Barnes church of Christ

Do you worship on the Sabbath? Do you think that Sunday is the Sabbath? What did, what we call “the Ten Commandments,” say about the Sabbath? Here is what Moses wrote: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). Do you obey this commandment; and if not, why not? However, this is not all that Moses wrote on this subject, as he followed it with these words: “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates” (verse 9-10). Do you obey these words and if not, why not? Or do you believe that you must obey verse eight but not verses nine and ten? If you obey verse eight, but not verses nine and ten, by what authority do you do so? By what authority do you determine that you must obey verse eight but not verses nine and ten?
Well, what a paragraph to start an article with! First, let us handle the teaching that says the Sabbath has been changed from Saturday to Sunday. Let me start with the following words, which I found in doing research: “The word Sunday is not found in the Bible.” (St. Helena Seventh-day Adventist Church) To this I will say, neither does the word “Saturday” appear in the Bible, the New Testament to be more exact. The point that needs to be noted just here, is that the Sabbath is an Old Testament law, it is in the Law of Moses, and not a New Testament commandment, a Law of Christ commandment. Saturday is not Sunday and Sunday is not Saturday!
Second, we can go a little deeper than this, however. There is the teaching among some churches, generally identified with some form of “Seventh-day,” that teach that we are still under the Law of Moses; therefore, we are obligated to worship on the “seventh day.” It is a general teaching among such, that we are under the Law of Moses! May I point out, the Law of Moses is a very large group of individual laws, which in the whole make up the Law of Moses. I read in one place that there are 613 Mosaic Laws. Here is an important question: “How many of these 613 laws do you even know about?” How many of the 613 laws do you keep? Do you worship according the laws in this large body of laws, that relate to worship? Do you go to the Jewish Temple once a year? I can safely say, no you don’t, as there is no Jewish Temple that has been built according the law given by God as to how it was to be built, standing today! Now, get this point, the Law of Moses required animal sacrifices, have you offered you animal sacrifices lately? Of course, you have not!
It might surprise you to know, that a high priest is required to offer some of the animal sacrifices! In Hebrews it reads: “Then verily the first (Covenant, the old Testament to us.) had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly” (Heb. 9:1-5). This temple does not exist today; therefore, no one, no not even the Jews of today, are able to worship according to these words! And yet we have some who teach that we have to keep the old law!
Continuing to read from Hebrews: “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God” (verse 6). Did you know that the Jews of today, have no “high priest, nor do they have priests as ordained by the Law of Moses!
Here is something that I found in my search on the subject: “No, there is no Jewish priesthood today. According to the Old Testament, the only place from which it was appropriate to offer animal sacrifices to God was the Temple in Jerusalem. In A.D. 70 the Temple was destroyed, meaning Jewish priests no longer had a place to sacrifice. Since the Temple is still in ruins today, there is currently no place for sacrifice. Therefore, there is no active priesthood in Judaism.” (Does the Jewish religion still have a priesthood today.)
Do you know what is standing were the Jewish temple once stood? Here is a quote that might help your understanding and with it we close this article. “The Dome of the Rock is a Muslim shrine that was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in AD 691. The Dome of the Rock is part of a larger Muslim holy area that takes up a significant portion of what is also known as Mount Moriah in the heart of Jerusalem.”

