November/December  2002

 Amos 3:3

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  This question is raised in the book of Amos with the answer implied that “two cannot walk together except they be agreed.”  In 1 John 1:6, 7, we read, “If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another...”  In verse 3 John wrote, “that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”  From the above we may make the following observations:

1.  The basis for our fellowship with God is for us to walk (live and worship) according to the light of truth as it is set forth in the word of God.

2.  For us to have meaningful fellowship with one another we must both first have fellowship with God according to the light of truth.

3.  To walk in darkness (contrary to the light of truth as set forth in the word of God) puts us out of fellowship with God and those who walk in truth.

Paul writes in 2 Cor. 6:14-16, “Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  There are different types of unbelievers.  There are those who don’t believe in God and then there are those who don’t believe the truth.  Since this epistle is written to the church at Corinth, both the church and its members are forbidden to yoke up with unbelievers in fellowship, whether the unbelievers be those who don’t believe in God or the unbelievers are those who don’t believe the truth.

Next, righteousness is not to have fellowship with unrighteousness.  When it comes to worship, anything that is contrary to the word of God is unrighteousness.  The teaching of tithing, salaried ministry, preachers seminars, church supported missions, Sunday schools, use of instrumental music in the worship service, and youth camps are all contrary to the bible pattern of new testament worship and service.  Furthermore, those who promote and support these innovations are walking in unrighteousness.  Thus we are not to fellowship those who promote and support these innovations.  Those who go along with these innovations are walking in darkness.  “What communion hath light with darkness?”

In verse 17 Paul writes, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing...”  The Lord teaches us to separate ourselves from unrighteousness and darkness and unbelievers and false worshipers.  This is not toleration, but separation!!  If someone came into the church teaching and promoting such things, then the church should separate herself from that member.

Rom. 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.” To mark is to identify.  To “avoid them” teaches us that we shouldn’t use them, or invite them into the pulpit, or to participate with them in church functions such as ordinations and communion.  Thus those who teach or promote tithing, salaried ministry, Sunday schools, preachers seminars, youth camps, church sponsored missions, etc. should be identified and avoided.

What should our relationship be with those who are not openly teaching and promoting false teachings, but continue to fellowship those who do?  Remember that they are commanded to come out from among them and a reasonable time should be allowed for them to do so.  However, if they continue to walk with the unrighteous, then we cannot have fellowship with them in darkness and at the same time have fellowship with God in light.  Thus the above principles teach that we must also avoid the “fence straddlers.”

Associations were originally established that those of like precious faith might gather together at a designated location and worship God together.  What should be the church’s position when one or more of the churches in the association teach and promote doctrines and practices contrary to the teaching of scripture?  The principles of mark, avoid, and separate are just as valid in associations as they are in the individual local church.  The church can ask the offending church or churches to repent from such teachings and practices.  The church can attempt to exclude the offending church or churches from the association compact, or the church can withdraw from the association.  If the offending churches fail to repent or to withdraw from or be excluded from the association compact, then the orderly church has no choice but to withdraw if she is to remain true to her Lord who said, “Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord.”

 The Dangers of Singing Schools

I ask the reader not to infer that I am opposed to singing schools.  I am no more opposed to singing schools than I am to orphanages, nursing homes, and hospitals.  They all have their place in our society.  As an adjunct to the church, however, none are authorized by the word of God.

There is nothing wrong with the teaching and learning of the rudiments of music.  The danger, however, lies with designing men.  As the pastor of Denton Primitive Baptist Church I won’t allow those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the biblical doctrine in the stand to preach as the scripture plainly teach that I should not allow them.  Should I then send my children or grandchildren or other children in the church off to a singing school where they will have worship services (devotionals) and hear those whom I would not allow to preach in the stand at Denton Church?  Or should I send my children or grandchildren or the children of the church I pastor off to a singing school where designing men will try to indoctrinate them with beliefs that I don’t share?

The singing school is not a part of the church and those who try to make it a part of the church will also, if given the opportunity, try to make orphanages, hospitals, and nursing homes a part of the church. 

Please think about these dangers if you are planning to send your children or grandchildren off to a singing school where designing men will try to indoctrinate them.

