March 13–15
By Bob Jackson
Please consider this your invitation to come and be a part of our 45th Annual Bible Missions Conference March 13–15. From the very inception of this conference at Tabernacle Baptist Church in 1962, this has been an Independent and Unaffiliated Baptist conference. Despite changing pastors in July 2005, this church and the conference at this church remain Independent and Unaffiliated. We certainly intend to continue in this same manner until the Lord comes. We welcome all missionaries and pastors of like mind and practice to join us for the conference this year. Those who attend the conference here at Tabernacle Baptist Church from year to year are always such a blessing to the good people of this church; we certainly want you to be here again this year to be a special blessing to us once more. There will be no business meetings of any sort during this conference. This is a meeting of truly independent and unaffiliated Baptist preachers and church members who come together to be challenged and, hopefully, changed by the Word of God!
Speakers Chosen From the Preachers Who Are Present
All preaching in this conference and at Tabernacle Baptist Church will be from the King James Bible. As always, we expect to hear some of the best preaching that you could hear anywhere around the globe from the preachers who attend this conference. Bro. E. L. Bynum, the retired Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church after leading this church for 44 years, will be the final speaker during each of the three night services during this 45th annual conference. Surely we all enjoy the sound, biblical preaching of this man of God. There will be good, scriptural music presented by faithful Christians who attend the conference. There will be no contemporary music or any other type of unscriptural music to have to wade through at this conference. You will experience warm, friendly West Texas Christian hospitality. (Yes, the weather MIGHT be warm, too, but then again, it might lightly snow like it did during the conference last year.) Tabernacle Baptist Church will furnish one good meal a day at a local restaurant. We are recommending a specific motel, but there are many good, and some expensive, motels to choose from in Lubbock. Because of postal regulations, we will not list our recommended motel, nor the price for the rooms during the conference. We will gladly furnish that information if you will call the church at (806) 744-4443, or email the pastor (see Contact Us).
Preachers Challenging Other Preachers and Christians
Every active preacher knows how important it is for us to hear good, sound preaching ourselves. The conference at Tabernacle Baptist Church is a good opportunity to come together and hear some good Bible preaching from a sound doctrinal perspective. God can and does use us as we allow Him to lead us to preach His Word, not in the flesh but in the power of His Spirit. Remember the theme for the conference this year is “Lord, How Long?” taken from Isaiah 6:11. Remember also that this is a Bible MISSIONS conference, and we need to be challenged again in the area of New Testament, church-sent missions. Truly this IS an Independent, Unaffiliated Baptist conference. We have NO SCHOOL to support. We have NO MISSION BOARD to promote. We have NO OFFICERS to elect. We are just promoting God’s work done through the Lord’s scriptural Baptist churches.
We would love to have the privilege of your attendance and your participation at our 45th Annual Bible Missions Conference at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Please, also, let us know that you intend to fellowship with us during our conference by calling, sending an email, or writing us today of your intention to attend.
By Bob Jackson
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23) ” Jesus said in this passage that there would be “many” that claimed to be Christians who did not know the Lord as their personal Savior. This problem of making a false profession of faith in Jesus Christ causes a great deal of confusion, both to those in the condition itself, as well as to others who view the lives of these who have made a false profession of faith.
Professing Without Possessing
To make a false profession of faith in Jesus Christ means that this person professes to be saved, but he does NOT possess Christ in his life. According to Matthew 7:21, a false professor has said, “Lord, Lord” to Jesus. This person has called on the Lord in some fashion. This reminds us of Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But, in Matthew 7:21, it is clear that this person who has said, “Lord, Lord” to Jesus is not saved. How can this be? Are there contradictions in the Word of God? There are absolutely no contradictions in the Word of God! When we think that we have found contradictions in the Bible, we do not understand something, because there are not any contradictions in the Word of God. The fact is Romans 10:13 does not stand alone. It is a verse within a passage, and that passage declares clearly that praying (or calling on the Lord) by itself does not save. Romans 10:9,10 declares, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The place where true salvation occurs is in the heart of the sinner who comes to Christ. The Bible speaks about the heart, but in this case, as well as in many cases in the Bible, this is not referring to the physical organ in our body that pumps blood. This is referring to our very being, the center of our life, our heart, our soul, etc. Not only had these folks mentioned in Matthew 7:21 called on the Lord, they had professed that Jesus was their Lord. Again it is clear in this passage in Matthew 7:21-23, that these people were not saved. Jesus tells us in the last part of Matthew 7:21 that we must do “the will of my Father which is in heaven” to be saved. The corresponding verse to understand this statement about “the will of my Father which is in heaven” is found in John 6:40. “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” There are two requirements in John 6:40 regarding the will of the Father. 1. We must see the Son. There is only one correct, scriptural way to see the Son today, and that is through the Word of God, II Corinthians 4:3,4. We do not see the Son in visions, and we do not see the Son in so-called pictures of Jesus. Many people think that artists have painted a portrait of Jesus, when all they have done is painted a figure of their own imagination on canvas. There is no such thing as a picture of Jesus to be found in this world. It is clear from the many so-called pictures of Jesus that none of them follow the teaching of the Word of God in their portrayal of the Lord. Jesus Christ did not look like some rebel when the Bible tells us that it is wrong to look the way most “pictures” or “portraits” of Jesus make Him appear. No one could have been more submitted to the teaching of the Bible than Jesus was in His earthly life. How dare these people say Jesus looked as they portray Him! The only real way to see Jesus today is in the pages and the teaching of the Bible. Once a person has seen Jesus Christ through the Word of God, he must 2. believe on Him. A lost person must submit to Jesus Christ by faith as his own and only personal Savior, John 1:12,13; Ephesians 2:8,9.
