is the heart of biblical conservatism. It is the root of holding God's written revelation sacred and the only rule of our faith and practice. Abandonment of this principle of the exclusivity of God's word is the real root of liberalism, both practical and doctrinal. When it is not scrupulously held to, men will simply do what is right in their own eyes, claim that there is not a direct commandment against what they are doing, claim rights on the basis of supposed scriptural silences, and in fact ignore the actual principles and precepts taught by God in His holy scriptures. When men abandon the exclusivity principle of the scriptures they will most surely do what is right in their own eyes without regard for God's word.
By Elder Dale Magers
"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." {1 Tim. 2:5,6 } Isn’t it comforting to learn through the gospel that there is one that stands between us and God interceding on our behalf when we sin and do wrong? Paul in the introduction of Hebrews begins with God enthroned, his Son, our mediator seated victoriously at his right hand: "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high;" {Heb. 1:3} Here he sits triumphantly as the victor over sin, death, and mortality interceding at all times for us. In what things does he intercede?
In Hebrews 4: 14,15, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. {we need to persevere in this as a saint} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." He can minister to us, for he experienced the same weaknesses as a man: "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."{Heb.2:18} Our sins, failures, problems, and difficulties of all kinds should be presented to Jesus Christ as our High Priest who mediates for us at all times! There is a necessity to take our failures in sin to him every day! We must repent every day! John encourages us in this work: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world."{1 John 2:1,2} He is not only a mediator, but an advocate, one who pleads our case before God !He can do this since the righteousness he possesses has been purchased for us through his death.
Since the fullness of all grace dwells in him, he is the dispenser of all spiritual blessings. When we fall, Jude encourages us by his intercession: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." {verse 20} "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." AMEN:
Conception occurs always in total darkness - John 12:24
Reflection
occurs always in LIGHT – Gen. 1:1-5; 2nd Cor. 4:5;Conception is that of regeneration.
Reflection is that of manifestation or display in the new birth.
In Nature, gestation is in between, but not in Spiritual Creation.
Concerning creation, how must gestation was there herein? = Gen. 1:1-31 and Gen. 2:10-9. Example - Gen. 1:1-5 When God moved upon the face of the waters, and said "let there be light, and there was light, please tell me how much gestation was there? Answer = none. This goes on in unbroken succession, in the creation firmament, the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom the human kingdom, etc. How much gestation was there in Gen. 2:7 when God "breathed into his nostrils at man became a living soul? Everything God created was mature and full grown instantly. The Universe, the Earth, the Seas, the Plants, the Animals, the Fish, the Humans were all full grown, even the trees with the fruit already hanging on the tree with the seed within after his kind. Gen. 1:11-13.
Now in the new creation there is no gestation there either = How much gestation was there in = 2nd Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15? How long did it take God to make a 7 year old horse? A 100 year old tree? A Grown Man? A 400 million year old rock? A 2 billion year old rock?
Initially, there was nothing, just a vast array of empty, black, dark, void. Then at the first stroke of activity when God breathed out and created; then after creating all the appurtenances thereunto, then after man, came procreation. Finally, please know that I am not initially referring to procreation whatsoever.
