8/8/22

Truth or a Lie? by Gary Rose

 


Like many people out there we have cable TV. This past weekend, we were deciding what to watch for primetime and decided on “Dr. Jeff, Rocky mountain vet”. The recording was a hour combination of two episodes and was labeled “new”. This identification was false; only one was new, the other one was a re-run. So, we watched the new one and deleted the recording afterward.


I don’t know about you, but I have grown very tired of being lied to. It seems that virtually everyone “spins” truth into anything they want it to be. This is especially true of the news: The right wing party distorts to the right view and the left modifies everything through the lens of “progressive-ism”. Oh, for the days of “Dragnet”, where Joe Friday used to say… “just the facts…”


I remember that in 1980 we were staying with Walt and Lillian Hewitt and I came across the “fact” that there were over 400 hundred denominations in the United States of America; today, that figure has mushroomed into the thousands. How did this come to pass?


The Bible says…


1 Timothy 4 ( World English Bible )

1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

3 forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.

5 For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

6 If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.


And

1 John 4 ( WEB )

1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.


There is TRUTH and then there is a LIE. To mix the two together makes the outcome a LIE. In other words, if you speak a half truth your words are really A WHOLE LIE. This is true for everything. If you twist the truth into an ideology or mix the truth with falsehood- YOU LIE. The picture at the top does it (The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor) , the cable company does it (with program identifications) and so do the religious denominations (by accepting creeds and doctrines apart from the Bible). Let God’s word speak for itself, do not change it or add to it for in doing so, YOU LIE. Today, lying has become normal in our culture, this is WRONG! With this in mind, I remember these words from the book of Jeremiah, which say…


Jeremiah 6 ( WEB )

16 Thus says Yahweh, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. ...


I pray to God that everyone who reads these words will listen to God and not someone or something else. May our country condemn falsehood in any form once again. God bless America! (with Truth, Justice and the American Way).


Jesus is the true light that enlightens every man. by Roy Davison

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/light.html

Jesus is the true light that enlightens every man.


We need spiritual enlightenment.

Our society is bathed in artificial light and submerged in spiritual darkness. There is no lack of light except in the hearts of the people.

Two thousand years ago John the Baptizer condemned the spiritual darkness of his time. He warned people to repent.

Thousands turned away from sin to serve God. They were immersed in water, baptized, for the forgiveness of their sins (Mark 1:4).

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world” (John 1:6-9 RSV).

John the Baptizer was the forerunner of God’s Messiah, the Christ, who would bring spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness of sins to all mankind.

Jesus is the morning star,1 who has come “to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79). “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4, 5 RSV).

To be enlightened spiritually, one must find the light, believe in the light, come to the light, put on the armor of light, and walk in the light.


Where can light be found?

Can you find spiritual light in a disco? I have never been to one, but I understand that they often have hypnotic flashing lights, and loud, deafening music. No, definitely not. Discos and dance halls are dens of darkness, places to avoid if you want spiritual enlightenment. The flashing lights blind you and the loud music deafens you.

When a former teacher of mine, Cecil T. Bailey, was a young man, worldly young people kept trying to get him to go to a dance hall. Finally he agreed to go, but he took his Bible along and sat in a corner reading his Bible. Soon, he was asked to leave!

Can you find spiritual light in the universities? Paul wrote: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). Not much spiritual light can be found in the universities. Philosophy and theology are human endeavors of limited value, but they are not significant sources of spiritual enlightenment.

A professor asked his class, “How many of you believe in prayer?” My father and two girls raised their hands. The professor continued, “You three, pray then that this glass beaker will not break.” He dropped it and it broke. He then smirked, “How many still believe in prayer?” This time, only my father raised his hand. The professor said, “Well, Davison. How can you still believe in prayer?” My father replied, “I didn’t pray. Without God’s permission, your experiment was not valid.”

Can you find spiritual light in the traditional churches? Some light is there, but it is hidden under a basket of human dogmas, ecclesiastical politics and financial interests.

To the pious traditionalists2 of His time, Jesus said: “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:6-9).

