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There’s a hymn (not one of ours) that says, "Love was when God became a man." Can our limited human minds possibly comprehend this awesome concept: that the Creator of the vast cosmos called our universe would send Himself down to this planet to experience first-hand what it is like to be a human being, to demonstrate, by deed and word, His heart of love; then finally, to die a criminal’s death, bearing all the evil and despicable sins of mankind - in order to ransom His creation from their sin and to be their perfect intercessor! Are we capable of fathoming such awesome, magnificent love? This defies our comprehension. It overwhelms us. It conquers us. It brings us to our knees at the foot of the cross.
Because Jesus was not only fully man, but also fully God, His death had infinite measure; it could count for countless others. "...For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Rom. 5:15, 19)
"Many." What about the "few" in the "narrow way"? This leads us to another cornerstone of Christianity, and why William Irvine’s "Living Witness" doctrine was a grave, deadly error. When any church claims that the church is the Only Right Way, what is it claiming? That its method/doctrine/ system is the only one that God recognizes, so its believers are the only ones who can be saved, correct? We sing "Jesus alone can save me" (#153). Isn’t there a contradiction here? If "The Truth" is the only right way, and only professing people can be saved, then how can we sing "Jesus alone can save me"? Shouldn’t we be singing "Jesus and ‘The Truth’ can save me"? Friends! Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me." "I am the door..." "I am the good shepherd..." "I am the bread of life..." "I am the vine..." Check out those pronouns! They’re singular. Did He include anyone else? The apostles? A ministry? A fellowship? A body of believers meeting in homes? Of course not! Jesus is our only "ladder" leading from earth to heaven. Believing in a method does not save us. There’s confusion in "The Truth" over who does the saving. The very name Jesus means "Saviour." (See margin Matt 1:21.) The Bible clearly states again and again that Christ died to save sinners:
"...he will come and save you." (Isa. 35:4) "... for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21) "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." (Matt. 18:11) "... and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28) "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them..." (Luke 9:56) "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) "...that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17) "...this indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (John 4:42) "...whom ye crucified...neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47) "...to be a Prince and a Saviour..." (Acts 5:31) "...being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Rom. 5:9) "...Christ died for our sins." (I Cor. 15:3) "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:9) "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (I Tim. 1:15) "Who gave himself a ransom for all..." (I Tim. 2:6) "...we...testify that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." ( I John 4:14)
To ensure that there be no mistake about the importance of this, the Bible also clearly states that His atoning sacrifice was planned by God from the beginning of time. "...ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world..." (I Pet. 1:18-20)
Are you beginning to understand why our belief of being the Only Right Way (the culmination of William Irvine’s "Living Witness" doctrine - that salvation is only possible through the ministry established by him) is so deadly? Because it shifts the saving by Christ only - which God planned from the beginning of time - to our being saved by a method, or by a ministry; or to our being saved by Christ plus a method, a fellowship called "The Truth." Isn’t that the same thing as saying we (Jesus and us) are the way, the truth and the life? Look at John 10:7, 9, 11. Did He say "We are the doors - I and the Apostles?" Or "We are the good shepherds"? Friends, Jesus did not use a plural pronoun.
Are you beginning to see what’s happened? How this fellowship has become so elevated that it has really replaced Jesus as our Saviour? Do you also believe that this is serious? Are you beginning to get a glimpse of the importance of understanding that Jesus was God - made flesh? Of keeping Him high and lifted up? Of worshipping Him only? Friends, the "way" planned from the foundation of the world was Jesus - only - not a certain ministry or meetings in homes. Friends, it is imperative that you separate "The Truth" in your minds from Jesus! One is a way, a method, or system; the other is the Saviour. Put "The Truth" down to where it belongs among men, and raise the Saviour up to where He belongs - "the image of the invisible God" - Who created "all things," was made "higher than the heavens," "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named...and hath put all things under his feet..." Read Col. 1:14-20, Heb. 7:26, Eph. 1:20-22.
