APRIL 2000 JUNE 2000 THE READING ROOM HOME
The FBI And Reverence To God
"He Who Believes And Is Baptized Will Be Saved."
(Kent Heaton)
When Jesus finished teaching the multitudes on the mountain,
"the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:28,29) The teaching of Jesus was simple and plain to understand. Mark 12:37 tells us the "common people heard him gladly." The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day taught their own doctrines and laid burdens upon the people not according to God's will. The plea of the Son of God was to hear the word spoken and obey it. "But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)Today, men are burdened with many doctrines and teachings that are according to the will of man and not the will of the Father. The word of God is not a book impossible to understand or the Father would have given us an impossible task. The message of salvation is not kept in some dark corner some where to be revealed by scholarly men. If the Creator of this world cannot put together a book whereby man can read and understand the plan of salvation, then the Creator of this world is not very great.
The common people understood the words of Jesus when he spoke them two thousand years ago. These words are written down so that we may read and understand what man must to do be saved. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:3-4,
"How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)." You and I can read - you and I can understand - you and I can know the answer to salvation.The plan of salvation is given by the Father. In order to come to God, one must believe that he is - Hebrews 11:6. Faith is the result of the evidence of the invisible attributes of God clearly seen (Romans 1:20) and a measure of the word of God.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) The heart is turned toward God to believe in those things that are revealed to man. Belief is not merely an action of the mind and heart but the soul devoting itself to the will of God - whatever the will of the Father will be.Belief is necessary to understand the need to change the life of sin to a life of victory. Repentance demands a change in thinking, a change in action, a change in purpose and a change in will. The will is no longer governed by the intents of the heart but the commands of God. Peter told those gathered in Acts 2 to repent! Jesus emphasized that without repentance, salvation was not possible. (Luke 13:3) Upon this threshold of humility, a willingness to confess the name of Jesus Christ pours from the lips of the undeserving.
"For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."The final act of cleansing takes place in the waters of baptism. Here belief is tested; here faith is established; it is here the action of repentance takes flight to move one to disregard the tenets of man and seek full salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ. With the words of confession fresh upon the lips of the dying sinner, the blood of Jesus Christ washes away all sins in water.
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned ... Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ... Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life ... were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Peter 3:20-21) "But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)God's View Of The Role Of Woman
(Kent Heaton)
The role of the woman in society has always been a topic of intense debate and conflict. In many cultures, women have been delegated to a very subservient role of submission with no course of appeal. In other societies, women are free to do as they please in any manner. While rules of allowance vary from culture to culture and change for good and for bad over the centuries, the word of God remains constant in its view of the role of the woman.
It must be noted immediately that the word of God is not measured by the whims of society. The culture of man cannot dictate the course of what God teaches on a matter. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it does not fall under the sway of time and societies ever changing ideals and principles. To argue from a cultural standpoint the validity of scripture is to argue in the court of a fool. So it is with the role of the woman as God has prescribed..
Has God not given all men throughout time a pattern to follow - regardless of their place in time and culture? Are the roles given for men and women only applicable to the day or year or century of man regarding the word of God? Indeed the word of God is still applicable today as it was in the days of the apostle Paul.
The will of God for women is one of the highest ideals given. The woman is not viewed by God as being a subservient slave of man. She is the beauty of creation as God saw that
"It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." (Genesis 2:18) Because of sin, the woman would be in submission to her husband. "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." (Genesis 3:16) As the pain of childbirth has not ceased, the desire and ruling given in this passage have not changed. The New Testament restates these same principles. (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18,19; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7)The Bible teaches the wife cannot be the head of the man but to be in submission even as the church is to Christ. Ephesians 5 shows the role of the husband and wife together as they follow the example of Christ and the church. The role of submission is her proper role and she is not allowed to usurp authority over the man. The woman cannot be in the role of the preacher nor can she be in the role of an elder. 1 Timothy 3:2 states the bishop (elder) must be the husband of one wife. This excludes women from performing this task.
The role of the woman is one of honor as prescribed by God. Her role is limited in its scope and does not neglect the many aspects of the work of the Lord she can and must perform. Our culture has allowed more and more women to become involved in areas they have no authority to engage in. Many churches allow women to preach, lead in public prayer and take roles that God has restricted to the role of the man.
The question rest upon the basis of authority. Where is the authority for women to exalt themselves in roles forbidden by God? The nature of the law established in Genesis 3:16 will no more change in her role to the husband than child bearing. The scriptures given teach the law of God and to reject such is to reject all the law of God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 remains written in the mind of God -
"But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."(Kent Heaton)
With the Temple in Jerusalem as His backdrop, Jesus tore at the heart of the Jewish mind in challenging them concerning His witness and His teachings. John records how they brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus seeking ways to accuse Him but to no avail. The only hope of salvation would be found in believing that Jesus was the Christ and without this acceptance, they would die in their sins. (John 8:21-29) The teaching of Jesus struck the hearts of some and the record says,
"Many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" (vv31,32)Jesus shows the nature of being a disciple of the Son of God. There will be a need to abide in Him and in His teachings. A price must be paid to be a disciple of Christ but the cost is outweighed by the blessings found in Him. The power of truth will change the life of every man who comes to the Lord because found in this truth is what all men desire - freedom. Truth will bring freedom from the bonds of hopelessness and despair.
These blessings can only be found - IF - one abides in the word. The idea of abiding is that of dwelling, to tarry or to remain. Many believed in Jesus but we find in John 12:42-43,
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." The heart was not willing to remain faithful to the cause of Christ. A constant continuance is needed to find the blessings of Christ.If one abides in the word of God salvation is found.
"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21) The word teaches the character of discipleship. A price is paid to be a disciple of Christ. (Luke 14:25:26-33) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34,35) Jesus also shows the requirement to be His disciple in John 15:1-8.A disciple of Christ understands truth and finds the blessings of knowing truth. Abiding in the word of Christ produces godliness (Titus 1:1) that sets man free from sin. (1 Timothy 3:16; 4:7,8) Truth is the word of God (John 17:17) and sets us free from the doctrines of men (Matthew 15:7-9) Found in the church of Christ is truth (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22,23; 2 Timothy 2:15) giving freedom from the denominational dogmas of men. The blessing of truth is found in the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; 15:26) received at baptism (Acts 2:38,39) giving us freedom from the spirit of this world. (1 Corinthians 2:11,12; Romans 8:14-17). Abiding in the word of truth gives man the knowledge of true worship. (John 4:23,24)
These blessings can only be found in Jesus Christ. Abiding in the word of truth brings about these changes in life and secures the hope and promise of salvation. How does one enjoy these blessings in Christ?
"Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)