Their claim of salvation is supported by works done in the name of the Lord, Matthew 7:22. The Lord says that there are MANY who fall into this category of lost people, Matthew 7:13,14. These people mention specific works that they have done in the name of Jesus as evidence of their claim of salvation. These people were obviously religious and religious in the Christian religion. This passage does not refer to heathens, to those involved in some false religion, etc. These people claim to have “prophesied” in the name of Jesus. To prophesy can mean two different things in the Bible. This word can mean simply to declare the message, or it can mean to tell forth future events. In either case, this was done in the name of Jesus. These people also claim that they have exorcized devils in the name of Jesus. There are some religious people who are big into this activity, particularly a few Roman Catholics and some Charismatics. There are obviously devils in existence in this world, and our God is mightier than any of these devils or than their father is. But this activity is not something that has to be done very often, perhaps never in most of our ministries. The third thing that these false professors mention is that they have done many wonderful works. This is referring to “wonders” which appear with the word “signs” in many passages in the Bible. II Thessalonians 2:9 tells us that the Antichrist will perform these kind of works in the power of the devil himself. This is not the only Bible passage that refers to wonders done in the power of the evil one.
The confession of Christ to these people is that He had no knowledge of these people ever being children of God, Matthew 7:23. He said, “I never knew you.” These people clearly were never saved. They were not saved at one time, but now they are lost. NO! They were never saved. In II Timothy 2:19, the Lord tells us that He knows them that are His. He has not lost any believer’s name, and He cannot lose anyone whom the Father has given Him either. Jesus does not accept the works that these false professors have done in Matthew 7:22. He calls their works “iniquity” in Matthew 7:23. What was wrong with their works? Their motivation was wrong, no doubt. They did their works in the name of Jesus to get saved, or to stay saved, or to keep from losing their salvation, but not to glorify God. The Lord makes it clear that these false professors will not be allowed into His heavenly kingdom. He tells these folks to “depart from me.” There are only two eternal destinations. If a person does not spend eternity with the Lord, he can only be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, Revelation 20:14,15. There are no other alternatives for the eternal soul.
Provides Confusion
Making a false profession of faith in Christ clearly brings confusion. It brings confusion to the person involved. This person cannot discern between professing Christ on the one hand and receiving Christ into his life on the other hand. The fact is Christ lives in the heart of the person who is truly saved, Colossians 1:27; Romans 1:16. The Spirit of Christ bears witness with our own spirit that we are children of God. Jesus Christ comes into our hearts by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2:8,9. This occurs as God the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and our need to be saved, John 16:8-11. Through this conviction and through the hearing of the Word of God, we come to Christ and receive Him as our personal Savior, through repentance and faith, Isaiah 1:18; II Corinthians 6:2; Acts 20:21.
Those who have made a false profession of faith also cause those who believe in falling from grace to point to professing Christians as evidence of being lost again, Titus 1:16. The false professor in Christ has not received a changed life because he has not received God’s salvation, II Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, his life is not a testimony of God’s salvation, but of someone who is still lost. He professes to be a Christian, but he lives like a lost person. Those who believe in falling from grace point to such people and declare their false doctrine. Many times a false professor in Christ claims that his profession of faith in Christ allows him to live any way he pleases, because he thinks he is saved eternally, so it does not matter any more how he lives. It is hard to believe that anyone with that kind of philosophy can really be saved. How can a person in whom the Holy Spirit of God lives have that kind of attitude? It is clear in the Bible that it makes a lot of difference how we live after we are saved, Romans 6:1,2; 3:8. People who genuinely know the Lord desire to live for the Lord and to glorify Him in our lives, I Corinthians 6:19,20; Philippians 3:8-14. Sadly, there are MANY in the situation of having made a false profession of faith in Christ, then live like a lost person, which they actually are anyway. They give plenty of ammunition to those who do not understand eternal security to think and to say that these people have actually fallen from grace, or have lost their salvation.