–Frank R. Williams

The number of articles which will be written under the above heading is unknown as I undertake to write article number five. The reason for such is there is so much that needs our attention as we write about the Old Testament. There are both small and great points to be made as we just “run” through the Old Testament.
For instance, do you know why the word “Lord” appears in all capital letter one time but at other times it is not? Or, have you even noticed this? Let us here look at one passage: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies such thy footstool” (Psa. 110:1). Of course, I am using the old King James Version of 1611. Notice that the first time the word Lord appears it is in all capital letters – “LORD”! The second time it appears it has the first letter capitalized but the other letters are in the lower case. Why so? The word “LORD” is the Hebrew “yeh-ho-vaw” and is a reference to what we call to the Godhead, or “God the Father” in this verse. Keep in mind as we read this verse, that David is writing! While the second word “Lord” is the Hebrew “ādōn” and means: “sovereign, that is, controller (human or divine).” Here it is divine and points to the coming Christ! The scene is God the Father speaking to his Son and he is inviting him (the Son) to take his set at his (God the Father) right hand. Read the words of Hebrews: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). After the death, burial, and the resurrection, the Son was to take his rightful place at the “right hand of the Majesty on high” and this is just what took place! Jesus put the mouths of the Pharisees to silence by quoting this verse, then he asked them: “Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.” Let us stop just here to make the point, that Jesus was the son of David in the flesh but the Son of God in the Spirit! Before continuing, this verse needs our attention: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is what Psalms means! Continuing with the words of Jesus to the Pharisees: “He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Matt. 22:42-46). As we might say, “End of subject!”
This is just one lesson the Old Testament has for us but notice the words of the Prophet: “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isa. 62:2). There has been great debate through the years about the name Christian! However, if we believe Isaiah, there is no debate but certainty! The “mouth of the LORD” (Notice the all caps, frw.) shall name!” So, what was/is that “new name?” The only “new name” in the New Testament is Christian! Here is how it came about. Luke wrote: “And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Search the New Testament all you would like but “Christian” is the only “new name” that is to be found! And, let us not forget that it was the “LORD” who gave it and not man! The word “Christian” only appears three times in the Bible, the passage we just noticed and in Acts 26:28, and I Peter 4:16. The fact that it appears but three times does not take away from the importance of the name “CHRISTian!” It has “Christ’ in it! Let men debate the subject, let men give all kinds of thought to the name “Christian” but Isaiah said, “which the mouth of the LORD shall name” and that settles it!
The Old Testament is so rich it is hard to bring this part of our article to a conclusion! However, we will continue to address other subjects in the next article! Keeping in mind, “That the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” This means in part, that God foretold so many things in the Old Testament that he would reveal in the New Testament, but we cannot cover but so few!
Friends, let no one tell you that the Old Testament is unimportant! It holds God’s great “mystery” as Paul wrote: “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Eph. 3:9-12). How does man find a stopping place when writing about the “eternal purpose” of God?

Frank R. Williams

One of the things a person needs to know when looking at the Old Testament books, after getting them in an order as laid out in article number three, as we were able to see the books divided on a shelf; noting the five books of law, the twelve history books, the four books of poetry, and finally the books of the prophets; both the five major ones and the twelve books of minor prophets. However, we would be in a total “miss” if we failed to note that there is a “golden” line that runs through every Old Testament book and it is that of the coming savior! Space will not allow us to point out how the coming Christ is in every Old Testament book, but it would be a greater “miss” if we did not notice a few such! Therefore, let us do just that, as it is a fascinating study.
We have already pointed to the first pronouncement of the coming savior in Genesis three, verse fifteen; so, let us look at a few other prophecies. Just a word about the “prophecies” first. It, the Old Testament “prophecies,” are not anything like the mere “fortune tellers” who have come and gone through the years, or the present ones! No, not at all! These might be called “fortune” tellers who have appeared through the years but just what is a “fortune teller?” Here is one quote that will do as an answer to our question: “Since time immemorial humans have longed to learn that which the future holds for them. Thus, in ancient civilization, and even today with fortune telling as a true profession, humankind continues to be curious about its future, both out of sheer curiosity as well as out of desire to better prepare for it.” (Isaacs, Ronald H. Divination, Magic, and Healing the Book of Jewish Folklore. Northvale N. J., Jason Aronson, 1999, pg 55). The Old Testament books are nothing like this! One of the strongest reasons in proving that the Old Testament is divinely inspired is the “prophecies” within it! Most anyone can be “right” in “fortune telling” what will take place in a day or two; in other words, a person might be right occasionally!! But the Old Testament prophecies are always right, down to the smallest point and may reach into the future a thousand years! The beautiful 53rd chapter of Isaiah will bring this truth to us. Looking at verse three: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” This is Jesus! “He” was truly: 1) “despised and rejected of men;” 2) he was “a man of sorrows;” 3) he was a man “acquainted with grief;” 4) men “hid as it were our faces from him;” and 5) “we esteemed him not!” If you have read any one of the gospel accounts, you know these points to be true of Jesus! One might write one, or even two of these about any man but not about one man; and to do so hundreds of years before his birth! Look at these words: “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth” (verse 9). Who crucified him but the “wicked;” and in whose grave was he buried, it was in the sepulcher of a rich man: “When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, …” (Matt. 27:57). Get this now, a sinless man, put to death by the “wicked,” but he made no protest: “And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly” (Matt. 27:14). We could go on and on, but this will do! No mere human can fullfill all of this!
Yet, men will put their faith in pseudo “fortune tellers,” before they put their faith in the word of God! Have you heard about those who tell us what is called “the end time,” the “future tellers;” but the word of God tells us this: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; …” (2 Pet. 3:10). Do you know when a “thief” is going to come to your house? Of course, you do not! So is the coming “day of the Lord!” What is the manner of that “coming day?” The Holy Spirit had Peter write about the “end times:” “… in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10).
No, there is no book like the “Book of God,” the Bible! Knowing the above is true, what should we be doing? Once more let God speak: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11). God always gets to the point and it is always the right point!
Well, we have looked at one Old Testament prophecy and have gone into the New Testament just a little, to show real “future telling!” There is no person, nor is there any book, that is even near the Bible!

