Biola Broadcaster - 1972-06

NUMBER 6

JUN E 1972

VOLUME 2

MAY RAD IO F EA TU R E S

Managing Ed ito r. . .

President. . .

J. RICHARD CHASE

EVELYN GIBSON

C O N T E N T S

T h e S a tis fie d L if e

J . R ich a rd C h a s e

P re a ch the Word . O . E . Sandert

Do We R e a lly C a re ?

Mrs. William B a k e r

*Pane l D is c u s s io n s

*R om a n s .

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G lenn O 'Neal

*M in istry o f the Ho ly Sp irit . L lo y d T . Ande rson

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Sum m e r Supp lem en t .

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*Edited Biola H o ur Radio messages

Cover photograph in gardens of Huntington Library, Los Angeles by Kirk Potter

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BIBLE CONFERENCE In Hawaii June 17-29 Dr. J. Richard Chase Dr. Richard McNeely Chairman— Biblical Studies MOUNT HERMON August 6 - 12 John MacArthur

Guest Bible Teacher Dr. J. Richard Chase Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland Ron Hafer Dr. Richard McNeely THE FIRS August 13-19 Dr. Ralph Keiper Guest Bible Teacher Dr. J. Richard Chase Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland Dr. Richard McNeely

Music for both weeks will feature John and Dawn Hess

TltESATisfiEd By J. RICHARD CHASE

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

The Christian life is far more a life of reason than a life of feeling or impulse. It begins when we understand our need and accept God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ. The prophet Isaiah was challenged to think and assess his life when he saw the Lord “high and lifted up.” The contrast was so obvious, he replied, “Woe is me for I am undone.” The prodigal son returned to the father only after he came to his senses as he considered his need and his father’s pro vision (Luke 15:17, 18). The New Testament epistles are powerful testi monies to the reasoned response the Christian must make as he faces the decisions of living for Christ. A strange situation is developing today. Instead of trying to prove to the non-believer that the Christian life is rational and reasonable rather than the product of fantasy or fear, the Christian must now defend the very reasonableness of reason itself. A recent Time essay suggests that the world’s gone mad. The essay states: “reason and logic have, in fact, become dirty words—death words. They have been replaced by the life words feeling and impulse. . . . Sanity is snobbishly looked down upon as uptight and bourgeois.” (Time, March 13, 1972,

p. 51) Page 4

Life Time is right. Much of our culture now caters to or is the product of undisciplined desire. Passion rules by acclaim from reasons rightful throne. Man no longer even attempts to justify living solely by emotion and desire; it has become the twentieth-century life style! Pornography, pot, free-love, suspicion of both facts and logical reflection all fit the pattern. Can it be any other way? If man is repeatedly told he is an animal, why should he act otherwise? What right does self-control have to demand supremacy over desire or instinct? For centuries man has sought to control himself, to act responsible for the good of himself and others, and in wiser moments, for the glory of God. He has seldom been successful. An ancient illustration effectively makes the point. In the dialogue, Phoedrus, Plato divides the soul of man into three parts and pictures the soul as a team of horses with a charioteer or driver. One horse typifies virtue, the other desire or appetite, and the charioteer — pre sumably the one in charge— reason or intellect. Plato shows, however, that “reason” and “virtue” are no match for “passion.” That one way ward horse knows no restraint and will dictate the course of man despite the tight rein and heavy whip of “reason” and the willing response of “virtue.” Later Aristotle relegated these three aspects of the soul to three areas in man and referred to them as three separate souls. “Reason”

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was in the head, “virtue” in the heart or breast of man, and “passion” in the abdomen. Perhaps it was in clear reference to this popular division of the soul that Paul wrote about the enemies of the cross as those, “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly . . Philippians 3:19. But what about faith? The life of faith, as presented in Hebrews 11:1 and following, is actually a life of reason. The word itself, Pistls, not only speaks of “accepting” and “obeying” God’s message for man, faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “substance” and “evidence.” In the Greek language, substance and evidence are often used as legal terms. What a significant illustration—faith in a legal setting! Our acceptance of Christ and obedience to God’s message (faith) guarantees to us all the unseen blessings hoped for in Christ. Faith is taken as a court document that assures us the promise of eternal life before a just God. Further, faith is “evidence.” The word here not only suggests the cold evidence of fact and testimony, but the logical and persuasive presentation of that material before he who is to judge. And note as you read on in Hebrews, there follows a marshalling of case studies to show how this faith was sufficient in God’s court. The courts of that day, though imperfect instruments in the hands of fallible men, still attempted to stand for evidence, analysis, and reasoned decision. The Christian life, I firmly believe, is to be entered and lived with all our new heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). We should not be led by unbridled passion, we ought not to think only of ourselves and what satisfies us. And above all, we must present this dynamic message of salvation to a lost and desperate world. It is time for disillusioned men to think again of Jesus Christ and his gift of the satisfied life.

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Scott Reed is a Christian Education major from San Diego, California.