Three (Part I)

The number three is frequently used in the scriptures in association with the bible subject of the Godhead.  As a matter of fact the word, Godhead, appears in the bible exactly three times:

1.  Rom. 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead...”

2.  Acts 17:29, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”

3.  Col. 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

The Godhead is described for us in 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”  One of the great mysteries of the ages has been how can three be one.  While we have great difficulty understanding how three can be one, yet we know it to be true because the scriptures plainly declare it is so.  Furthermore, according to the first reference above God has placed the mark of the Godhead on the things that God has made.  He has declared unto us that what we can understand of the Godhead can be understood by looking at the things which God has made.  Ps. 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”

Let us now take a look at natural creation and see if we can see the mark of the Godhead on those things which God has made..  First, we live in a universe (uni = one) that can be measured with three parameters, time, space, and matter.  Each of these three parameters have three parts.  Time is measured in past, present, and future.  For instance, in showing the ever present, eternal, unchanging nature of the Lord, he is declared by the scriptures to be the same, “yesterday, today, and forever.”  Space is three dimensional, height, width, and breadth so that we dwell in a three dimensional universe.  Matter exists in three and only three states; solids, liquids, and gases.  The building block of matter is the atom.  All matter is composed of atoms either singularly or in combinations known as molecules.  Every atom consists of three subatomic elements known as protons, neutrons, and electrons.  These three elements make up for more than 99.9% of all atoms.

In addition we live in a world with a great variety of colors.  Yet there are three basic colors from which all other colors are derived: red, blue, and yellow.  By combining these three basic colors in various combinations all other colors can be formed.

Several times we read in the scriptures that the life of the creature is in the blood.  There are three types of cells in blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.  These three cells are essential for life.  The red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients to feed the cells of the body.  The white blood cells are essential in fighting various viruses, diseases, and foreign materials that invade the body, and platelets are essential to the clotting of blood when there is an injury to the body, thus starting the repair and healing of body wounds.

In man the organ used for hearing, the ear, consists of an inner ear, a middle ear, and an outer ear.  The middle ear consists of three bones that pick up sound waves and converts them to vibrations that are translated into sound.

The seed of life both in plants and animals generally consist of three parts: outer covering, food stuff, and germ.  Thru this three part seed, life of the plants and animals is reproduced.

According to 1 Thes. 5:23 man consists of three parts: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We live in a solar system that revolves around the sun which produces three major rays that are essential for life: the heat ray produces the heat necessary for an environment in which man can life; the light ray produces the light by which we are able to navigate on this planet; and the actinic ray is essential for oxidation thus driving the chemical reactions necessary for life.  It is also interesting to note that the planet earth, the one in which God placed life, is the third planet from the sun!

Thus we may conclude that God has placed the mark of the Godhead on the things in nature, which God has made.  In our next essay we will examine the mark of the Godhead as it pertains to the types and shadows of the old testament.

Three (Part II)

“There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.”  This passage from I John 5:7 declares unto us the three and one Godhead.  While there are many things about the Godhead I do not understand, the pattern of the Godhead is set forth for us throughout the scriptures, especially in the types and shadows of the old testament.

First, the scriptures as a whole consist of sixty six books.  The scriptures are divided into the law, the prophets, and the letters.  The first 22 books consists of the law and the workings of the law.  The next 22 books consists of the prophets and fulfillment of the prophets.  The last 22 books contain the letters of the apostles.

When God declared he would destroy the earth with a flood, he had Noah build an ark that consisted of lower, second, and third stories.  Thus it was one ark with three stories.  When God brought the flood waters upon the earth, He opened the windows of heaven, broke up the fountains of the great deep, and caused it to rain for 40 days and nights.  Thus the flood waters were from three sources.  When Noah sought to find out if the flood waters were abated, he sent forth a dove three times.  In type the dove was a figure of the church.  She bore three messages.  The first message was that she found no rest for the soles of her feet.  There was no rest under the old law covenant.  Next, she bore the message of peace with an olive leaf plucked off.  Thus under the new covenant of worship the gospel is the gospel of peace for God’s sin-weary people.  Third, the dove left the ark and returned not again.  In the morning of the resurrection God’s covenant people are leaving this earth to never return again.  When man came off the ark, God replenished the earth with the three sons of Noah; Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Next, God made a covenant with Abraham and confirmed it with Isaac, and Jacob.  In this covenant God promised to multiply their seed as three innumerable things: dust of the earth, sand of the sea shore; and stars of heaven.  In Gal. 3:16 the seed of Abraham is declared to us to be Christ.  The multiplied seed is the elect which Rev. chapter 7 declares to be a great multitude which no man can number of every nation, kindred, people, and tongue.

