Watchman Archives

If honesty were to prevail, most people would admit that these meeting rooms and recreational facilities are acquired and maintained to serve the fleshly desires of the members of the local churches who have them. We want “our” fellowship hall to be just a bit bigger, a bit better than the one down the street. May we never forget, though, that the pressing questions still remain. (Matthew 21:23) “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

Brethren, what we need is truth! And that is one thing that a false teacher can never give. They may be simple brethren who are mislead. They may be as honest as Paul and as eloquent as Apollos while they teach lies. They may even “believe the lie” (2 Thes. 2:11), but their faith in a lie does not make it true. For the sake of our own soul’s salvation, and those that hear us, we must be found teaching truth and exposing error. This is the burden and joy of being a child of God.

Study your Bible. Study the Scriptures inspired of God. {They are one and the same}. Believe the truth contained in God’s word. Obey it. Change your life to conform to His will. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, “…Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

God spoke of those who “will not hear the law of the Lord” (Isa. 30:9-11). He did not say they “could” not; he said they “will not.” Jesus said, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life” (Jn. 5:40). To those who willed not to come to him, Jesus said, “These things I say, that ye might be saved” (Jn. 5:34). The problem was their “will,” but how could Jesus appeal to them with words “that (they) might be saved,” if he knew their will was impervious to his word?

What we have in this article is the response by Larry Ray Hafley to a Mr. Charles Ellis of the Baptist Church. If this were a formal debate, we would publish both sides of the discussion. However, this is not intended to be in such a format, even though Mr. Ellis is directed and quoted in the article. Our purpose in publishing this is to show the inadequacy of Baptist Doctrine in light of the Word of God. If there is a need for any of this article to be challenged, then we will deal with that as it occurs.

Yes, it has always been true that those who have the truth fear no investigation, but those who have not the truth, dodge, run, avoid, and squirm when confronted. Why are some preachers so reluctant to come forth with their doctrine? Could it be, they do not have the truth?

El optimismo es un manantial de paciencia, y la paciencia es una cualidad que Dios requiere de todo cristiano (Efes. 4:2; véase 1 Cor. 13:4; Gál. 5:22; Col. 1:9-11). Sin el optimismo, nuestra paciencia pronto se acaba. El optimismo y la reprensión no son conceptos contradictorios. Uno puede ser optimista mientras está reprendiendo a su hermano errado. Y no solamente se puede hacer, pero, si vamos a seguir las pisadas de Cristo, ¡tenemos que hacerlo! Y cuando se nos tienta salir con el pesimismo, que acordémonos quién es el padre de ello.

Those of us who teach classes have a double responsibility insofar as our influence is concerned. Our students are all looking to us as examples, and we must constantly be on guard to keep our behavior and manner of speaking in keeping with God’s laws. Childrens’ consciences are tender and easily influenced, and we bear the responsibility of protecting them.

Any time that I interpret a passage so as to include any kind of fellowship with sin, I have obviously missed the mark. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn. 1:5); “no lie is of the truth” (2:21). To twist 2 John 9 or any other passage of scripture so as to extend the hand of fellowship to error is to violate both text and context.

The programs on my computer were written by intelligent beings; in fact, it is inconceivable that they should have happened by accident. The ants’ programs appear to be even more complex than those on my computer. Am I to believe they happened by chance?

Brethren, an apostasy is brewing. Local congregations are being affected. Preachers are going “hither, thither and yon” and preaching error. They are hiding behind the biblical concept of autonomy, distorting this grand principle established by God and using it to further their pernicious cause. Those who speak out against this error are being falsely charged with “meddling” and trying to “run things.”

Recognizing that there is a realm of judgment in “how” the gospel is preached, let me suggest that if anyone does not like “how” we do it, you feel free to do it in another way. But I give you this guarantee: If you do the work of a watchman, no method is going to be acceptable to those who teach error. You see, there may be fifty ways to skin a cat, but he won’t like any of them!

Upon a thorough study of the example of the Philippian Jailor’s conversion, three conclusions must be drawn. One, that faith only is not taught in this passage. Two, teaching the word of the Lord includes baptism. And three, baptism should be done without delay.

Today, as it was with Lydia so long ago, the gospel is “the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). Only when people hear it can their hearts be opened to faith and obedience (cf. Romans 10:17; 6:17).

In his obedience to the gospel the Ethiopian Eunuch had cast His burden of sin on Jesus, and had found rest for his soul (Matthew 11:28-29). And because he was no longer a prisoner of sin and death. In his obedience to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ he had been set free from the law of sin and death, and he was no longer a condemned man (Romans 8:1-2).

Every case of conversion you study in the book of Acts will reveal this same pattern. We must follow it today if we are going to be saved from our sins. The promise of God is sure – “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Do you know who the Lord is on whom you must call for salvation? Do you know what you need to be saved from and what He is willing to save you from? And finally, after our study of this chapter in Acts, do you know what to do to call on the name of the Lord?

why do scholars still insist on doubting the historical accuracy of the scriptural accounts? That may be the real unsolved mystery of the Bible! However, regardless of its detractors, scripture continues to prove itself to be reliable and true. And those of us who put our trust in God’s word continue to find ourselves on solid ground.

The 31 year old quote from brother Harrell is truly a “jewel” because it reflects sound doctrine as revealed by the Almighty God (Matt. 7:13-14, 21-23). We lament that more brethren today are not echoing the same truth instead of condemning it. May God help us to endeavor to fulfill such service to Him.

Error demeans, destroys, and damns the souls of men. Why would anyone want to toy around with it? Why try to be tolerant of it? Why cater to it and seek to win its confidence and hope to change it?

In general, Italian brethren are enough committed to the Lord. Two of the main problems are the facts that the congregations grow very slowly in number (in spite of the many efforts done in spreading the Gospel), and, even after many years, they can’t appoint elders and deacons according to the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.