We must recognize and accept the work and person of Jesus as the only way to be saved. He did not say that he knew the way, nor that He taught them the way, nor that He would show them the way. He declared that He is the way. Our true foundation should be a personal recognition, belief and conviction of who Jesus really is, and in what He came to do. What did He come to do? To establish a ministry? To institute church meetings in homes? Where are verses to support this? "The Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." He came to save each of us, individually!
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh."(I Peter 3:18) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Heb. 9:28) "We are sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ once for all...But this man, after he had offered up one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." (Heb. 10:10, 12) "...that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3) We have heard it said that Jesus was the first worker. Also, at a recent convention, it was said from the platform that workers are replicas of Jesus. Friends! This is dangerous thinking! Is it not elevating people to the status of God? The workers are a dear and esteemed people, but there’s not one worker who can save you. Who Jesus was, and what He did, once and for all, cannot be repeated or implemented by any human being. Friends, as long as you believe that "The Truth" is God’s only way, you are trusting in a system, or method of salvation, and not in Jesus ONLY.
Why do we wince when someone asks us if we’re saved? We hesitatingly reply, "Well, I hope so," or "I’m trying to be." This is the reason:
Professing people believe that we must earn our salvation, and we know we’re not doing a very good job of it! Friends, there is no person on earth who can save you - not even yourself! Central to "The Truth’s" doctrine is this theme: salvation by obedience and willingness and submission. The life of Christ is emphasized, but His redeeming and atoning sacrifice - His substitutionary death on the cross - is de-emphasized. (Folks, this is a legacy from William Irvine. He mocked belief in the sufficiency of the blood of Christ to wash away man’s sin. He spoke of "Calvary ranters." Doesn’t that give you chills? William Irvine launched his own personal war against the organized religions of his time. But, in doing so, he also rejected sound Christian doctrine and substituted his own.) Friends, the blood of Christ is absolutely crucial to salvation! Acts 20:28, "...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Romans 3:25, "...through faith in his blood..." Romans 5:9, "...being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved..." Eph. 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood..." Heb. 9:12, "...by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Heb. 13:12, "...That he might sanctify the people with his own blood..." Rev. 1:5, ..."Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood..."
The focus in "The Truth" on the life of Christ (our Example) robs us, and it robs Him. It makes us feel that we must live up to His righteousness (an impossible goal) in order to be worthy of heaven, that we have to do our own redeeming, so to speak, because the saving work of Jesus on the cross is not understood. Professing people believe that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary doesn’t apply to anyone unless they live according to everything in "The Truth," and that Jesus did what He could, but the rest is up to us. We must complete what He began. In other words, we must finish saving ourselves. Folks, what are the last words of Jesus recorded by John (19:30)? "It is finished." What was finished? Christ’s work of redemption was done, complete, finished. Let us not deprive Him of the victory He obtained on the cross for the redemption of all who trust in it! "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:34) "...for the works which the Father hath given me to finish." (John 5:36)
"We don’t feel worthy. But if we’re willing, this will make us worthy.
Denying ourselves. The thing we must do daily is to take up our cross... What we’re trying to do these days and years is make ourselves ready that we might in some measure be worthy of being the Bride of Christ. It’s up to us now to be making ourselves worthy." Those words are a direct quote from the platform. Our dear friends. This trying to make ourselves worthy is not scriptural. What does the Bible say about it? "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book. . ." (Rev. 5:2-4) We humans can never make ourselves worthy. Only the Lamb that was slain is worthy. Why? Because "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isa. 64:6) Because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Rom. 3:10) "But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might he given to them that believe." (Gal. 3:22) Our sin, no matter how good we try to be, will separate us from God, the Holiest of Holy, unless we allow the blood of Jesus (the only sinless One) to cleanse us, unless we allow Jesus to save us. Only the blood of the Lamb can make us worthy.
