JUNE, 1963 (with May Radio Program Features) Published for Fellowship Members
TheBibleIistititelour CALIFORNIA Bakersfield-Wasco KÀFY 550
I P X . A . broadcaster Monthly Publication o f the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP Vol. 3 No. 6 JUNE, 1963 CONTENTS CHRISTIAN S AN D C A R S ........... 3 BIBLE HARDWARE .................. 5 COAL ................................ .. 7 TUESDAY-THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY ...................... 10 PANEL DISCUSSIONS .............:~13 NATURE'S TESTIMONY ............17 DEFENSE .................. _ ...........20 LIFE'S BEST CLOTHING ............26 SOAP ..................................... 27 GOD'S SCHOOL FOR A N IM A L S ....28 BIBLE BEDSTEADS ........ 30 HAIRCUTS A N D SCRIPTURAL LESSONS ............................ 31 COVER: Biola students gather for a briefing on Gospel team activities. Young people in the back row (left to right) are Pat Hood, Nancy Las siter, George Jones, Dorothy Boehmer, Linda McCorkel; (front row) Jim A l len, Ken Flurry, and Paul Poelstra.
7:30 A.M. Sun. 9:30 A.M. MTWTF
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1440
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790 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 790 3:00 A.M. MTWTF 1350 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 630 8:30 A.M. MWF 800 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF _____
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STAFF President............... S. H. Sutherland Editor..........' jjT f ...AI Sanders Production ...........Virginia Schwepker Printing .....................Church Press Published monthly by the Radio Dept. BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 558 S. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Cal. Controlled circulation postage paid at Los Angeles, California.
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CHRISTIANS AND CARS I
3 K M
by Dr. Walter L. Wilson
H ave you ever thought of f compar ing an automobile to the Chris tian? A car is not self-made; it didn’t just happen. It is not a product of nature and it doesn’t grow on trees. So the Christian is not a self-made product. The Holy Spirit has con vinced him of his wreck and ruin and need of the new birth. Christ Jesus transformed him by the saving power of His Word. Now, the automobile is made for service. It isn’t just an orna
ment for show purposes. It has a def inite duty to perform and it must do it well. So the Christian, transformed by the power of God, can be of service in the harvest fields of earth for the glory of his Master. The automobile cannot guide itself, it must have an intelligent hand on the wheel. The one who guides it, must not be under the influence of any evil spirits found in bottles; he must not be (continued on next page)
While gasoline is necessary in the tank, oil is necessary throughout the car. The car would soon bum itself out if there was no oil in the engine. Oil is another picture of the Holy Spirit. He makes things run smoothly when there is danger of friction. He makes it possible to operate with heavy loads and great burdens, without the engine heating up. There must be cushions in the car for comfort. Who wants' to ride on a hard-board seat. Our Lord calls Him self the God of all comfort. He not only would have us as soldiers serving Him on the battlefield, but He would have us comfortable, enjoying sweet peace in the heart and the comfort of the Holy Spirit in our souls. No manufacturer would make a car without lights. Driving in the night re quires sufficient light to avoid dangers. We Christians are traveling through a dark world. The Son of Righteousness is the One who will guide and direct and the Holy Spirit is the Light of life as well. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. There must also be a cooling system. Let the living water of the Holy Spirit flow through your soul that you may operate well. One time a woman came up to me and said, “Dr. Wilson, you don’t have the right kind of power in your preaching. You ought to have more power and more noise.” Well, I knew I didn’t have as much power as I should. Every Christian has felt that way. But I said to her very quietly, and confidently, “Lady, whenever you buy an automobile again, you get the one that makes the most noise because that’s proof that the engine has the most power. The noisier it is, the more push it has.” She looked rather sur prised and bewildered. I continued, “You know, when the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus, He descended like a dove.” She turned and walked away. Noise and perspiration do not beget inspiration. Excitement and gestures all over the platform do not mean the power of God is there. Let us depend on the quiet Holy Spirit of God, the One who said, “Study to be quiet.” 4
Christians and Cars (continued) asleep. The Christian must be guided, too. He cannot direct his own steps or lay out his own path. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). When the Spirit is at the wheel, the duty will be well done and the road will be safely traversed. Have you ever turned your life over to the Spirit of God? The car may be beautifully painted, splendidly upholstered, equipped with new tires, and still make no progress. Maybe there is no gasoline in the tank. Our blessed Lord told His disci ples, “Tarry ye in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Many of the Lord’s peo ple are trying to operate without pow er. They may love the Lord Jesus but they are strangers to that blessed Spirit of Christ who alone can endue with power and endow for service. Their Christian activity is a drag; they are weary in the Lord’s work. Oh, that God’s people would take time to go to the filling station, the Throne of Grace, and give the Holy Spirit an opportuni ty to work in their lives. Even though the tank may be filled with gasoline, still the car may not operate. The engine may not turn over for the battery is down. There are those among God’s people who are clear on the doctrine of the Holy Spir it. They can quote the Scripture but there is no power in their lives. They know the theory but do not see the theory operating in the realm of their own experience. The Holy Spirit builds a fire in the boiler of the soul. For a car, the spark ignites the gas and ex plodes with power in the cylinder. Have you had any explosions in your experience? Do you know the blessing of this limitless power manifested in the working of the Holy Spirit? Chris tianity is a going concern. An automobile would not be safe with plenty of power but no brakes. Not only does it need power to go but it needs power to stop. The Christian must not run riot on any subject; he must not go to seed on any truth.