Frank R. Williams

In the last article, “Bible (2),” we were looking at the Bible as a library, which has two major divisions: 1) the Old Testament and 2) the New Testament. As we face the shelves upon which all the Old Testament books are placed, it is needful that we see more divisions. Let us look at these divisions of the Old Testament books as we see them upon the shelves.
First, we see on the first shelf the five books of law; they are: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy. We shall call this the first section of the Old Testament. On the second shelf, we see the “History books,” and there are twelve such books. They are: 1) Joshua, 2) Judges, 3) Ruth, 4) First Samuel, 5) Second Samuel, 6) First Kings, 7) Second Kings, 8) First Chronicles, 9) Second Chronicles, 10) Ezra, 11) Nehemiah, and 12) Esther. On the third shelf, we find the four books of Poetry and they are: 1) Job, 2) Psalms, 3) Proverbs, and 4) Ecclesiastes. On the fourth and final shelf, we see another division! It is necessary to understand that on the fourth shelf there is another major division; and we see the words, “The Prophets,” but we see that “The Prophets” are divided into two divisions, which are: 1) The Major Prophets and 2) The Minor Prophets. Under the words “Major Prophets” we see five books and they are: 1) Isaiah, 2) Jeremiah, 3) Lamentations, 4) Ezekiel and 5) Daniel. The second group of Prophets are called “The Minor Prophets and they are: 1) Hosea, 2) Joel, 3) Amos, 4) Obadiah, 5) Jonah, 6) Micah, 7) Nahum, 8) Habakkuk, 9) Zephaniah, 10) Haggai, 11) Zechariah, and 12) Malachi. With this, the Old Testament side of the shelf is complete. Seeing the Old Testament in this manner is a great help in our efforts to know the Old Testament better and the books are easier to memorize.
A few words are needed about the “The Prophets,” as many people have the idea that because the first group of the five “The Prophets” are called “The Major Prophets,” and the second group of twelve are called “The Minor Prophets,” means that “The Major Prophets” are more important than “The Minor Prophets” but this is not the case at all! The reason for the words “Major” and “Minor” has to do with the length of the books. The “major” three thoughts of the Old Testament books are these: 1) the first sin, 2) the great flood, 3) Israel’s desire for an earthly king! In the case of the first sin, which resulted in Adam and Eve being expelled from the perfect “garden,” nevertheless, God made the first announcement of the coming savisor, here God is speaking to the Devil: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). This is called “the protoevangelium, which is a compound word of two Greek words, protos meaning “first” and “evangelion” meaning “good news” or “gospel.” The world of that time would; and, the world of Moses’ time would also wait, for the coming savior!
Throughout the Old Testament, the world waited for he who would save them. The inspired writers of the Old Testament would continue to give hope to these people by the prophets. Here I give just one such, as Isaiah wrote: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). We know that these words refer to the coming savior, as Matthew quotes them and applies it to the birth of Jesus; as he wrote: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:22-23). Then, as the Old Testament comes to its conclusion, God was still giving Israel hope of the coming savior, as Malachi wrote: “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Mal. 4:4-5). The “Elijah” of this passage refers to John the one who baptized! We know this because of Jesus’ words as He, John and Peter were in the mount called “the mount of transfiguration;” when Jesus said unto them: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matt. 17:11-13).
With this we bring an end of this third article in this series on the Bible. We have traveled from Genesis through Malachi, the Old Testament!

