In This Issue

• “SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UPON YOU”

• SOME TAXING QUESTIONS

• THE “IT” OF GOD

• MORE INFORMATION...

“SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UPON YOU”

The apostle John tells us in the 5th chapter of his account of the gospel that Jesus miraculously, instantly healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk. But in verse 9, John tells us that the miracle occurred on the Sabbath.

“The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, ‘It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.’ He answered them, ‘He who made me well said to me, “Take up your bed and walk.”’ Then they asked him, ‘Who is the Man who said to you, “Take up your bed and walk”?’ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, ‘See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.’ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath” (John 5:10-16).

The Law of Moses had forbidden the Israelite people to work on the Sabbath, but it had not meant that they were to do nothing at all on that day. God, during the creation week worked for six days, then ceased from His week’s work on the 7th day. So, the Israelites were to do their customary work for six days, and rest from that kind of work on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was not meant to be a burden to them, but a blessing. Jesus showed that acts of love and mercy were not a Sabbath violation.

Over the centuries, the Rabbis had added their own rules and regulations to God’s original Sabbath law and the Jewish religious leaders persecuted Jesus because He did not honor those additions.

As we look at our text, one more subject must be noted. Of course, the man whom Jesus healed was a sinner. All men are, Rom. 3:10, 23. Jesus did NOT say that his sins had caused his lameness – but that continuing in sin would cause something much worse. As we learn from several passages, “the wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23; Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:4, 20; James 1:15).

- Clarence R. Johnson

SOME TAXING QUESTIONS

The Pharisees and the Herodians were usually at odds with one another, but they had at least one common “enemy” – Jesus. So they came together to ask Him a question which they thought would get Him in trouble no matter how He answered it: “What do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Matt. 22:17). Jesus cut through all the muddle in which that question might have been bogged down, and asked them to show Him one of the coins used in paying the tax. He pointed out that the coin featured Caesar’s picture and Caesar’s inscription, therefore “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In all times and in all places, God has allowed certain men to rise to power. Whether that power be manifested in a King as supreme, or in some sort of governing body of a plurality of men, “The authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13:1). As Jesus said to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13:3). God has granted governing authorities the power to levy taxes as they see fit. They are empowered to enforce various restrictions on the citizenry as they see fit. The only exception to this power is that they have no right to require what is forbidden by God, not to forbid that which He has commanded, Acts 5:29.

On another occasion, Jesus had to deal with an additional question regarding taxes. This time, it was not a Roman tax, but an amount paid to Jewish religious authorities for use in the services of the temple. It is first mentioned in Ex. 30:1-11, and came in time to be called the “temple tax.” Since the temple was “God’s house” and Jesus was God’s Son, He might have insisted that He did not owe this tax – but lest those who came to collect the “tax” be made to stumble or misunderstand His motives, He paid the tax. See Matt. 17:24-27.

As mentioned in the first paragraph above, governing authorities have the power to enforce various rules and regulations in addition to levying taxes. They have authority to restrict our freedom in various ways that they deem advantageous for society in general. For instance: we may own and operate an automobile – but the governing powers can “create” and enforce a one-way street; they can post a sign that requires us to stop at an intersection. They can require us to maintain liability insurance and maintain our vehicles in a condition that will be safe for ourselves and those with whom we share the road; they can require us to obtain a valid driver’s license; and compel us to limit ourselves to a certain speed, etc. And we are required to “obey every ordinance of man” whether we like or dislike those rules (1 Pet. 2:13). And if we do not do obey those laws, we are resisting the ordinance of God, Rom. 13:2. The ONLY exception to our submission to human laws is when they are in direct conflict with God’s law, Acts 5:29.

Recently, I was asked a question regarding state and federal laws that require churches to be incorporated. I am not a lawyer, and there are probably any number of laws that I do not fully understand, and most likely many that I have not even heard about. Our federal government allows churches and certain other benevolent organizations to operate as “non-profit organizations.” They may own whatever property is necessary for their operation without paying local property taxes. They may receive donations from individual donors without declaring those donations as “income” subject to federal, state, or local income taxes. And the donors may deduct those donations from their federal income tax returns as charitable gifts. But in order to be able to operate as a “non-profit organization,” a religious group must designate certain individuals (trustees) who can be held responsible if the rules are violated, and setting up this arrangement requires “articles of incorporation.” Once this arrangement is set up, the legal requirements have been met for a church to operate without paying property taxes or income tax. Actually, the “corporation” is NOT the church. It does not exercise any power over the church. It simply exists in order to meet certain state and federal requirements and restrictions, and to see that there are individuals (the trustees) who will be held responsible for adhering to the laws governing religious bodies in this country.