What about the verses that speak of walking "worthy"? In their context, the connotation is clear that the author means walking worthy of their status as Christians - that they should be following Christian concepts in their walk with God. (Eph. 4:1-3, Col. 1:10-12, I Thess. 2:12)
We hear so much about willingness, don’t we. Yes, we need to be willing to follow our Lord and Saviour, but often the friends and workers are actually implying that we must be willing for many outward things, i.e., appearance (primarily women), foregoing certain entertainment, not having TVs/radios/stereos in our homes, etc. (These all differ, depending on the individual overseer your state is under.) Most of all, it is stressed that we need to be willing to profess, then be faithful in "The Truth," and all that entails. Folks, what do we really need to be willing for? Perhaps most of all, we need to be willing to allow Christ to save us. To totally depend on His righteousness, rather than going about to establish our own. (See Rom. 10:1-4.) To accept the gift of salvation, the gift of eternal life through believing in the power of His shed blood on the cross. We need to be willing to stop relying on all that we can do to make ourselves "more worthy." To stop saying, in effect, "You didn’t do enough, Lord Jesus. What You did isn’t sufficient for us; we have to be willing to finish your work. We can’t trust You that much! We can’t accept your gift; we must ‘in some measure’ earn it." Friends, we need to be willing to trust our Redeemer!
Are you now feeling like the jailor in Acts 16? "Then what must I do to be saved"? What was Paul’s answer? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31) What did Jesus say? "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Note the two words in italics. "Whosoever" is not very exclusive, is it. (It doesn’t say "Whosoever professeth"!) The Bible puts great emphasis on belief. See also John 11:25-26 and Luke 8:50. We would agree that belief isn’t just an intellectual, head belief, but a heart belief. The Greek word for "believe" in this verse was "to cling to, to trust in."
"...He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24) "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (John 6:47) "...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise..." (Eph. 1:13) Our worth to God is not determined by our performance! Throughout Scripture, belief/faith/trust in God was critical. John indicates that believing, along with love, is a commandment. "And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another..."
If we are God’s Only Right Way, and professing people have a monopoly on salvation, then everyone else - in every other church - is wrong. Is that not blatant judging - even condemnation - of others? "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned..." (Luke 6:37) Who are we, to feel so smugly sure that the way to salvation is exclusively ours? Acts 10:34-35, "God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Can we be so self-righteous as to believe that only professing people fear God and live righteously? Look at Acts 10:45. Are we like "those of the circumcision which believed" who were "astonished...because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost"? Are we like the "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others"? (Luke 18:9).
One day John told Jesus that they had seen someone using His name to cast out demons, and they had told the person to stop because he wasn’t one of "us." (Mark 9:38-40 & Luke 9:49-50) They wanted this person to stop his work of deliverance. He wasn’t a member of their group. They couldn’t imagine God’s saving and healing power could be operating outside of their circle. How did Jesus respond? He said ‘Forbid him not. Don’t stop him, for no one doing miracles in my name will turn against me. Anyone who isn’t against us is for us.’ The power of grace lies in the name of Jesus (only). Acts 3:6, (Peter) "...In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Rom. 10:12, "...for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." See Col. 3:11. The disciples here wanted to limit the life-giving power of Jesus’ name. Weren’t they starting to say, "We’re the only ones who are right" - to preach a gospel of exclusivism? Dear friends, may we not attempt to shrink the Creator of mankind into our own exclusive box. "For the love of God is broader than the measure of man’s mind."
"For if by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles...bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (I Cor. 12:13) The eye cannot say unto the hand, ‘I don’t need you, you’re not part of the body,’ just because it isn’t an eye. (Vs. 21) It isn’t the place of the eye to judge. If we say that no one outside of this fellowship is going to heaven because they don’t see things as we do, aren’t we just like the eye who told the hand that it wasn’t part of the body? Who are we to say who is, and who is not, part of the body of Christ? Who are we to judge the salvation of another? "Who are thou that judgeth another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth." (Rom. 14:4) "The Lord knoweth them that are his." (II Tim. 2:19, I John 5:11-12) God wants us to be free from human judgement of the worth and value of people.