H ave you ever stopped to realize how many different kinds of hard ware are mentioned in the Bible? The blessed Holy Spirit has put them there for our spiritual profit. Take, for in stance, hinges. In 1st Kings the hinges of Solomon’s temple are described, tell ing us that they were made of gold. Whoever heard of gold hinges today? Solomon had these hundreds of years before our 'Lord Jesus Christ. The Bi ble doesn’t use space carelessly. Notice that the hinges on the outer doors were of gold as well as the ones on the inner doors. This necessary piece of hard ware speaks of motion, activity, use fulness, and serviceability. Our out ward actions, as well as our inward motions, should be pure in God’s sight. All the motives that pass within our life, in private or in public, should be golden before both men and God. In Proverbs 26:14 we read, “As the door turns upon its hinges, so doth the soul of man upon his bed.” In this case hinges represent the activity (or the inactivity) of the lazy man. This per son has no goal, no aim, no object in life. He is only satisfied with his own comfort and his own peace. He under takes nothing for God and nothing for man. He is like the door swinging and swinging but remaining in its place of uselessness and obscurity. God help us from being like that. Then consider nails which are only small pieces of hardware. They do play an important part in civilization. How
could anyone build a house without nails? The first nail mentioned in the Bible is Judges 4:21. It was used by a woman named Jael. With it she killed Sisera who was called Israel’s great enemy. Equipped with a nail and ham mer in her hand, she fastened this ene my and wicked king to the ground by driving a nail through his temple. So, a very small thing in the hand of an obscure person may accomplish far- reaching results. The last nail mentioned in the Bible was used by a Roman soldier. It was used to crucify Israel’s best friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. God has graciously hidden those nails lest they should be come objects of worship. The nail was a small thing in the eyes of men, yet it accomplished tremendous results for the souls of men. In Colossians 2:14 we read that the evidences of the believ er’s sins were nailed to the cross by God Himself. Then we read about nails in Solo mon’s temple (H Chronicles 8:9). Their value is computed to have been $1,454,- 250.00. God knows the value of even these little insignificant things used in the temple. The little things in your life may be gold which the Lord can use for His glory. He gives careful scrutiny to every little detail of our lives. Nails were hidden from sight in the temple, covered with plates of gold and with gems of beauty. But the Lord sees beneath the surface and (continued on next page) 5
SAN DIEGO RADIO BEGINS
Bible Hardware (continued) notes the values of them.
Then there are the keys of the king dom. These were given to Peter by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 17:19. But mark you well, He never gave them to any body else! Peter didn’t have any suc cessor to whom he could give those keys. The word “keys” is in the plural since there were two. The first was the Gospel which Peter preached to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, permit ting their entrance into the kingdom of God. The other was the Gospel preached to the Gentiles in Cornelius home. Faith was the only requisite for the remission of sins (Acts 10:43). It should be carefully noted that Christ did not give Peter the keys to heaven nor the keys to hell. Our Lord alone has these keys; He has never given them to any other person (Revelation 1:18), The Saviour alone is the im partial judge. Each of us, however, has the blessed Gospel key which we preach. As we use it, it will open the door for many a lost man or woman to find peace, joy and eternal salvation. There there is a very strange lock mentioned. It’s a perfumed one (Song of Solomon 5:5). We like perfume on garments, handkerchiefs or persons, but whoever heard of putting perfume on a lock of a door? But look at it this way; when the Holy Spirit closes the door before us, we give a hearty “amen” and thank Him for the sweetness and fragrance of a closed door. Paul found it so in Acts 16:6, 7. Nehemiah recorded that he put locks on the gates. Yet, thank God the door to heaven is still open. There are many locks, each one representing our won derful Lord Jesus in His many different aspects. Some come to Him as the Lord of life, others as the Saviour of the soul. Some come to Him as their Redeemer, others as the Life Giver. Some trust Him as their Lover, others as their Sacrifice. Some find in Him a Resting Place, others come for forgiveness. He is the Advocate, the Intercessor, thè Mediator, the High Priest. Beloved, you come to Him, too! Come while the door is open; enter while you may.
Mr. Dave Crane, Biola graduate, and Trini dad radio missionary throws KBBW power switch.
Transmitter building and tower portion.