To the religious liberals3 of His time, Jesus said: “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24).

Can you find spiritual light in a sect? Some are attracted to sects because they require extreme devotion. A sect, however, is a human system based on social pressure, brain-washing and mind control, rather than spontaneous personal faith in God. A sect usually has one powerful leader. He is sometimes called ‘father’. He is often considered to be infallible, and members must always submit to his authority. A sect usually uses hierarchical, army-like control.

Jesus said: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you” (Mark 10:42, 43).

All hierarchical religious systems are anti-Christian. Beware of people who try to dominate you in the name of religion. Your service to God must come from your heart. It may not be based on social pressure, coercion or hierarchical control.

Jesus said: “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ” (Matthew 23:8-10). God is our spiritual Father and we may not have any other father in a spiritual sense. Jesus is our spiritual Leader, and we may not have a spiritual guide, mentor or ‘discipler’ other than Christ.

Jesus Himself is our source of light. We must go directly to Him for spiritual enlightenment, and not allow the divine light to be obscured by traditions and denominations of human origin.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).


Do we really want to find the light?

Although Jesus brought light, there is still much spiritual darkness because most people prefer darkness: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).

Someone who wants to hid his sin, shuns the light. To find the light we must admit our need for enlightenment.

But just finding the light is not enough.


We must believe in the Light.

Jesus is the light of the world, He is our God-given source of spiritual enlightenment. But we must believe in that light. Jesus said: “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36). And: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

Many people stumble along in spiritual darkness because they do not believe in the light. Paul wrote: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

But just believing in the light is also not enough.


We must come to the Light.

Many people have been deluded into thinking they can be saved by faith alone. It is not true: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” ... “For as the body without the spirit is dead; so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:24, 26).

Faith in the Light is the first step, but we must also come to the Light. This means that we must turn away from sin and dedicate our lives to God. This is called ‘repentance’ in the Scriptures.

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20).

Many people have a superficial, standoffish faith. They know exactly where the light is! But they keep their distance, to hide their sin. We must come to the Light so God’s word can correct our lives.

Jesus sent Paul to the nations “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).

On the basis of our faith in the Light, we must turn away from evil and come to the Light.


We must put on the armor of light.

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:12-14).

We must “put on the armor of light” and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” How do we put on Christ? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26, 27). We put on the armor of light, we put on Christ, by being baptized into Christ.

This must be our own, personal decision. The so-called baptism of babies is contrary to the word of God.

Just as John the Baptizer told people to repent and be baptized, we too must repent, turn away from the works of darkness, come to the Light, and be baptized. Peter said: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

When we put on Christ in baptism, God removes us from darkness. We can then rejoice “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).


We must walk in the light.

After finding the light, believing in the light, coming to the light, and putting on the armor of light, we must walk in the light.

Obviously, we may not walk in darkness. Paul warned: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

We must expose works of darkness.4 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,5 but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:11-14).

Jesus is our source of light. We learn about Him, we learn to be like Him, not via some tradition or some sect, but through the Scriptures: “We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21).

The Holy Scriptures are a beacon of light in a dark world. Through the Scriptures we learn about God. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). God has called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).6 Christians are “sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).7

It is not easy to walk in the light, surrounded by a world of darkness. We shine as lights in the world: “Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:14, 15).

To be a church of Christ, we must be a congregation of believers who have found the light, who believe in the light, who have come to the light, who have put on the armor of light, and who walk in the light.

By the grace of God, you can walk in the light. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that He died for your sins, that He rose from the dead the third day, if you are willing to turn your back on the works of darkness and come to the Light of God, if you desire to put on the armor of light, to put on Christ in baptism, let us know, and we will help you.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.

Endnotes:


1 Revelation 22:16.

2 The Pharisees.

3 The Sadducees.

4 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

5 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

6 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9, 10).

7 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8).


Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com

How can they hear without a preacher? by Roy Davison

 

 http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/preachersneeded.html

How can they hear without a preacher?


Everyone needs to hear the gospel!

After Jesus rose from the dead, He told His followers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15, 16).