"...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:13) We have heard this verse used many times to "prove" that this fellowship is God’s "only way." Surely a fellowship of so few has to be the "narrow way" of the Bible, it is reasoned. Of course, this same verse is used by other groups - the Amish and Mennonites, for example. What is "few" with God? What is "few" in a world of five billion people, with the total number throughout all history being unknown?
Do we ever hear about these verses? Matt. 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Acts 2:41, 4:4 & 32 speak of "thousands" and "multitudes" of believers. Rom. 5:15, 19, "...and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Heb. 9:28) Rev. 7:9-17, "After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations...stood before the throne..." So many people that it was impossible to number them were cleansed in the blood of Christ.
Rom. 1:16, "...the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek." "Believeth" what? The "gospel" of an unpaid ministry and church in the home? Or the gospel of Christ...unto salvation.
We will readily grant that "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat...narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Remember, Jesus is the Way, even the "narrow" Way. Not a system, a fellowship. Did Jesus mean to be narrow minded, relegating all other sects inferior? Or did He mean that He (the Way) is not pursued by most - multitudes rarely have a thought about Him. By contrast, "few" care enough to search, find, and establish a relationship with Him and live by His teachings. There are also many "religious" people who talk without a walk. BUT, friends, contrary to what most of you believe, there are devout Christians in this world today. We in "The Truth" have built a fence of superiority around our group which doesn’t allow us to even contemplate that there might be others who love the Lord as much as we do - and perhaps more. For a century now, "truthers" have been "sitting in the seat of the scornful," we are ashamed and sorry to say.
Friends, we strongly urge you to listen to a good Christian radio station. You will be very pleasantly surprised. (In the south/midwest, BBN - Bible Broadcasting Network - is excellent.) Web site:
Go into a Christian bookstore and browse - with your God-given mind open. You have the right to do this! (See page 1.) We have learned a wealth of Bible knowledge this way - and discovered a wonderful world of Christian believers with standards of moral conduct at least as high as ours, who are totally committed to Christ. Are they "deceived," as we have been taught? Sorry, folks, but we could never believe that again. Listen to them; read what they have written. Can you honestly say they are not Christians? How could people write or speak like this if they don’t know God? Here are some reliable Christian authors: Max Anders, Kay Arthur, Charles ("Chuck") Colson, David Jeremiah, Hal Lindsey, Max Lucado, Catherine Marshall, Joyce Meyers, Charles Swindoll, Ron Rhodes.
Many of the hymns in our own hymnbook were written by those we term "worldly religious people." Haven’t you ever wondered how they could have written hymns that are so meaningful? Favorites such as "Tell Me the Story of Jesus," "O God of Bethel," "More About Jesus," "When I Survey," "Was It For Me?," "Just As I Am," "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee," and many others.
Did you know that there are organizations dedicated to historically and scientifically proving the Bible correct? Some of the Old Testament events, once dismissed by biblical critics as entirely imaginary, have now been confirmed by archaeological scholars. The recovery of ancient texts continues in excavated cities of the ancient Near East, and the archaeological illumination of the New Testament is proceeding. Pilate’s residence has now been identified! The theory of evolution has become as much a religion as creation, and creation scientists have endured scathing denunciation by adherents of this world view. However, scientific evidence is mounting, and even some evolutionists have renounced their previously held views and become convinced of the validity of the biblical account of creation. (The Genesis Flood explains much, from the Grand Canyon to dinosaur fossils.) For some fascinating reading, contact Institute for Creation Research, P.O. Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021 and/or Answers in Genesis, P.O. Box 6330, Florence, KY 41022; (606) 647-2900. For some riveting, can’t-put-it-down reading about the latest incredible biblical discoveries, including ancient codes in the original Hebrew Bible only recently discovered by computers, check out your local library or Christian bookstore for The Signature of God, by Grant R. Jeffrey. For computer buffs, surf on over to http://www.ChristianAnswers.net,http://www.gospelcom.net, http://www.goshen.net/BiblePathway/homepage.htm.
