1 Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-ll). This was a case of their conniving to lie to the Holy Spirit, as Peter caused it to be known when Sapphira came in first and represented the case. When the husband, Ananias, came in later and affirmed her story, Peter pointed out that this had not been necessary, as the property was theirs, but they had agreed to do it in order to appear as very generous when in fact they were not so generous. The end result was that the many who were a part of the church were caused to fear the Lord, as were many others who heard the story. When such deception was known it caused a hindrance to the church, so that none came to be a part of it. Is it not always true that sin from a disciple of the church does more harm than more private sins?

2. Church action is far more important than most today imagine.

(1 Cor. 11:23-34). Paul offers here the effect on the work of Christ when the body members disobey Christ in executing the forms of worship prescribed by the Lord: Note vv. 27-31: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." The Lord's churches were left certain forms for worship which they have continued for these hundreds of years. The same forms are claimed by all that call themselves churches, believing as they do in the universal church. The death scenes in an early church, Corinth in this case, should be expected wherever this "sin" is practiced. Those outside, and perhaps those in true churches, do not realize how serious it is to violate the Lord's teachings that were designed to preserve the sense of each of her actions as a witness to others. That first couple (in Acts. 5) were told that the matter was in their own hands to make a decision, because it was private and not pescribed by the Lord. Today, the situation surely is significant in the observing of the Lord's Supper, the act described in 1 Cor. 11. Since it is designed to show forth the Lord's death till he come, and each member before partaking is to examine himself, to see if he is memorializing the Lord's death and resurrection, then to partake because of hunger, or as mere form, commits a sin unto condemnation. At Corinth the church was told that their having some sick, some weak, and some sleeping (already dead), indicated God's condemnation for their sins. Paul said the church according to reports which came to him, was divided, had divisions in their midst, also heresies, they simply should not partake of the Lord's Supper in that condition. And their partaking with those conditions present meant some were sick, afflicted, and in error, and some had already died under God's judgment (1 Cor. 11:18-21). Whenever we find the Lord's church we see this strictness of life, of judging self, of obeying the Lord. These things not only showed their deliverance from the ignorance and traditions of Gentile idolatry, but these actions are written for our learning today to know how serious is the church's business and now God is honored in that body.

Paul's Analysis of Sin Under Law

Paul, writing to the Roman Christians, actually to the church of Rome, explained how sin was handled by the Christ, going to the cross, paying the penalty, and rising from the dead. He asks a question: shall we sin in order to prove that we are under grace and not under law, inasmuch as the more or greater the sin the more sufficient the work of Christ to pay for it (Rom. 6:14). His logic: A believer is taught to reckon himself dead to law but alive to God. To reckon means to count. If one counts himself dead to law, then the law does not serve him but if he is alive to Christ, the Christ serves him as He needs. This reckoning is made possible in that Christ took our place and we consider Him as having died for us and now is alive in our place. We are One with Him, identified with Him. Faith reaches out to Him in this way.

When Christ died in our place we died to sin. As He is alive for us His life is ours and He reckons us as having satisfied the demands of a righteous law. Now as we are alive to God in Christ, the law can have no dominion over us, but this is true only as our faith claims Him as our sufficient sacrifice. If we try to submit to law and obey its commandments with a view to our being righteous thereby, we are no longer trusting Him but our obedience. When we live righteous lives through Him it is because we are one with Him and His life perfectly satisfies God's demands. Our being "not under law" does not mean that we can ignore the reality of sin and our nature to obey it, but we must acknowledge our nature to sin and look to Him who died in our place to satisfy the demands of the Father on our behalf. See Rom. 6:16: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" It is our nature to try to obey sin, hence God has given His Son to do what we could not do for ourselves. Paul calls this "obeying from the heart the form of doctrine which was given to us, shown to us in baptism. What doctrine? It is the doctrine of Christ's dying in our place, buried instead of us, and resurrected on our behalf. Read Rom. 6:17.

Paul further explains this (v. 19) when he says that we see ourselves once as serving sin, and being free of righteousness, and doing this as a matter of submission to our old or sin nature, but now we can yield ourselves to (His) righteousness, knowing that He has so loved us that He took our place and now lives in our place to serve righteousness. Is this difficult? Look at these verses again, prayerfully, and see the effective working of grace. What fruit did our lives yield as we yielded to sin? In like manner, the serving being finished by Him we are able to serve life in righteousness. The old way, of which we are now ashamed, produced only death, but now, as we serve God, the fruit is holiness of life, and this extends into everlasting life (Rom. 6:21-22). Do you get the idea that our obeying righteousness is Christ's work in us and we by submission, are enabled to obey righteousness, but only in Him, so that He gives us eternal life?