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Reuben Archer Torrey

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There he was, sure enough, stand ing erect outside the classroom, eagle-eyed, trim white beard, gray suit, winged collar, big watch chain, and Bible and doctrine book under his arm.

PREACH THE WORD

By O. E. SANDEN From DECISION, © 1972 by The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. that the Bible Teaches Temperance for the Individual, State and Na tion." Being then 14, I asked my father if he would give me time out to enter the contest. He gave his consent (for several reasons, I im agine). In a little country church two miles away I found some old Sun day School quarterlies and looked up the temperance lessons. Then I started writing. On completing it I went to town five miles away to seek a typist. Finally I found one who offered to type it for four dol lars—the total amount of my sav ings. My joy was unbounded when Page 9

When I was in my early teens the doctors despaired of my life and felt I needed the invigorating air of the country. Accordingly our family moved from Illinois to southwest Louisiana. One day when my father and I were out working in the field my uncle, who lived down the road, handed me a copy of a temperance paper en titled "The American Issue," pub lished by the Anti-Saloon League. It announced an essay contest that offered a prize of $25 in gold to any boy or girl in the south, un der 15 years of age, who would write the best essay on "Resolved,

several weeks later "The American Issue" announced that I had won first prize. As a result I received one bit of fan mail—a letter from Dr. Reuben A. Torrey of Los Angeles. It read: "I write to congratulate you. You have a real aptitude for Bible study, and when the time comes and you are old enough, I hope you will consider going to a Bible school. I trust you have already accepted Christ as your personal Savior. If you have not yet had this experi ence, I pray that you will." As a high school graduate I won a scholarship to Tulane University. Then, while wor.king in the Texas oil fields in the summer of 1920, I made a study of John 10:9 and a great spiritual experience came to me. It led to a full surrender to Christ and my subsequent call to preach. I felt in my soul that Cod would call me some day into evan gelistic work. With this conviction I boarded the train for Louisiana to tell my parents of the change that had come over me. It was five miles from the depot to our home and I walked, carry ing a heavy suitcase. As I headed down the road doubts began crowding my mind. Could I be mistaken? Where would I go from here? But just as I came to the front gate the rural mail carrier ar rived, bringing a letter addressed to me. The letter was from Dr. Torrey and it read, "My dear Oscar: About four years ago I wrote you a letter in which I stated that when the time came, I hoped you would think about going to a Bible school. By now I trust Christ has become a living Savior to you. We would be

happy if you felt led to come to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles." I could hardly believe my eyes! It seemed as if God himself had timed the letter. In a few days I sold my horse, saddle and bridle for $85 and boarded the Southern Pacific train for Los Angeles. Sev eral weeks later I caught my first glimpse of Dr. Torrey. A fellow stu dent pointed him out to me. There he was, sure enough, standing erect outside the classroom, eagle- eyed, trim white beard, gray suit, winged collar, big watch chain, and Bible and doctrine book under his arm. With the rapid strides of a younger man, he walked down the long aisle to the speaker's stand. The class applauded. He turned, lifted his hand, and with a clear, somewhat metallic voice said, "Let us pray." One day there was a notice in my mailbox. It indicated that I should report to the dean's office. I put on my other shirt, straightened my tie, donned my only coat, and went to the dean's office in fear and trembling. As I entered Dr. Torrey arose and came toward me with extended hand, a smile lighting up his kingly countenance. "You are Oscar Sanden from Louisiana?" "Yes, sir." He asked me questions concerning my spiritual experience and looked over my high school record. "Why did you not proceed to Tulane?" he asked. "Because you invited me to come here," I said. "I want to become an evangelist." He cautioned me against an early decision. "Follow Cod's leading, step by step, and you will find the way," he said. After a short prayer, another handshake and a "God bless you," I was out in the hallway

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once more. But I knew now that I was "in the way." After graduating from the Bible Institute (today known as Biola Col lege) I took some work at North Park College in Chicago, and then in the spring of 1925 I returned south and decided to enroll at Co lumbia Theological Seminary, then located in Columbia, South Caro lina. When I got there my new roommate told me he had just heard Dr. Torrey preaching in Asheville, North Carolina. I wrote Dr. Torrey at once and learned that he was living in Asheville. Then early in 1927 it was announced that he agreed to come to the Univer sity of South Carolina in our city for a series of student meetings. The great crowd filed in at noon and there was a good deal of flip pancy and joking in the audience, especially during the hymn singing. Then Dr. Torrey came to the plat form, and his appearance had its effect. There I saw the same majes tic, serious, impressive man of Cod I had known. He announced his subject, "Why I Believe the Bible to be the Inspired Word of Cod." When he was finished there was prolonged applause. After his lecture I was appointed spokesman to invite Dr. Torrey to the seminary, but he declined. However, he invited me to his hotel room, and that afternoon I called on him. As I entered the room I noted that he was dressed in his Prince Albert coat with white bow tie; but he seemed unusually tired. He was now 70 years old. "Have off your coat," he said. "Put down your books. Have a chair." He had been pacing the floor. I continued to stand. Now he walked up to me, placed a hand on each of my arms, and seemed to

