The Millennial Harbinger

Bible Reading

Christians, do you read the Bible in your families every day?  Do you read it in your closet every day?  And do you read it not to quiet your conscience as a work of penance; but do you read it as a pleasure anxiously to be sought after?  If you do, I need not tell you what utility, pleasure, and happiness is in the blessed employment.  But if you do not, you may rest assured there is something greatly wrong, which, if it is not abandoned, subdued, or vanquished soon, will cause you sorrows, if not agonies, when you will be less able to conflict with them than at present.  Resolve this moment, I pray you, that you will begin today to read the Bible, to enjoy God and Christ and the hope of immortality.  "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man."  Then will you say with Solomon, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding: for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared with her.  Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor: her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." "Begin today: 'tis madness to defer." The religious world -- I mean the great majority of all professors -- are Bible neglecters. Their ignorance, prejudice, and error show it.  I beseech you, daily, habitually, constantly, prayerfully read the Bible in its proper connections, and you will grow in grace as you grow in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.  The Lord will bless you, as he has said, in this deed. Read James 1:22-25, and may you prove it true!

- by Alexander Campbell
The Millennial Harbinger, January, 1839

 

William Montague Dyke

Face to Face

 

When William Montague Dyke was ten years old, he was blinded in an accident.  Despite his disability, William graduated from a university in England with high honors.  While he was in school, he fell in love with the daughter of a high-ranking British naval officer, and they became engaged.

 

Not long before the wedding, William had eye surgery in the hope that the operation would restore his sight.  If it failed, he would remain blind for the rest of his life.  William insisted on keeping the bandages on his face until his wedding day.  If the surgery was successful, he wanted the first person he saw to be his new bride.

 

The wedding day arrived.  The many guests — including royalty, cabinet members, and distinguished men and women of society — assembled together to witness the exchange of vows.  William's father, Sir William Hart Dyke, and the doctor who performed the surgery stood next to the groom, whose eyes were still covered with bandages.  The organ trumpeted the wedding march, and the bride slowly walked down the aisle to the front of the church.

 

As soon as she arrived at the altar, the surgeon took a pair of scissors out of his pocket and cut the bandages from William's eyes.

 

Tension filled the room.  The congregation of witnesses held their breath as they waited to find out if William could see the woman standing before him.  As he stood face-to-face with his bride-to-be, William’s words echoed throughout the cathedral, "You are more beautiful than I ever imagined!" *

 

The grand hope of the Christian is to see Jesus face-to-face in heaven, for Jesus is the One who died for our sins so that we may receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life in heaven (Ephesians 1:7).  He died for all (1 John 2:2), but only those who accept His offer of salvation will receive His grace.

 

God will save by His grace those who accept His offer of salvation through Christ by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), who turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

The Apostle John wrote of the hope of the child of God: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

 

“When, by the gift of His infinite grace, I am accorded in heaven a place, Just to be there and to look on His face, Will through the ages be glory for me.”

-- Charles H. Gabriel

 

Kent Crockett wrote with anticipation: “One day the bandages that cover our eyes will be removed.  When we stand face-to-face with Jesus Christ and see His face for the very first time, His glory will be far more splendid than anything we have ever imagined in this life.”

 

Then we’ll know the true beauty of the words in the refrain of a song by Charles Gabriel: “Oh, that will be glory for me!”

 

And, it can be glory for YOU, if you will only accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms.

 

Won’t YOU?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

* Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, pp. 101-102 in Sermon Illustrations at www.kentcrockett.com.

 

W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-

D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D

 

An aged attendant of Winchester Cathedral never tired of standing on the Cathedral roof and relating the story of how the news of Wellington's victory over Napoleon reached England.  News of the history-making battle came by a sailing vessel to the south coast, and by semaphore (visual signaling) was wig-wagged overland toward London.  Atop Winchester Cathedral the semaphore began to spell out the eagerly awaited message:

 

W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-

 

and then a dense fog settled oppressively over the land!  The semaphore could no longer be seen, and thus the sad, heartbreaking news of the incomplete message went on to London, overwhelming the country in gloom and despair: "Wellington Defeated!"