We should examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith, II Corinthians 13:5. We should live in a way that our lives will be a testimony to the saving grace of God. God help us not to be ammunition in the gun of those who believe the false doctrine of falling from grace. If you have made only a false profession of faith, you need to come to Christ to receive His eternal salvation.
By E. L. Bynum
Ex-president Jimmy Carter has written a book that is being widely touted in the press. In fact last week it was number two in sales, on the nonfiction book list.
Since our article will take a dim view of Carter and his book, let me first say that there are some things for which we commend him. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Anapolis and served honorably in the military, and we commend him for that. Unlike Clinton, he did not disgrace the office of President by moral scandals. He also was known as a peanut farmer, and we do like peanuts. He has helped build many homes for the poor, even driving some of the nails himself. He speaks in a soft nonthreatening voice that gives the appearance of humility.
His New Book Is Wrong
The headline in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (12-29-05) reads, “In stark, simple prose, Carter laments rise of fundamentalism.” The LAJ article comes from the Associated Press, and we will quote some from the AP story. “As ‘out of it’ as Carter seems, his latest book captures the zeitgeist perfectly. In ‘Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis,’ Carter argues that fundamentalist ideology is becoming the dominant thought for the most powerful politicians and religious leaders.”
The “Endangered Values” are the values of Jimmy Carter, not the values of the Bible, or of Bible-believing Christians. His “Endangered Values” are the values of liberalism in both the religious and political arenas.
Again we quote from the AP story.
Carter defines fundamentalists as those who “have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree.”
Carter sees fundamentalism at work politically in the Bush administration’s unilateral approach to foreign policy, its disenchantment with the United Nations and other long-held international relationships, and its impatience with diplomacy, exemplified by the “axis of evil” rhetoric and the invasion of Iraq.
To Carter there seems to be no black or white issues, but a vast area of grey, where we must turn to the likes of him to know what is right. It is pathetic that he brings up Iraq, since he so obviously bungled foreign policy while he was president. He gave the Panama Canal away and now the Chinese control both ends of it. Who knows what would happen to it, if we ever got into a war with the communist thugs? We cannot help but think of the awful Iranian hostage crisis while he was president, and his fumbling attempt at getting American citizens freed. His attempt was a flop, but immediately when Ronald Reagan was elected president they were set free. Why? Because the Iranians knew that Reagan would not depend on the useless U.N. and the liberals’ beloved negotiations.
Carter led this country into a malaise, with 15% to 20% interest rates that made it impossible for the working man to buy a home. With such a record of diplomacy and domestic leadership, you would think that he would have the decency to keep his mouth shut.
The AP story by Erin Hanafy goes on to say the following.
Looking at the substance of his arguments, Carter is hopping mad about what he sees as steps backward for the United States. But you’d never know it from his workmanlike style, ticking off lists of reasons why rigid fundamentalism is ruining our government and our churches. He keeps the outrage out of it, plodding along with stark, simple prose that wouldn’t be out of place in a high school textbook.
Carter sees rigid fundamentalism as ruining our government and our churches. This is not true because our government and churches are not run or controlled by fundamentalism. They are still largely controlled by left wing socialist ideology. What Carter calls fundamentalism, is merely an attempt on the part of some with influence, to bring this country back to it roots and to the influence of the Bible. Anyone who believes in conservative values, either political or religious, are branded by Carter as fundamentalist. This is merely a smear tactic, calculated to bring scorn on those who do not agree with him. We continue the quote from AP.
The one topic that comes closest to making Carter’s blood boil is the Southern Baptist Convention, the ruling body for churches in the South.
Carter charts the rise of fundamentalism in both Christianity and politics by describing his dealings with the group, whose political clout has increased dramatically during the past 30 years.
Carter was president when he first realized things were changing. The new president of the Southern Baptist Convention came to the White House for a meeting and told him he was praying for him to “abandon secular humanism as your religion.”
Carter and the SBC
As long as the Southern Baptist Convention was firmly in the grasp of the liberals, Jimmy Carter was happy with the SBC. When conservatives in the SBC decided to try to take back their Convention which had been infiltrated and dominated by modernistic liberals, then the ex-president to the USA became disturbed to the point of leaving the SBC. As long as the seminaries were dominated by liberals that did not believe the Bible, everything was all right. As long as professors were teaching the pastors in training, to deny the Genesis account of creation, the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus and His resurrection, Mr. Carter was happy. He just cannot stand those who believe the Bible, and insist on truth being the standard of doctrine.
According to Carter, President Bush is either a fundamentalist or controlled by them. What a joke! Bush is not a fundamentalist, but he does express allegiance to God and the Bible, and to Carter that must be the unpardonable sin.
When the conservatives decided to take back the SBC and give credence to the Bible, which had been stolen by the modernists many years before, that upset liberal thinkers like Carter. Of course the conservatives have made considerable progress, but the SBC is a long way from being what it once was. They no longer have an infallible Bible, but many different versions which contradict each other. They are not the historic Baptists which once were dominant in the Convention. But they are today a great improvement over the liberal SBC that Carter loved.