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). Memorize it.

Serious As A Marriage

The Inspired Apostle explains just how the law does its work. He assumes that he is writing to people who know the law, by which he meant the law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments. His calling was to the Gentiles, but He had been to school to Christ for a long time (Gal.1:12, cf. v. 18), and doubtless taught Gentiles the points of His old religion as He had learned how God had turned to take out of the Gentiles a people for His name" (Acts 15:14). If he did this it was to show how error extends to men, even those not Jews.

Though the law was first given to Israel it soon extends into the lives of men everywhere when they remember that God is the Creator of all men and His grace extends to all men. "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" (Rom. 7:1). But an almost universal error is to think that law-keeping makes one righteous. The law of God "has dominion" over men who know there is a law. The error may be excusable, but those of us with a Bible need to hear it as it clearly takes dominion over our lives.

Men with a conscience feel they can escape anything which influences them, specially if they think the influence is to do wrong. Paul illustrates this by mentioning the way in which a woman is under control of her husband as long as he lives. But if he dies she no longer feels the compulsion of a man over her actions. The law of marriage makes a woman know she should heed her husband. If she knows the Lord she may know that if her husband is not a believer that he may influence her to do wrong. If she should marry another man, that is, submit to another man, she becomes an adulteress, but if her husband is dead she is not an adulteress by marrying another. The application of this as a figure is this: The believer becomes dead to the law, a doctrine which he is clearly taught by baptism. The baptism is a statement of his having died with Christ. Now, he is raised from the water of baptism, as Jesus was raised from death in the resurrection. No, all believers have not learned this connection, but they have every reason to believe it logically, and if they allow their ignorance to assume that subjecting himself to the law is worth while, then he needs to learn that this is a work of the flesh and directly contradicts the grace of God in Christ. "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. 7:4).

It takes faith in Christ to get the impression of joy and the restraint of grace as against the natural inclination to keep comandments. The appeal of the relationship we have for the body, after baptism and our reckoning to be dead with Christ, dead to the law, is enough to impell us to obedience (Rom. 7:4). Together with this impelling by the body, the church, there comes the desire to be married to another, even Him who was raised from the dead. I do not ask you if you feel this drawing to Christ in this way, but as soon as we became dead to the law, dying with Christ, we should begin to sense the compulsion to the marriage relationship with Him. The compulsion of the law is described in Rom. 7: 5: "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Remember the effect of the law's drawing power. It is described here as "the motions of sins," but now it is superceded by our realization that we are dead to the law, so there are not such "motions," working in our members. "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6). The dead "letter" effect has been filled by the "newness of the Spirit." You must remember, though, that the promise of the Spirit is not to one merely by his trusting Jesus to save him, but was promised to the church (Jn. 14:18: 27) whom he was comforting because of their hurt at hearing He was going away. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, had not been given, and did not come until Pentecost next after his resurrection.

Paul Remembered Everything

See those questions: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid" (Rom. 7:7a). He is emphatic in saying No, twice. The law is not sin, but the law caused sin to come alive in him. The truth bores in on one who is convicted by the Spirit. Our tendency, as was Saul's, is to "kick against the pricks." (Acts 9:5; 26:14). Get the lesson: Sin is dead in one who does not have knowledge of the truth. Sin is there, but it is helpless of itself to cause a man to sin. It is the law that gives sin the power to condemn. "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" It is the "motions of sins" which brings out its presence in the form of lusts and all forms of deception. These motions were attractive, but were not able to produce righteousness. "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Yes, it is the knowledge of the Truth which gives sin the power to attract and produce all that "concupiscence," the strong desire to have one's own way. We need the Truth to serve God or even ourselves well. But we need it cloaked in grace as God gave it to us in His Word and in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read Rom. 7:10-14.

What gives one a consciousness of sin. A Christian might say immediately that it is the Holy Spirit convicting. This is true, but it does not work the same with everybody. A lost man may not even think of his being a sinner. Is he not a sinner? Yes, but he may not even think of it, at least not very often. He may have a Bible at his house but may never look at it. The communication of truth comes more easily to some than to others. One brought up in a Christian family, where the Bible was regularly read, where the family attended church regularly, will likely feel the guilt of sin earlier than one who has no such conduciveness. We hear of a man occasionally hearing of Christ, and maybe quickly realizing his need of a Savior, and maybe even trusting God for salvation. But the measure of our spiritual condition usually waits on many contributions regarding sin, salvation, grace, and mercy before he is convicted.