Other restrictions placed on some non-profit organizations include zoning restrictions, parking regulations, and various other local ordinances. And, once again, Christians are to submit themselves to such rules and regulations. On the other hand, if the state, federal, or local government forbids a church to teach or preach the truth about Jesus and His will, “we must obey God rather than man.”

- Clarence R. Johnson

THE “IT” OF GOD

The little word “it” is such a small word, but so very important regarding the will of God toward man. It was quite important under the Old Covenant. “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32). The “it” constituted God’s command. It was to be observed without addition or subtraction. By so doing God was pleased and the obedient were blessed of God. Herein authority was exerted and recognized!

Occasions abound in the Old Testament scriptures of those who failed to observe and respect God’s “it” toward them. Saul was directed by God through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites with their flocks and herds, (I Samuel 15). Saul failed in observing the command of God by sparing King Agag and the best of the animals. The bleating of the sheep and lowing of the oxen testified to the fact that the “it” had been disobeyed by Saul. His failure to obey resulted in his being rejected of God and the kingdom being taken from him.

Faithful Moses fell victim to the “it” of God at the desert of Zin, (Numbers 20). The children of Israel were again murmuring for the lack of water. God told Moses “to speak unto the rock before their eyes,” but Moses smote the rock twice. He failed to observe the “it” and in his disobedience God decreed, “Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12). God accredited his failure “Because ye believed me not.” Had Moses believed God as he should have, he would have obeyed the command of God as “it” was given to him.

The “it” was the defeat of Nadab and Abihu. In Leviticus 10:1-3, these two sons of Aaron “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.” God had directed them in what to do, but they had done contrary to “it” and offered that which God had not commanded. “And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord.” God meant “it” as He said “it”.

These things were written for our warnings and admonitions, (I Corinthians 10:21) (Romans 15:4). The Lord expects the observing of His “it” in this age. “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation;” (Hebrews 2:2-3). Though “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”, grace does not nullify the importance of obedience to any command from God. Quite the contrary, obedience complements grace and affords us the spiritual blessings that are in Christ Jesus. Paul often spoke of the grace of God in the Roman letter and was quite definite as to how the saints at Rome had been benefited by the grace of God. Listen: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18). The form of doctrine stated in Romans 6:3-5 constituted the “it” of God that they had obeyed and granted them freedom from sin through the grace of God. Without obedience, the grace of God is in vain as pertaining to man’s soul. (II Corinthians 6:1).

Paul was very singular in his preaching when he declared to the Galatians that the gospel he preached was the only true gospel and those who preached any other were to be accursed, (Galatians 1:6-9). Paul speaking by the revelation of Jesus Christ, (Galatians 1:11-12), said that this is “it” and there is not another. Men in all ages have rebelled at God’s directions! They have replaced such with their own wisdom and have suffered the consequences of God’s wrath. The tenor of our permissive generation is to view religion in a broad sense and be strongly opposed to anyone saying that this is “it”. Men crave a form of freedom that licenses sin! They desire a freedom of expression wherein no one can say that this is “it” to the rejection of other concepts in religion. Men evidently find it exceedingly difficult to bring themselves to accept the singleness of truth or the “it” of God. Men crave the choice of religions with the church of their choice and the faith of their choice in defiance of the “it” of God, (Ephesians 4:4-6). They can’t bring themselves to view God as being so narrow as having arranged the “it” of truth to the rejection of other procedures that fit man’s wisdom. Notice what Paul said of Christ and His church from Ephesians 5: Christ is “the savior of the body” vs. 23; Christ “gave himself for it” vs. 25; “might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” vs. 26. He was unashamed of the “it” of God! What about our attitude? Have we become bored and weary of hearing of the “it” of God or do we love “it” as we should?

- Bobby K. Thompson

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