Frank R. Williams

The greatest book ever written! This can honestly be said about one book and one book only and it is the Bible! If we think of the Bible as a complete library, when the books are rightly divided, and placed on the shelves it becomes easier to understand. It may be rightly said that most people, even readers of the Bible, never “rightly divide” the Bible in this manner. This results in much confusion!
As you look at the shelves upon which the books of the Bible may rightly be placed, more light is put upon it. That which has been in “darkness,” quietly comes to light and gives understanding. How should the Bible be “rightly” divided? Before answering this question, let us recall the words of the apostle Paul to Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Let us here look at some of the words in this text. The first word is “study,” which is the Greek “spoudazo” and has this as one meaning: “to make effort.” In other words, the Bible does not “just jump into” our minds. Luke wrote of those in Berea “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Much could be written about this verse, but here we will allow it to speak for itself! In the “spirit of effort,” Luke put those of Berea in the spiritual class of “nobleman!” It behooves all mankind to be as they were! Being a good student of the Bible requires that it be “rightly divided;” as Paul wrote to Timothy, “rightly dividing,” which is the Greek “orthotomeo” and means “to make a straight cut,” and “to dissect” “the word of truth” and when this is done, it makes for greater understanding.
With the above in mind, let us look upon the shelves upon which the books of the Bible are placed. First, we see that the Bible is divided into two major parts: 1) The Old Testament and 2) the New Testament. If this first division is not made, there is no way that a person will ever gain the truths which the Bible holds for the reader, more correctly, the studier of the Bible. A few words here are in order about the word “testament.” The Greek word translated “testament” or “covenant” means “the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will.” We all know about a “will,” which a person prepares to be read and put into force after death! So, to the Hebrews Christians it was written that God said: “… Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Heb. 8:8). Therefore, the writer wrote these words: “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Heb. 8:13, Jer. 31: 31-34). A “new” will was written, which is known as “the New Testament,” and was to replace the “Old Testament.” We sometimes say: “The last will and testament,” knowing that it is the “Last Will” that is now in force, which has the power of God upon all people! But who died? But who’s last “will” and “testament” is read to all people? Therefore, as we look at the Bible, we first see two shelves; upon the first is placed all the books of the Old Testament and upon the second one is placed the books of the New Testament! Therefore, in Hebrews it reads: “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Heb. 9:17). Only after the death of Jesus did his “last will and testament” came into force!
On the left side, as one stands facing the shelves, on the left side all the Old Testament books are seen. This means that thirty-nine books are found there, all the books starting with Genesis through Malachi. It is these books that are the Old Testament, the books that have been closed and are of no force, as a New Testament, the last will and testament of Christ, is now in force. Here we find how a person is to live, what a person must do to be saved, what it means to be faithful to Christ, and what will be used in the final judgment for all who have lived and died on this side of the first Pentecost after the death of Jesus!
With this in mind, read with me the words of Paul: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now (From Pentecost until the coming of Jesus. frw) commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17::30-31). How will you answer the Lord on Judgment Day?