look right through me with those piercing eyes. "Oscar," he said, I have been praying for you and ask ing the Lord what I should say to you. This may be the last time I shall ever see you. I have been thinking about your studies and your work. It is well that you study Hebrew and Greek, but I want you to promise me that you will keep studying the English Bible. And when you get through at seminary I want you to go out and preach the Word." He repeated it firmly, "Preach the Word." Then he raised his voice until I knew people could hear it down the corridor, and I was almost embarrased. "Preach the Word!" That was all. I never did remove my coat, nor did I sit down. He prayed for me, and we said good bye. A year and a half later, in Octo ber, 1928, I boarded the Illinois Central train in Chicago for New Orleans, where I was to preach. As the paper boy came through the train I purchased a copy and my eyes fell on the announcement, "World Famed Evangelist R. A. Tor rey Dead." I was stunned. As I con tinued reading, my vision became blurred with tears. There arose in my mind images of the man I had loved and admired. As the piston rods pounded the steam while the engine sped us over the clicking rails toward our destination, it seemed to me that with every sound I heard them say, "Preach the Word!"

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we go through people's lives and check off what we think is right and what we think is wrong, with often little understanding of the deeper reasons for the action, the human needs and emotions, and limita tions, and the problems that are there which may have prompted these doings. In this play, for ex ample, one of the male characters had a sad marriage, having lost their only child in an auto acci dent, which same accident disfig ured his wife — all this the wife blamed him for bitterly. The wo man with whom he had finally be come involved was also unhappily married. Yes, the plot of the story was based on an immoral conclu sion, but the human drama, the

By MRS. WILLIAM BAKER Reprint from VOICE Magazine, February, 1972 The other night my husband Bill and I watched a TV program, a rather stirring film regarding the tangled lives of four people, and at the end of the program we be gan to be critical and to say, "There was immorality, and there was adultery, and there was sin in the movie from beginning to end —" and then, all of a sudden, we stopped ourselves and thought about these lives as individuals, about the reasons behind the "sin," the unhappiness of those involved, and we realized that we do what so many Christians do — we make a check-list of right and wrong and

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tragedy underlying their day-by- day living, was also portrayed. We are not, of course, to con done sin — neither did Jesus — but so often we don a self-righteous mask, and condemn the sinner along with the sin. Unfortunately one finds that the world is often more understanding and compas sionate than we Christians, the so- called representatives of the Cod of love! We look only at the sin — the black area — rather than the gray areas, the shaded areas of the problems in people's lives which drove them into action that, to them, seemed to be the only way out at the time. The other day I was going to the super-market across the street from

our home and close behind me were three children, walking to school. Even though it was a cold, wintry day, they had no mittens. I knew these youngsters and their mother — I knew her simply as a woman who had had four illegiti mate children, two marriages and divorces and that she was con templating a third marriage. I had thought of her only in that light, pitying, yet despising her weak ness; I had never before thought of her as a mother who was strug gling to provide for her family. Suddenly I realized that this third marriage likely held out hope for her of enough food for the chil dren, for mittens, fruit juices, milk, and toys (for they had very little); Page 13

here was someone who might care for her and the children and help her meet the necessities of life. Then I realized, too, how circum stances had made it almost impos sible for me to empathize with this woman — I would never be in her position since I have a pro fession, nursing, and if the Lord were to call my husband Home to day, I would be working within a week to provide for myself and my little girl; I would never have to make the same choices that this woman has had to make— so how could I possibly judge her? One could point her to Christ, make an effort to help in her material needs, but certainly not condemn and judge her. So then, the question comes — WHY? Why do we condemn and harshly criticize? Is it not because, if we are very honest, we do not really want to get involved with the lives and needs of people, and therefore it is much easier to brush them off with a denouncement of their particular sin or weakness? Getting involved hurts — it may cause us to care, to give a little more, to think; and yet, Jesus said, “Be ye kind — tenderhearted, for giving one another —" Jesus did not condone sin — but when the woman taken in adultery was brought to Him, He did not say, "You are a wicked woman" (she knew that already). He did not shame her in front of the others: what He did say to her was “Neith er do I condemn thee; go and sin no more." Surely this would have convinced her to change her way of living: contact with the loving and forgiving Lord Jesus! There is another family I am thinking of that have problems in the home— it is hard to go to them

because we cannot have a friendly cup of coffee and a light con versation because there are serious problems to be discussed and they expect that we, as their pastor and wife, will have a solution. To talk to them is tiring— it requires that we try to think through their prob lems with them, that we care, and this is not easy. We have all been shocked by the stories in the newspapers from time to time of people who would stand on a street corner and do nothing when someone is public ly attacked, or who would hear screams and not investigate, and when asked why, they simply re ply, “We don't want to get in volved." But we Christians do the same thing! We do not want to get involved, really. Think! What about that one who works next to you, who lives next door or down the street, and one with whom you go shopping — does he (or she) smoke a lot, drink too much, over eat compulsively, speak of illicit affairs, lead a "worldly" life? And how do you react to this? Can this needy one talk to you, or is he afraid of a shocked expression, a prim mouth, a sharp rebuke? Have you ever wondered why the need to do these things in your friend's life? The innert drives and seeking that have their end result in that which we see? What about the long hours of labor with low pay, an insufficient income for a large family, an alcoholic, inconsiderate husband, a negligent, unloving wife, the dreariness of raising a family of children without the sup port of a father, or the difficulties, maybe of seeking employment day after day; the endless application forms, the long lines of people waiting, the polite smile and the

