Watchman Archives

Note how that in nearly every generation issues have arisen and often have reoccurred. So, repeated teaching is necessary for each generation, in order to avoid falling victim to apostasies. All of these “neo”, or new, movements, and doctrines, reflected the rebellion of men against established authority, and opened the door for more and greater departures from the apostolic order of things. Many in the brotherhood are fast on the road to classic modernism.

Yes, we are saved by Grace (unmerited favor of God) when we obey the Gospel (“Good News”) of God’s plan of salvation for man. Note again our beginning passage, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Now, let us look at the very example of these Ephesians being saved by God’s grace. “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:1-5).
If man wishes to be saved by the Grace of God, he must be saved the same way the Ephesians were saved! Don’t be fooled by a perverted kind of “grace” that is not Grace at all! Are you willing to be saved by the Grace of God? If so, you must obey the conditions of that Grace.

Most people agree that the sermon on the mount is one of the most eloquent and profound sermons ever, if not the most eloquent and profound. We can learn numerous lessons concerning that which is good and right. The question has arisen, however, “Is the sermon on the mount a clarification of the Law of Moses or is it the Lord’s preparation for the kingdom which was yet to come?” We deny the former and affirm the latter. Yet, there are those who disagree with us and say that the sermon is just Jesus’ attempt to set the Jews straight on the real meaning of the Law of Moses. Is this true? Can the argument be sustained? Let us investigate.

We have heard it so many times, in so many ways. Brother so-and-so is a faithful man. He has preached for so many years. No one has ever doubted his integrity or his stand for truth. All of that may be so. (And by the way, it is wrong to equate the exposure of false doctrine with an attack on an individual’s integrity). The question is, is he standing for truth, or teaching error? The discussion must be on the issue of truth, not on the integrity of any man. Note what the Lord said in Ezekiel 18:24, “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.”

So in answer to the question about who I will fellowship: I will fellowship everyone, those who are like myself and those who are different from myself, those which I can agree with and those I must disagree with, the people who love me and the people who hate me, the strong Christian with convictions and the weak Christian with doubts, the wise and the fool. I will love all people, have mercy and generosity upon their sin and error, and praise and honor them for their virtue and truth. I will draw no lines, maintain no boundaries, close no doors and never betray my love for the truth.

In the eighth chapter of the book of Acts, we find Philip the evangelist being sent by God to the deserted road that led from…

Out there in the highways and bi-ways of our busy world are lost people looking for the light. They are not hard-hearted. They are ignorant because no one has ever taught them the truth. Among Christians who are carnal minded are those who love scripture and who apply it diligently to their lives. We must not lose heart because of reverses, disappointments, personal loss or sacrifice. The gospel is still the “dynamite” of God that can save the world (Rom. 1:16). Let us “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

You can ask almost anyone what the definition of “a capella” is and they will say something like, “Oh, that just means to sing without using instrumental assistance.” And while that is correct, very few people know that “a capella” is a Latin phrase which actually uses different words than we think when translated. Literally translated, “a capella” means “as in church.” It is a term that comes down through history and into our language from the Catholic Church. The term was used to differentiate the kind of proper music that was used in Catholic worship for many centuries from all other types of music which had little to do with worship and mostly to do with entertainment. So we see that “a capella” was the use of the voice as the only appropriate music for worship in early Catholic history.

Es muy obvio que muchos hermanos que profesan ser “conservadores” rechazan la enseñanza de Cristo y los apóstoles (el Espíritu Santo) simplemente porque no les conviene aceptarla. No son hermanos “conservadores” porque su enseñanza es muy liberal y sectaria. Muchísimas personas han violado la enseñanza de Cristo y están mal en su matrimonio (viven en adulterio), pero desde luego no quieren separarse y, por eso, buscan salidas y sacan rodeos para no aceptar la verdad sobre el asunto. Es cierto que es “dicho duro” pero es necesario aceptar la verdad cueste lo que cueste.