 

But, before long, the fog lifted, and again the signaling semaphore atop the Cathedral became visible, spelling out the complete message of the battle:

 

W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-t-h-e-E-n-e-m-y

 

Now the message was all the more glorious because of the preceding gloom.  Like the spread of a prairie fire, the joyful news spread across the land, and lifted the spirits of the people onto a plane of gratitude and jubilant praise: "Wellington Defeated the Enemy!" *

 

Many years ago, on a hill lone and gray, situated outside Jerusalem, the sinless Son of God gave Himself willingly in a vicarious death upon His cruel cross for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  As Jesus was dying on the cross, Luke informs us that “about the sixth hour,...there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two” (Luke 23:44-45).  And when Jesus died, the darkness deepened for His fearful followers.  To Jesus’ enemies – including Satan himself – Jesus’ death on the cross meant one thing:

 

J-E-S-U-S-D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D

 

As they buried His lifeless body in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, even Jesus’ disciples were troubled by the hopeless message, “Jesus Defeated.”

 

But three days later, the spiritual darkness was lifted when Jesus rose from the dead!  Then the complete message could be proclaimed that because “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). 

 

J-E-S-U-S-D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D-S-I-N-A-N-D-D-E-A-T-H

 

This is the Gospel, the Good News!

 

The Good News is that God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are the basis of the Good News that He conquered sin and death for us.  And, we can share in His victory through our trusting obedience.

 

Won’t YOU trust and obey Jesus?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

* Slightly adapted from "Because He Lives" by Walter Brown Knight as it appears in www.moresermonillustrations.com.

 

Why I feel adequate

How many times have you said that? You may project an air of confidence that would make it hard for anyone to think you felt that way or you may wear it on your sleeves. But, if honesty prevails, we'd all confess to wrestling with that thought. Daily! With Paul, facing the scope of our challenge, we exclaim, "And who is adequate for these things?" (2 Cor. 2:16). BDAG informs us that "adequate" means "sufficient in degree...large enough; pertaining to meeting a standard, fit...competent, qualified, able" (472). As Paul's words are in the context of ministry, conscientious preachers who read that statement really get it. We're fragile pottery entrusted with a perfect, eternal, and divine message (2 Cor. 4:7).  Oh, how we feel our own humanity as we preach the mind of God to others struggling with their humanity. We know our every weakness better than anyone else does.

 

Yet, the struggle I mention is not just the preacher's burden. The best Christians I know live each day fully aware of their inadequacies and insecurities. No matter how many good works they do, how faithful in attendance and duty they are, or how actively they seek opportunities to serve God, they struggle at times. May I suggest that this is one of the biggest blessings of living the Christian life. No, we don't want to live in a shroud of guilt. Not at all! But, consider what happens when we acknowledge our glaring insufficiencies.  We can see our utter dependency on God that much better.

 

Could Moses have really led the Israelites for 40 years on his own ingenuity and oratory? Could Jeremiah have really faced his audience on his own temerity? Could a renewed Peter have really preached that Pentecost sermon to Jesus' killers on the merits of his own homiletic greatness? Could Paul have really transformed the first-century world on the foundation of his cosmopolitan experience and top-notch education from Gamaliel University?

 

Repeatedly, throughout His ministry, Jesus decries the Pharisaical tendency of trusting in self (Luke 16:5; 18:9). Ultimately, it's a farce anyway. I may struggle with different weaknesses than you, but I still struggle. While that is never an excuse to give up and indulge in sin (cf. Rom. 6:1-2), it is a great, daily starting place to appreciate our need of God's favor and friendship. We are not going to make it through this world on our own merits. As the beautiful old song suggests, "I need Thee, oh, I need Thee, every hour I need Thee...."

 

Here's the beautiful thing that happens when we recognize our shortcomings and inabilities. We become an empty vessel that God can fill to accomplish His work. God will open doors of opportunity for us to do, by His might, what we could never have hoped to do without Him. Whether doors of service (teacher, elder, preacher, deacon, etc.), lives of holiness, or works of obedience, we will live in amazement of His power. Or, as Paul put it, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever" (Eph. 3:20-21). Take heart, Christian! You're not doing this alone. You can't! But, what can God not do? That thought is exciting and thrilling. With that in mind, no mountain is too formidable. He's got this!

