In This Issue

• "FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS"
• SPEAKING IN TONGUES
• KILL THE UMPIRE!
• AN ARTIFICIALLY CONTRIVED RIVALRY
• MORE INFORMATION...

"FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS"

From Paul’s statements in 1 Cor. 11:23-26, it is clear that Jesus intended for His followers to continue to observe the Lord's supper throughout the gospel age (till He comes again), and that they observe it often. Matthew’s account of the institution of the Lord’s supper is found in Matt. 26:26-30. Jesus said of the bread, "Take, eat, this is My body." Of the juice of the grape, He said, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." In those statements, Jesus used a figure of speech called metonymy. Metonymy is the use of one word for another that it suggests. For example, "a woman spreads a good table." The word "table" is used, but the idea suggested is that of good food. Likewise Jesus used bread and grape juice to picture or suggest His body and blood. In the next few hours, He would literally give His body and shed His blood, as a sacrifice for human sin. The bread and juice of the Lord’s supper thereafter suggests, calls to mind, and memorializes His sacrifice.

It is obvious that the bread and juice were not LITERALLY His flesh and His blood, nor did they ever BECOME His literal body and blood. His body had not yet been broken. His blood had not yet been shed. The bread and juice were consumed and digested before Jesus actually died. But to Christians throughout succeeding generations, those same two elements have called to mind each first day of the week the glorious love of God and Christ for us, manifested in His sacrifice.

Let us note that Jesus said of His blood that it was being offered "for the remission of sins." The Hebrew writer explains that "without shedding of blood there is no remission" and "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Heb. 9:22; 10:4). The sacrifices of the Old Testament system were only temporary in their effectiveness. The blood of Jesus must be shed. This sacrifice on the Lord’s part was necessary in order for us to have remission or forgiveness of sins. In Acts 2:38, we see that there is also something necessary on our part in order to procure that forgiveness. Believers must "Repent, and... be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." Jesus has done His part. When we do our part, we will be saved from our past sins, as Jesus promised in Mark 16:16, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."

-- CRJ

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Where can we read in the Bible of the gift of tongues? Answer: Mark 16:14-20; Acts 2:1-21; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-31; 13:1, 8-10; 14:1-40.

Were the tongues in the Bible unknown in the sense that no race or nationality on earth could understand them? Answer: Acts 2:7-11; 1 Cor. 14:13, 27-28.

Could all Christians in the first century speak in tongues? Answer: 1 Cor. 12:4, 8-11, 28-31. These verses show clearly that different persons received different gifts. Some received more than one spiritual gift, yet obviously not all could speak in tongues. See also 1 Cor. 14:2, 4-5, 13, 27.

Were the tongues in the early church such as completely controlled the speaker, or was it possible for one, even under the influence of the Spirit, to exercise self control concerning when and where to speak? Answer: 1 Cor. 14:27-33.

Did the signs and wonders wrought in the first century accomplish the purpose for which they were meant? Answer: Heb. 2:1-4; John 20:30-31; John 3:2; Matt. 27:54. The word of the New Testament has thus been confirmed as was the law of Moses in the first few years after its initiation. The law of Moses did not need to be confirmed continually, but after its initial confirmation, needed to be "heard," Luke 16:29-31. Likewise, the words of Christ and His apostles has been confirmed. Let us hear them!

Does the New Testament teach that the signs and wonders, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc., would cease to be? Answer: 1 Cor. 13:8-10. During the early years of the Lord’s church, the New Testament was being revealed a part at a time, and signs and wonders were distributed among early saints to confirm the revelations as they were being made known. The Holy Spirit revealed through Paul that the day was coming when all the New Testament would be complete or perfect, or in a unit, and then the partial revelations, along with their signs of confirmation, would cease. See also Eph. 4:8, 11-12.