When we teach the Truth to our children we are preparing a heart for conviction at an earlier age, but we are preparing the child for life. During most of his life the Bible has information enabling him to live a much better life. The quality of every day living is much better in a home where God's Word is read, and its standards absorbed early in the children.

Later on in life such a child is much better qualified for nearly every trade, every skill, every enrollment he may face. On the other hand, there has been a diminishing of the standards for living, even in professed Christians. The public school system, the communication systems, and society in general has sunk for at least four decades, and even longer in some places. When did we ever hear in our younger days that a gun was a threat to the safety of everybody. The manner of speaking allows us to attribute a risk even without logical reason. Society has come to a disposition that does not understand matters like sin in all its forms.

There were philosophies we did not risk, as evolution, and certain forms of entertainment. The church held a high place in our esteem, for it stood for what we learned at home. We were taught that true science is supported by the Scriptures, but some theories of education and government are contrary to liberty of conscience. These danger areas today have practically criminalized the innocence enjoyed and have made much truth to be suspicioned. The marriage of oneman and one woman was held in the highest esteem. Today many are making that old standard suspect and welcoming homosexuality and other things we counted sin. In many places, even quoting the Bible is considered illegal, so it is forbidden to pray or even to read parts of the Bible in certain places. The result: we have lowered the standard and sin is no longer discussable.

How do you suppose young people are able to gain the honor, the clean living we once enjoyed? Where is the church or society which measures by the Bible? God's standards are still the same for those of us brought up in that way. Using gradualism society has been crippled with a vicious attitude that rejects the Bible. They started by making it suspect in government, in schools, and in most areas of life. Now it is reaching into the church.

Religeon is made into an area which must not be mentioned in public. If you want it go to your church house, shut the door, and do not bring it out. Citizens of America a few years ago would never have allowed such an untouchable attitude. They welcomed it and felt it was supportive of all life.

Where Changes Come

The Bible is still the same. The church is still the same, or supposed to be. But a weakness is now being seen in the stand of the Lord's churches. The authority of the Christ, as Head over the church, is missed or ignored. The church became an institution in which Christ, as Head, could be obeyed in every land and in every age, but we are paying attention to the power of the press, the schools, and some who destroy the government, failing to recognize that America was begun under the influence of people who believed the authority of the Bible and of the churches. The compromising spirit of non-denominationalism is the popular form of religion. The stricter form of doctrine of Missionary Baptists has been left as more and more religions are established and God is not heeded. Fewer and fewer people are standing strong for the standards found in the Word of God.

Strictly speaking this means that the standard of the Bible is being ignored. The weakness of not heeding has practically eliminated the doctrine of Church Discipline. Few people are left who even know of the idea of a church being the executive for the truth of God in the world today. Why do we not see the "weak and sickly among you, and many sleep?" These words from the KJV of 1 Cor. 11:30 are unknown or not understood. They simply say that there is a spiritual weakness among the churches, the body is "spiritually sick," and some more rebellious members were already dead among them, as Jesus made that phrase meaningful ... sleep means physically dead. And who knows, but a spiritual deadness is also meant. This kind of authority agrees with that which caused the death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10), with the Apostle Peter telling one of them that they had allowed their hearts to be filled with a lie to the Lord and then confirming the charge by exposing the other. Both died instantly and were the means of causing great fear to come upon any who would have been influenced by this evil deed. We are not seeing these things in this extreme fashion, probably because the churches are not zealous to keep God's instructions as to dealing with God's order. Taking the Lord's Supper is still done, according to the language of many churches, but God's order is not remembered in detail, as the Lord gave it (1 Cor. 11:24-33). Who knows how much of the weakness, the spiritual sickness, and even the deaths of members is caused by this failure to remember the Lord correctly.

We often explain these spiritually cold fellowships of the churches as that "the day of miracles is past," and we should not expect God's power to show as it did when Jesus was on earth as a man. But is not the language pretty clear? Read John 14:12: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

As an editor I am mindful that my position is not the same as that of a pastor except in the church here in Harrison, but I feel it my duty to remind churches, specially their pastors, that the Bible still means what it says. I have studied the language but have learned that even in the translations we are to believe God and act on that which seems to be what He has taught us.

Why are we satisfied to believe that the spiritual sense of the church membership is not as active as in the days when Jesus was here, and right after, as during the Acts of the Apostles? It is true that our living by faith is to cover much of that which was more overt in those days? Yes, perhaps so, but note this fact: Emotions are not real spirituality. That which is outward may be entirely carnal, though that is not required. Having seen the extremes in feelings and sounds we know that these are not necessarily a product of spiritual power. Now that we know this, let us walk by faith, even if we do not always feel the physical exhilaration. Satan is a deceiver. He is aware of our little faith, or lack of faith, so by encouraging the exhileration of emotions, or the beat and noise of the music, he leads people to trust in what the body is able to produce, not realizing that this is not faith.

