Watchman Archives

Doubting Thomas wouldn’t believe in his resurrected friend until he put his finger in the wounds while others demanded signs and wonders (John 20:25). Today, men crave an experience, but the Bible says that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Its explanation of the universe and the purpose and fate of human life rings true (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The evidence becomes overwhelming and faith fills that gap between hope and fulfillment. Then you can know–and not just feel–that there is a God, a savior, a Holy Spirit and a hope of heaven.

We should remember that during certain times in her history, Israel’s worship, though correct in form, was nevertheless not pleasing to God. In Zechariah 7, the Lord asked His people, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me — for Me?” (vs. 5). The principle is simple. When we worship God, we are to do it in the way we do it because it is the way He said to do it, not because it is what we prefer. When we sing He asks, “Do you do it ‘for Me — for Me?’”

The Lord made great promises to the apostles regarding the help they would receive from the Holy Spirit, but we must understand that these promises were limited to the apostles. The Holy Spirit is not a Helper or Comforter for us in the sense that He was for the apostles. Jesus fulfills this role for us today (1 John 2:1). However, we do benefit from the work that the Holy Spirit did through the apostles. As the Holy Spirit taught them all things, reminded them of all things, and guided them into all truth, they wrote it down. When we read what they wrote, we can understand all things that the Spirit has given to the apostles (Ephesians 3:3-5).

God is no respecter of persons. No man is above the law of God. Neither Moses (Numbers 20:1-12), David (1 Samuel 21:1-6; Matthew 12:3-6; 2 Samuel 12:10-14), or even Solomon (1 Kings 11:1ff) were excused from meeting Jehovah’s standards perfectly. No matter what man’s approach and attitude his divinely appointed responsibility remains the same. Man is to know his place in this creation. We are created by God and must humbly and fearfully submit to His every standard. Those who do so have ever been promised a beautiful and peaceful eternity (see Proverbs 8:20-21).

The Holy Spirit played an important role in the Old Testament. He is not a manifestation of the Father or of the Son. He did not sit quietly, waiting His turn until the time of the New Testament. He was active from the beginning, as was the Father and the Son.

The soil tester turns up his nose at the man with tattoos and the coworker who is trying to quit smoking. He judges everyone under the age of 30 to be too wild and everyone over the age of 30 to be too old to change their ways. At the end of the day, the soil tester has not sown a single seed, but he feels justified because it is the soil’s inadequacies that are to blame. When Jesus returns, however, he is found to have wasted his opportunities as a poor steward of the seeds and he is cast into outer darkness as an unprofitable servant.

No matter how sincere in heart a person may or may not be about what they are teaching as the truth, the affect will be the same in the poisoning of precious souls. Teaching something which is not the truth of the gospel will poison a soul, regardless of the sincerity of the one doing the false teaching.

Let me say clearly from the beginning that there is biblical example for elders. In Paul’s letter to Titus Paul wrote, For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you (Titus 1:5). The indication here is that one of the things that was lacking was the absence of elders. This is also an indication that a church can function without elders; it is just lacking. In Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Paul gives the young preachers the qualifications for elders. Why would Jesus gives us these qualifications if we do not need or cannot have elders today?

While the code of Hammurabi and the Mosaic Law may have some similarities between them regarding civil matters, it cannot be said that they were derived from the same source. The Mosaic Law goes so much further in developing an order and a people convicted of the things that the Lord has commanded them. To say that Moses copied from the code of Hammurabi betrays an ignorance of the purposes of the two laws.

While many nominal Christians might be ready to jettison any claim to an exclusive source of abiding truth and salvation, the Bible is hardly the document to support such a surrender.

In the New Testament of Jesus Christ, a universal claim for both Jehovah and his redeemer son is emphatically made. Even if one should made the case that Jehovah, Allah, the Great Spirit and every other divine iteration are all really the same, the problem remains, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ” (Matthew 27:22, ESV)?

The Holy Spirit has been, and continues to be, very active. He played an important role in organizing the created world and in revealing God’s will to mankind. Through His word, He continues to work in the hearts and minds of men and women today. As His word is preached, He convicts men of sin and brings about faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel. He also works in the lives of faithful Christians today. He leads us by His word, helps us in our battle against sin, and intercedes for us during our times of weakness.