As noted earlier, Mr. Cryer said, “Some are telling folks that if they get baptized they are saved. The ‘water baptism path’ is a lie straight from the pits of Hell.” Mr. Cryer, if a Baptist preacher were to preach the very words of Jesus, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” would it be “a lie straight from the pits of Hell”? If not, what would it be? If a Baptist preacher told sinners to “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” would that be “a lie straight from the pits of Hell”? If not, what would it be?

While several lessons might be drawn from what we write herein, the main one concerns some things that will, hopefully, help one effectively teach or preach through an interpreter. Preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2). Prepare yourself and be familiar with your subject matter. It is generally good to avoid attempts at humor. Do your best to make sure what you are saying is being understood. When done correctly, working with an interpreter can be an effective means of preaching the gospel.

Do not hesitate to tell those who know not the grace of Christ that in order to know it, they must be baptized for the remission of sins, then they will be added to the Lord’s church, to the redeemed, and if faithful unto death, they will be saved eternally (Acts 2:38, 47; Rev. 2:10).

The concept of “necessity outweighs precept” is shown to be absurd in its application. It ultimately makes righteousness based on one’s perception of what is “necessary”, rather than on a precept of God. God’s absolute standard becomes a joke. His commandments are reduced to mere suggestions, and anarchy and confusion reign. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” Jesus did not teach situation ethics in Matthew 12. His defense of the disciples stands as a testament to His sovereignty, and His complete accord with and regard for His Father’s will.

Individual Christians who love their fellow saints and who have concern for the cause of Christ will do their best to defend the truth against the onslaught of error in our time as well. When they do so out of such approved motives, their actions are not to be condemned as evidence of autonomy being violated, a feeling of self-importance, self-appointed guardians of orthodoxy, brotherhood watchdogs, a pack of snarling cur or other disparaging terms. When error is taught, it is scripturally authorized for faithful Christians to speak up in defense of the truth at home or away as they have opportunity to do so. Those who speak disparagingly of such actions show a lack of love for their brethren and the cause of Christ.

Because it is God’s arrangement, local churches have a vital part in accomplishing God’s work on earth. (I do not intend for this statement to discount individual discipleship.) Local churches, when properly instructed and motivated, can do much to teach the gospel to the lost, bring saints to perfection (maturity), and help brethren in need. Let us not waste our time, work and resources on activities, regardless of how noble they might seem, that are not our responsibility. Let us be about our Father’s business (Lk. 2:49). If we can accomplish that, we will have little time to focus on anything else.

A disciple is a student, a follower, and an imitator of his or her teacher. Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). The Lord expressed Himself plainly: disciples have work to do, and it will cost them something. It is only right, since He denied Himself and took up the cross on our behalf, that we serve Him thus.

In 2 Timothy 4:5, Paul tells Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist.” Evangelists are mentioned among those the Lord gave the church “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12). They thus have an important place in God’s plan for the church, the saved. As the title indicates, the purpose of this article is to tell what place in God’s scheme an evangelist has.

Let us consider that Bible class teachers must meet certain qualifications before being placed in a position of teaching God’s Word to others. James says: “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1). The word “masters” here refers to teachers. This passage is not given in order to discourage Christians from being teachers of truth, but rather to make all of us realize the great responsibility that is placed upon one who would aspire to such a great work.

No doubt the reader can think of many other duties that belong to deacons. So long as they fit the qualifications of the office and the nature of serving Christ’s church, they should prove scripturally sound. Let deacons resist the temptation to take more upon them than is right or to operate outside the oversight of the bishops. Then they will truly obtain a good standing in the kingdom.

To use the metaphor of the shepherd and his sheep, elders must always remember that the sheep are entrusted to their stewardship and care for a short time. We must always remain vigilant for those precious souls. To encourage and train the weak, to teach the strong to help others, and develop the next generation of teachers, evangelists, and elders is one of the finest and most awesome responsibilities a Christian can have on this earth.