Has the revelation of God as yet been made known completely, grouped together, and confirmed in such a way that it may be referred to as perfect? Answer: 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3; James 1:25; Rev. 22:18-19. These and other verses make it plain that the New Testament as we have it today contains all that Christ has seen fit to reveal to man. It is complete. It is perfect. That which is perfect has come, and that which was partial has been done away.

-- CRJ

KILL THE UMPIRE!

"Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped. `That ain't my style,' said Casey. `Strike one,' the umpire said. From the benches, black with people, there went a muffled roar, like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore; `Kill him! Kill the umpire!' shouted someone on the stand. And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand."

Baseball has been called the national pastime, and it has amply demonstrated its ability to grab the attention and passions of its spectators. I enjoy the game. While I am an avid Cubs fan, I have greatly enjoyed watching my son play at the Little League level.

We have all heard of the perennial problems with the behavior of parents at Little League games. I am happy to report that I saw little of those problems this year. However, those stereotypical problems are not urban legends. In past years I have witnessed and experienced those who fit these stereotypes. A few years ago at the Peanut League level I had the unparalleled pleasure of being called a "jerk" by the father of someone on the opposing team because he imagined that I had intentionally interfered with the play in my feeble coaching efforts at third.

I have also had the opportunity to sit in the stands at a Pony League game and hear parents rail on the umpire. Oh, sure, we have all reacted negatively to the bad calls inevitably made by umpires, but some of these parents are like pit bulls and won't let go even several innings later. Such loose-lipped parents got me to thinking and analyzing. If this is our treatment of an authority figure that we can see, then no wonder people question God who they cannot see (1 Jn. 4:20).

We are a people who are not hesitant to challenge and question authority. At the Pony League game one man literally had a comment about every pitch. If the call was negative for his team, then he had only bad things to say about the umpire. Often there was a chorus of mothers agreeing with him. It is apparent that for some people the umpire is not the object of their respect, but someone to vent on when things don't go well.

I can't help but believe that many see God the same way. They sit in the stands of life constantly questioning Him and railing on Him when things don't go the way they think they should. Recall when King David moved the Ark of the Covenant in an unlawful way and Uzzah ended up dying for touching the Ark in an attempt to steady it (2 Sam. 6:6-8). David was angry with God when he should have been angry with himself.

Isn't it interesting how the umpire, who makes possible an orderly and far more enjoyable level of play, becomes the object of our scorn rather than the object of our appreciation? It is amusing how we want him there behind the plate, but then think we have a clearer view of the game from our seat in the stands. Unlike human umpires, God is never out of position. He always makes the right call. Still, we sit in our seats in 2001 with our limited view and question the One who can see it all.

Why do people act this way at a game or in life? Because of pride and prejudice. It is pride that keeps many from being willing to submit to any authority, let alone the authority of the unseen God. God warns that "pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 85616:18).

Prejudice enables people to find fault with others without applying the same standard to themselves (Rom. 2:1-11; Jas. 2:8-11). We want a wide strike zone when we're pitching and a narrow one when we're batting, and we complain if it is any other way.

Life is not a game, but some certainly approach it that way. How easy it is to lose our perspective of what is most important. "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13).

-- Andy Diestelkamp, Think on These Things

AN ARTIFICIALLY CONTRIVED RIVALRY

Beware of loaded questions! The definitive depiction of the loaded question is the scenario wherein the lawyer interrogates the witness: "Are you still beating your wife?" The poor defendant is "set up" whether he answers, "Yea," or "Nay!" His guilt, past or present, is pre-supposed.

The theological professionals have their loaded question, "Is salvation by faith or by works?" The question presupposes a rivalry between faith and works, presupposes that each are mutually exclusive.

This rivalry between faith and works is artificially contrived. Jesus Himself called faith a work. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29). The conflict is not between faith and works, but between the work of God -- what God wants us to do -- and boastful works of human choice. The conflict is not between salvation by belief or salvation by baptism, but between believing or disbelieving Jesus when He said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

-- J. Princeton Simons

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