Joel prophesied that after God poured out His Spirit, “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:1-4) and Peter preached the good news: “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

How were his hearers to call on the name of the Lord? Peter told them: “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” (Acts 2:38). Their sins would be forgiven when they called on the name of the Lord by being baptized in the name of Jesus.

About four years later, after Saul of Tarsus believed and had fasted for three days, Ananias told him: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Saul’s sins were washed away when he was baptized in the name of Jesus.

Thus, one “calls on the name of the Lord” for salvation by being baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). But first the gospel must be preached.


Preachers are needed to take the gospel to everyone in the world.

The missionary assignment of Jesus calls for dedicated evangelists, who know God’s word well, to fan out into the whole world with the gospel.

Paul was so thankful for God’s grace that he preached the gospel the rest of his life. We need grateful men today who will dedicate their lives to preaching the gospel.

As Paul explains: “‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13, 14).


Does God want you to preach?

All tasks in the church are important (Romans 12:4-6). Each Christian dedicates his whole life to God and uses his abilities to serve God.

You no doubt are serving well now, but more preachers are urgently needed, men who are willing to dedicate their lives to proclaiming the gospel.

We can all pray that such men will arise. Jesus said: “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). And we all can help to send.


What characteristics are needed to preach the gospel?

Not everyone who wants to preach, ought to preach. Paul left Timothy at Ephesus to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3). Some had turned aside to idle talk, “desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm” (1 Timothy 1:7).

To be a faithful preacher, you must know the truth. Paul was “a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Timothy 2:7). When Paul preached, he spoke the truth.

The world already has too many men who preach lies. So please do not preach unless you preach the truth. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). “He who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28).

To know the truth you must know the Scriptures. Strive to be “mighty in the Scriptures” like Apollos (Acts 18:24). Follow the example of Ezra: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). First, he prepared his heart. To do what? (1) To seek the law of the Lord (2) and to do it (3) and teach it. Before you can proclaim the truth, you must know the truth and apply it to your own life.

Preaching requires faith. You must depend on God, not man. Men will betray you. Your brethren will disappoint you. Many will oppose you. But you can always depend on God and you must look to Him for support.

One must be humble to preach. This has to do with faith. Humble men trust, not in themselves but in God. Arrogant men trust in themselves. A preacher’s goal must be to glorify God, not to glorify himself.

If you think you lack the ability to preach, you are right! Paul asked, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16). Yet, God may want you to preach anyway, because then you will trust in Him and the power of His word, and not in your own ability.

When God called Moses, he objected: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Because Moses was humble, God could do great and powerful things through him. What was God’s reply? “I will certainly be with you” (Exodus 3:12). What did Jesus say after He gave the great commission? “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

When God called Jeremiah, he objected: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6). What did God reply? “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:7, 8). Jeremiah explains further: “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:9).

Jeremiah was to place his confidence in God’s word, not in his own ability to speak. Jeremiah was an inspired prophet. God revealed to him directly what he was to say.

Preachers today are not inspired. They must study the Scriptures to know what to preach. But when, on the basis of that study, they preach the word, God’s word is in their mouth, and they can preach forcefully and with confidence. As Paul says: “‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach)” (Romans 10:8).

You do not have to be an orator to preach the gospel. God’s word is powerful enough to accomplish God’s purposes.1

Paul was not an impressive speaker. Faultfinders said of him: “For his letters ... are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (2 Corinthians 10:10).

Paul placed his confidence, not in his own ability, but in the power of the gospel. He wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is God’s power unto salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 RD).


Someone who preaches, deserves support.

“The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18). “And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:15).

But a real preacher will preach whether he is supported or not. What preacher could be more dedicated and capable than Paul? Yet often he lacked support (1 Corinthians 4:11; Philippians 4:11-15). Paul worked with his hands as a tentmaker to supplement his support (Acts 18:3; 1 Corinthians 4:12). Lack of support is no excuse for not preaching.