Did you know there is a spiritual revolution going on in atheistic Communist China? God is working in China in a very powerful way. One Communist official said, "If God had the face of a 70-year-old man, we wouldn’t care if He was back; but He has the face of millions of 20-year-olds, so we are very worried." Millions of people are accepting Jesus as their Saviour. There is severe persecution of these Christians, very similar to that which New Testament Christians suffered. In January, 1996, the Communist government launched a vicious campaign to literally persecute the millions of house-church Christians out of existence. But they continue to grow. Their #1 request to western Christians is "Please send us Bibles." (There is currently only one Bible for every 2,000 Christians. They pay large amounts from their scanty wages to buy one page of a Bible, then share it with others.) At great personal peril, western missionaries seek to carry thousands of Bibles into China. The Bibles are usually confiscated by the customs officials and secret police, but then are sold on the black market. These persecuted Chinese Christians need Bibles and our prayers, friends.
Dear friends, if you have borne with us in this letter so far, we truly thank the Lord and bless your hearts, because we know these things are not easy for you. We have traveled this road ourselves, so we well know how painful it is. This is radical thinking for you. This analogy comes to mind: Forcing one’s mind to even begin to think differently from what it has been taught all one’s life is like inserting a knife into a closed seashell, the "knife" of truth, if you will - deliberately prying a closed mind open. You no doubt are experiencing fear. If you have read this far, you deserve our sincere congratulations. You have good courage. Likely, you’ve been warned against reading letters/books like this. You’ve even been told to destroy/burn them, unopened. Dear ones, if your minds weren’t controlled so well, those warnings should send up a red flag. You have a right to use the intelligence that God gave you! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Tim. 2:15)
As we stated on page 1, Scripture encourages you to examine, search and prove for yourself. In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were counted "more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so." And the Bereans were listening to Paul and Silas - apostles! They were commended for not just receiving the word readily, but also for searching to prove whether the things they heard were right. Our dear friends, please don’t feel intimidated by anyone who would make you feel guilty for questioning that which we have been taught from childhood not to question. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..." (Hosea 4:6) Jesus told the Pharisees they were in error because they did not know the Scriptures. (Matt. 22:29)
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly; his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.." "We are not under the law but under grace." Romans 4:5-6, 6:15
Read Col. 2:14, 16-23. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross..." Listen to a more recent version of vs. 20-23:
"Since you died, as it were, with Christ, and this has set you free from following the world’s ideas of how to be saved - by doing good and obeying various rules - why do you keep right on following them anyway, still bound by such rules as not eating, tasting, or even touching certain foods? Such rules are mere human teachings, for food was made to be eaten and used up. These rules may seem good, for rules of this kind require strong devotion and are humiliating and hard on the body, but they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires. They only make him proud."
Many Jews were mistaken about the law, also. They gloried in the belief that they alone truly kept the law. Trusting in the law and observing every minute detail of their traditions, they were sure they would be found acceptable by their works. However, they completely misunderstood the purpose of the law. The law did not save anyone; it was intended to help men to realize their inability to keep it, see their sin, and understand their only hope was in God’s mercy - through "the promise" to come: Christ. (Gal. 3:19-24) It’s a common snare. When a group of people think they alone are God’s chosen people, or when they believe they alone have The Thing God approves of (a way/the law), it’s not uncommon for them to make the mistake of assuming God disapproves or rejects everything/everyone else.
External legalisms (rules) thwart the emphasis Jesus placed on the heart - the inside - and shift our focus to the outside, where they invite judgment of one another and pride in our personal "standard." There are many legalisms we in "The Truth" must adhere to in order to conform to an unspoken and unwritten "professing" code. If anyone fails to conform, he/she is immediately judged as slipping, losing their hold/vision, lowering the standard, etc. Guilt and peer pressure abound. Great emphasis is placed on outward appearance, as well as conforming to other so-called "standards," even to the point of considering them "works" - as in "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20) This chapter in James is often touted as proof that we are saved by works. This deserves some serious pondering. First of all, what did James consider "works"? Women wearing skirts instead of shorts/pants? Not wearing jewelry? (Watches, pins, wedding rings, and hair jewelry are OK now; necklaces, bracelets, earrings are definitely still out.) No makeup, having long hair/wearing it up? Not having certain equipment in our homes? Not reading books (that’s pretty much OK now, too), not listening to radio, watching TV, movies, etc., young people not engaging in sports or extra-curricular activities. All of these "standards" vary by geographic location, overseer, and generation. What once was sinful a generation ago is now OK.