Frank R. Williams

Yes, our subject is the Bible! So, you ask, “Why the Bible, doesn’t everyone know about the Bible?” I believe we are safe to say that “most” people know about the Bible. The question is just what do they know? There was a time and it still may be true, that nearly everyone had a Bible in their house, even on their coffee table. However, this is not true today!
Let us get right to the subject, the Bible! Here let us look at the first facts about the Bible. There are sixty-six books in it; the Old Testament containing thirty-nine books and the New Testament having just twenty-seven books. These books are quite different. Their purpose is truly different, also. The Old Testament was written for the Hebrew people but as a history book, it is for all people. When its prophecy were fulfilled, it became a book, as Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:40). Therefore, it is foolish to say that the Old Testament has no purpose for today! For instance, where would we be without the first few chapters of Genesis? How would we answer these questions: 1) How was the earth created? 2) Where did we come from? 3) When was the first sin committed? 4) Why were Adam and Eve expelled from the “garden of Eden? 5) Why did God destroy the “world” at the time of Noah? Notice God did not destroy the “earth” but “world” in the days of Noah! On and on this could go but you get the idea. Here is a point that is so often missed, notice the words of Peter: “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” (2 Pet. 3:6).” Please note that Peter used the word “world” was “overflowed with water.” Now, read the next verse: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (verse 7). Peter informs us, though the “world” was “overflowed with water,” but he also wrote that “the earth,” but “earth was kept in store!” Even though the “earth” was “overflowed with water,” it was not destroyed. Many people fail to understand this simple truth; this “world” was overflowed with water and perished!
But, the book of Genesis also gives the first announcement of the one who would be the salvation all, as Moses wrote when God was speaking the “Devil: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15); Jesus said in the New Testament that all who would “believe” on the name of the Son of God; let Jesus say it: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Though centuries passed God was true to his word, he spoke to Joseph: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:21-23). Here Mathew has taken us from Genesis to Isaiah, the Old Testament in perfect harmony with the New Testament! As someone over the years said: “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament the Old Testament revealed.” Allow me to put in this: “The Old Testament are the roots that take us to the branches of the New Testament.” Of course, the inspired writers of the New Testament have said it best: “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” ( Eph. 3:9-10). The inspired writers always say it best!
Jesus said when he introduced the “Lord’s Supper” to the disciples: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt 26:28). Jesus’ blood is in the New Testament; yes it is also true, written in Hebrews when writing of Jesus: “And for this cause he (Jesus, frw) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first (old, frw) testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15).
Here we must close this first of a series of articles on “the Bible” but it is written that it may help the reader understand the Bible better, not only for oneself but be able to teach others, also!

Frank R. Williams

Sometimes famous words did not really come from the mouth of the person who is said to have uttered them. “I don’t see any God up here!” Of course, the younger generation may not remember such; nor the importance placed upon them at the time. There is a question as to who really uttered the words.
For years the words, “I don’t see any God up here!” were contributed to Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin. Who was he, you ask? The name sure is not one we hear every day! In fact, this name may be lost in the history books of another time. However, the name and the event for which he is attached, was a most important event. It was a time, when “the space war,” was going on at a high pitch between America and the now, old “Soviet Union.” Symbolically, it was a time of “war” between “Christian” America and the Atheistic-Soviet Union! It was important to Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of the Soviet Union, that every opportunity should be taken to belittle and denounce Christianity.
Unconcerned with objectivity and truth, this sounds like some today, the anti-religious propaganda of the Soviet Union, built up a negative image of “believers” as fanatics, disseminators of disease, social pests or criminals. Why was this done? One reason was to justify the persecution of “Christians” to the general public! The anti-religious campaign of the Khrushchev era started in 1959. The main religion in the Soviet Union was the Russian Orthodox Church. Khrushchev gave a speech at the Central Committee about the state’s anti-religion campaign and it was here that he said: “Gagarin flew into space, but didn’t see any god there!” This is more than likely the truth; it was Nikita Khrushchev and not Yuri Gagarin that uttered the words! It should be noted that no such words appear in the verbatim record of his conversations with Earth stations during his spaceflight! It is said that Gagarin was in fact a religious man, having been “baptized” into the Baptist Church but became a member of the Orthodox Church. The people put a “higher stock” in the words of Gagarin than Khrushchev; thus, Khrushchev was willing to put the words in the mouth of Gagarin! On the other hand, read these words of Anton Peryushin who said, “In fact, Gagarin should be remembered for completely different words. I always remember that Yuri Gagarin said: “An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and his heart.”
All of this could have been settled, had Khrushchev known the words of the New Testament. In the Gospel According to John, it is written: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). No, Gagarin did not see God in his trip into space! However, it is very important to all of us, that we understand what Jesus did. As the text reads: “… the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him!” No one looking into outer space, or anywhere else, will see God but “the only begotten Son, … he hath declared him!” The Greek word translated “declared” is “exēgeomai” and one of the words that expresses the meaning is, “unfold.” Thus, one of the missions of Jesus coming into this world was to “unfold” God the Father to us. Here we recall the words of John once more: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). One of the key words, which relates to our subject is “doxa,” which is translated “glory” in the text. It has the meaning, “dignity, glory (…), honour, praise.” The “Word” is God in the text, but God “was made flesh.” And what did God do in the “flesh?” He “unfolded” God to us! God is not found in outer space but in the person of Jesus, who was during his time on this earth, “God with us!”
There are folks who climb the highest mountain to find God, to find Jesus but there is no mountain top that will reveal God, the Father, or Jesus to us! Other people look to mystic religions of the world, but God, the Father, or Jesus will not be found in such! Such countries are generally used to refer to the region located between the Asian and African continents. These religions are pagan in nature and are no different than those the nation of Israel was faced with. Still others look to themselves and think they are their own “god,” so they serve themselves! Whatever is right in their own sight, is right and no one should ever question them!
However, John the apostle of Christ, wrote and in so doing, he gave the only way a person may “know” God! John wrote: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4).
Friends, no, you will not see God in outer space, but you can know him in Jesus!