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country, or a short shopping trip? There are needs everywhere. The next time you feel constrained to condemn the prostitute, the alco holic, the unfit mother, the gossip, the drug addict, the neurotic, the compulsive eater, and to jot them down in your little notebook as "wrong," stop and think of the reason for such behavior, then try to be a real friend to this one, trusting Christ to work through you and to love through you. Show him that someone in this miserable world really cares what happens to him and understands a little of his personal misery. Then you may have the joy — and very likely will — of leading him to a knowledge of the One he sees in you. "Do you go to church anywhere?" is indeed a poor substitute for "Let's have a cup of coffee together and get to know one another." So often we feel satisfied that we have done our duty by inquiring as to his church affiliation! There is a song which says "It matters to Him about you"—does it matter to you about them?

familiar "Don't call me, I'll call you"? Do we care enough to make a visit to a home, to invite someone for a cup of coffee just to talk to, to listen most of all to provide the greatest of therapy — just to be able to talk to someone? How much easier it is just to call on the friendly, outgoing person, or to visit those who are cheerful, or who are interested in us, who are of "like mind" religiously or socially! How different— but how rewarding—to spend time with the invalid, the lonely, the depressed, the neurotic, the one whose con versation may not be "stimulating" or "interesting." The Lord said, when you prepare a banquet, invite those who are not able to invite you back; in that way, we are ministering, not recip rocating. May I challenge you, Mr. and Mrs. Christian, to become " in volved" this year, with at least one individual, to put yourself in his place, to really care about his needs and problems; in other words, to do as Jesus said and "Bear ye one another's burdens." There are many ways of doing this, but as to a practical sugges tion — would you give thirty min utes (or even less) a day, to call someone on the phone whom you know to be lonely or ill, and just visit with them — or better yet, to listen to them? It may seem awk ward at first but as God leads you in your choices and also in your conversation, you will be thrilled by the freedom you will acquire. Look around you — the one you see everyday, perhaps has a spe cial need. How about the individ ual without a vehicle that would so much appreciate a ride in the

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PANELDiscussions

Dr. Charles L. Feinberg

Dr. J. Richard Chase

Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland

Q. Marysville, Calif. "Recently I read in the newspaper where ar chaeologists have discovered evi dence that Egyptians were using sophisticated methods of mining and smelting copper in the Negev desert long before King Solomon was supposed to have been there. They claim this find will make it necessary to change the meaning of the Bible. Would you comment on this?" A. We should be cautious about newspaper articles that are suppo sitions rather than actually being verified. The scientists should first of all have recognized credentials for any authoritative reports. So often this is not the case. There have been no discoveries made at anytime, whether in the Negev or in other places, which would make

it necessary to change what the Bible teaches. Recognized scholars who have worked extensively in the area about which you have asked hold views distinctly con trary to what these news reports indicate. In a century of archaeo logical research not one single find has been turned up that in any way invalidates any direct state ment of the Scriptures. Q. Walnut Creek, Calif. "If Jesus was tempted as we are, why does not Scripture speak of Him as be ing tempted sexually? It seems to me that this is one of man's great est problems. As a matter of fact, how does a Christian deal with this type of sin in his life?" A. In the sight of Cod there is no gradation of sin. One is just as

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heinous as the other. Gossip, as an example, can be considered as much of a blight as the sin of adul tery. Christ can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (He brews 4:15). It does not matter in which way the enticement came, He was without sin. As far as the immoral thoughts with which one is tempted, it is little wonder due to the growing looseness in matters concerning sexual attractions. It is absolutely shameful the way people are ex ploiting this entire matter. God re minds us that it is one thing we ought not to talk about when He says, "Let this not be mentioned among you." Let us keep our minds on that which is pure (Philippians 4:8). As with any kind of sin this must be dealt with on a moment- to-moment basis. You cannot ex pect to have victory all the week with one simple prayer on Sunday. It requires victory through the in dwelling presence of the Holy Spir it. Our minds are to be fixed on things above and not on things physical from the earth. If you are an older person, pray for our young people that they may be kept pure and holy. Q. Perris, Calif. "Why are there no apostles in the church today?" A. Some of the cults and sects erroneously claim that there are. First of all, the Bible tells us that a true apostle had to have seen personally the risen Christ (Acts 1:21, 22). This was true, too, with Paul, who met the Lord on the road to Damascus. He was given this special authority by the Sav iour (I Corinthians 9:1). Certainly there is no one living today who has companied with our Lord Je sus, living from the day of His res