The gospel of John records several short conversations Jesus had as He began to attract disciples at the beginning His ministry. These conversations are contained in verse 35-51 of John 1.

April Fool
by Jeff Smith
Rumor has it that there is no fool like an old fool, but on April 1, he has company.

Evidently, April Fool’s Day derives from the fact that ancient cultures, including the Romans and Hindus, celebrated a new year on or around the first of April, coinciding with the arrival of spring. In the middle ages, much of Europe likewise observed March 25 as the Feast of Annunciation and the commencement of a new year. In 1582, however, the Vatican king replaced the old Julian calendar with his own, calling for each new year to begin on January 1. According to legend, some failed to get the message – perhaps their banks and insurance companies neglected to mail the new calendars – and they were mocked as fools and traditionalists for showing up in Times Square in early spring, expecting a ball to drop amidst a shower of confetti.

There are other explanations of the origin of April Fool’s Day, but it hardly makes any difference to the fool of the day, playfully and artfully deceived, but sometimes humiliated and even injured.

The Bible seems to have fully preceded April Fool’s Day, but one inspired writer does weigh in: “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, ‘I was only joking’” (Proverbs 26:18-19)!

In many cases, the fooling goes much too far and the real fool is probably the one perpetrating the tricks and cruel merriment. He gets to be about like a madman who carelessly fires a gun in the air or juggle swords over the heads of his friends. Sorry you were injured or embarrassed, but “I was only joking!”

Humor is certainly not evil and many jokes, even of the April first variety are harmless and fun, but there must be a line there somewhere. Paul writes, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4).

Some people are too serious or sensitive to accept being the object of jesting. Some jokes plainly go too far and cause the victim real terror, humiliation or loss. The proverbs seem to indicate that only an apology and repentance are sufficient to undo the harm of an April Fool’s Day joke gone awry.
Some people are too serious or sensitive to accept being the object of jesting. Some jokes plainly go too far and cause the victim real terror, humiliation or loss. The proverbs seem to indicate that only an apology and repentance are sufficient to undo the harm of an April Fool’s Day joke gone awry.

Sexual abstinence until marriage builds a hedge around your moral purity, protecting your life and your spirit from an immoral tempter. Do not be deceived. Don’t try to see how close you can get or how much you can test your will. Flee fornication!

The best defense against a false teacher’s poison is spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18). The word of God reveals the serious nature of erring doctrines (see Deuteronomy 20:16-18). Therefore all doctrines presented must stand the test of the standard of truth. We must put to test all doctrines we hear (Galatians 1:8-9; 1 John 4:1ff). Those doctrines that do not measure up to the Lord’s divine revelation are to be rejected.

The only things that we can know for certain about the Holy Spirit are the things that have been revealed in the Bible. We must be content with the teachings of the Bible, as opposed to relying upon denominational doctrines, human opinions, and personal feelings. In this series of articles, we will discuss the Bible’s teaching on various aspects of the Holy Spirit. This article will serve as an introduction to our subject.

In banishing the devil, Jesus stated His allegiance to His Father in Heaven. His kingdom was to be spiritual, not material. Where the Devil had only the temporal to offer, Jesus’ had received the promise of the eternal kingdom from His Father (cf. Acts 5:31). “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” So, Satan left Jesus for a season, having failed to shake His faithful devotion to His Father’s cause.

It’s a shame that Matthew 18:15-20 is one of the most misused and misapplied passages of Scripture: its true purpose is saving souls!

Don’t write for others unless you are serious about getting it right. Brethren need good reading material; material that is true, well written and understandable. If you are not willing to spend the time to do it right, then don’t do it at all. Writing is not for everybody, and certainly not for those lacking proper motivation. But, for those who are willing to put in the time and effort, it is a wonderful blessing to them and their readers. What about you? Pick up your pen (or your keyboard), and give it a try!

Stan argues that the Apostle Paul, as an initially hostile witness, has testimony concerning the resurrected Lord that is unimpeachable.