Dr. T. Myron Webb, founder-director of “The Bible fellowship Hour” looks on as his associate, Victor Ives is shown automatic equipment by KBBW manager Phill Butler (right). 6
£ > i ^ \frr$ fcr \ IIÍ9 f C O A L by Dr- Walter L. Wilson
W hen ev er you see a pile of coal, take off your hat, bow your head and worship God for His loving kind ness. The Lord knew that we would have cold winters so He provided the coal before we needed it. The fact that He provided it at all is answerable proof that He loves and cares for us. He made the winters but He provided for our comfort in the midst of them. He hid the coal in the ground where it could not be wasted and then gave men the needed knowledge and power with which to find it. Coal lies dormant and useless until the magic touch of man realizes these potential possibilities. Your life, too, must be in the hands of One who is able to bring out all of the best in your life with all of its possibilities. Only the Holy Spirit can do this (Roman 12:1). In order for coal to impart its power to us it must lose its own identity. If it gives heat, it must be burned. If it is to impart power, it must be thrown into the furnace. If it is to radiate light, it must be set on fire. Nothing can save itself and still be a blessing to others. Christ laid down His life that the believer might have eternal life. From coal we obtain medicines, col ors or dyes, perfumes, acids, gases, water proofing materials and ink for writing purposes. What a miracle that God should take black, insoluble, taste- les, odorless carbon, and by His magic touch turn it into such things as brilliant diamonds. Man with all his wisdom could never have devised a piece of coal. We should do as the prophet said, “Declare among the peo ple his doings.” Some coal is soft, and some is hard.
The hard may be used where soft can not. Even so with Christians. Some of God’s people are very soft in their hearts and are easily set afire for the One they love. Others ignite more slow ly and yet may bum with intense heat. May the Lord of glory have the right to each life that He may make of it what He will. Coal contains within itself tremendous power to produce power. So the Lord picks up men, saves them, endows them with wonderful gifts and endues them with His Spirit of love. The potential possibilities of a saved man are wonderful. Let the chief BE OF GOOD COURAGE I know not what the days may bring; Tomorrow waits unknown; But this I know— the changeless Christ, M y Lord, is on the throne. I know not where my path may lead, How dark or rough the way; But this I know— with Him I'm safe, He holds— I cannot stay. I know not what my joys may be, What tears may silent fall; But this I know— not fate unkind. But wisdom measures all. I know not as I voyage forth. What storms will menace, dark; But this I know— He calmed the sea, So, trustful, I embark. I know not when life's day will close, As twilight darker falls; But this I know — I fear no night. I'll answer when He calls. Chemist accomplish His wonderful purposes in you. People may not think much of you, but the Great Heavenly Chemist does.
parables and pearls (AS FEATURED OVER "THE BIOLA HOUR"
salvation; it is fu ll and complete, lack ing nothing. What human hands could dare touch that which God has perfect ly wrought? But while we can’t im prove on the product, we certainly can do something about the containers, our human lives. We should be fit vessels, meet for the Master’s use. May we fol low the exhortation of Paul as he de clared, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and ac ceptable, and perfect, w ill of God” (Romans 12:2). A PHILOSOPHY OF THE TWO COWS These are days of struggle between ideologies. Suppose we try to define the philosophies and systems of gov ernment seen in the past few decades using two cows by way of illustration. It would follow then that Fascism is where a person has two cows, the gov ernment takes both and sells him the milk. Nazism meant a person might have had two cows, the government would take both and shoot the indi vidual (especially if he happened to be a Jew). Socialism would mean if you have two cows, your neighbor might come along and claim one. But his cow would die, so he would insist on you sharing your m ilk w ith him. Some of our own government spending in dicates the philosophy that if you have two cows, the government takes both, ships one to a communist bloc nation, milks the other and throws the milk away. Or perhaps, if taxes continue to spiral, you might have to borrow mon ey on your cows to pay your taxes, but you would probably have so little left there would be no money to feed them. (The tax money had gone to buy gold 8
HOW TO KILL THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
First, never attend the opening ex ercises, or, if you do come, make sure you are always late. Second, when you come, be sure to talk to the person next to you finding fault w ith what is being done by the superintendent or leader. Third, never accept an office in the Sunday School but be ready rather to criticise others who obviously don’t have as much talent as you do. F o u r th if you are ever asked to give an opinion on some important matter insist that you have nothing to say, but afterwards say everything you can to anyone else and complain that they didn’t really want your ideas. Fifth, do as little as possible but when others roll up their sleeves to go to work, complain that everything is being run by a clique. Sixth, don’t worry about getting new people to attend Sunday School or see ing boys and girls saved and parents brought to church. After all, that is what you are paying the pastor to do. Have you ever known anyone who seemed to be trying to kill the Sunday School? God help us to be more faith fu l to His high and holy calling day by day. * * * There'« a lot to be said for the fel low who doesn't «ay it himself. * * * NEW SOAP ADVERTISEMENT It is interesting how various products are promoted. One soap manufacturer seemed to reach the ultimate. Running out of superlatives, he devised this no vel and compelling manner of adver tising. His company’s pronouncements were, “Since we couldn’t improve our product, we decided to improve the box.” There is a valuable spiritual lesson here. We can’t improve on God’s great
