In This Issue

• THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF ALL (AND THE SECOND)
• ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL 
• MAY AS WELL SAY OR DO IT AS TO THINK IT (?)
• MORE INFORMATION...

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF ALL (AND THE SECOND)

 Jesus had answered the question of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes to the Roman government. He had answered the question of the Sadducees about the resurrection from the dead. “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ And Jesus answered him “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ But after that, no one dared question Him” (Mark 12:28-34).

 Matthew’s account tells us that the scribe asked his question to test Jesus as the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees before him had done. And, yet there is something refreshingly different about this exchange. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians had been put to silence. They could find no fault in Jesus’ answers, but they never admitted He was right. This scribe, however, clearly acknowledged that Jesus had answered correctly. He could see, and was willing to admit, that a person who would really put God first in his life, and really put his fellow men and women on an equal with himself would behave in such a way as to be in harmony with the spirit or attitude manifest in all God’s commands, and would far surpass the outward forms of sacrifices and burnt offerings. Most of the burnt offerings and sacrifices were directly related to specific sins and trespasses. If one loved God with all his heart, mind, soul, spirit and strength, his sins would be few and he would need relatively few sin offerings. If a man were to love all his neighbors as much as he loved himself, and to seek their rights and their good as fervently as he seeks his own, he would seldom trespass against them, and he would need relatively few trespass offerings. By recognizing these truths, the scribe was not far from God’s kingdom. He need but practice them to make the transition.

 Finally, note that these two commandments are so invariably linked that Jesus could not separate them. He who does not love his neighbor doesn’t really love God, James 2:8.

 --Clarence R. Johnson

ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL 

The Roman Catholic Church has spoken and the Jews no longer need Jesus. What a relief that must be!

Building on 35 years of growing political correctness, the Pope has declared that the Mosaic covenant was an eternal compact between God and Israel, and therefore, Hebrews can be saved without the blood of Jesus or his new covenant. Protestants have been edging in the same direction for years, because of Premillennialism and political correctness. They believe the Jews will be universally saved when the Messiah returns and convinces them of his identity. Premillennial protestants believe Jesus failed the first time around, but will surely succeed the second.

The truth is that Jews need Jesus precisely as much as you and I do. Buying religious peace with them by pushing Jesus into a closet does them no favor and places your own soul in jeopardy.

Hear the Holy Spirit! "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). Political correctness, ignorance and cowardice will save no one.

Jesus even told a small Jewish audience, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except though me" (John 14:6). The pope, however, disagrees with Jesus and insists that every Hebrew can come to the Father without him. Step aside, Lord!

Peter, a Jew and wrongly accused of being the first Catholic pope, told a Jewish audience, "Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, by him this man stands here before you whole .... Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12).

The Mosaic covenant is no longer operational today and no one can adhere to it. Israel failed to keep its end and so God exercised his right to abandon it and create a new covenant to replace it (Heb. 8:13). The better covenant of Christ has taken force (Heb. 8:1-6). In him, there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:28). Outside of him, there is only perdition.

It has become politically correct to recognize most, if not all, religions as equal. Even Islam, which fuels hatred, has gained that degree of public acceptance. When we pretend, however, that one can be saved without Jesus, just to get along with those who believe that, we tie our Savior's hands and limit the scope of his blood. 

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge .... For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:1-2, 4).

--J.S. Smith, Woodmont Beacon, Ft. Worth, Texas 

MAY AS WELL SAY OR DO IT AS TO THINK IT (?)

Have you ever heard someone make such a statement? I have! In fact it is quite often quoted. “May as well go ahead and say or do it as to think it in your heart”. I have often wondered about the merits and truthfulness of such a statement. Somehow the statement doesn’t seem to ring true in the complete light of God’s dealings with man. Let’s examine a few principles that might help in determining whether the statement be true or not. We appreciate the fact that:

Man is accountable for his thoughts. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov.4:23) “for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” (Prov.23:7) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…” (Matt.15:18-19) Peter told Simon: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts 8:22) Christians are admonished to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Cor.10:5) We can certainly sin in thought. We must repent of evil thoughts. Thoughts in a sense control our entire life! Please appreciate such…but is this the answer to our search? Is it as evil to think something as to say or do it? Many people have made the statement. I have heard it all my life. But let’s notice further…

An individual’s thoughts are his own. In plainer words, we are saying that what a man thinks affects only himself. When he puts the thoughts into action by words or deeds, then others are affected. You ask for an illustration…all right! Jesus said: “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”. (Matt.5:28) This is sin! And granted that lust involves the thought of his heart, it constitutes sin in thought. But such usually affects only one! Let the sinful deed also be committed then someone else is involved. A young maiden may be deprived of chastity. A home may be destroyed as husband or wife yield to temptation that forever casts a dark suspicion over their fidelity one to another. Have you stopped to think of this when you condoned the statement “may as well say or do it as to think it”? We have given an illustration to show that this is not so and many more illustrations could be given. Furthermore….

Thoughts void of deeds involve less agony of correction. Evil thoughts must be repented of! Certainly we are aware that these are not condoned by the Lord and man must confess and forsake them to have mercy of the Lord. Repentance of an evil thought would appear to be easier than the thought expressed in word or deed. One may become angry and experience an evil thought but he has enough control to keep from executing his emotion. Is he to be classed on the same level as the one who goes ahead and commits the deed? We are cognizant of the statement of John: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (I John 3:13). This verse may be taken to mean that the act is no worse than thinking it. However, John is demonstrating the value of love of brethren and the horribleness of hate. Here is proof again of our accountableness for our thoughts and emotions but not the evidence that the deed is no worse than the thought. David experienced an evil thought toward Bathsheba…. the deed was committed and it led to the death of Uriah. Wouldn’t it have been easier to have had only the thought to repent of rather than the adulterous act and death of Uriah? That’s the point we are trying to make! David said: “…and my sin is ever before me” (Psa.51:3)

Possibly there are men who make such a statement as the one we are examining without stopping to consider the consequence. They do it largely in ignorance. Others, no doubt, have a more sinister motive. They seek self-justification of their deeds. They desire to make it appear that the deed is no worse than the thought in an effort to cover their sinful deeds. They reason that individuals have sinful thoughts and they are just as guilty as those who commit sinful acts. I fail to find this in keeping with scriptural conclusions. Let’s be fair with ourselves and above all fair with God and His word. What do you think about it?

--Bobby K. Thompson

The yoke of Christ will never fit a stiff neck.

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