If you preach, you are a preacher, whether you are supported or not. Many preachers through the centuries have supported themselves. Rita’s father and my father were both self-supporting preachers. Someone who is supported has more time for study and can more easily go to distant places.

To preach, you must be willing to sacrifice. Most gospel preachers could earn more money doing something else.

You must be willing to suffer. Paul wrote: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). To Timothy Paul wrote: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).

The world is lost in sin. The gospel is God’s power to save. But first, people must hear the gospel. And how shall they hear without a preacher? Preachers are needed. Who will dedicate the rest of his life to preaching the gospel? Let us all pray that God will send workers into His vineyard. And let us support those who are preaching the gospel throughout the world. Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.

Footnotes:


1 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10, 11).

Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com

Worship God by Roy Davison

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/whatiswo.html

Worship God!

Man is obligated to worship his Creator. “Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7). “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11). “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10).

What is the difference between worshiping God and serving God?

The Greek word for ‘serve’ in Matthew 4:10 (LATREUO) means to serve religiously. For serving in general, DOULEUO is used.

The word here for ‘worship’ (PROSKUNEO) means to express, by words or by bowing down, profound and submissive respect and adoration for God.

The two activities, worshiping God and serving God, are complementary because worship is vain unless it is supported by a life of dedicated service to God.

Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (LATREIA)” (Romans 12:1).1

Also under the Old Covenant, worship was to be verified by a life of daily service to God: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The word here for ‘serve’ in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament is LATREUO.2

Serving God involves all that we do, walking in all His ways, both in the prescribed religious exercises and in a godly life, whereas worship (PROSKUNEO) is an expression of submissive adoration on specific occasions.3

PROSKUNEO in the New Testament can also refer to Old Testament worship4 and to false forms of worship.5

Only God may be worshiped.

When the devil tempted Jesus to bow down and worship him6 Christ told him to go away, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matthew 4:10 // Luke 4:8).

Neither men,7 nor angels,8 nor anything created9 may be worshiped. Angels, however, are commanded to worship Christ10 which proves His deity. In the Gospels various people fell down at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him.11

True worship is in spirit and truth.

Jesus defined genuine worship when He spoke with the Samaritan woman: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23, 24).12

A common error is to suppose that rituals have value, regardless of the attitude of the heart. Jesus teaches that worship is genuine only if it is in spirit and in truth.13 Both the inner and the outer aspects must be correct.

What is worship?

Worship (PROSKUNEO) is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty.

This glorification can be expressed by bowing down and by words. Since God can hear the thoughts of the heart, the words do not have to be audible.

The gospel commands all people on earth to worship God: ‘Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6, 7).14

Majestic examples of worship are found in Revelation.

We can learn how to worship from the heavenly host!

“And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created’” (Revelation 4:8- 11).

By falling down and casting their crowns before the throne, the elders show their submission. They “worship ... saying,” and then follows a beautiful and majestic verbal expression of adoration. By definition, worship is directed to God, yet the glorification of God is magnified when words of adoration are heard by others.

Next we hear the saints worshiping Christ in song: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God’” (Revelation 5:9, 10).

Then expressions of adoration follow in the third person, proclamations intended for others to hear. “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 5:11-14).

The praise of the saints is confirmed by the amen of the heavenly host! “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen’” (Revelation 7:9-12).

Worship includes thanksgiving: “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned’” (Revelation 11:16, 17).

They who overcome the beast, sing the song of Moses and the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for your judgments have been manifested” (Revelation 15:3b, 4).

These thrilling examples in Revelation demonstrate that worship is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty.

Let us worship the Lord! Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.