I have never been a member of the SBC, nor could I ever be. It has always been an unscriptural organization without any authority of the Word of God. The Convention Carter loved has been cleansed to some extent and is much more palatable than his version. Yet, it is sad that they never will come to the whole truth concerning the church, the Bible, and many of the other great doctrines.
In all due respect, we could wish that Jimmy Carter had stuck to raising peanuts and building houses for the poor. He is completely out of his field when it comes to theology and the truth of the Bible.
By Jerry Jackson
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.” Acts 13:1-5
Missions is the heartbeat of every true New Testament Baptist church. Without it, churches will die. If it is mishandled, it will work as a heart disease, causing misery and hardship to all involved. Most Independent Baptist churches today claim to be mission-minded. You will see this proclaimed in their literature or on their church signs. But, I wonder sometimes if missions is really a matter of conviction to these churches, or if it is merely a matter of convenience? The church at Antioch acted as if it were a matter of conviction as they sent away one of their own staff members. They fasted and prayed as they prepared to take this step of faith. Look what was accomplished by the missions ministry of this church!
Without doubt, missions is a two-sided coin. On the one side is the church, and on the other side is the missionary. We have all seen tremendous examples on both sides of this coin, and we have also seen some terrifying examples. But, there must be a conviction for missions on both sides of this coin for things to work smoothly, and for God’s work to be accomplished in a way that pleases the Lord.
It Is A Command
Each New Testament Baptist church has been commanded to be active in evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8). What a shame it is to see the needs of a lost and dying world, and then consider the pitiful efforts, by comparison, that are put forth to meet those needs. My heart was burdened so many times, as we traveled from our house, in the bush of Papua New Guinea, to the nearest town, about a three-hour’s drive away. In this long trip, we would pass only two Gospel preaching Baptist churches. There was religion everywhere, but no true Gospel witness. My heart still breaks as I consider the little that I was able to do in comparison with the need that still exists there today.
Yet, some churches choose to turn a blind eye to the command of our Lord and Savior and the need of this lost world. How sad to be one of the Lord’s churches in open rebellion to the very purpose for which the Lord left us here. Others obey the Lord’s command to spread the Gospel around the world, but they are very grudging about it. What a shame it is to think that the Lord is still speaking to churches as He did to the church at Corinth when Paul said, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” How many churches are missing out on God’s blessing simply because they begrudge every penny that is given to missions?
Still other churches choose to disobey the command of missions by only obeying it in part. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” No doubt, most of us have heard preaching from this passage of Scripture. We have heard the preacher tell us that the command says “both,” which means all areas of the world at the same time. However, there are churches which will emphasize one area over another. When I was on deputation, I would call pastors to try to schedule a time to come and present an opportunity for their church to participate in the ministry to which God had called me. There was a great variety to the response I received, but one of the saddest responses I received was this: “We are trying to take care of our Jerusalem first. Once we have done that, we will be able to spread out to other areas.” In other words, once they had won everyone in their area, they would consider having missions as a part of their church’s evangelistic outreach. Other churches would support missionaries all over the world, but not one home missionary. Still others would support missionaries, but they would not be personally involved in carrying the Gospel into their neighborhood or community. How can we honestly believe that we are obeying the Great Commission when we are guilty of this sort of rebellion against the Lord?
Missions is to be supported by the membership of each church. By this I mean that missions support should not come solely from the taking of a percentage out of the general offering, and placing this into a missions account. Whether your church takes a percentage of the general offering for missions is your church’s business, but if your church is doing this without direct missions giving from the membership, then that is wrong. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). ” You see, every man must purpose in his heart concerning his offering to missions. A simple percentage offering bypasses the individual’s opportunity to give what God has laid upon his heart.
I have known of a few churches that have taken money that was given for missions and used that money for other purposes. For example, one church had a large amount of mission money, so the pastor led the church to use that money for the purpose of carpeting the parsonage and putting air conditioning into both the church and parsonage. I am not opposed to having carpet or air conditioning, but not at the expense of missions! Another church ceased supporting all of their missionaries until they could raise enough mission money to pave the church parking lot. Again, I am not opposed to a church having a nicely paved parking lot, but not at the expense of lost souls around the world!
If we can give or not give to missions, then it is merely a matter of convenience for us. We are not actively seeking to fulfill our responsibility and duty to the Lord. Instead, we are looking for what is comfortable for ourselves. Whatever the explanation for these things, the truth is clear. To many, missions is nothing more than a convenience. When other needs, ideas, or feelings arise, missions is the first thing to be cut or removed altogether.