None of the above are the "works" that the New Testament writers wrote about and have nothing whatsoever to do with salvation. They’re only petty and superficial rules very similar to what the Pharisees concocted and made such a fuss about everybody following. "...teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mat. 15:9, Mark 7:7) Those kind of rules/laws could very well be compared with the "dead works" of Heb. 6:1 (repentance from dead works) and Heb. 9:15 (purge your conscience from dead works). Exterior self-denial makes one feel smugly superior to the "world" (and even to those in the fellowship whose "standard" isn’t as "high"). It promotes self-ism. The self-denial that Jesus wanted was far deeper than that - a losing of one’s self in love for God and others.
These legalisms could also be compared with the "works of the law" that Paul wrote about in Gal. 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." That’s mighty clear. He even repeated the theme to make sure there was no misunderstanding. The Galatians had slipped back into believing again that keeping the Jewish laws was necessary, instead of just having faith in what Jesus did. Additionally, vs. 21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." THIS IS SERIOUS! Having so much focus on the outside is actually detrimental to inner spirituality. Jesus died to atone for our sins for the simple reason that we cannot atone for them ourselves. Further on, in ch. 3:24-25, Paul explained that the law was like their schoolmaster, to bring them unto Christ, but that after "faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
If you feel the focus in "The Truth" is not on such external things, but more spiritual, try wearing a bracelet or necklace into meeting. (If you’re a woman.) Or cut your hair, or even just wear it down. Or wear shorts at the next casual gathering. Or go shopping in slacks and bump into one of the friends. Or put a stereo or TV in your living room. Or put up a Christmas tree. (Incidentally, did you know Christmas trees are OK in "The Truth" in some countries?) What would happen? Eyebrows would raise, heads would shake, workers would be told, your reputation would be probably unsalvageable, people would think you were either (a) losing your senses, or (b) "losing out." You could have the most Christ-like spirit in the world, and it would mean absolutely nothing. Now tell us again the focus isn’t on the outside!
Now, back to the "works" - without which James said faith was dead. In Romans 4, Paul made it very clear that Abraham was not saved by works, but simply by believing God. (Vs. 3) Abraham had a saving faith in God. His belief (faith) only was "counted unto him for righteousness" - before circumcision and before he had done any "works." Heb. 6:12, "...who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrew 11, "By faith..." First faith, or belief, then the "works." Heb. 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him..." James spoke of Abraham being justified by works when he offered Isaac upon the altar. He spoke of Rahab saving the lives of those messengers because of the faith they already had.
Rather than "works" being exterior form or "standards," what are they? The Good Samaritan demonstrated good "works" when he took care of the man who had been assaulted. [Incidentally, we have always heard the Good Samaritan parable allegorized ("spiritualized"). Why? There’s nothing in Luke 10:30-37 to indicate that Jesus meant the parable to be taken as anything other than literally. It parallels perfectly with what is termed "The Golden Rule" - or the 2nd Commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27). The Samaritan who was being a good "neighbor" took care of that wounded man’s body. In so doing, he may well have helped the man’s soul as well, but there’s nothing in the Scripture to justify taking that parable in a spiritual manner only. However, doing so does exonerate us from feeling any guilt over doing NO charity work whatsoever. Folks, why do we as a church do nothing to help those less fortunate in this very needy world? Because they’re in "the world"? Is that what all this Scripture means? Because we consider them "worldly," we should do nothing for their bodily needs? Aren’t the above passages of Scripture chastising that attitude? Jesus healed and fed the people, not only spiritually, but naturally, as well.] Jesus also said when we make a feast to "call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee." Did He also mean that to be taken "spiritually," not literally? Heb. 13:16 - "But to do good and to communicate (share what you have with those in need) forget not..." I John 3:17 - "But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Gal. 2:10 - "Only that we should remember the poor..." Those "works" (actions) are the evidence of a saving faith.