 

--Neal Pollard

 

Dr. Cynthia Ray, a pulmonologist at Henry Ford Hospital

Died Helping Others

 

On Sunday, April 2, 2017, a vehicle containing 6 people flipped on its side in a crash on I-96 in Michigan.  Two people in separate vehicles stopped to help; they are hailed as “Good Samaritans.”  One was Dr. Cynthia Ray, a pulmonologist at Henry Ford Hospital; the other was Sean English, a teenager and student at University of Detroit Jesuit High School.

 

As the two “Good Samaritans” were trying to assist the passengers of the overturned vehicle, another vehicle driven by a 17-year-old rounded a curve and accidentally struck Dr. Ray and English.  English suffered a broken pelvis and had to have a foot amputated due to the accident.  The latest report states that the 17-year-old driver who struck the responders is on life support.  Last Wednesday night, Dr. Ray died from injuries sustained in the accident.

 

The physician died trying to help others.

 

A statement from Henry Ford Hospital said Dr. Ray was a beloved physician, colleague, daughter, sister, and friend.  Fox 2 Detroit reports that Dr. Mike Eichenhorn, a mentor and close friend, described Dr. Ray as a “giving, generous spirit.”  The report also described Dr. Ray as “a consummate caregiver – capable, caring and committed.”  Dr. Eichenhorn elaborated: “It would have been impossible for Cyndi to pass by the car that overturned because that's the kind of person she was.  She was always there to help others.  At her bedside, she had visitors from all walks of life whom she had helped through difficult situations.  She embodied selflessness.”

 

It was Jesus who told the parable – the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – in response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”  His answer was essentially: “your neighbor is anyone whose needs you can help meet.”  Dr. Ray and Sean English embodied Jesus’ teaching by responding to others in time of need.  Both suffered great loss as a result; for Dr. Ray it cost her life.

 

It was Jesus Himself who was the Greatest “Good Samaritan”: for He helped the greatest number (all of humanity) with the greatest malady (sin, Romans 3:23).  In order to save us from our sins, Jesus had to give His life as payment for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7).  His death was no accident.  Many cried out for His crucifixion.  Yet, it was all a part of God’s plan to redeem man from sin (see Acts 2:23): only the sinless Son of God could pay the price for the sins of mankind (1 John 2:2).

 

So Jesus, the Great Physician, went to the cross and died for our sins so that we can have forgiveness for our sins and receive the gift of eternal life.

 

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

He died so that YOU might live.

 

Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

* Information gleaned from “Good Samaritan injured helping victims in Michigan crash has died” by Fox 2 Detroit as viewed on www.foxnews.com.  Published April 06, 2017.

 

David A. Sargent,

The Baptized Believer will be Saved

 

¶“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...” (1Timothy 6:12-13).

 

Reading the Translator’s Handbook on the Gospel of Mark (by Robert Bratcher and Eugene Nida) this week revealed something that confirms what true believers already know by honestly reading Mark 16:16, yet something I have never even thought about and have never seen mentioned by anyone:

The one definite article – ho – connecting the two aorist participles: pisteusas, believes and baptistheis, is baptized,) “joins the two verbs together in describing the man who will be saved; i.e. the one believing and being baptized (the clause could be translated ‘the baptized believer‘”) will be saved!!

The passage then adds, “The one not believing will be condemned.” If you don’t believe, there will be no baptism! Hence it would be superfluous to add, “and not being baptized.” Whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:18b. Moreover, “He who does not believe” in this context means “he who does not believe the gospel preached.” To not believe thus

implies not only not believing in Jesus, but also not believing in baptism, as well as a lot of other gospel truths.