Churches, true and false, know the feelings produced by certain kinds of music. They may or may not notice the words to these songs, but this could be a warning. If we know the words are not true, because contrary to the written Word, then we must be warned that we are looking at the wrong thing. Brother Pastor, be aware that even you may be "thrilled" by the wrong thing. And do learn, also, that your saying it may be more deceptive than the emotion itself. Know, also, that you have to watch your own direction from the Lord lest you confuse the emotion with the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Our God did not purposely allow these mixed up feelings in order to lead us astray, but Satan is wise in the ways of the world and we do well to heed the Word and the person of the Spirit and not the crowds. While I am thinking in this vein, let me say it is the pastor's business to teach his people regarding the deceptions of Satan, and himself to be warned lest he allow a deception to be inserted into what is otherwise God's leadership or direction. As a pastor we should have learned long ago to be comfortable with letting God speak to our hearts and acting on His directions. Even a people sitting in darkness can see a great light (Mt. 4:16). In fact, this is a strong teaching concerning God's direction over lives of men. Ps 107:10: "Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron." Such a seat in darkness is usually the result of rebellion (v. 11). Lk. 1:79: "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." So it is possible to know when one is giving light and guidance, even though Satan takes advantage of the fact and makes us experience bondage in time, rather than the sweet peace of joy and light. (Isa. 42:6-7): "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." Get a load of this promise and live by faith.

We need the light to be able to move around or go places. Human light, or artificial light may serve men naturally, but it takes spiritual light for us to know the way to go spiritually.

Micah's Explanation

There is a fourth passage in the list of those with the phrase "sit in darkness." Mic. 7:8: "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me." We need to understand the use of the word "remnant" in the Old Testament to appreciate Micah's use of the expression we are using at the moment, usually referring to a few who are faithful in Israel. In this passage in Micah it refers to the ministry, that is, the prophet in this place, but to ministers in the New Testament. Zechariah uses the meaning in Lk. 1:79 (above). Only a few seem to remain submissive, but even though darkness is all around them they are still blessed by the light in heart and able to help those around them who may be willing to hear. It was true in Israel (Zech. 8:6ff) when the remnant returned from captivity in Zechariah's day. Similarly, in this age there are those who seem to be chained in the darkness, but God will pour out of His Spirit upon them as he did in the Old Testament on the house of David. It is that house of David by whom God will restore to obedience and faithfulness those who have become cold and are now sitting in darkness (Rom. 11:5-12).

As our space is limited we are not able to follow this system of God's grace at work from long ago, right through to the end of the age, but God is ready to show grace to those in darkness. They must repent and look to Him. It is then that God will take up the promise He made to Israel in Zechariah's Day the "fall of them" becomes the diminishing which He turns into fulness, even the fulness of the Gentiles and "the riches of the world." (Rom. 11:11-12).

Those who read the Old Testament seeing only the law and the works required have missed the larger Truth of God's providing the riches of Grace through the fall of others. A late lesson for me, how that God's Providences are so enlightening. God is in charge, so if He chooses why should he not turn some into rebels in order to move others to obedience. Some expressions need to be studied, such as the "election of grace." Look at Rom. 11:5-8. Have we admitted that God loves us and we have professed to trust Him. Do we then become willing to believe that He has the right to turn us in directions we might never have thought to follow? Can we believe that even when we seem to be thrust into ways and situations which seem wrong that God, the One who is Good, who Loves us, has the right to use us for His own glory? Genuine faith trusts Him to do right, even when we may not understand. That faith should grow as He continues to have His way in our hearts.

May we trust Him now. He is the same God who dealt with David of Old. He will not fail. Victory is His. We must rejoice to be put where He wants us. Though He speaks of a remnant as against "the rest," those left, we are still subject to His "whosoever will," as part of the remnant or of the rest, even when we do not understand it.q

The Reminder,

February 2006

We feel greatly blessed as of this writing. A few weeks ago we received into our membership a family, four people, all of whom are devoted to the Lord and actively engaging in prayer, in worship, even in teaching, as providence requires. Then recently another family, Bro. George Fletcher and Sister Fletcher, have moved their membership over to be with us. This pastor feels God has given him a great helper. Bro. Fletcher is very ready to quote such passages of the Word as we may need. His specialty seems to be writing out explanations of most any doctrine that Missionary Baptists teach or need. In fact, it is evident that many no longer openly teach all of the Word of God, but resist the kingdom and the covenants. In fact, not many even of the pastors, seem to know much, if anything about covenants. Such teaching calls for a familiarity with the Old Testament where God initiated the idea of His joining with His special people, the faithful remnant, in a contractual relationship. Under the terms of this contract He holds before that people certain promises regarding the propagation of the faith and the missionary spread of the Truth..