urrection until this moment. It is an absolute physical impossibility. Apostles, therefore, ended with the first century. Q. Perris, Calif. ’"What is the word 'that' referring to in I Corinthians 13:10, 'But when that which is per fect is come then that which is in part shall be done away." A. We believe it has reference to the complete Word of God in its entire canonical inspiration. When Paul wrote this letter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word had not been completed. Only a portion of the New Testament was finished. Q. Seattle, Wash. "In I John 5:16, regarding the sin unto death, why is it that the Apostle does not rec ommend praying for the individ ual?" A. The secret is found in the mean ing of the words, "sin unto death." This involves not just any sin. It is a transgression which issues in ac tual physical expiration. The con text reveals the Spirit speaking about the strong assurance we have in knowing that when we pray God hears us (5:14). First of all, the use of the word "brother" (vs. 16) indicates that this is com mitted by a Christian. When Jere miah saw Israel deep in sin he wanted to pray for them. God told him that they had sinned away too many opportunities of His grace and mercy. Cod's patience and longsuffering had been exhausted. They had forfeited the opportunity of life itself. Because they had op posed His will there was no pur pose of their being on earth at all. Someone has facetiously said, "If you do the will of the Lord, He will Page 17

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take you home and crown you. If you do not, He will crown you and take you home." This refers to the sin unto death. We should not consider every premature death of a Christian as being caused by this. We must realize that though we are saved eternally, we are nev er beyond the reach of a sover eign God. He is a disciplinarian. While we receive His love, yet we are to respond in obedience. Q. San Jose, Calif. "In II Timothy 3:5 Paul warns us to turn away from men having a form of godli ness but denying the power there of. What do you think this verse means in the context of current world and church activities?" A. It goes without saying that there is a great deal of apostasy in the organized church and denomina tional circles today. This has been prophesied in the Bible in such passages as II Thessalonians 2:3; II Timothy 3:1-5; and the book of Jude. The basic things which are denied include the inerrancy of Scripture, the virgin birth, Christ's miracles, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His bodily resurrec tion. Add to this a lack of concern for His coming again. There is sim ply an empty profession, rather than any true possession of eternal life. It is merely "church-ianity" rather than Christianity. We are warned, "From such turn away." Q. Ferndale, Wash. "Why did Paul go to Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit warned him not to (Acts 21)? Also, why did he take the advice of men to join the four who had taken a vow?"

Night view of Sutherland Hall

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believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." Q. Sheridan, Ore. "I know that sin breaks fellowship with God and that He wants us to confess our iniquities to Him, and then, rely ing upon Him for strength, to be able to forsake the problem. Still, I do not understand how God can forgive all sins at the cross, but yet be presently forgiving my sins." A. First of all, sin does absolutely break fellowship with God (I John 1:7-9). When a believer has un confessed sin in his life the in dwelling Spirit is still there for He has promised never to leave or for sake us. Keep in mind, He is the HOLY Spirit, and there can be no communion with unrighteousness. This is why the Holy Spirit can be grieved. The Christian in such a condition has lost power for wit ness, joy in effectiveness, and so much more that the Lord has for him. He may even lose the assur ance of his salvation, although it can never actually be taken from him. There are two phases to for giveness. First it is positional and then it is experiential. The mo ment we are saved, we are actually made sons and daughters of God. After that, when we live out of fel lowship we cannot realize the full potential of our blessed relation ship (I Corinthians 6:17, Ephesians 1:7). When Christ died for our sins, every one of them was future. This positional forgiveness therefore is eternal. The other phase of it might be illustrated by a child who, when he sins, is not disowned, but must be disciplined. This is what is in volved here. Q. Whittier, Calif. "Does Revela tion 1:13-16 describe Christ?"

A. The reason he went to Jerusa lem was because of his deep love for his own people (Romans 9:1-5). It could have been that he did not credit the counsel received as com ing definitely from the Spirit. We do not dwell on the so-called errors of the worthy ones in the Word of God. The Bible is such a truthful work that it tells about the shortcomings and failures even of its greatest characters. Look at Ab raham and Moses. Consider David and Elijah. These are to name but a few. How marvelously our Lord Jesus Christ stands out in oppposi- tion to all this. In Him was perfec tion; no sin whatsoever. Let us allow these absolute principles to be applied to our own lives, allow ing men like the Apostle Paul to be in the wonderful, gracious hands of God. Remember, no apostle was perfect, nor is any saint today. On ly the Lord Jesus Christ is perfect and without sin. Q. Buhler, Kan. "In John 11 did Mary and Martha believe and ex pect Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead when He came to their home?" A. There are those who have ar gued effectively on both sides of that question. As you study the chapter it appears that Martha be lieved perhaps the Lord could have done it, but she did not believe that He would do it. On the other hand, Mary seems to have had no question about the matter (vs. 32). When you get right down to it, Jesus was not actually doing Lazar us any favor in bringing him back to life. After a time he had to die all over again. That must have been some experience! All of this was another sign, as John puts it, "These things are written that ye might