Faith in Jesus will result in good works. Faith in action; love in action. Works are outward proof, evidence, of inward faith. Faith in Jesus will also produce integrity, uprightness, honesty, as well as the fruits of the spirit - love, patience, hope, generosity, thanksgiving, goodness, truth, purity, peacefulness, submissiveness, mercy, kindness, impartiality, sincerity, virtue, temperance, brotherly kindness. Folks, we’ve had the cart before the horse all these years! Good works follow salvation; salvation does not follow good works. Heb. 6:9, 10 - "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation...For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love..." Good works will add to our reward, but they will not save us. Only Jesus can do that.
Our salvation and our reward are two entirely different things. Salvation/eternal life is a gift. Eternal reward can be earned. We can add to our reward by doing good works in the right manner. See Matt. 6:1-4, 14, 18. Luke 6:35, "...and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Also, Ps. 19:11, "...in keeping of them there is great reward." See also Matt. 5:12, James 1:25, Jeremiah 31:16.
Peter also wrote that we’re to be "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (I Peter 4:10). The Christian’s road must always be contrary to those forces which assault our faith, e.g., materialism, secularism (man, not God, as the measure of all things), atheism (denial of God’s existence), hedonism (relentless pursuit of pleasure), dishonesty, immorality, etc. Christians are transformed by the renewing of their minds, to the standards of Christ.
To be sure, there is much work to be doing. Reading through Matthew 5, 6 and 7 makes us realize how much work is yet to be done in ourselves. And there is a needy world out there, to whom we have an obligation, as Christians, to help. BUT, good works are not the criteria for salvation; they’re the result of it, the outward proof of it - which was what James was saying. We cannot earn or merit salvation by good works. Salvation is solely the gift of God - through faith in what Jesus did for us. And for that, He deserves not only our heartfelt praise and thanksgiving, but our adoration, worship and service!
How important is doctrine? What does the Bible say? I Tim. 4:13, 16, "...give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them..." What is the doctrine of "The Truth," friends? Do we know? What does the word doctrine mean? The dictionary says it is a body of principles presented for acceptance or belief. Other than believing that God is, and that Jesus is His Son, and our Example, what do we believe? What is our doctrine? The two beliefs that are dear to the heart of every professing person are: 1) the ministry - the method by which Jesus sent His disciples out - two by two, without salary or home, and 2) the church in the home. Upon these two principles primarily, "The Truth" rests. Many of the scriptural truths which have been discussed in this letter have not been emphasized, nor even taught, principally because they are not part of our doctrine. People have been put out of the work, and out of the fellowship, for teaching or speaking about belief in the deity of Christ (that Jesus was fully God as well as fully man). The sovereign, saving grace of God is not accepted; that belief is denigrated, disparaged. Our doctrine is one of salvation by works; that our place in Heaven must be earned by our works, rather than by our faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice solely. So some very basic Biblical doctrine is either unknown or only vaguely understood by most professing people.
As you’ve been reading this, you have probably been wondering about Matthew 10, upon which our ministry is based. Folks, let’s examine this Scripture together... We love you all, both saints and servants. We know this is an extremely sensitive issue for you, as it is for us. Remember, we have been where you are now.
After Jesus gave his twelve disciples power against unclean spirits and power to heal "all manner" of sickness and disease, what was the very first instruction He gave? Vs. 5-6, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Who were the lost sheep of the house of Israel? The Jews, right? He was sending those twelve disciples to His own people, the Israelites. He was NOT sending them to the Gentiles!