Endnotes:


1 Not “worship” as in some translations. Our whole life is service to God but not worship.
2 See also Deuteronomy 11:13 “serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
3 This article includes references to all New Testament occurrences of PROSKUNEO.
4 John 12:20; Acts 8:27; 24:11; Hebrews 11:21.
5 Acts 7:43; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4.
6 Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:7.
7 Acts 10:25.
8 Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9.
9 Romans 1:25.
10 Hebrews 1:5, 6.
11 Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38. Because PROSKUNEO, in a purely human context, can also be used for showing great respect (Matthew 18:26; Mark 15:19; Revelation 3:9), the depth of meaning intended in a few passages is not clear, such as when the wise men worshiped the Christ child (Matthew 2:2, 8, 11).
12 The center of worship under the New Covenant, is God’s temple in heaven (Revelation 11:1, 19).
13 He does not state, however, as some claim, that worship is exclusively spiritual, without any outward expression whatever.
14 The gift of prophecy in the early church could convict an unbeliever, and cause him to worship God (1 Corinthians 14:24, 25).

Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com


"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS" Saul Of Tarsus (9:1-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18) by Mark Copeland

 








https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/conversions-in-acts/cia_05.html

"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

Saul Of Tarsus (9:1-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18)

INTRODUCTION
  1. From the conversion of "The Ethiopian Eunuch", we now turn our attention to what is perhaps the most famous of conversions in the New Testament...
    1. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, chief persecutor of the early church - Ac 8:1,3; 9:1-2
    2. Who became Paul the apostle (Ac 13:9), a recipient himself of much persecution for the cause of Christ - cf. 2Co 11:23-28
    -- Whose conversion stands as a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ
  2. There are actually three records of his conversion in The Book of Acts...
    1. Ac 9:1-19 - where Luke describes it as it happened
    2. Ac 22:6-16 - where Paul recounts his conversion before a large crowd
    3. Ac 26:12-18 - where Paul defends himself before King Agrippa
  3. From the example of the conversion of "Saul of Tarsus"...
    1. We find not only a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ
    2. But also more evidence concerning the nature of conversions as they are revealed in The Book of Acts
  4. For example...
    1. When was Saul (Paul) saved?
      1. Was it on the road to Damascus, when the Lord appeared to him?
      2. Or was it in Damascus, at some point after he arrived there?
    2. How was Saul (Paul) saved?
      1. Through saying a sinner's prayer?
      2. Or by being baptized?

[Such questions can be answered by a careful consideration of Biblical evidence. Let's begin with a review of the evidence provided by all three accounts of Saul's conversion...]

  1. A HARMONY OF THE CONVERSION OF SAUL
    1. SAUL WAS ON HIS WAY TO DAMASCUS...
      1. To persecute more Christians - Ac 9:1-2; 22:4-5; 26:9-11
      2. When a light shone around him from heaven - Ac 9:3; 22:6; 26:12-13
      3. When a voice began to speak to him in Hebrew...
        1. Identifying itself as the voice of Jesus - Ac 9:4-5; 22:7-9; 26:14-15
        2. Jesus then tells Saul...
          1. Why He has appeared to him - Ac 26:16-18
          2. To go on to Damascus, where...
            1. He will be told "what you must do" - Ac 9:6
            2. He will be told "all things which are appointed for you to do" - Ac 22:10
    2. SAUL ARRIVES IN DAMASCUS...
      1. Led by the hand, having been blinded by the light - Ac 9:8; 22:11
      2. For three days, he neither eats nor drinks - Ac 9:9
    3. THE LORD SENDS ANANIAS TO SAUL...
      1. The Lord appears to Ananias in a vision, and tells him to go to Saul - Ac 9:10-16
      2. Ananias goes to Saul, and...
        1. Has his sight restored - Ac 9:17-18a; 22:12-13
        2. Is told why the Lord appeared to him and how he will be a witness of what he has seen - Ac 22:14-15
        3. Is told to be baptized and wash away his sins, calling upon the name of the Lord - Ac 22:16; cf. Ac 9:18b
    4. HIS CONVERSION COMPLETE, SAUL BEGINS HIS WORK...
      1. Preaching immediately in Damascus - Ac 9:20
      2. And later in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the Gentiles - Ac 26:19-20

      [As mentioned previously, the conversion of Saul is a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What other reasonable explanation can be given for the drastic change from "chief persecutor" of the Christian faith to "chief proclamator" of the Christian faith?

      But the conversion of Saul is also valuable for the insights we can glean into the process of conversion. With that in mind, allow me to share...]