beds for African queens.) Going fur ther, Communism might be defined as the system where you have two cows, the government takes the m ilk and gives it to its communist bosses and lets you clean up the barn. Contrary, and ideally, Capitalism is where you , have two cows, you sell the milk, buy a bull and raise a herd. But let us try this same illustration as a means to define Christianity. The Lord bless es you with the ownership of two cows. You remember your duty to God and man. You dispense your income, build up your herd and use your profits to send the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ to the darkened corners of this world. “There is that scattereth, and yet in- creaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be wa tered also hitnself’ (Proverbs 11:24, 25). Don't wait to see what happens but, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, take hold and make it happen. * * * WHAT IS CHRIST TO YOU? Regardless of your place in life, to each one Christ brings complete fu lfill ment. To the artist, the Saviour is the Altogether Lovely One; to the archi tect He is the Chief Cornerstone; to the baker He is the Living Bread; to the builder, He is the Sure Foundation; to the doctor He is the Great Physician; to the farmer, He is the Lord of the Harvest; to the geologist, He is the Rock of Ages; to the jurist, He is the Righteous Judge; to the jeweler, He is the Pearl of Great Price; to the news paper man, He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy; to the oculist, He is the Light of the World; to the philosopher, He is the Wisdom of God; to the preacher, He is the Word of God; to the sculptor, He is the Living Stone; and more than anything else, to the sinner, He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. To the Chris tian He becomes the Author and Fin isher of our faith, the Son of the Living God, our Saviour, Redeemer and lord!
STUDENT TRIO FEATURED ON BIOLA RADIO BROADCASTS
From left to right, Biola students Sharon Warkentin, Bob Hilts and Charlene Altig are featured in Musical Biolans Gospel team. "The Christian's armour will rust except it is burnished with the oil of prayer." * * ★ THE SUNKEN TREASURE Many years ago the Empress. of Ire land was lost in a St. Lawrence River disaster, along w ith the treasures she had amassed. Her heirs claimed unbe lievable fortunes in money and jewels supposedly deposited in the purser’s safe. The insurance company went to the great expense of having the ship salvaged. When the hulk was raised and the safe opened, however, it ac tually contained only a few dollars. The Bible reminds us there is a com ing day when the books of God w ill be opened; when the dead shall be judged according to that which is written in the heavenly account. In that day those who have made extravagant claims of their faith w ill find their true lives brought to light. Saving faith is a deposit that must be demonstrated by daily dividends of consistent living. For “the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the w ill of God abideth forever.” * * * So called Christians who are con formed will never be transformed.
9
Mystery of Stewardship
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson, Pastor Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, California
T h e mysteries of the New Testament are wonderful to behold and mer it our deepest study! Ephesians 3:6 to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. In these words the mystery is summed up: it was God’s eternal purpose. Bennett, “Paul says, that the Gentiles should be joint-heirs (Gk. synklemomos) of an inheritance on which they had no claim by birth; ‘concorporate’ (Gk. syssomos, a Pauline coinage) with their brethren of Jewish origin in the living unity of the body of Christ; joint-sharers (Gk. symmetochos, cf. 5. 7) in those covenant-promises from which they had once been excluded (Eph. 2:12). And these unlooked-for privileges which God designed for them in ages past have now been made good to them ‘in Christ Jesus through the gospel’.” 3:7 Whereof 1 was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. Compare the last clause of Col. 1:23, ‘the hope of the gospel, . . . whereof I Paul was made a minister’. There as here ‘Where of’ means ‘of the gospel’; but here Paul is thinking especially of his steward ship of the mystery just unfolded. All God’s servants have gifts differing ac cording to the grace given to them (Rom. 12:6); but Paul glorified his personal ministry as an apostle of Gen tiles (Rom. 11:13). That he of all peo ple should be chosen for this service was to him a matter for unending wonder and praise; it was a manifest token of the working of God’s power —and he uses language similar to that which he used in Eph. 1:19 f. when he spoke of the display of God’s power
in raising of Christ from the dead. And rightly so; it was that resurrection- power working in Paul that enabled him to accomplish what he did in bringing God’s gracious purpose to fruition among the Gentiles. 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the un- A REACHING HAND The day was long, the burden I had borne, Seemed heavier than I could longer bear, And then it lifted— but I did not know Some one had knelt in prayer. Had taken me to God that very hour. And asked the easing of the load, and He, In infinite compassion, had stooped down And taken it from me. We can not tell how often as we pray For some bewildered one, hurt and distressed The answer comes — but many times those hearts Find sudden peace and rest. Some one had prayed, and Faith, a reaching hand, Took hold of God, and brought Him down that day! So many, many hearts have need of prayer— Oh, let us pray. searchable riches of Christ. That Paul of all people should have been chosen as chief steward of the mystery of Christ was something which made him marvel the more he thought about it. In an earlier epistle he had called himself ‘the least of the apostles, . . not meet to be called an apos-