What were they to do? Vs. 7, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand." What was the Kingdom of heaven? Wasn’t it God’s everlasting Kingdom, over which Jesus would reign forever? Wasn’t He telling them to proclaim to the Jews that He, their long-awaited Messiah, had indeed come, at last? Those disciples were to tell the Jews about the arrival of Jesus. As proof that what they were preaching was true, He gave them power to do supernatural things (cast out unclean spirits, heal sickness and disease). And they performed those miracles! They were able to follow Jesus’ instructions to the letter - because He had given them power for that specific mission, at that specific time, for that specific purpose.
Because the Jews were known for their hospitality to one another, and Palestine was a small area geographically, those men would not have needed to carry much with them in the way of money or clothing. There was also an urgency to their mission; they did not have much time. "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel til the Son of man be come." (Matt 10:23) Even though they hurried, Jesus said they would not even get through all places before He would be there, right behind them. Luke 9:1-6 gives a more succinct version, but again emphasizes the healing power the disciples were given and indicates the temporary nature of the instructions in vs. 10, "And the Apostles, when they were returned, told him all they had done." When He sent the 70 in Luke 10, they were to go into every city and place where He would soon go. The 70 returned to Him, not long afterwards (17 verses after He had sent them out!), rejoicing in the power they had been given, although He cautioned them to rejoice more that their names were written in heaven. The point is, the power was there as evidence of their very special, short-term, mission: to tell the Jews that Jesus would soon be arriving.
In Luke 22:35-36, Jesus changed His instructions about taking no money or belongings. "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it..." Why? Perhaps because the mission of taking the Gospel to the Jews of Palestine had been accomplished? The Jews had the first opportunity to believe on Him. But He would be leaving very soon, and these men would now need money, clothing and protection, as they preached the Gospel to all the world.
Matt. 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Note, by the way, the singular name - denoting one God for all three.) No specific instructions are given in Matthew about how they were to "teach" when they went to "all nations." How about Mark? In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus told them to go "into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." In Luke 24, Jesus told them that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." No specific instructions on how to accomplish this. Friends, the message was of supreme importance; the method was not.
Let’s look at John 20:21, "... as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Aha! There you go! But we must ask: How did the Father send Him? Does He mean the manner in which He sent them out earlier in Matthew 10? There’s a marginal reference here - not to Matt. 10, but to Matt. 28:18-20, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore..." And the very next verse (22): "And when he had said this, he breathed on them and saith unto them; receive ye the holy ghost." John 17:17-19, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." Again, how did the Father send Jesus into the world? Does this mean the method He used in sending them out? No, folks, it’s far deeper than that. He sent them out sanctified. Sanctify means to set apart for sacred use, or to make holy, to purify. As His Father had set Him apart for a sacred use, and sent the Holy Spirit with Him, so He set them apart for this sacred purpose with the Holy Spirit. That was why they were able to produce miracles, as He did.
Acts 1:8, "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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Still no specifics. The only time Jesus gave specific instructions for the manner in which they were to preach was in Matt. 10, which was clearly for the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," for that limited commission.
Folks, study this for yourselves. Don’t take our word for it. If you’re able to find Scripture to prove that the manner in which Jesus sent His disciples out was critical to the salvation of believers, please contact us. You know, we have no problem with the way in which our workers go out. It is a beautiful thing, and the majority of them live pure, consecrated lives. But we no longer believe that Jesus taught that all preachers must go out in that manner forever, not when a careful examination of His actual words indicates otherwise. We must be careful to prove all things by Scripture. The most important thing, by far, is our relationship with Jesus. This is what is critical to our salvation.
For those of you who would call us "evil" and accuse us of attacking workers, please rethink your accusations. What we are urging you to do, and we include all workers as well, is this: Examine the Scripture carefully, as the Bible itself urges you to do, and test it against what you have been taught. If the Bereans in Acts 17:11 could search the Scriptures to test whether what Paul and Silas said was accurate - and be called "noble" for doing so - surely each of you has the right to do the same!
We urgently wish to emphasize that we are finding no fault with a ministry such as ours. However, to espouse a creed which states that God can only speak through such a ministry is severely limiting the power of a God through Whom all things are possible. "...from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (II Tim. 3:15)