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A. Yes, and without question it is one of the most thrilling passages describing His matchless person. It is perhaps the best picture you will find of Him in the entire Bible. While He is vastly, infinitely more glorious than this, human language fails to convey the full meaning. Q. Porterville, Calif. "What is the difference between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace? Did Paul preach only the latter? Which one will be used dur ing the Tribulation?" A. Since Gospel means "good news" it is all "grace." In Matthew 9:35 we find our Lord teaching and preaching "the gospel of the king dom." That is because He had not as yet died and been resurrected. He was rightly telling them that the King was at hand. It is the same YOU Can Receive

message John the Baptist pro claimed. The ten were also sent out with the same truth. So, in es sence, the gospel of grace points out that all of God's redemptive work is now finished. It all revolves around three focal points. It con cerns a Person, the Christ of the Scripture; His death which was for our sins according to the Scripture; and His bodily ascension into heaven. As to preaching during the Trib ulation, keep in mind that anytime a soul is saved it has to be through God's matchless grace. In the strict sense, however, that is not the preaching of "the gospel of grace." In that day it will be the everlasting gospel. People will be warned to get ready for the King will be com ing. It will be a counterpart to the truths John the Baptist proclaimed.

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Both the gospel of grace and the gospel of the kingdom are em bedded and founded in God's love and mercy. It always requires the answer of personal faith by indi viduals. Q. Junction City, Kan. "Were Mary and Joseph married at the time of Christ's birth, or were they just en gaged as a number of translations indicate? What does the word 'es poused' mean?'' A. Look at Matthew 1:18 for this reference as the term literally means "to ask in marriage," "to become engaged." Matthew 1:24 shows that by the time of the birth of Christ Joseph and Mary were married. It was when they were engaged, before they had come together, that she was "found with child by the Holy Ghost."

Q. Los Angeles, Calif. "Is the Song ‘ of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 prophecy?" A. Yes, even as is the longer proph ecy in the 33rd chapter. Here Moses is blessing the tribes with appro priate warnings. It is sad that Israel did not listen carefully to these words of divine caution and con cern. Q. San Clemente, Calif. "What should we do with the phrase 'faith without works is dead' and the concept also found in Scripture 'work out your own salvation'?" A. We should accept both, for there is really no contradiction between James 2:26 and Philippians 2:12. It was Biola's first dean, Dr. R. A. Tor- rey, who used to say, "We are saved by faith without works, but

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we are not saved by a faith that does not work." The faith James speaks of is simply head-knowl edge. It is profession without pos session. James and Paul are abso lutely together because they were both equally inspired by the Holy Spirit. Abraham's faith worked when he was willing to offer Isaac upon the altar of sacrifice (James 2 : 20 ). As to the passage in Philippians

2:12, too many people stop with that verse and miss the whole point. Notice the next, "For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." When we put our faith in God, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives to per form His perfect will in and through us. The fruit of the Spirit is worked out in the salvation which He has worked. It is still all the same gos pel of grace.

Students making use of the listening room in Crowell Hall.

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ROMANS

state, man thinks he knows best. His nature is to refuse to acknowl edge that the Lord has a hand in the affairs of men, or that He has revealed Himself to us. How often have apostates tried to discount the miracles of Christ. Such false teachers deny that God can do something man is unable to achieve or even to understand. In Romans 1:20 we see how the Almighty has shown Himself in each phase of creation. Yet, how few today will look at the universe and see the marvels of His eternal glory. The human body is another example of the miraculous power demonstrated by God. Man is against giving God thanks because in so doing he would have to ad mit that the Lord had given us something that we were not able

One of the most challenging and exciting books in the Bible is the epistle to the Romans. Paul wrote it, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to help a church understand its mission (1:11, 12). We must es tablish man's need and then learn what Cod has done about it (vs. 16). The Lord expects that we, de sirous of serving Him, will follow the pathway of submission, dedica tion and transformation (12:1, 2). Have you ever asked yourself, "How does God look at man?" The first two chapters of Romans shows that at best the human race is liv ing a life of rebellion against Him. Because of this we see clearly the wrath and condemnation of God (1:18). There are those who would restrict the advance of the truth, rebelling against Him. In his sinful