Nicodemus was very limited in his understanding of Jesus declaring "Ye must be born again," therefore Nicodemus assumed two births of the same old procedure. Wherein Jesus clarified by saying in effect - "Nicodemus, I did not say another birth in the same old way, but a new birth in a new and different way. So, Jesus eliminated procreation right here, concerning the new birth. So all we can consider herein, from Jesus' teachings, is that of creation whether natural or spiritual, has a different set of rules. Yes, creation is relegated to a new set of rules, and cannot be compared to the rules of procreation. Regeneration and the new birth are both new creations, just as the Lord spoke the Universe into matter and material existence from nothing, with every step of the creation being structured mature and full grown, at the moment of creation. God did not plant seeds, and God did not create a baby, but full grown Celestial, Universe, Firmaments, Stars, Planets, Sun and Moon, Fish, Birds, Animals and Man. Now within the laws or rules of Creation, the same procedure applies in the spiritual Creation - 2nd Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15. Example: Gen. 1:14-9 = When God created the Sun and placed it 93.2 million miles from the Earth, He did not have to wait for a gestation period of travel for the light-beam to get to Earth, which would be traveling at 186,000 miles per second, so we could calculate the "gestation" period, before the Light Beam began to radiate and illuminate the Earth. No, God created the Sun and the bean of light all the way to the Earth simultaneously. God built the age right into the Earth, rocks, etc. Further let me hypothecate. Let us say on the day of creation of the Earth, we as spectators looked down in front of us and saw two rocks laying 3 feet apart, so we take them both down to the Research Science Lab and test them with Carbon 14, Potassium to Argon, and Uranium to Lead, and with these three accepted testing methods of the Aging Process of Matter, we find one rock is 400 million years old and the other is 2 billion years old, yet God created them both as the same time. No gestation.
Yes, first, God did make a change in His initial natural creation, because of Adam's sins of violating God's laws - Gen. 2:15-17 - God placed four curses = 1. On the Serpent, 2. On the Women, 3. On the Man, 4. On the Earth itself. However, these were all negative changes because of the negatives of Adam's Fall. These "changes" were not positives. Creation is that which God spoke from nothingness into existence of material matter. This was in the form of perfect natural maturity. Gen. 2:7 Adam was a full mature, grown, perfect natural man, before the fall. Now all of Adam's posterity are in Adam after his fall, and we are no longer perfect natural, but corrupt, sinful and dying. In order for there to be a new creation, and not a reconstruction of the old "pro-creation rules," God did not recreate the old. God, through the voice of the Son of God, Holy Spirit, regenerated in a new way of adding something new (New Creature - 2nd Cor. 5:17) to the old and within the old, known as the new inward man - 2nd Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16. No where in this process are we re-doing the old outward man, but such just remains timely as the old fallen generation of "pro-creation," yet that old corrupt body will also be regenerated and changed at the End-Time at the 2nd Coming Resurrection - 1st Cor. 15:51-55. Yet, timely, all that is regenerated is within the inward while the outward is still of the same old fallen generation. The word re-generation is used advisedly to separate us from the thought of the Old Generation of Fallen Man in Fallen Adam was "re-generated." Yes, there was a change, a new creature, a new creation, and such is referred to as '"Regeneration." Now this is Bible and not Hulan Bass - Please read = Titus 3:3-5. Now you tell me what the "washing of regeneration" is, and the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" is? It was the Spirit - Breath of Life that God breathed into Adam's nostrils that caused the first generation, which through Adam's exercise of negative volition, implemented the fall of all humanity, and in this "renewing of the Holy Ghost" the Spirit of God has acted again, and not just another natural creation but a new spiritual creation -re-creation or re-generation. Please go read, if you are really interested in the truth on this, Hassell's History - chapter one, entitled The Creation, beginning on page 23- esp. page 41 dealing with the 15 creative events by God. Now read in chapter 2, page 51 dealing with the fall of man.... The long footnotes covering the bottom half of page 51 is vital to under-standing. This footnote is one of the most important and well-worded explanations of what we have been discussing, that I've found yet, for learning.
There is a line-of-thinking that leads to mixing creation with pro-creation and the two will not mix. Generation is still generation in Fallen Adam and it will never be more than that till the End-Time at the 2nd Coming of Christ. Re-Creation is the spiritual side of Nature Creation. This is regeneration and has no kinship whatsoever with Fallen-Generation. 2nd Cor. 5:17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a New Creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. There are two Greek Words for new - Strong's #2537 = kainos - new - espec. in freshness; while #3501 is so with respect to age. #3501 - neos - of persons - youthful. Kainos means is it brand new and never gets old, while the other, Fallen Adamic Nature was new but gets old - day by day - and dies - 2nd Cor. 4:16; Also, Gal. 6:15 - speaks of this kainos new creature.