We Cannot Allow Missions to Become a Matter of Convenience
There are two main reasons why we cannot allow missions to become a mere matter of convenience. First of all, there is no other way for a lost world to be evangelized. No matter how many radio and television broadcasts we have, we cannot replace the necessity of personal relationships with people. In the end, the harvest cannot be reaped without the laborers getting out into the field. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:13-17) .” If we send others, or go ourselves, only when and where it is convenient, then we are condemning a lost world to a Christ-less eternity. I am so thankful that our Savior did not treat us in this manner. Instead, He was quite inconvenienced for our sakes. If we are to be like Christ, as He desires, then we will have to make efforts in world-wide evangelism, even when it is not convenient.
Secondly, we must be active in missions because there is no other way for us to be free from the blood of all men. Ezekiel 3:17-18 says, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” I’m sure that most of us have heard someone preach from this verse of scripture at some point in our lives. We are told that we have a responsibility to warn the lost of impending judgment. Yet, so many times, we consider this verse in light of our own surroundings, and not in light of the scripture. We think that if we warn all around us, we are free from the blood of man. But, that is not so. When we have warned everyone in every place, then we will be free from the blood of all men. “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:25-27 ).” “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15 ).”
There is nothing convenient about the task of sharing the Gospel with a lost world. We cannot treat missions as if we could take it or leave it. Without it, where would the heartbeat of our churches be?
NBC’s anti-Christian program The Book of Daniel has been canceled! Multitudes of Christians loudly protested and their efforts paid off. We need to give credit where credit is due. The AFA led in getting this putrid program cancelled.
NBC’s decision to pull The Book of Daniel shows the power of the pocketbook. NBC didn’t want to eat their economic losses. Had NBC not had to eat millions of dollars each time it aired, NBC would have kept The Book of Daniel on the air. Because of your efforts, the sponsors dropped the program. NBC then decided it didn’t want to continue the fight.
This proves that decent people can be effective in stopping some ungodly attacks upon the Christian faith.
See “That is disgraceful” in Jan. 06 PBC, page 1.
By Bob Jackson
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:1-5)
The question that we want to consider in this message is this, “Are we justified by grace or by the works of the law?” Of course, after reading the above verses out of Galatians chapter 5, the answer to this question should be obvious. However, there are many professing Christians and many churches and denominations that will not come to the correct answer, even after reading these Bible verses. The word “justified” was defined for me in Bible College as “just as if I had never sinned, and just as if I never would.” The word translated “justified” in our text comes from a Greek word that means to render (i.e., to show or regard as) just or innocent. How can we human beings that are sinners be regarded as innocent before God? We want to consider two answers to this question in this message.
Justified by the Gift of God in Christ
God tells us over and over again in His Word that His salvation is a free gift to us from Him, verse 1 in our text as well as Ephesians 2:8,9. Salvation must be received as a gift from God, Romans 6:23. This great salvation from God cannot be purchased by the recipient, Romans 6:23; Acts 8:20,21. If we had to purchase salvation for ourselves, it would not then be a gift at all. Neither can this great salvation from God be earned by the recipient, Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8,9. Once again if the recipient had to earn this salvation by some good works or religious actions, then the salvation would no longer be a gift. However, when we do receive God’s salvation as a gift from God to us, we are then and by that means justified before God, Romans 5:1; Acts 13:38,39. According to our text, the status of a true believer in Jesus Christ is that he is now, through receiving this gift of God’s salvation, free from the condemnation of the law (found in the Old Testament), Galatians 5:1; Romans 8:1,2. There is no doubt that all mankind are sinners by nature and by choice without any exception, Romans 3:10-12,23; 7:20-23; Ecclesiastes 7:20. But, praise God, receiving God’s salvation brings freedom from this sinful status before God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our substitute for sin, II Corinthians 5:21; I John 2:1,2.
We receive this great salvation from God through faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. God clearly declares that we are saved by His grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 5:1. As we receive Jesus Christ by grace through faith, we secure the righteousness of God at the same time, Philippians 3:9; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:4-8. It is God’s love for us that allows sinners such as us to become righteous in Jesus Christ, John 3:16; I John 4:10. God also makes it clear in Galatians chapter 5 that we, who have received this righteousness of God through Jesus Christ, should not use this freedom from the condemnation of the law as an excuse to live as pleases our flesh, Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:1,2. It is true that we cannot be condemned eternally again, Romans 8:1,2. God has promised to save us eternally, and God cannot lie! However, after we have received God’s gift of eternal life, we should now be concerned to help others receive this wonderful gift of eternal life, Galatians 5:13; II Corinthians 5:14,15.