rank R. Williams

Eternal life has been the quest of man through the centuries! Lands have been explored, the waters deep have been searched, and the “heavens” have been longed for. It may or may not surprise you to learn that the words “eternal life,” or “life eternal” appears forty-seven times in the King James Version of the Bible. Another word that expresses the same thing is “for ever,” and it appears 393 times. While the word “everlasting” appears 97 times. These words are most important to the Bible believer, because of what each word summons to the mind.
The Greek word (aiōn) translated “for ever” in 1 Peter 1:23, expresses “perpetuity” which means: “the quality or state of being perpetual.” In our time, it may be used, “an annuity payable forever.” Of course, this would be based on an incorrect thought, that this world/earth is “forever,” which it is not. Peter wrote: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). This fact, “the earth … shall be burned up;” thus, it is not “perpetual,” this truth being settled to the one who believes the New Testament is the inspired word of God, we move on! Here are Peter’s inspired words, which has our attention: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:23). Peter’s point and our point is that, it requires that which is “eternal,” “for ever” to produce that which is “eternal,” or has the quality of “perpetuity!” One thing on this earth has this quality! Peter identified it, as the “incorruptible” seed, and the Greek word he used is “aphthartos,” which expresses the thought of “undecaying.” (Strong) We know of no other thing that this can be truthfully said! There is no other thing that can save the “soul/spirit of man. But as to the soul/spirit of man, it is the quality of eternal perpetuity, but where it will be so! As in heaven with God or in “hell” without God; as Paul wrote of the one who never obeys the gospel: “… shall be punished with everlasting” (aiōnios, perpetual, eternal, for ever, everlasting”); as in “perpetual,” there is no difference but the place. Jesus said: “And these shall go away into everlasting (aiōnios) punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (aiōnios)” (Matt. 25:46). Please notice that Jesus used the same word for “everlasting” punishment and for “eternal” life. Neither has an end but is perpetual!
The difference between the Greek word “aiōnios” as it relates to the “incorruptible” seed by which the child of God is begotten (born, KJV) is that it is of God, who is eternal, perpetual; therefore, it has the quality of being eternal, perpetual, and producing that which will be “eternal,” perpetual. In the words of Peter: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Another word we may introduce is that of “immortal.” Now, let us notice only those who are/have been “begotten” (born) of this “incorruptible” seed of God, that they are “immortal,” in that he/she will live with God in an immortal state, which we known as heaven!
Peter compares the “immortal,” incorruptible,” “everlasting,” and that which liveth “for ever” with: “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:” (verse 24). We are fully aware of the “grass” which “withereth” in the fall of the year and we see “the flower thereof falleth away.” On the other hand, Peter concluded with: “But the word of the Lord endureth for (ice/unto) ever (aiōn, eternal). And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:25). Thus, Paul wrote of the gospel of Christ: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:16-17).
Going back to the words of the Lord, when he said: “And these shall go away into everlasting (aiōnios) punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (aiōnios)” (Matt. 25:46). It is not a matter of existing “for ever” but where we shall exist eternally! There are but two places: 1) heaven with God and 2) hell without God: “with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power!” The saddest words that any person will ever hear are: “… I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:23).
With the beginning of the New Year, let us put and keep our lives in the keeping of God, as we “trust and obey” the gospel of Christ, “the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Frank R. Williams