"Is John's gospel, chapter one, the regeneration of the world?" no. The world has not been regenerated, but will be annihilated - 2nd Peter 3:10-13. There are two aspects of "Regeneration" taught in Holy Writ – 1. Of the church from O.T. law to N.T. grace, (Matt. 19:28)l then, next, that of the new creation of the elect person, being born-again and then their bodies at the end-time. All else will be burned with fervent heat, the earth and all that is therein, without even leaving ashes. That is not regeneration but that of destruction.
Compiled by: Hulan F. Bass (elder)
This word is used five [5] times in the O. T. ; and is translated from four [4] different Hebrew words. KJV
Ex. 15:9, and Ps. 78:18 it is from Nephesh; which is a breathing creature. Therefore, indicating the desire of the creature. It was the desire of the Egyptian army to destroy the fleeing Israelites. And the creature [fleshly] desire of the Israelites that caused them to tempt God; in asking if God could provide them meat. See Ps. 70:17-19.
Ps. 78:30 is from ta'avah; a longing: the same desire of the creature. This is speaking of the same incident of the Israelites lust for meat.
Ps. 81:12 is from sheriyruwth; in the sense of twisted. Which indicates an improper desire. This speaking of Israel's like of desire for God's teachings; following their own counsels [purpose].
Prov. 6:25 is from chamad; to delight in. This evil woman, and the strange [foreign woman who's flattery, and beauty should not be desired is liken unto a whorish woman. Evil identifies that which is bad [natural or moral]. The teaching is that the commandments and laws of God are to give a person light [knowledge and understanding] that will allow them to avoid the lust of the flesh which will destroy the precious [valuable] life.
Therefore, it is written to the church of God, that what happened to these Israelites, were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. The word "evil" is a translation from "kakos"; describing that which is worthless or injurious.
In all four of the teachings, concerning Israel, the lesson is: to be satisfied with what God has provided, and follow his teachings. That in doing so, he will provide all our needs, and we will protect that precious life that we have in Him.
Clem E. Cook
When we get older, each day the scriptures get sweeter. I guess, because we understand them just a little better. Here is a something I've been singing lately.
Eva Mae Powell
Mexia, Texas
Just suppose, God searched through heaven And couldn't find one, willing to be The Supreme sacrifice that was needed To buy eternal life for you and me.
Oh had it not been for a place called Mount Calvary Had it not been the Old rugged Cross; Had it not been for a Man called Jesus Then forever our soul would be lost.
But, I'm so glad, He was willing to drink his bitter cup. Although, He prayed, Father, let it pass from me. Oh, I'm so glad He didn't call to Heaven's Angels, From my hands pull the nails that torment me.
Oh, had it not been for a place called Mount Calvary Had it not been for the old rugged cross; Had it not been for a Man called Jesus, Then forever our soul would be lost.
Our friend, colleague, and brother in Christ, Elder Mark Green, publisher of The Christian Pathway in Arkansas, recently penned an article about the future of religious publications. Elder Green is an excellent writer and frequent contributor to the Banner of Love, and we have reprinted his article elsewhere in this issue.
Elder Green makes a good point that struck a chord with me and the continued trend I have witnessed in my life span in the church. Neither our church members, nor the members of the general public, are readers and studiers of the Bible in the same manner that existed 20-30 years ago. This is a general trend throughout society.
It seems we are shunning a paper world and instead have become a "visual" society – we prefer pictures, video, movies, the internet, etc. We prefer to see or listen. We do not prefer to read, study or research on our own.
We understand the trend. We have become a part of it and are guilty ourselves. With television, the internet, CDs, DVDs, etc., it is simpler not to have to pick up a book. It is convenience. We have computers that will do all the work for us.
The loss in all of this is our reading of, and study of, the Bible.
I do not wish to condemn the practice of utilizing computers for Bible study, research and reference. But I do want to discuss the neglect of Bible reading and study.