 

John 5:24 uses the same type of construction as Mark 16:16: The one hearing my word, and believing Him

who sent me, has eternal life … C.K. Barrett, commenting on this construction in this verse in his masterful commentary on the Greek text of John, writes: “The absence of a second article shows that the two participles are co-ordinate features of a single, twofold, description.” The Gospel According to St. John, SPCK, London, 1955. p217. That is, both hearing and believing go together in getting eternal life, just as believing and being baptized go together in being saved! So let’s put Mark 16:15-16 together: “Go and preach the gospel to all creation. The baptized believer will be saved.” Not just the believer, but the baptized believer. This of course is how all true Christians, and we in undenominational churches of Christ, in essence have always understood it and taught it. And the Greek supports this translation! See Acts 16:30-34; 18:8; Galatians 3:26-27 and Colossians 2:11-14 for other examples of belief and baptism working hand in hand in our salvation.

 

In Colossians 2:11-12 we have this connection: In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. The circumcision of Christ takes place when we are buried with Him in baptism and raised with him through faith! Again, if you look closely at the Greek, this is the way you have to interpret these verses.

 

I wonder how many of our Baptist (and all faith only) friends – especially those in mission fields -  would have read that Mark thing in that translator’s handbook (hardly a “church of Christ publication”!), and not batted an eyelid!! Their salvation tradition has still held firm: He who believes is saved, and then should be baptized!! But that uncomfortable, worrying question will always remain: Is that what Mark 16:15-16 teaches?

 

It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? What’s pretty obvious? Throughout the Book of Acts, those being discipled were always baptized as soon as they believed and repented. And, again, it’s pretty obvious why. Why is it pretty obvious?

They were baptized straight away because only baptized believers would be saved! No believer would be left unbaptized any longer than absolutely necessary. When they made their confession of faith, their teacher knew they were eligible for baptism.

 

This is the significance of Romans 10:9-10. My old English Revised Version of 1881 has a cross-reference to Romans 10:10 at 1 Peter 3:21, “baptism now saves you … through “the interrogation of a good conscience.”” It’s the interrogation of a good conscience that brings forth salvation because this questioning by the teacher brings forth “the good confession” of their faith in Christ that leads to the baptism that saves! Can you see why some mss on the conversion of the Ethiopian in Acts 8, have:

 

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:36-39

 

Why did the eunuch withhold his rejoicing till after his baptism? I’m sure you know the answer to that question!

 

Just as Jesus confessed to his being King, when questioned by Prefect Pilate, leading to his death in crucifixion, so the disciple confesses his faith in Christ when questioned by his gospel teacher, leading to his death with Christ in baptism. Romans 6:3-11. “Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, raised from the dead? If so, “what are you waiting for, arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16

 

Brother Wayne Jackson, in his Christian Courier, has a great essay entitled, The Assault on Mark 16. It doesn’t matter how much they assault Mark 16:15-16, it won’t go away. It will haunt those who don’t accept it till the day of judgement when, as Jesus promised, the words he spoke will judge us at the last day. John 12:48. Many won’t believe us today when we try to teach them this truth on Mark 16, but there’ll be no one not believing Jesus at judgment day!

 

--David Hunter

 

Are there Miracles Today?

What About Miracles Today?

There are lots of people who believe that miracles still happen today.  What does the Bible say?

YES, it is an absolute fact that God through His Holy Spirit gave men in the first century the power to perform miracles. (A miracle is, by definition, a supernatural act that defies explanation by the laws of nature.) The question is: Does God still give men such power today?

NO, there are no miracles (remember our definition) occurring today.  Here are the reasons why:

1) Miracles served a specific purpose in the first century.  They were the means by which God revealed and confirmed His will to mankind (Mk. 16:17-20; Heb. 2:3,4).  Since God has finished His revelation (2 Pet. 1:3) there is no longer any need for men to perform miracles.  They have ended.

2) There were two ways to receive miraculous power in the first century.  One way was by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5; 2:1-4).  That baptism was only for a few - not for all - and it no longer is available (Eph 4:4-6).  The only other way that men received miraculous abilities was by the laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts 8:14-17).  Obviously there are no apostles still living today, and therefore there is no way to receive these powers.  Miracles have ended because the means by which they were imparted are no longer available to us.