rendered in the R.V. margin: ‘to bring to light what is the dispensation of the mystery’. But the authority for retain ing ‘all men’ is weightier. The ‘dis pensation of the mystery’ which is thus to be brought to light throughout the world is the content of Paul’s special stewardship, which he has already spe cified in verse 6. This ‘mystery’ which Paul has been charged to reveal in word and action was something which God had purposed and cherished from all eternity, until it was unfolded in the fulness of time. The use of the title ‘God who created all things’ reminds us not only that He is the One who fashions everything in accordance with His sovereign decrees, but also that it was before all creation that He chose His people in Christ (Eph. 1:4). Pul pit Commentary, “The additional phrase in A.V., ‘by Jesus Christ’, has poor attestation, as has also the read ing ‘fellowship’ (Gk. koinonia) for R.V. ‘dispensation’ (Gk. oikonomia).” 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places m ight be made known through the church the manifold wis dom of God. The accomplishment of this eternal purpose of God’s has not in view only those who enter into the good of it on this earth. The triumphs of His grace in overcoming an other wise insurmountable barrier and unit ing the two sections of mankind in Christ holds instruction for the inhabi tants of the celestial realms. Smith avers, “While the material universe presents ample evidence of the wisdom of God, the Church of the new crea tion (Eph. 2:10) is the masterpiece of His wisdom — His diversified, ‘many- coloured’ wisdom, as Paul calls it, us ing a rare poetical adjective (Gk. poly- poikilos).” The principalities and pow ers, before whom this object-lesson of divine wisdom is displayed, probably include good and evil beings alike. In Colossians, for the most part (owing no doubt to the characters of the Col- ossian heresy), as in Eph. 6:12, the ex pression denotes supernatural forces opposed to God. The fact that God uses the church as a means of instructing
tie’ (I Cor. 15:9); but here he takes a still lower place in his estimation, and is well on the way to the language of I Tim. 1:15 — ‘sinners; of whom I am chief. Vine declares, “The word used for ‘less than the least’ (Gk. elachistoteros) is a comparative and superlative in one, perhaps coined by Paul himself (as some have thought) with a playful reference to the mean ing of his own name (Latin paullns, ‘little’). The adjective ‘unsearchable’ (Gk. anexichniastos) was used by Paul in Rom. 11:33 of the ways of God in His dealings with Jews and Gentiles; its use here of the wealth of Christ’s re deeming grace, lavished in the gospel upon Gentiles as well as Jews, is es pecially appropriate.” THE GOOD GARDENER Come, bud of joy, the driving rain That all thy young green leaves doth wet, Is but a minister of gain To that on which thy heart is set. Come forth, O bud; awake and see How good thy Gardener is to thee. And pass, my bud, to perfect flower, Dread not the blast of bitter wind; Thy Maker doth command its power; It knoweth not to be unkind, Haste thee, my flower; unfold and see How good thy Gardener is to thee. 0 fruit that cometh after rain, O fruit that ripeneth in the sun. How praised be God that not in vain For thee the changeful seasons run. Thou art His fruit; let all men see How good thy Gardener is to thee. And when the sap in me doth fail And natural vigour of my youth, Lord, may Thy life in me prevail, That I may still show forth in truth, By flower and fruit on this my tree, How good my Gardener is to me. — Amy Carmichael 3:9 And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which from all ages hath been hid in God who created all things. ‘To make all men see’ is literally ‘to enlighten (Gk. photizo) all men’. Some good an cient authorities for the text omit ‘all men’; the resultant reading is that
Mystery of Stewardship (continued) the denizens of the heavenly places may throw light on I Cor. 11:10, with its enigmatic phrase ‘because of the angels’. 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Ix>rd. We who by faith are united with Christ and incorporated in Him are caught up in a divine purpose which spans eternity — ‘the purpose of the ages’, as it is literally rendered (cf. R.V. margin). And the One to whom we are thus united is Himself the cen ter and circumference of this purpose: it was conceived (literally ‘made’) in Him and it attains its fulfilment through Him. 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. If the One through whom, as Paul has already said (Eph. 2:18), we have access to the Father is the One in whom God’s eternal purpose is bound up, then our coming into the presence of God may be marked by the fullest confidence. Delitsch states, “ ‘Boldness’, here as in 6:19 (cf. Heb. 4:16; 10:19), is a rendering of Gk. parrhesia, a word which normally de notes freedom of utterance or ‘plain ness of speech’ (e.g. in II Cor. 3:12). In classical Greek it signified the free speech which was the right of every citizen of a democratic state; when the word is ‘baptized into Christ’ it betok ens the liberty of Christian men to ap proach God directly with no intermed iary apart from Christ, who embraces Godhead and Manhood in His one per son. The word translated ‘confidence’ (Gk. pepoithesis) is a rare word, used in the New Testament by Paul only (six times). ‘Our faith in him’ is lit erally ‘the faith of him’ (so A.V.); but the genitive ‘of him’ is objective, de noting the One in whom the faith is placed. 3:13 Wherefore I ask that ye faint not at my tribulations for you , which are your glory. Paul is not much con cerned lest he himself should faint or grow weary through his tribulations— although his language could conceiv-