There is a certain blessing to regular reading of the Bible. Are we teaching our children the habit of regular Bible study and reading? Even those of us who have grown up watching our ministers and our brethren and sisters read the Bible, or who may have read through the entire Bible, are we still reading the Bible regularly.
We know we receive a blessing each time we read. We may read a passage for the fourth time when the Lord decides to reveal a special message in it for us.
Sometimes we may feel the Bible is a little too complicated for today’s society. Instead of the Bible, we will turn to some commentary or summary which will give us a shortcut to reading the full text. Regular readers of the Banner of Love know that I also write each month a continuing series of abbreviated capsules of Old Testament history ("Tour of the Bible"). My intent is not to replace reading Scripture, but to encourage it.
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Tim. 2:15. He further states that we should avoid "profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." II Tim. 2:16.
Basically, the Apostle Paul tells us that nothing replaces our study of the Scriptures. We do not need to find shortcuts, summaries or commentaries. Our first duty is to read and study the Bible itself. We will surprise ourselves at what we learn about our lives and about ourselves by Bible reading.
Nothing would help us more in our day-to-day lives than to make Bible reading a required part of our day. There are numerous blessings and day-to-day instruction for our lives that we would receive by regular Bible study.
Not only does the Bible contain wonderful, interesting and historical "stories", it also provides excellent practical advice for our private and public lives.
We need to teach our children the importance of Bible study. We need our Bibles in church. Nothing would help your pastor more than to have a congregation where everyone not only has their Bible with them, but has already read the particular Scripture or verse which is the subject of the sermon.
Carrying your Bible to church with you is an excellent habit. But reading it daily and having prior knowledge of a sermon’s subject, is better.
Bible reading is a blessing. It will give to you power, love, and a secure mind.
If you are not reading, you’re missing out.
By ELDER MARK GREEN
Editor-Publisher
The Christian Pathway
Booneville, Ark.
We are now fully into the age of electronic communication. The Postal Service is in a financial crisis, in part because email and the Internet have replaced conventionally mailed printed material to such a large extent. It has come to the point that I have a real question as to the future role of printed periodicals within the ranks of Primitive Baptists.
The subscription list to The Christian Pathway has decreased significantly since I became editor. I suspect there are several reasons for that, with the last one I will mention being the most important. First, the brethren who preceded me as editor were well known and highly regarded among our people across the country, and it is only natural that readership would slacken somewhat when I took over the paper. They were also closer to the population center of Primitive Baptists; and since most of our periodicals are to some extent regional in nature, the readership generally tends to be proportionately heavier closer to the home of the editor.
Second, certain tensions currently afflicting our people have caused some to cancel their subscriptions. Some thought I was too harsh or narrow in my opinions and others believed I was too “soft.” One cannot please everyone all the time, and I know that some readers have stopped their subscriptions because they did not feel that I as editor was following their particular view of things - which is an old story that goes with the job.
Third, and by far most importantly, most members of my children’s generation simply do not read printed material at the level we did, and certainly not with the interest and frequency of my parents’ and grandparents’ generations. An increasing amount of information is transmitted electronically, supposedly eliminating the need for the printed and mailed page. Let’s face it: it is possible for the issue of The Pathway I am now typing to be transmitted by email to any number of people at basically no charge to all concerned. The argument could be made that since we can do that, then we ought to do it. Of course, there are some who do not have email, and they would be left out, but the day is probably coming when substantially all the population of the United States of any economic means at all will have access to email, if that is true, will there then be any place for printed periodicals?
I do not know the answer to this question. I could make all sorts of arguments as to why the printed page will always be needed. Recordings have been made on wire recorders, reel-to-reel, 8-track and vinyl records, but practically no one has the means of playing them now. The same holds true for the old 5-1/2 floppy disks for computers. I suspect we soon will see the demise of cassette tapes and VCR’s in favor of CD’s and DVD’s, and then that small mountain of taped sermons I have will go the way of the other old methods of recording. Who knows what the next advance in communication technology will be and what it will render unusable to the general population? However, the “technology” of the copy of Semple’s History that I own, which was printed, in 1810, is as good today as it was then. The human eyeball will not go obsolete. Furthermore, I have found that is very difficult to absorb serious material while looking at a computer screen. Somehow things just soak in better when I read them from the printed page.