  2. SOME OBSERVATIONS
    1. CONCERNING "WHEN" SAUL WAS SAVED...
      1. It is often stated that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus
        1. When the Lord appeared to him
        2. That his conversion took place at that moment
      2. Saul was not saved until after he arrived in Damascus
        1. Note that while on the road, the Lord said it would be in Damascus where he would be told "what you must do" - Ac 9:6
        2. In Damascus, Ananias told him to "wash away your sins" - Ac 22:16
          1. At that point, Saul was still in his sins!
          2. I.e., he was still not saved!
          -- While in one sense he was indeed "converted" on the road (his view of Jesus certainly changed), conversion in the sense of salvation did not occur until after he arrived in Damascus
    2. CONCERNING "HOW" SAUL WAS SAVED...
      1. From the statement of Ananias in Ac 22:16 (to wash away his sins), we learn that:
        1. Saul was not saved by virtue of the vision on the road
        2. Saul was not saved by virtue of the prayers and fasting he had offered for three days - cf. Ac 9:9,11
      2. Saul was saved when his sins were "washed away" - Ac 22:16
        1. Which occurred after spending three days in Damascus
        2. Which occurred when he was baptized to wash away his sins!
        -- This concurs with what Peter said about the purpose of baptism in Ac 2:38
    3. CONCERNING BAPTISM AND CALLING UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD...
      1. After quoting Joel who wrote of calling upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Ac 2:21), Peter told his crowd to be baptized - Ac 2:38
      2. Now Ananias commands Saul to be baptized, "calling upon the name of the Lord" - Ac 22:16
      3. As Peter wrote, baptism saves us, and is an appeal for a clear conscience - 1Pe 3:21
      4. In baptism, then...
        1. We are "calling upon the name of the Lord"
        2. We are appealing to God by the authority of His Son Jesus to forgive our sins
      5. While we can certainly pray as we are being baptized, baptism itself is a prayer (an appeal) to God for a clear conscience!
CONCLUSION
  1. From the conversion of Saul we learn that one is not saved by...
    1. Visions of the Lord (who could have a vision more impressive than Saul's?)
    2. Saying the sinner's prayer (Saul had been praying and fasting for three days!)
  2. In keeping with what we have seen already, one is saved when...
    1. They are baptized for the remission of their sins - Ac 2:38
    2. They are baptized to have their sins "washed away" - Ac 22:16
  3. Of course, we learn from Paul's discourse in Romans 6 that the simple rite of baptism is efficacious because in baptism...
    1. We are baptized into Christ's death - Ro 6:3-4
    2. We are united with Christ in the likeness of His death - Ro 6:5
    3. We are crucified with Christ, and our body of sin is done away - Ro 6:6
    4. We die to sin, and are therefore freed from sin - Ro 6:7
    -- Of course, such baptism is conditioned upon faith and God's working - Ac 8:36-37; Col 2:12
  4. In his commentary on Ro 6:3, Martin Luther wrote:
    "Baptism has been instituted that it should lead us to the blessings (of this death) and through such death to eternal life. Therefore IT IS NECESSARY that we should be baptized into Jesus Christ and His death." (Commentary On Romans, Kregel Publications, p. 101)

And so we say, as did Ananias, to anyone who has yet to be baptized for the remission of their sins...

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022

"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS" The Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-40) by Mark Copeland

 








https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/conversions-in-acts/cia_04.html

"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

The Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-40)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The conversions we have noted so far have involved large numbers of people...
    1. The 3000 at Pentecost - Ac 2:1-41
    2. The 2000 on Solomon's Porch - Ac 3:1-4:4
    3. The multitudes in Samaria - Ac 8:5-13
  2. In each case, the gospel message was basically the same...
    1. Christ is proclaimed
    2. Responses called for included faith, repentance and baptism
  3. Now we have the opportunity to examine the conversion of just one person...
    1. A queen's treasurer, a eunuch from Ethiopia
    2. A very religious man, who had traveled a great distance to worship God
  4. With the account of the conversion of "The Ethiopian Eunuch"...
    1. We not only have the opportunity to confirm what we have already learned
    2. We can also glean a few more points regarding Biblical conversions

[Let's start with a reading and review of the basic facts related to this conversion...]