CHRISTIAN HOME SERIES FEATURED AT CONFERENCE
Rev. Wesley Gustafson, pastor, Evangelical Church, Fullerton, will speak on aspects of the Christian home during Biota’s Family Bible Conference on the La Mirada Campus, June 23-29. ably be translated to that effect, as no ticed in R.V. margin. He himself knew too well the One whom he had believed. But his friends and converts might be in the path of God’s will, he would not have so many trials to endure. Paul therefore tries to convey to them his own assurance that his tribulations are the direct consequence and a certain token of his obedience to God’s eternal purpose. Since that purpose includes the blessing of the Gentiles, the hard ships which he suffers for them (cf. Eph. 3:1). If they can be brought to appreciate that, far from finding cause for discouragement in the spectacle of Paul’s sufferings, •they will glory in them as he himself had learned to do, seeing in them the proof that God’s purpose was advancing towards its con summation. In Col. 1:24 Paul regards his own sufferings as something which he is called upon to endure for the sake of the Church, the body of Christ, and as his filling up of ‘that which is lack ing of the afflictions of Christ’. That the sufferings of Christ’s people are Christ’s own sufferings Paul had learned on the Damascus road; now it is his desire to absorb as much as possi ble of these sufferings in his own per son. 12
Panel Discussions Q. Bakersfield, California — “How many days are there in the Jewish year? Why is there a difference w ith our calendar?” A. Some months on our calendar have 30 days, some have 31. February has 28, except during a leap year. Among the Jewish people a calendar, drawn up by the rabbis, is used. It varies between 29 to 30 days a month. They use a lunar-solar calendar. The em phasis, however, is upon the former because of their feasts. The Jewish calendar year is composed of 354 days. So at certain given times (as we make adjustments with a leap year) the Jewish calendar allows for an extra month. Our calendar is built on the solar system. We have 365 and one quarter days each year. Q.Visalia, California — “Does not Jesus- condemn public praying in Matthew 6 : 6 ? ” A. The verse reads, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward (recompense) thee open ly.” This does not declare that pray ing in the closet is the only place to pray. Jesus did tell us, “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypo crites a re : for they love to pray stand ing in the synagogues and in the cor ners of the street, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” The hypo crites were not trying to commune with God, they wanted to be seen of men. The secret is one’s heart atti tude toward the Lord. Q, Anchorage, Alaska — “Will the Old
Testament saints be included in the rapture?” A. To refer to Old Testament saints is the same as to say, Old Testament believers. What do we mean by rap ture? There are certain passages in the New Testament, beginning with John 14:1-3; 1st Corinthians 15:50 to 58; 1st Thess. 4:13 to 18; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1st Thess. 1:8-10; Titus 2:13. These passages reveal that in God’s wonderful time, known to Him alone, in His sovereign wisdom, there will come a day when all the believers, making up the body of Christ, will be taken to glory. The Bible says, “The dead in Christ shall rise first.” It is the catching away of believers, living and dead, when the Lord Jesus comes, not to earth, but to mid-air. We do not believe that Old Testament saints will be included in this glorious event. If for no other reason 1st Thessalonians says, “the d e a d in Christ.” That expression “in Christ” throughout all of the 27 books of the New Testament verifies that, “in Christ” is the position of believers in this dispensation. If Abraham is “dead in Christ,” then he is a mem ber of the church before the church is ever formed. Old Testament saints are resurrected before the visible coming of our Lord Jesus. If New Testament saints are in the same resurrection then this makes the church go through the tribulation, a view against which there are numerous passages and the whole teaching of the New Testament. Q. Norwalk, California — “How far should a Christian mother go in tak ing the initiative in the home concern ing Scriptural things for the profit of (continued on next page) 13
again unto a living hope by the resur rection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, re served in heaven for us. We are kept by the power of God through faith un to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Everything about the New Testament is better. There is a wider and deeper knowledge, and more blessing in the fulfillment of redemp tion rather than in the anticipation of it. The Old Testament believers did not know the fuller, completer revelation about the better resurrection. Q. Denver, Colorado — “Were the disci ples cremated? Is it right to have this done?” A, There is not a single word in Scrip ture concerning the cremation of any one of the disciples. There is no verse in the Old or New Testaments which says, “Thou shalt not be cremated.” It has, however, been the practice of the church to bury bodies because of the dignity of the human tabernacle. We believe that more honor should be accorded the body than under going such treatment. Q. Coalinga, California — “What happens to people in this world who never hear of Christ?” A. The second chapter of Romans deals with this problem. “For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law” (verse 12). “Which show the works of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and t h e i r thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another” (verse 15). Every pagan has a sense of right and wrong. Every time he utters a prayer or offers a sacrifice he is recognizing the fact that he is a sinner. To be sure, he does not have the law; he has never heard of Christ, nor does he have the Word of God. But he knows to do right and he does it not; therefore he stands condemned in the sight of God. This is not on the basis of whether he has accepted Christ as Saviour, but on