Justified by the Law of God Through Works
The only other answer to the question of how to become justified before God must be through the works of the law. What we mean is that if we are not justified by the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then there is only one other choice of a means to be justified before God. Of course, we will see from God’s Word that this second method cannot really justify any sinner, but it is the only other option for those who are not justified by the grace of God. God tells us in Galatians 5:1,2 that to attempt to be justified before God by means of the law causes a person to be entangled in the law. The demands of the law are never satisfied so long as the person lives, Galatians 3:10. In other words, if we never break any law until our last day on earth, but we do break a law that last day, we would then be a criminal, or lawbreaker. All those years of obeying the law would amount to nothing once a law is broken on that last day. There would never be a time in all of life when a person would know for sure that he was right with God and ready to meet God, because he still would have to obey every law every day until he stood before God. Obviously, there can be no assurance of salvation and true peace with God if this idea is the truth. This fits in with the message of some who tell those who will listen that a person cannot really know about his standing before God until he stands before God at the judgment. The fact is that there is absolutely no way to be justified before God under His law if we break even one small part of this law. You do not have to break every law or ordinance to be a lawbreaker; you only have to break one, James 2:10.
The evidence of God’s law does not bring justification, on the contrary, it brings condemnation to every one of us, Galatians 2:16; 3:11. The perfect law of God proves, without a doubt, every man’s sinfulness, Romans 3:19,20. The perfect law of God condemns all people as sinners, because we all sin against God, according to His law, Romans 3:10-12,23. The purpose of the law of God was to point lost sinners to Jesus Christ, not in itself to make us right with God, Galatians 3:24.
According to this passage in Galatians chapter 5, enrollment in the Old Testament law blocks salvation by grace, Galatians 5:2-4. Of course, circumcision was the ordinance which God gave Abraham as a sign of agreement on the part of man in the Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 17:10,14. This ordinance was included in the Old Testament law as an act of submission to that law. This passage in Galatians chapter 5 clearly tells us that a person cannot combine law and grace for salvation. The phrase “fallen from grace” has to do with the thinking that a person must keep the law to be saved. It is clear in this passage that Christ does not save a person who believes that his salvation depends on keeping the law, Galatians 5:4; Acts 17:30,31. In fact, Galatians 2:21 tells us that Christ’s death on the cross and His victorious resurrection were not necessary if salvation comes by keeping the law. This principle is therefore that when a person thinks that he must live a certain way (according to the law, “live up to it,” etc.) in order to be saved or stay saved, that person cannot be saved by the grace of God. The fact is that those who are truly born again into the family of God should live a life that is pleasing to God, not pleasing to their own flesh. However, we are to live in a manner that pleases the Lord, not to get saved nor to stay saved, but because we belong to the Lord, and we love Him, Galatians 2:20; I Corinthians 6:19,20.
“Fallen from grace” in Galatians chapter 5 has to do with thinking that we must DO something to get saved or to stay saved, rather than receiving the salvation provided for us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cannot do anything; we must receive what Christ has done for us in order to be saved. This salvation once received cannot be lost, because we are now kept by the power of God unto salvation, I Peter 1:3-5. Those who teach that saved people can “fall from grace” because of sin in their lives are really teaching the very thing that God says means that a person is “fallen from grace.” In other words, their very teaching causes people to be “fallen from grace,” because those people will not come to Christ and receive His salvation by grace through faith. They are attempting to be saved and stay saved by their good works, etc. which cannot have any part in being saved by grace through faith. What these people teach that others are doing by their works, they are actually doing by their own false teaching about God’s eternal salvation.
Edited by E. L. Bynum
(Editor’s Note: In our News & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote.)
Abstinence Is Biblical — A Harvard researcher who studied how Uganda cut its AIDS/HIV infection rate says the European Union is giving Africa bad advice on that topic. Led by the United Kingdom, the EU issued a statement for World AIDS Day on December 1, urging Africans not to listen to a message from the U.S. emphasizing abstinence to prevent spread of the AIDS virus. (GOPUSA News, 12/14/05) It would be good if the U.S. would follow its own advice in this area. AIDS is a result of sin on the rampage. The Sodomites “pressed sore upon the man” Lot. (Gen. 19:9) Satan is still in the business of stubbornly pressing sin upon humanity. Until the God of salvation becomes the sinner’s refuge, sin’s diseases will continue to take its toll. (Psa. 62:7,8) —(W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)
Murder Brings Guilt — A new study in Europe has found that women can experience feelings of anxiety, guilt and shame years after having an abortion, a finding in line with arguments long advanced by pro-lifers. The results were published in the December edition of BMC Medicine, a London-based medical journal. (GOPUSA News, 12/14/05) This is not really a new study. The Bible principle of life’s value begins in the first book of the Bible. God remains as concerned with the blood of the unborn today as with the blood of Abel. No doubt God hears the silent cry of every dismembered unborn baby, and remembers each one by name. God knew Jeremiah before he was formed. (Jer. 1:5) —WWM
