Barnes church of Christ

With Mary’s conception, “the story of salvation” has reached the concluding years of the bloodline promised in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The bruising of the “head” of the serpent, which would also bring about the bruising of the “heel” of the seed of woman; would require the shedding of the pure, innocent, sinless blood of the “Word” which was made flesh and blood (John 1:14). This was the prophesy God spoke to the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
Through all the years following the sins committed in the Garden of Eden, animal sacrifices had been made, both before the Law of Moses and after; but we are informed in Hebrews: “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:3-4). The blood of “bulls and goats” is of less value of than the blood of man; therefore, it was not possible for such blood to “take away sins.” God, of course, knowing this from the beginning planned for a greater “blood” sacrifice to be offered: “he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel!” But, how do you get a blood sacrifice which is greater than that of “bulls and goats?” Keep in mind; blood stained with sin is of no greater value than other blood stained with sin; therefore, the blood which would be able to “take away sins,” required greater blood without sin! It must be blood of greater value than the blood of man stained with sin! In other words, a ransom paid must be greater than what is to be redeemed!
So, what blood is of greater value than the blood of man stained with sin? Attention is called to the words of Peter, as he addresses the subject of our redemption, he wrote: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers”(1 Pet. 1:18); and it may be added, neither were we redeemed with “the blood of bulls and goats;” so Peter followed with these words: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (Verse 19). The “precious blood of Christ,” (1 Pet. 2:22), is of greater value than the blood of man stained with sin! Then, Peter takes the reader all the way back before the Jewish world, to the promise made to Abraham, to the prophesy God made as he spoke to the serpent in the Garden of Eden: “Who (Christ, FRW) verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world (the Jewish world, FRW), but was manifest in these last times for you” (verse 20). I am fully aware that this is not the general way these words are understood, but this conclusion has been reached after many years of trying to understand them and similar words, with a view of all God reveals on the subject. The sinless blood of “the lamb of God,” of which John, the one who immersed, upon seeing Jesus come to him said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). There is the bloodline of the woman from Eve to Mary and in the Emmanuel: “God with us!”
Paul wrote: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). The Greek Paul used in the phrase, “made of a woman” is “ginomai,” which means: “to come into existence, begin to be, received being.” The seed of woman received his being, as flesh and blood, in Mary! It was through the woman Mary, that “the Word” received his flesh and blood (John 1:14) became “the lamb of God” and came “into existence” by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18).
In this act, “the story of salvation” is reaching toward the climax; as Paul wrote: “In whom (“the lamb of God,” FRW) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). In the death of Jesus, the bruising of the serpent’s head had been accomplished, the bondage of sin had been overcome; and in his death upon the cross, only his “heel” had been bruised; as he was resurrected from the dead, but the power of satan received a death blow!

— Frank R. Williams

The story of salvation, as it relates to Mary, stops with her seed, Jesus of Nazareth. The “golden chain” that runs through the Old Testament is a bloodline which goes through the “seed” of woman. When understood, the words of Isaiah, chapter seven, verse fourteen, were a spell binding prophesy: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” First, how could it be that “a virgin” would “conceive?” Second, when would it happen? When was it to take place and how could it take place?
In looking at Isaiah 7:14, as it relates to “the story of salvation,” it is important to notice a few words: 1) sign, 2) virgin, 3) conceive, 4) son, and 5) Immanuel. Starting with the last of these, “Immanuel,” which means “God with us;” therefore, whoever, this “son” will be, he will be “God with us.” No one else will do in fulfilling the words of Isaiah. Second, the word “son” and this “son” must be God, dwelling among mankind; else, he is not the “son” of this prophesy. Third, is the word “conceive,” and standing by itself would not get our attention; but when coupled with our second word, “virgin,” it demands attention. For the question now comes to mind, how it is possible for a “virgin” to “conceive?” With man, it is impossible; but with God it is possible! This brings us to our first word, “sign.” This is a key word in the Isaiah prophesy. We are fully aware that some have sought to take Christ out of this text. But, what “sign” is there in a young woman conceiving and bringing forth a son? It happened every day then, and it happens every day now. Yet, Isaiah used the word “sign” and says the “sign” is that a “virgin” shall “conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Only one time in the history of mankind has this taken place. The “virgin” is named Mary and the inspired Matthew, an apostle of Christ, wrote the following: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) 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). These words answer our question, but only in part. Matthew identifies Mary as the “virgin” of the Isaiah prophecy, but here, he does not reveal how a “virgin” can “conceive.” Therefore, it is necessary to back up a few verses: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18). Notice, it was “before” Joseph and Mary had “came together,” that “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” The “virgin” was “conceived” of the Holy Spirit, not man. It is through Mary that the bloodline runs, but it is by means of the Holy Spirit that the son is conceived; thus, he is “Emmanuel:” “God with us.” Before continuing with “the story of salvation,” please take the time to notice that Isaiah used the word “conceive,” while Matthew uses the word “shall be with child.” By interchanging these words, God has told us, when Mary “conceived,” she was “with child.” Of course, the son, the child, the “son of man” through Mary is Jesus, the Christ, but through the Holy Spirit he is “Son of God.” Therefore, he is human and deity!
Without this part of “the story of salvation,” there would be no “story of salvation.” Therefore, it is imperative that a better understanding be obtained. John will help us here. He wrote: “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). The “Word” is God, but not God the Father, neither God the Holy Spirit. The “Word,” of John 1:1, whom we shall here identify as the second person of the Godhead. John informs us, “was made,” and the Greek word (ginomai) he used means: to come into existence, begin to be. No, the “Word” did not come into existence, but he did “begin to be” flesh and blood; then, notice John’s words, “dwelt among us.” Therefore, John identifies Isaiah’s “Immanuel” with the “Word” becoming flesh: “God with us!”
With this, “the story of salvation” has taken a major step forward; as the Son of the virgin is named Jesus, which means, savior (Matt. 1:21).