3) The New Testament actually tells us that miracles were to end and tells when they would end.  In 1 Cor. 13:8-13, Paul states that miracles would end when God's complete revelation was made known to men.  We now have His final word and, according to His own testimony, miracles have ended.

- by Greg Gwin

 

Big fish stories

Big Fish Story

I have heard many big fish yarns, but the evolutionists ask us to believe the biggest one yet.  Somewhere in the remote past, they say, a fish flapped out on dry land and his fins turned into legs.  After that, the story of Jonah and the whale seems easy!

- by R. L. Whiteside

 

FROM A PREACHER TO THE MOMS AND DADS OF SMALL CHILDREN

I’ve thought about this a lot lately. During our quiet time at the beginning of worship (or during communion or while I’m preaching), I often hear the sounds of kids: giggling, whining, squirming, playing, fussing.

 

And I love it.

 

I hope you know how much we appreciate you, and how thankful we are that you’re bringing your kids to church. It’s stressful for you, I know, trying to wrestle one, two, three, or more kids throughout a worship service and keep them somewhat civilized. I wasn’t usually much help to my wife, of course (being otherwise engaged), but I remember how difficult it was for her when our four kids were small. One of them (I won’t say which one) almost made us reconsider our position on demon possession!

 

I’ve been to churches where you don’t hear noises from kids, and it’s almost always a bad sign about the future of that church. I’ve heard stories of preachers from years ago who got irritated when kids would make noise during their sermons, and I couldn’t disagree more. Let me say this—as a preacher, I love the sounds of babies crying during sermons, because I know what that means. It means you’re here, and it means that you care enough about Jesus to struggle with an eighteen-month-old for what seems like forever.

 

I’ve heard of church members in some places who frown at moms and dads who can’t keep their kids quiet during worship, and I can’t help but think about how unlike Jesus that sounds. Don’t get me wrong—there’s a time when kids need to be taken out—but the parents I know are doing the best they know how to do and deserve our praise and support, not our criticism. I’m thankful to be part of a children-loving church, and I pray it will always be so.

 

To our parents, when you get frustrated, exhausted, stressed out, and burned out, please know how much we appreciate you. Thank you for loving Jesus, and thank you for bringing your kids to spend time with him. You’re doing hard, important stuff, and we’re glad you’re here.

 

-Chuck Webster

 

Put your money where your mouth is

I Can't Do It!

 

Keith Wishum recently wrote: “I’m afraid that we sometimes forget the obvious fact that we are not self-sufficient.”

 

Then Wishum illustrated his point with the following story:

 

A young construction worker was bragging that he was the strongest man on the job. He especially made fun of an older worker.

 

After several minutes, the elder man had enough. "Put your money where your mouth is!" he exclaimed. "I'll bet a week's pay that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to the other building that you won't be able to wheel back."

 

"You're on, old man," the young man replied. "Let's see."

 

The old man grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said with a sly smile, "All right. Get in."

 

Wishum concludes: “We cannot carry ourselves. We did not give ourselves life. We cannot sustain life on our own. There is no such creature as a ‘self-made man.’”

 

No, we are not self-sufficient. Whether we like to admit or not, we are dependent upon God and others for so many things in our lives. This is even true of our salvation from sin.

 

In our “self-sufficiency,” we are sinners. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). What we “earn” from our sins is death, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

 

We cannot save ourselves from sin. We just can’t do it.

 

But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to be our Savior! “For God so loved the world that He gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish” (John 3:16). Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19).

 

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to the Father and to the eternal life that He promises.

 

We cannot save ourselves, but we CAN accept God’s offer of salvation! This is the sense of Peter’s words when he told the Jewish audience on Pentecost Day: “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation’” (Acts 2:40). They couldn’t be saved by their own merits, but they could be saved by accepting God’s offer of salvation on His terms.

 

God has promised to save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). God will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

Just as one cannot push himself while sitting in a wheelbarrow, we cannot save ourselves. We can, however, place ourselves in the arms of Jesus through our trusting obedience and be saved by and through Him.

 

Won’t YOU?

 

-- David A. Sargent