SBC Pastor Robes To Reach Recruits — Appearing much like Robert Schuller and/or a Catholic priest, Lonnie Latham, pastor of a South Tulsa Baptist church now appears in his pulpit in robe and all the trimmings. (Baptist Messenger [OK], 3/18/04) The church’s liturgical service on Sunday morning included an altar boy, also robed appropriately, who assisted in lighting the candles for the service. Viewing the picture in the SBC official paper for Okla., without explanation, could be identified as Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, Anglican, or a variety of others. Identification is an important asset in service to our Lord. I would never want to be identified other than a Christian who is a Fundamental Baptist. —WWM (From PBC 6/04)
SBC Pastor Accused of Lewdness — “Lonnie Latham, pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church...booked into Ok. County Jail on Tues. night on a misdemeanor charge of offering to engage in an act of lewdness...” (Altus Times, 1/5/06) The report stated that Latham “asked the officer to join him in his hotel room for oral sex.” This is not reported to demean the dignity of this man’s family or church. We reported the flamboyant act of pastor Latham in June 2004 to expose the conspicuously unconventional method some will approach to gain a following. This act of this fallen pastor is reported with sadness because of the greater harm it has brought upon Christianity in general and Baptists in particular. Take heed to Moses’ warning to Israel: “...and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 32:23) —WWM
Tyson Foods Goes Faith-Friendly — The core values statement of Tyson Foods Inc. includes the phrases “We strive to be a faith-friendly company,” and “We strive to honor God and be respectful of each other, our customers, and other stockholders.” And now the chicken, beef and pork marketer is rolling out a line of mealtime prayer guides in the form of free downloadable booklets online. (Baptist Press, 12/14/05)
ACLU Goes Mega-Law Firm — The American Civil Liberties Union’s membership has soared 81 percent, to 558,000, and its revenue has increased by 34 percent, to $59 million, since Anthony D. Romero became the organization’s executive director just days after Sept. 11, 2001. Big donors have been wooed and won, the New York Times reported Dec. 8. (Baptist Press, 12/14/05) As we have reported before, much of this revenue is paid by U.S. taxpayers. Satan’s law firm is being rewarded by the very people it files lawsuits against. —WWM
Repentance is a Must — “Why does any particular disaster kill whom it does? Only God knows. It seems unlikely that He has briefed the ministers and commentators so busy advancing their political agendas. However, natural catastrophes do illustrate the uncertainty of life. God calls us to love Him and our neighbors, create a culture that values the life and dignity of the human person, and repent of our sins. And to do so now, because we never know what the future holds.” –Doug Bandow, Syndicated Columnist (Patriot Post, 12/12/05) The spiritual standing of this columnist is unknown to this writer, however, he is right on track concerning the greatest need in America. Repent or perish, should be the cry of every believer and the action of every sinner. (Luke 13:3,5; 2 Pet. 3:9) —WWM
Lucado’s ‘Upwords’ — Max Lucado, pastor of the Oak Hills Church of Christ (C of C has reportedly been dropped from the name), writes the “Upwords from Max Lucado.” A partial quote from a recent writing: “Love the overlooked. ... Jesus works in your office. Pregnant again, she shows up to work late and tired. No one knows the father. According to water-cooler rumors, even she doesn’t know the father. You’ve seen her. She’s Jesus.” (Crosswalk, 1/11/06) Another thought from Lucado on the sin of drinking was published in Calvary Contender, 3/15/02: “[Lucado]...pastor of the Oak Hills Church of Christ (San Antonio) and a prominent Promise Keepers speaker stated ‘I don’t have a strong opinion about Christians and drinking. Some of the people that I really look up to, they drink.’” [Jan.-Feb. Fund. Digest ] ‘Pregnant again,’ in Lucado’s thought above would not have been on our Lord’s list of approval. He said of such, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:4-10) Jesus has a strong opinion of those who drink. (Prov. 20:1) Beware of false prophets in sheep’s clothing. (Matt. 7:15)
WCC & Global Prayer — The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a bellwether of the ecumenical movement since 1908, will be celebrated across the globe January 18–25, 2006. The theme is, “Where two or three are gathered in my name,” invoking Jesus’ promise that when Christians gather, “I am there among them.” (From NCC U.S.A. web.) The Matt. 18:20 quote above was stated to the Lord’s church, which was established a relatively short time before. (See Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:28) It is little wonder the WCC is confused. The theme and text each year for this observance is prepared by the Pontifical Council & representatives of the WCC. Beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing that lead this flock —WWM
America’s 1st Supreme Court —“John Jay (1745–1829) was an attorney, public official, diplomat, jurist. [Jay]:..was a member of the Continental Congress (1774–76, 1778–79) where he was President of Congress (1778–79); helped write the New York State constitution (1777); authored first manual on military discipline (1777); served as Chief-Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1777–78); was appointed minister to Spain (1779); signed the final peace treaty with Great Britain (1783); coauthored, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist Papers, which were instrumental in securing the ratification of the Constitution (1788); was appointed first Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court by President George Washington (1789–95) and later declined a reappointment as Chief-Justice by President John Adams; served as Governor of New York (1795–1801); vice-president of the American Bible Society (1816–21) and its president (1821–27); and was a member of American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.” (Wall Builders Website ) Mr. Jay didn’t have to answer modern interrogation. The reason...no one was upset then because this nation believed in God! —WWM