Panel Discussions (continued) training her children? She also feels she must be in subjection to her hus band.” A. This is a question one deals with tenderly and carefully. It is impossi ble to make a general statement to cover every facet of the problem. There are a number of ways, however, that a Christian mother can exercise her spirituality, even in the face of out spoken opposition from an antagonis tic husband. First of all, live the life! It is one thing to be very zealous and earnest for the salvation of your hus band, yet, because of your very earnest ness, you may stand in the way. Then be much in prayer concerning the situation. Train your children by ex ample. Point out the things to do that are right. Most husbands are happy if the mother, in love, will train the children in the things that are right. She does not need to keep pointing out, in his presence at least, that Jesus would be displeased. She can, however, point out the things that are wrong. Then, without being deceitful about it, when the husband is not in the home, she can take the time to deal with the children on spiritual things. She can train them up in the way they should go. Above all, she will instruct them to live a good, obedient life be fore t he father and the husband through the power of the Holy Spirit. Q. Albuquerque, New Mexico — “What is meant by ‘that they might obtain a better resurrection.’? (Hebrews 11: 85). When is this resurrection to take place?” A. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is the Bible’s “hall of fame” from the Old Testament. The better resurrec tion is the resurrection a believer re ceives after he actually goes out of this world; a resurrection unto per manent life, not to die again but to be alive forevermore. Hebrews talks about how Christianity is superior to Judaism in every way. Our Redeemer is superior to angels, Moses, Aaron, Melchisedec, etc. We are begotten
A. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, pre pared as a bride adorned for her hus band.” The inhabitants of the new earth are the redeemed. We read in the previous chapter that all whose names are not written in the Book of Life, were judged every man accord ing to his own works, and they were cast into the lake of fire. There are three heavens referred to in Scripture: our cloudy atmosphere, the starry firmament, and the throne of God. This portion does not mean that the throne of God has had to 'be made over. Wherever sin has extended, a new heaven will be made. Whether Satan’s influence has extended to other heav enly bodies we have no way of know ing. Wherever His influence has ex tended, however, there will be the new heaven, referred to here in Revelation 21 . Q. Anderson, California — “Since God cannot endure evil, please explain why Satan is apparently free to come into God’s presence to accuse the brethren (Revelation 12:10; Job 1:6-12).” A. While God sees evil it does not mean that He can look upon it with complacency or satisfaction. He cannot abide sin. This question is really a part of a larger question concerning the per mission of evil at all in God’s wonder ful universe. God is a God of good; God is a God of love. From the entire scope of the Bible we see that God has not made a race of “automotons” or robots, but men with a free will to determine their own destinies. The chief end of man is to glorify God. Somehow, in this strange world of confusion, tumult, hatred, animosities and oppositions to the will of God, the Lord, in infinite wisdom and sovereign grace, has decid ed that this is the best plan of all. You would not want your husband or wife to live with you just because he or she had to. God could have legis- (continued on next page) 15
the basis of the law written in his heart, his conscience. Q. Portland, Oregon — “I have always been confused, by Romans 9:18. This does not seem like our God of love and compassion.” A. “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” This traces back all of God’s dealings on earth to His will. There are many things according to our finite minds that do not seem to be in keeping with a God of love and compassion. You need not even con fine yourself to the Bible. People who have never trusted Christ are engrossed with the worldly fashion, circum scribed by this scene of time. The same Bible that tells us that these things of iniquity and evil occur in the world, is the same Bible that tells us that over all of it is a sovereign and infinite Majesty — even our Almighty God. Q. Stockton, California — “If one has al ready quenched the Holy Spirit, how can you get it back?” A. Whenever one speaks of the Holy Spirit, we must be careful to realize that He is a Person. It is not “it”, but Him. “Quenching” appears in I Thess- alonians 5:19, “Quench not the Spir it.” Quenching is the picture of a fire which has been stifled or covered up, making void the usefulness or effec tiveness of it. Quenching the voice of your conscience does not mean that you have lost it. Quenching the warn ing of a parent does not mean you lose the parent. Our Lord has reminded us that the Holy Spirit will abide with us forever. Quenching means having your own way in spite of what the Holy Spirit tells you. You have been robbed of your joy and effective serv ice. You do not need to get the Holy Spirit back,, you need to confess your sin of unyieldedness (I John 1:9). Q ( Lemon Grove, California -— ■' “W ill you please explain Revelation 21:1 and 2 for me and tell me who it is that will inhabit the new earth?”