Yes, many legitimate arguments could be made for the printed page, but they are all beside the point if so few of the coming generation read printed religious periodicals that they cannot be sustained financially. It has been very obvious, as I lose elderly subscribers due to death or poor eyesight or health, that they are not being replaced by younger readers. Most young people just do not read the printed page that much any more. They watch and listen to electronic recording and transmitting devices or look at a computer screen. (After most of this article had been written, I heard a radio report about the printing industry in our country, and the problem of declining sales of children’s books. It corroborated my concerns, it was said that the industry faced “potentially wrenching changes. If we don’t come up with more readers, the future can’t be bright.” However, it was noted that the one bright spot for the industry was in electronic media sales, e.g., cassette tapes and CDROMS.)
I enjoy writing, but the time and effort I put into The Pathway could also be spent on other useful and needful activities. At some point in the future, if things continue as they are going, there might be no compelling reason for an editor to spend his time to produce something that will lie on the coffee tables of an increasingly small number of subscribers when most are looking to other sources for their information. It will be for this rising generation of Primitive Baptists to determine whether our papers will survive. If the papers someday occupy no viable place in the chain of communication among our people, then there will be no reason to have them. That remains to be seen, of course, and we editors await the verdict.
IF our Primitive Baptist papers are to survive for another generation as a legitimate and viable part of our culture, then here is one thing that must happen: the pastors of our churches must urge the members of the churches they serve - and keep on urging them to read. They must read their Bibles and other good and profitable writings that will instruct and edify their souls. A calculated
and sustained effort will have to be made by the men of my generation to convince the following one that such activities are of more substantial and lasting benefit to them than emails and the Internet. If Primitive Baptists continue to read, then our papers, or some portion of them, will survive. If, however, like most of society, they become lookers and listeners only, then our papers will likely go the way of the blacksmith. –Editor
Elder Mark Green
Boonesville, Arkansas
There are numerous outlines which will allow you to read the Bible through in one year. Here is a broad, simple reading plan, which should take 10-20 minutes per day. The reading suggests a small part each day from the Old and also from the New Testaments:
Daily – Read one-half Psalm each day; plus:
January – One chapter of Job per day; one half chapter of Mark per day.
February – Three chapters of Genesis per day until the end, then finish the month with three chapters of Exodus per day; plus each day read one chapter of Acts.
March – Three chapters of Isaiah each day to the end, then go to three chapters per day of Ecclesiastes to the end, then three chapters of Songs of Solomon; plus read one chapter of Matthew per day.
April – Each day read one and a half chapters of Ezekiel; plus each day read one chapter of 1st Corinthians to the end, followed by one chapter of 2nd Corinthians.
May – Three chapters of Leviticus per day to the end, then three chapters of Numbers and then three chapters of Deuteronomy; plus each day one half chapter of Hebrews.
June – Two chapters each day of Jeremiah to the end, then 2 chapters per day of Lamentations; plus one-half chapter each day of Romans.
July – Three chapters each day from Joshua to the end, then three per day from Judges, Ruth, and finish the month with three chapters each day of 1st Samuel; plus one chapter of James to the end, then finish the month with one-half chapter of 1st Peter, then 2nd Peter, Jude and then one-half chapter per day of Philemon.
August – Two and a half chapters per day of 2nd Samuel, then finish the month with two and a half chapters per day of 1st Kings, then 2nd Kings; plus each day read one chapter of Galatians, then finish the month with one chapter of Ephesians, then Philippians, then finish the month with one chapter per day of Colossians.
September – Two and a half chapters per day of 1st Chronicles, then finish the month with two and a half chapters per day of 2nd Chronicles; plus each day read one chapter from 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, then 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus.
October – Two chapter per day of Ezra, then Nehemiah, then Ester and then Proverbs; plus each day read one chapter of Luke.