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By DR. GLENN O'NEAL

to attain by ourselves. Paul says explicity, “their foolish heart was darkened," "they became vain in their imaginations," "they became fools." Instead of seeing man grad ually improving himself, he has rather gone down deeper into the dregs of sin and wickedness. The verdict of judgment has al ready been pronounced (1:24, 26, 28). Read these verses and see some of the darkest words in all of Scripture. It is plainly stated, "Cod gave them up!" When man rebels against the Lord he is turned loose only to find destruction and devas tation to be complete. The picture at Rome as well as what we see taking place in America today does not seem to be much different. All manner of evil comes as a result of man turning away from the Lord's

influence in his life (1:29). Read that black list of dire consequences. You will think you are reading sec tion one of your local newspaper! Cod sees man, living a life of rebellion and estrangement. Chap ter two shows that, without Christ, we face the judgment of the Lord. No one can escape for we are all guilty of the same things. Be cause man is able to recognize what God wants, he is literally con demning himself (John 3:18, 19). The Lord judges according to His truth whether man will accept the truth or not. We are like the fellow who was up before the judge for stealing. The magistrate said, "Do you prom ise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" The fellow Page 25

thought for a moment and replied, "Your honor, under those condi tions, I have nothing to say!" Like wise we have not a leg to stand on for our own defense, apart from the righteousness of Christ. Each individual is given the choice of what he is going to treasure up in his heart (vs. 5). It will either be wrath, or glory, honor and peace (vs. 10). "There is no respect of persons with Cod." No one is going to es cape because of his riches, position, education or anything else that he might think would commend him. The Saviour will make all the ap praisals (vs. 16). Today's computers may know a great deal about us but cybernetics is not something new to Cod. He has all the infor mation, and He has it correctly and unmistakably recorded. We are go ing to be judged according to "the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." There is only one basis of escape. It is the transforming work dis played in the power of the Gospel (1:16). Even though the picture in Ro mans One and Two is not beautiful, we can still see the tremendous value placed on a soul by the Lord. He counts us as having great po tential because Jesus Christ came into this world for the purpose of bringing man back into fellowship with Cod. By faith in the Saviour, we can come into fellowship with Him and be transformed. See your self as does the Creator. He loves you and wants to use you for His glory. More than this, He desires to have your fellowship with Him now, and throughout all eternity. Have you turned your life over to His Son, our Saviour, by faith? If not, do so today without delay! Page 26

guilty of all. The affirmation re minds us that "the soul that sin- i neth, it shall die." We might also I liken it to a person trying to jump across the Pacific Ocean. What dif ference does it make if it is the world's greatest broad-jumper or one who may be severely crippled with arthritis? Neither one could get anywhere nearly across. What difference would it make whether you jumped 25 feet or only three? Someone may say, "I don't have a lot of bad sins." The point is he still falls far short of Cod's stand ard of righteousness (Roman 3:22). Yet, Cod in His love and grace a has made provision for us (3:22, fl 24). On the basis of the righteous- | ness of Christ, and that He died for us, the Lord is able to declare us i j free from the judgment of sin. This salvation is His free gift. It cannot 1 be worked for or purchased at any price. We are justified freely which ij means to be declared completely 1 righteous. This entire transaction occurs because of grace which means "Cod's unmerited favor." Redemption is the price which has to be paid to bring something back to ownership. If someone were unfortunately kidnapped we hear of the redemption price or the ransom. Under the judgment of Cod, because of sin, Christ paid the price to bring us back to Him. The cost was His own precious blood. Because of this we are able to sing with the hymn writer, "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling!" Such a testimony strikes at the proud heart of man. He has to ad mit that he cannot provide salva tion himself. It is all a work of Jesus Christ. The fifth chapter shows us the means of entering fully into the l J

JUDGMENT Even though the judgment of Cod may be suppressed in many people's minds, it is interesting to note how many times, when peo ple are in danger, they pray. On the Titanic they sang, "Nearer My Cod to Thee" as the ship was sink ing. A lot of individuals have fig ured up all kinds of excuses by which they think they can escape facing the Lord. Sincerity seems to rank high on the list of reasons used to merit the Almighty's favor. They feel He will overlook any little inconsistencies in life. "The Gold en Rule" is the catch-all they seek to follow in avoidance of condem nation. All such is nothing more than the folly of "whistling past the graveyard" of Cod's final asize. There must be a final place of ac countability for sin. It will either be on Calvary's cross when we ac cept Christ, or at the final Great White Throne Judgment. The Bible has the answer to con quering any fear of judgment. There is definite assurance of peace with God. The first step is to realize our hopeless condition. Romans 3:19 and 20 show the absurd effort of someone seeking deliverance from his sins by being good. As the Apostle points out, all the world is guilty before God. It is a sad and hopeless person who is trying to make it to heaven by being good. Assurance will never be his posses sion. Such has been compared to keeping all the traffic laws. Have you ever seen a policeman in your rear view mirror and instinctively looked at your speedometer? This is the reaction of a person who is trying, by keeping the law, to be good enough to be saved. The Bible reminds us that if we break one point of the law we are