In two more days (From Sunday December 29th), the year 2019 will be history! We will be using the words like, “it was,” “I remember,” and “I recall.” All of which are “looking back” into what is now history! The three hundred-sixty-five days that started on day one, have passed one-by-one, event by event; some were filled with days of joy, while others had their time of sadness. Some brought to our faces smiles and others put tears into our eyes! We received some of the sweetest things in life, a hug from a grandchild; and at other times, we gave hugs of “good-by” to family and friends as they had to return home. Some days brought to us “good” things and not so “good” things. This is time, it passes, gone forever, never to come our way again! As someone said, “That’s life!”
Question, in the last year, did we ever think of this great truth, as James wrote: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain” (James 4:13)? When we should have understood: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (verse 14). So, just what should we be saying: “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (verse 15). So, we should know that “time” is only a loan, and with each passing second, it is gone never to be used by us again! Time does not belong to us; God gives it to us to use but we are responsible for how we use it! As to how we used it, we will have to give answer for each day: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc.12:13-14).
In the beginning God, as Moses wrote: “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:16-18). So, why did God create these? He did so for man, whom God was about to make; but God knew before creating man and woman, that we would need such for our living, for our need to know how to divide time! Then, he made us responsible how we used this divided time!
At the end of each year we are able to say, three-hundred-sixty-five days, have now passed, they have each gone one-by-one into history! On the other hand, with each hour, we have used wisely or foolishly, for good or evil; for seriousness or foolishness, to work or play, for family and friends, or otherwise! But, the important thing, was each hour used as God would have it used; in play, in work, in worship of God “in spirit and in truth,” or did we use God’s time to serve a false god; “Professing themselves (ourselves, frw) to be wise, they (we, frw) became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:22-23)?
One of the great things that God has given us, is the opportunity to repent and change the way we do things! Paul let those of Athens know about one God, who they “ignorantly worship(ped)” but we protest, we would never do such? Are you sure? We serve the “god of things,” things made by the hands of man, both day and night! We just don’t call them “gods!” Maybe the Athenians were more honest than we; as they confessed to worshipping at the altar of “THE UNKNOWN GOD!” (Acts 17:23) How many “unknown” gods do we really worship? I remember a preacher saying, that before he left for Africa, that we parked our one car in a one-car garage! But when he came back from Africa, we had a two-car garage, but the car plus a boat was now in the driveway, the garage was full of things, and in the back yard we had built an outbuilding for other things! Yet, we confessed to not “worshipping” things! But do our “things” tell on us?
Well, the year 2019 is going to end; like it or not, it is going to end when the clock strikes its last “note” at mid-night! So, what should we do? We should/must determine to serve and worship the One True God, and him only in the New Year, should God give us such time! Friends; let us bid “so-long” to the year 2019 while looking forward to the New Year 2020 with a promise of using it better, using it more wisely, and in more service and worship of God.

Frank R. Williams

The end of any year gets our attention! The reasons may vary from person to person, but whatever else it may mean to you; one fact is true for all of us. As the bells ring on the last day of 2019, three-hundred-sixty-five days have gone, and they will never return!
Is there one day of the passing year, that you remember more than any other day of 2019? For most of us, generally speaking, at least one day stands out, for various reasons. To start with, this one day or several days tied together, may be etched in our minds so deeply, that they will never be forgotten. We may have lost a loved one, one so dear, so much apart of our lives, that a place in our lives is missing and will never be replaced! On the other hand, this one day may be remembered because a very good thing happened. An event that brought to us, great joy. Thoughts here go to retirement, after twenty, twenty-five, or thirty years, finally we can get-up in the morning at our own pleasure! Maybe it was a new and better job, a job that meant more money in the paycheck, which made taking care of our family better. Finally, just here, it could have been a new child was born into the family, who was received with tears of joy! For one family, it was death of a loved one; for another it was the newborn baby; tears and joy! So, what was it for you, that took place in 2019?
Solomon should have a few words to address our subject; therefore, let us see what he had to say. He wrote: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Sol. 12:1-7). There is life, as written by the “pen of Solomon!”
Whatever we may or may not understand of Solomon’s words (Ecc. 12:1-7), the inspired conclusion is hard to miss: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc. 12:13-14). In the New Testament, Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Here we allow Paul to conclude, both the positive and the negative; first the positive: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend 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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:15-18). Now the negative: “… when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
Yes, the end of the year 2019 is drawing near, it is even at the door, it has knocked, and it came in, and now is fast passing out and into history!

Frank R. Williams