Even in the matters of our daily lives we know that entering into such a contract relationship requires that we, as parties of the second part, must maintain a certain standard of living with God as the Party of the First Part. This may seem simple, as long as it only demands a periodic fulfilling of a monetary requirement. But with God, who created us and holds us accountable there is more than the paying of a periodic tithe or stipend; it requires a manner of living, submission to His stanrdards and obedience to His Words. When people hear such a thing they are immediately inclined to resist it or reject it, or so it seems. For one thing, the Party of the First Part, God our Creator, knows all about us and is keeping a record, and we know that we must face Him in judgment. This leaves many dumfounded, because they can only think of the tedious requirements over the life in every aspect, and most either cannot, or will not consider that standard for life here in the world.

Is there something wrong with the idea that God sees every act, knows every thought, and recquires submission and obedience? No, but they figure that this is legalistic, and puts obligations on man's flesh which is helpless and cannot measure up. True, it would, if that were the way God had thought it, but He makes sure we know that He gave His only begotten Son who volunteers to suffer for our sins and to live His righteousness in our lives. He takes our sins to the cross, satisfies the Father regarding our guilt, and then explains (Rom. 11:5) "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

My Baptist Brethren, since grace plays a part, how can we not believe it is a good system? As long as we try to do well, or keep commandments, we can only attempt it through the flesh. That will not do. God supplies the obedience by grace, affording us the righteousness of Christ and bringing that righteousness out in our daily living. His command to love one another and to love God cannot be performed by human effort, but must be done by faith, by our trusting Him to finish the work in our lives. Only so can the Bride please the Groom, Christ. Surely this is not difficult to understand.

Fifth Sunday Fellowship

Our age and the distance to Hot Springs has hindered our going and enjoying the fellowship of brethren in that fellowship. We have missed this much regretably. But in January we were very pleased to get to go. Wife was able to ride that distance and be comfortable in the local motel in Hot Springs Village, after we had gone to the church there on Friday night. The preaching was first rate and we rejoiced to be in such company. I was happy to hear those brethren expressing good understanding of the reason why the Lord's church has a part in such. It was my privilege to preach on Saturday morning. Bro. Hooper of Southwest MBC preached on Friday night. Bro. George Fletcher was privileged to preach before I did. The pastor at Traskwood, whose name does not now come to mind, brought the message after lunch on Saturday. A number expressed blessings by this message, and I am sure I would have, but my hearing is not what it used to be, so I was not able to pick up on the California dialect, the former home of this brother.

Our trip home in the late afternoon on Saturday was "blessed" with a down pour, such rain as I have not seen in a long time. But we made good time and got home before dark. I had dreaded the idea of driving at night in the rain. As it turned out, we were home safe and had a much needed rain besides. Now, a few days later our "Summer" weather, which has lasted through Fall and much of Winter season, is much cooler. We received about two inches of snow yesterday. This was a surprise because our atmosphere has been so dry lately. We are behind by at least twelve inches during the last few months. Unless more comes before Spring we will not be able to make a garden without watering it, and the pastures will not support the cattle which most people desire.

My experience teaches me that all those who read the Bible or attend church services, know that God speaks to people by the weather (Acts 14:17). Most other people also realize that major changes in the circumstances of life are also speaking to us from God. Are we going to just ignore these things, or give up on them, supposing that we can't know what God means. My experience as a Christian clearly says that He speaks to us even in a more direct manner. We can tell when God leads us. (Rom. 8:14) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Yes, but this leadership is much clearer when we are daily reading the Word, praying, and meditating on our lives before God.

Unless we are very familiar with the written Word of God we may have the confusing notion that our thoughts are God's when in fact we are thinking as the world thinks. God can be understood as He impresses your heart, but foremost at all times must be the written Truth that says a matter is God speaking. It is very easy to feel that the satisfaction one gets in singing a certain song, or a certain teaching is God impressing. But it takes a genuine honesty with Him to preserve the Truth from the Bible, else we will be following the wrong God, the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:1-7) and note specially v. 4 and v. 6. Satan is able to impress the mind. He deals with emotions. We are easily moved by joy, grief, or extreme sensations emanating from these earthly bodies of clay, cf. v. 7, but our being clay means a weakness we must constantly discipline in order to follow the Holy Spirit.

I preached two times at church Sunday on justification and when it comes. I must soon pass along the thoughts I gleaned by that study and its presentation to our people.