always kept a faithful remnant even though it was known that Israel would be hardened. Our Lord mentioned the reason they would not understand, for they had allowed their hearts to be hardened. This was testified by Isaiah and the Old Testament prophets. Paul is not saying that this is something new. This hardening will go on in Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles is come in. That means until the body of Christ is complete among all the nations 'both Jews and Gentiles. Since we do not know who will, and who will not believe, our commission is to preach the Word to all, that “who soever will” may come. Q. Eugene, Oregon — “How can it be that some Christians have the hope of going to heaven without dying. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 ‘it is ap pointed unto men once to die’.” A. It is true that “it is appointed unto men once to die,” because the Bible says so. But God can make exceptions to His rules if He chooses. In the Old Testament times, in spite of the rule, Enoch and Elijah did not die; they were raptured. In I Thessalonians we read, “For the Lord himself shall de scend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thess. 4:16, 17). We who are alive when the Lord comes will not die: we will be changed instantly, caught up with those-who are dead in Christ. * * * Every generation certainly needs regeneration. * * * Prayer is not conquering God's re luctance . . . but taking hold, by faith, of His willingness. * * * The world may want nuclear giants — but God wants spiritual giants. * * * Hava your tools ready and God will find your work.
Panel Discussions (continued) lated all to love Him, 'but He does not want any one to do it out of com pulsion. God saw in His infinite plan that this would be the most conducive, in the final analysis, to His wonder ful glory. Q, Whittier, California — “Was David saved before he committed that awful sin?" A. Yes. Read the 51st Psalm and real ize this was followed after David’s adulterous act. He says, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (51:12). He had not lost his salvation; he had lost fellowship with God (I John 1:9). Q. Pomona, California — “Was the wo man who washed the feet of Jesus a sinner? (Luke 7:44-48) A. Of course she was a sinner. Perhaps the questioner means, “Was she a fall en woman?” This is implied as it is said of her, “This woman loved much.” Our Lord gives a wonderful story here in which He rebukes Peter and the other disciples because they did little while she showed these acts of kindness in appreciation for the wonderful work that He was accomplishing for man kind. Q. Fresno, California — “How do you interpret the verse 'blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles is come in.’ It is found in Romans 11:25." A. This is one of the most important passages relative to witnessing today. Our testimony should be to both Jews and Gentiles according to the Scrip tures. The Lord is rich in His mercy toward both. “The same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Why is it that the Jewish peo ple as for the majority are not trusting Christ as Messiah? In Israel there was constant opposition to the will of God. This was true with Moses as well as all of the other prophets. But God has
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Nature’s Testimony by Dr. Walter L. Wilson
T h e remarkable transformations that take place in nature are worthy of careful attention and consideration. They reveal again the fact that there is a personal, living God Who alone can produce such miracles. As an example, consider the caterpillar. It is actually an “upholstered” worm. It makes no effort to fly but is content with crawl ing. One day this peculiar creature begins to weave a coffin around itself beginning at the rear end and weaving forward. It encloses itself completely in a casket that is water proof, sun proof, heat proof, light proof and unsinkable. Through the terrible cold of the win ter it remains enclosed in its little warm house. When the springtime comes, a ragged hole appears in one end of this casket. Soon there emerges not the worm that entered with its yellow hair and its many feet but a beautiful brilliantly colored butterfly. It has a peculiar tongue with which it draws up the nectar from the flowers. Only God could bring about such a great change. How does the butterfly get out of that cocoon? What became of all its other legs? Where did the hair go? The God who can accomplish this wonderful miracle can transform your life and make it complete, lacking nothing, if you will only commit your self to Him today. Then consider the mineral kingdom. Opals are dug from the deep recesses of the earth. God takes a handful of sand, buries it deeply in the ground, puts a terrific heat beneath it and a tremendous weight above it, and the transformation is the lovely opal. The
opal really has no color of its own. It has the unusual ability to radiate the various colors from the sunbeams which causes it to flash fire. Only God can make an opal, and only God can make you reflect the beauties, glories and loveliness of Christ the Lord. The sapphire is another beautiful stone. It is made from clay. But what a tremendous metamorphosis takes place. This is what God wants to do with your life as well (Romans 12:1, FOR ALL THE DAY Those moments that I spent with God When I began the day with prayer, Gave me the strength I needed when A burden came for me to bear. I met resentment with a smile, I checked the words that would have grieved, I helped a weary one and so Passed on the help I had received. M y tasks I found were lightened too. Peace came, a healing, soothing balm, The problems of the day were met And evening found me poised and calm. — Della Adams Leitner 2). The same is true with another popular stone, the diamond. Nobody could change meaningless black carbon into a substance of such extreme value and worth. So, let the Lord have your life, and He will make you what He wants you to be: a beautiful testi mony for Christ Jesus, a good Am bassador for the Lord, a lovely Chris tian, and a blessing to all 17
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