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desires to bring us to the place where we will serve Him wholly in response to His grace and love. While the sixth chapter shows us the right way to attain a life of righteousness, the seventh is just the opposite. The newness of the redeemed life is the fact that God has placed His Holy Spirit in our lives. He causes us to want to serve the Lord. Such is the attitude that should be developed. The law does not deliver us from sin; it rather points out our iniquity. Law is not the means of attaining righteous ness before God. It simply points out our wickedness and the fact that we need the Lord. Salvation is entirely something that we are unable to provide for ourselves. As a matter of fact, un der the law there is no incentive or power to maintain a standard of righteousness before God. Paul had to testify, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." In actuality he discov ered that the good that he wanted to do, he was unable to achieve, while the evil that he wanted to shun he finally embraced. With his soul in anguish he cried out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" What despair and frustra tion to have to face. With such feeble weakness how could any one attain to the standard God de sires. The answer to this sad picture is given in the joyous assertation, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (7:25). We are told that "sin shall not have dominion over you" (6:14). We are not under the law; we are under grace. The Bible teaches us that to understand prop erly grace is the way to be released from the dominion of sin. Page 29

provision which the Lord has made. After admitting that we are help less, we see Cod's provision and His desire that we enter fully into the results of this eternal transac tion. The battle is over and we can enjoy peace with God in perfect fellowship with Him. Verse two suggests that we can look for bet ter things ahead entering fully into His plan for us both for the pres ent as well as for the expectation of the future when He comes back again to reign. We are brought in to a place of rejojcing in all of the things God has done for us. Our challenge to you is that you might receive Him by faith, with all of His benefits, rejoicing in His pro visions of declaring you righteous freely. Rejoice in the wonderful privilege you have to know Christ and to live for Him each day. VICTORY Every parent at some time or other has experienced the problem with his child in motivation. It seems that among the first words youngsters learn is the self-agran- dizing term, "mine!" There is a basic nature that seeks to please only the individual. There are two ways of making the child conform. The first is by force while the other is through love. While the latter is always our goal it may not always be attainable. So, God could force us to serve Him, but rather He has graciously given us a free will so that we can obey Him more prop erly out of love. The question of Romans 6:1 asks whether such a view would urge a continuance in sin so that God might be glorified all the more. Paul points out that such fallacious reasoning is nothing more than folly. This is not God's purpose. He

Top Row: (I. to r.) Owen Chamberlin, Cary Radmacher, Lory Potts. Middle: Marcia Carpenter, Sherrill Hennings, Anita Haakonson, Terry Peck, Dennis Fishcher, Lou Ann Page 30

BIOLA COLLEGE GHANA TEAM These students will spend a summer sharing God's Word in the public schools of Ghana. Under the sponsorship of the Sudan Interior Mission, the Biola team will teach the Bible in classes and assemblies.

Bergan, Lynette Landfear, Loren Baker, Sharon Monroe, Bill Claussen. Front: Dennis Thompson, Steve Vanderbilt. Page 31

the pole, he hung on with one hand while trying to work with the other. The foreman below wisely offered, "Why don't you lean back on the strap so you can work with both hands?" This is what God wants us to do. We are to rest wholly upon Him in confidence. His grace will keep us. While we do not go off and live as we please, we come to Him in assurance and victory. You see, God has made provision not only to take away the penalty of sin but also He has giv en us the incentive by which we can live above the sin of this world, experiencing victory through Jesus Christ. ASSURANCE In climaxing the provision of assurance for our salvation we find many blessed truths in Romans 8. The first thing to remember is that wonderful assurance that Cod for gives sin (vs. 1). Think of no more condemnation or judgment. The highest authority for the knowl edge that our sin penalty is taken away comes from the very fact of our Saviour's substitutionary death (vs. 33-34). When the Supreme Court makes a ruling on something about which the lower courts have had a dis pute, theirs is the final word. So it is with the God of heaven. His is the final court of appeal. No one can argue when He passes the ver dict. What more could we ask than to hear Him say, "Your sins have been forgiven if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ." We are automatically declared righteous. The fact that Christ rose from the grave is the guarantee for us all that the Saviour has the power to forgive us for our sins. He is now at the right hand of God making

Romans 6:3 asks, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were bap tized into Jesus Christ were bap tized into his death." There must be a proper recognition of what it means to be immersed into the death of the Saviour. He not only bore the sin penalty as He died for us, but He took the ability of sin to reign over us. The old nature has no right to exert its influence anymore. At the cross that doom was sealed. Even so, just as we were identified with Christ's death, we also rose from the grave with Him. This same power ought to be operating in our lives each day. There is no cause for defeat when one has responded properly to these aspects of our Lord's min istry. Have you ever watched a cater pillar or a bug going across the grass? You may have put your fin ger on it. Immediately it rolls up into a ball. There is no more move ment at all. It has made itself to appear dead. This is its instinctive protection. So it is with the child of Cod. We are to reckon, or to consider, ourselves dead to sin. Did you ever stop to realize what a privilege we have of yielding our lives into the hands of Cod? The word "yield" is used frequently to show that we are to commit all our members, body, mind, tongue, hands, and every part of us to Cod. The Lord wants every part of our being to be used for Him (6:13). We are to yield ourselves to obedi ence and unto righteousness (6:19). I had a friend who hired out as a telephone lineman. Since he had not had much experience his boss watched him closely as he climbed the pole. He did not have much confidence in the strap that held him up. As he fixed the wire on

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