When Moses and children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they journeyed three days and came to the waters of Marah and they were bitter.  God showed Moses a tree which when he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

The tabernacle the children of Israel built by God’s pattern consisted of three parts: the outer court, the holy place, and the most holy place.  Similarly the temple consisted of three major parts.

We are all familiar with Jonah being swallowed by a great fish and how that he was three days and nights in the great deep until God caused the whale to vomit him up on dry ground.  The Lord gave as a sign of his resurrection that as “Jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly, then the Son of man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Furthermore, the Lord gave the children of Israel three feasts in which the males were to gather and appear in the place which he would establish.  These three feasts were: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of tabernacles, and the feast of weeks.

When God delivered the children of Israel from the great host in the days of Gideon he chose out three hundred men and set them in three companies and by these he set up the destruction of that great host of enemies that were gathered against Israel. 

When David numbered the children of Israel and displeased God, God gave David three choices: three years of famine; three months to be destroyed before their enemies; three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.  There were three choices and three was associated with each choice.  The fact is this was God’s judgment and the Godhead was being manifest in this judgment.

In our next essay we will look at the pattern of threes surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ.

Three (Part III)

The mark of the Godhead is not only found in the things in nature and in the things that God had constructed (ark, tabernacle, temple) but it is especially manifest in the events surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Beginning with the time Jesus separated James, Peter, and John to be with him in the garden of Gethsemane we find numerous groupings of three that speaks to us to the fact that God was in control of the events that took place in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus:

1.  This was the third time recorded in the scriptures that Jesus had separated these three apostles unto himself.  The first time was when he raised the young maiden from the dead.  The second time was at the mount of transfiguration and now the third time at the garden.

2.  Next Jesus prayed the same prayer three times in the garden.

3.  When Jesus was taken to the house of the high priest, Peter denied the Lord three times as Jesus had said that he would.

4.  There were three trials of Jesus: at the high priest’s house by the sanhedrin court; before King Herod; and before Pilate the governor.

5.  There were three malefactors associated with the crucifixion of Jesus: Barrabas who was let go, and the two thieves who were crucified on either side of Jesus.

6.  Jesus was crucified in the midst of three.

7.  Pilate had one saying written in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Latin) above the head of Jesus on the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.)

8.  Jesus was crucified at the third hour of the day.

9.  While Jesus hang on the cross for six hours, there were three hours of light followed by three hours of darkness over all the earth.

10. There were three women specifically named Mary who stood at the feet of Jesus as he hang on the cross.

11. Jesus lay in the grave for three days and nights.

12. There were three angels present at the grave of Jesus: the mighty angel who rolled back the stone and sat on the stone and the two angels who appeared at the head and foot of where Jesus had lain in the grave and had said, “Why seek ye the living among the dead, he is not here, he is risen as he said...”

13. Jesus elicited from Peter an affirmation of his love three times after his resurrection.

In our next essay we will look at the church and the mark of the Godhead associated with the church.

Three (Part IV)

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead...”  According to 1 John 5:7, “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one.”  Based on the above we see that God has placed the mark of the Godhead (three are one) on the things that God has made.

Jesus said in Matt. 16:18, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  The rock Jesus was referring to was the rock of revealed truth of himself.  The church is built on three aspects of Jesus:

1.  Who he is: Verily God manifest in the flesh; the Son of God; etc.

2.  What he did: He saved his people from their sins; he quickens or calls them to eternal life; he changes their mortal body in the resurrection; he intercedes for them; etc.

3.  What he says: his word, the scriptures.

In the old testament there were three buildings that when completed were made manifest by a cloud filling and surrounding the building, in which it was said, “the glory of the Lord filled the building.”  These three buildings were the tabernacle in the wilderness, the temple built in Solomon’s day, and the building of Ezekiel’s vision.  Similarly, three times in the book of Acts we read about the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  First, on the day of Pentecost the Spirit filled the house where the church was gathered at Jerusalem.  Next in the city of Samaria (Acts chapter 8) when the apostles came down and laid their hands on the people they were filled with the Holy Ghost.  Finally, at the house of Cornelius when Peter preached unto the Gentiles the Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 11:15, 16).

When someone comes seeking entry into the church, they enter thru water baptism.  Water baptism signifies three things: the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  When someone is baptized he is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The worship service of the true church is composed of three parts: singing, prayer, and preaching.  Likewise, the communion service as laid down for us in the scriptures consists of three parts:

1.  Eating the unleavened bread which signifies the pure, perfect, sinless body of Christ.

2.  Drinking the wine which signifies the blood of Christ which he shed to redeem us from our sins.