  1. THE CONVERSION OF THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH
    1. PHILIP IS SENT TO THE EUNUCH - Ac 8:26-29
      1. An angel of the Lord tells Philip to go toward Gaza - Ac 8:26
      2. On the way there is a man sitting in his chariot - Ac 8:27-28
        1. A eunuch of Ethiopia, in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace
        2. Returning home from having gone to worship in Jerusalem
        3. Reading from the prophet Isaiah
      3. The Spirit tells Philip to overtake the chariot - Ac 8:29
    2. PHILIP PREACHES JESUS TO HIM - Ac 8:30-35
      1. Hearing the eunuch reading Isaiah, Philip asks if he understands - Ac 8:30
      2. The eunuch asks Philip to help him - Ac 8:31-34
        1. He expresses a need for someone to guide him, and invites Philip to sit with him
        2. The scripture under consideration is Isa 53:7-8
          1. Which speaks of one led as a sheep to the slaughter
          2. Which describes one whose life is taken from the earth
        3. The eunuch asks if Isaiah was speaking of himself, or of someone else
      3. Beginning with that Scripture, Philip preaches Jesus to him - Ac 8:35
    3. THE EUNUCH IS BAPTIZED - Ac 8:36-40
      1. The eunuch expresses a desire to be baptized - Ac 8:36-37
        1. Seeing some water along the way, he wonders what would hinder him from being baptized
        2. Philip replies that if he believes with all his heart, he may
        3. The eunuch confesses his faith in Jesus as the Son of God
      2. Philip baptizes the eunuch - Ac 8:38-40
        1. Stopping the chariot, both Philip and the eunuch go down into the water
        2. Philip then baptizes him
        3. When they come up out of the water, the Spirit catches Philip away
        4. Though seeing Philip no more, the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing
        5. Philip is found at Azotus, and continues preaching in the cities until he arrives at Caesarea

        [One might properly wonder why the Spirit saw it fit to lead Luke to spend so much time describing the conversion of just one person. Clearly there must be important lessons or principles that we can glean from this historical account.

        With that in mind, let me offer..]