Label It ‘Liable’ — “LOS ANGELES, January 11, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) Sony Music has launched a label geared to homosexuals. Called Music with a Twist, Sony’s new label is a joint project with Wilderness Media & Entertainment, the founders of MTVs homosexual channel, LOGO. Wilderness CEO Matt Farber called the venture, “An idea whose time has come,” adding that only now are media and entertainment brands being created for the gay and lesbian audience following the success of brands for other minorities, according to a Reuters report.” Much more could be said here concerning the activities of the history of Sony pertaining to abortion. According to LifeSiteNews, Sony has aided such “pro-abortion organizations as Rock for Choice, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and Planned Parenthood. Among other things, Rock for Choice supports the repeal of U.S. laws requiring parental consent for teen abortions, and they oppose restrictions on federal funding of abortion.” Be careful of where you purchase entertainment. —WWM
The NEA’s Inclination — The National Education Asso. gave more than $65 million to Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, Amnesty International and AIDS Walk Washington and $15,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (a lobby for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights) and dozens of others. (Patriot Post,1/13/06) This union’s president reportedly draws over $400,000 a year. A voluptuous salary for leading this organization to finance such dubious fraternities. Christian educators should withdraw their support from the NEA. There may be some financial benefit, but think of the million of $s that are spent to promote sin. —WWM
Wiles Of The Devil — “...news reports indicate proceeds from bracelets connected with the popular American Girl dolls are going to support homosexual and abortion-rights causes,...” (Baptist Press, 10/19/05) Isaiah said a “...vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity.” (32:6) Satan still has those who devise wicked devices to destroy the innocent. The devil is highly proficient in using entertainment to draw the pure into his web of deceit. Sin always comes garbed in deceitfulness. —WWM
Filling The Vacancy — The rise and tactical success of the homosexual movement could only be made possible by the radical decline of the Christian world view within western culture. The Christian Gospel makes a comprehensive claim to all areas of life and thought. Biblical truth is to be applied to all areas of life and all issues of individual and communal meaning. Moral relativism and rights talk have filled the vacuum left by the evacuation of the Christian worldview. (Baptist Press, 10/31/05) The conviction of absolute truth concerning life is rapidly declining, even in the area of so-called Christianity. Something will fill the void. (Luke 11:26) “Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” —WWM
The Gospel of Inclusion — Bishop Carlton Pearson, who was raised in the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination (the Church of God in Christ) and who once served as an evangelist with the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, began teaching what he calls “the gospel of inclusion” a few years ago. He has become a Universalist, claiming that people do not need Christian conversion in order to be saved by Christ. (Charisma Online, 10/21/05) This is a portion of an article written by the editor of Charisma. It is inevitable that universalism is all inclusive. John Shelby Spong, who denies the resurrection of Christ, has shared the stand in conferences with Pearson. For universalism to succeed the doctrine of Christ and of God must be ignored. —WWM
A Mockery of Church — A new Cowboy Church was formed in Altus, OK several months ago. This fad is gradually growing...for those who have to work on Sunday, you know. This particular congregation is throwing their 2nd annual ‘Fall Ball.’ That’s not from the pitchers mound, but the floor of the Expo Center. “This is an event for all of the family,” so stated the Altus Times, 10/21/05. All this to help the Community Food Pantry and help those in need. Many children will grow up in such situations believing this is the customary happenings at church. —WWM
Offence Of The Cross — The city of Las Cruces [NM] has been slapped with a federal lawsuit by two area residents and the group, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, who claim the logo amounts to religious persecution of non-Christians. The suit seeks to have the logo modified to something that contains no references to Christianity (AG News Brief, 12/2/05). These two area residents are not the two referred to in Matt. 18:19. They are better represented by the two in 1 Tim. 1:19,20. —WWM
Legalizing Civil Partnerships — Great Britain in December will become the latest country to liberalize its laws for homosexual couples when it legalizes same-sex civil partnerships. The civil partnerships law, similar to civil union laws in Vermont and Connecticut, grants homosexual couples the legal benefits of marriage without using the word “marriage.” Homosexual couples can begin the process Dec. 5 by notifying the British government and, after a 15-day waiting period, hold their civil partnership ceremony (BP, 12/2/05).
Islam’s Primary Goal? — Approximately 30 Christian children fled in panic after a mob of Islamic militants raided and vandalized their Sunday school class, which was being held in a private home last weekend in Curug, Indonesia, according to a Christian group called Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) (GOPUSA News, 12/2/05). Reports abound of such atrocities as this. Heads of Christians are severed from their bodies. It may be politically correct to say, “Islam is a peaceful religion,” but it would be difficult to convince the families who have suffered at their hand (Matt. 7:18). “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” —WWM