November – Read one and a half chapters per day of first Daniel, then finish the month with Haggai, Joel and Amos; plus each day read one chapter of John the gospel, then John’s three letters.
December – Each day read one and a half chapters of first Obadiah, followed in the month by Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi; plus one chapter per day of Revelation.
THANK YOU
Thank you for printing the Banner of Love. It is a wonderful thing you are doing. We can't wait each month until our paper comes.
A child of God, I hope.
Eva Mae Powell
Mexia, Texas
IN THIS AGE OF TIME
In thinking of this age of time, 2 Chron. 20: 3-27; also Isa. 55:7-13 is real encouraging.
So good we can always rely on God to see us through, no matter the changes along the way. May He strengthen you all in honor to Him.
In Dear Hope,
Sister Loretta Lilly
Akron, Ohio
By Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr.
Justification is a legal or forensic term used mainly in courtroom situations. It is sometimes used in the scriptures in the sense of “making one just” and other times in the sense of “declaring one just.”
In order to understand the way in which the scriptures reveal this subject we must study as Paul instructed Timothy, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
There are three basic ways in which the scriptures “divide” the subject of justification as it relates to the sinner. “Rightly dividing” these texts will lead to a clear understanding of the subject. Confounding these texts leads to confusion, double mindedness and misunderstanding.
Our need for justification stems from the fact that we are by nature transgressors of God’s law and therefore condemned (Romans 3:19-23, James 2:10). The question then arises, “How then can man be justified with God...?” (Job 25:4) The courtroom is God’s courtroom. The judge is the thrice-Holy God (Is. 6:3, Rev. 4:8). The condemned is the sinner who has transgressed God’s law. How can this guilty sinner be justified? The answer is found in Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Justification before the Eternal Judge is by grace through the shed blood of Christ!
The second courtroom is the conscience of the child of God. Having been born again by grace, he is acutely aware of his fallen and condemned condition. Here the load of guilt can become so heavy that he can sink into despair. Seeking to find justification, he runs to the law and tries to be justified by works or religious effort (Romans 10:3). But alas, he finds greater condemnation than before (Romans 7:9). As the hymn writer said, “Indignant justice stood in view, to Sinai’s fiery mount I flew, but justice cried with frowning face, this mountain is no hiding place.” His desperate need is yo hear the good news that Christ has already justified him by grace, through his blood. This is the function of the Gospel, to tell weary, burdened, guilt-ridden sinners that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4). When the child of God hears and believes the “good news” that justification is by grace through the blood of Christ, he ceases trying to justify himself by the law and rests in the finished work of Christ (Romans 5:1, Hebrews 4:9-10). When he sees Christ by faith, he finds justification experimentally in his conscience. Oh what joy this time is! It is so wonderful and joyous that many in the religious world confuse it with being born again. They fail to realize that it is only because they have already been born again by grace that they carried the burdened conscience in the first place. The old forefathers used to call it “passing from law to grace”. Again the hymn writer says, “Ere long a heavenly voice I heard and mercy’s angel form appeared, she lead me on with gentle pace to Jesus as my hiding place.” Paul declared, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...” (Romans 5:1)
Finally, the Bible speaks of justification before our fellow man. Here the courtroom is of man’s opinion. As James says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called a Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:19-24) Unlike God, man cannot see our faith. We must show it to him. We justify our claim to our fellow man that we have faith in God when we show them our faith by our works.
When we read the scriptures we must rightly divide them along these lines. Otherwise we will confound justification by grace, by faith and by works, thus falling into the errors of modern religion.
Although all of God’s elect have been justified before God by grace, not all of them have the privilege of hearing this “good news” in the gospel. How much then we that have heard and believed it should treasure our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and work to prove it to our fellow man.
We have been justified in God’s courtroom by the grace of God, through the sacrifice of Christ. When we by faith believe the gospel, we will be justified in the courtroom of our conscience. Let us by good works seek to justify our claim to faith in the courtroom of man’s opinion each day.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28