  2. SOME OBSERVATIONS
    1. CONCERNING PROSPECTS FOR THE GOSPEL...
      1. The Ethiopian eunuch was a very religious man
        1. He had traveled a great distance to worship in Jerusalem
        2. He was reading from the Scriptures when Philip found him
      2. In fact, most examples of conversions involved very devout people
        1. The 3000 at Pentecost, who had traveled to observe the feast day
        2. Later, we will study the conversions of such people as:
          1. Paul, the Pharisee zealous for the Law
          2. Cornelius, the devout Gentile who feared God and prayed always
          3. Lydia, a woman who met every Sabbath to pray with others
      3. From this we can glean the following...
        1. Just because one is religious does not mean they are saved!
        2. Religious people are often good prospects for the gospel!
          1. They already fear God and respect His authority
          2. As such, they simply need to be shown "the way of God more accurately" - cf. Ac 18:26
        3. Those who are truly seeking God's will, will one day have an opportunity to hear the gospel and obey it!
        -- This does not discount the fact that rank sinners are often receptive (cf. the Corinthians, 1Co 6:9-11), but good people are usually more open to the Word
    2. CONCERNING WHAT IT MEANS TO PREACH JESUS...
      1. From Isaiah's "quotation" (Isa 52:13-53:11), we know it involves teaching:
        1. How Jesus died for our sins - cf. 1Co 15:1-3
        2. How Jesus has been exalted by God - cf. Ac 2:36; 3:13; 5:30-31
      2. From the Eunuch's "question" (Ac 8:36), we know it includes stressing:
        1. The importance of baptism
          1. Why did the eunuch ask, "What hinders me from being baptized?"
          2. Perhaps because Philip told him...
            1. What the Lord had said - Mk 16:15-16
            2. The purpose of baptism, as expressed by Peter and Paul - Ac 2:38; Ro 6:3-4; 1Pe 3:21
            -- As we have seen and will see, baptism is the expected response when one believes in Jesus
        2. The immediacy of baptism
          1. Why did the eunuch asked to be baptized right then ("See, here is water.")?
          2. Perhaps because baptism's purpose is such that one does not want to delay
            1. It is "for the remission of sins" - Ac 2:38
            2. It is to have one's sins "washed away" - Ac 22:16
            3. It is an appeal for a clear conscience - 1Pe 3:21
            -- Indeed, in every example of conversion found in Acts, people were baptized immediately, after just one lesson!
      3. From Philip's "qualification" (Ac 8:37), we know it requires explaining:
        1. The necessity of faith in Jesus
          1. One must believe in Jesus as the Son of God - Jn 8:24; 20:30-31
          2. Without faith, God won't do His work in our baptism - cf. Col 2:12
        2. The necessity of whole-heartedness in our faith
          1. God has always required whole-heartedness - cf. Mt 22:37
          2. Without it, even those saved are in danger of falling away - cf. He 3:12-14
          -- Unless "you believe with all your heart", you are not a proper subject for baptism!
    3. CONCERNING BAPTISM...
      1. We see that baptism involves water
        1. When the eunuch was baptized...
          1. "...both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water" - Ac 8:38
          2. "...he baptized him" - Ac 8:38
          3. "...they came up out of the water" - Ac 8:39
        2. Later, we see the same truth expressed by Peter - cf. Ac 10:47-48
      2. We see that baptism involves a burial in water
        1. Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water - Ac 8:38
          1. If sprinkling satisfies the meaning of baptism, it seems strange that Philip would need to go down into the water
          2. Why get wet, when all he needed to do was get a handful of water?
        2. Baptism means "to immerse", and such requires the baptizer to get in the water with the one being baptized
        3. Later, Paul describes baptism as a "burial" - cf. Ro 6:3-4; Col 2:12
      3. We see that baptism is NOT a public confession of one's faith
        1. Some say that the purpose of baptism is to publicly confess one's faith in Christ
          1. Especially those who deny that baptism is for the remission of sins
          2. Seeking to provide a reason for baptism, they offer this as an alternative
          3. But the Bible nowhere says this is the purpose for baptism!
        2. If the purpose of baptism is to publicly confess one's faith...
          1. Why did Philip baptize the eunuch?
            1. There was no one else around to witness the baptism
            2. They were all alone in the desert
          2. Why didn't Philip answer the eunuch's question differently?
            1. He wanted to know what would hinder him from being baptized
            2. If baptism is a public confession of one's faith, we would expect Philip to say he must wait until they get to town, find a church, etc.
        3. But the purpose of baptism is such that it can be done...
          1. In public or in private
          2. With thousands present, or with just the one doing the baptizing
          -- Later, we will see that the conversion of the Philippian Jailor also involved a baptism in relative privacy
CONCLUSION
  1. With the conversion of "The Ethiopian Eunuch", we are impressed with the simplicity of salvation...
    1. With a simple presentation of the gospel, one can be saved after just one lesson
    2. Whether it is preached to large crowds or to just one person, the gospel is indeed God's power to save! - cf. Ro 1:16
  2. When the gospel of Jesus is truly preached...
    1. The death of Jesus for our sins will be stressed
    2. The importance of baptism as commanded by Jesus will be mentioned as well
      1. Such that people will want to know "what hinders me from being baptized?"
      2. Such that people will want to baptized immediately
    3. The purpose of baptism will be properly understood, knowing that one can be baptized in private just as well as in public
    4. The necessity for a whole-hearted faith in Jesus will be emphasized, otherwise one simply gets wet in baptism!

Was your conversion anything like that of "The Ethiopian Eunuch"? When someone "preached Jesus" to you, were you compelled to ask:

"See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" - Acts 8:36
If not, have you considered why not? Could it be that the gospel of Jesus Christ was not shared with you in its fullness...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022