— Frank R. Williams

It is most important to “the story of salvation” to look at the seed of woman of which God spoke in the Garden of Eden. Recall the words of God to the serpent, “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). The Hebrew word translated into the English word “seed” is “zera.” Notice the action of creation: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed (zera), and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed (zera) is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (12) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed (zera) after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed (zera) was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:11-12). Without the power within the word “zera,” creation would never have been completed and God would not have been able to say at the end of creation: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Gen. 1:31). Why is this true, that creation would not have been completed without the power that is in the word “zera?”
Simply because there would be no continuity in what God created. Notice, the words, “after his kind;” this expresses the power to reproduce! It is in the Hebrew word “zera” that creation is perfected, as it is the container created by God with the limitless power of God for continuing. Therefore, the second chapter opens: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made” (Gen. 2:1-2). It will also help in understanding this point, if we notice what God said to the male and female whom he had created: “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (30) And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” (Gen. 1:29-30). It is in the “herb bearing seed” (zera) that the man and woman and the “beast of the earth,” “every fowl of the air,” and “everything that creepeth upon the earth,” wherein was life, that God gave for meat (The Hebrew word translated “meat” is “όkláh” and may be translated “food”) “the herb bearing seed (zera).” In other words, without the continuing power of life, which was in “herb bearing seed (zera),” there would have been no power of continuity! Life would have sprung up, only to die! Thus, the word “zera” expresses the continuity of life; the perpetual nature is within the “seed!”
What is this all about? When God said to the serpent: “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,” the pronoun “it” (hoo) should be translated “he.” The “he” is the “seed” (zera) of the woman. It is to a definite person that God is pointing. It was not to Cain, as it would not be true of him, for satan bruised his head. It was not true to Abel, for Cain murdered him. It was not to be Seth, as there is no evidence of him bruising the “head” of satan. However, it would be through the blood line of Seth, but the “he” is the same one through whom all families of the earth would be blessed. This brings us back to Abram and the promise God made to him: “… And in thy seed (zera) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; …” (Gen. 22:18). It is in the means by which “all nations would be blessed” that the “seed” of woman woud bruise the head of satan! It is to these words that the apostle Paul directs our attention, when he wrote: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed (sperma), which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). Therefore, Paul has identified the “seed” of Abram, through which “all families of the earth” would be “blessed,” “which is Christ!” It was Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, who destroyed the bondage of sin, in that there was no way of forgiveness of sin until the shedding of the blood of the seed of woman, the seed of Abram, the seed of Mary.
This brings us full circle, “the seed of woman” and the son of Mary who is the Christ! Through whose blood the power of satan is destroyed. Sin, the power of satan, no longer holds mankind in bondage; but as Paul wrote speaking of Christ: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). “The story of salvation” is compelling!

— Frank R. Williams

“The story of salvation” goes through the whole Bible, save the first two chapters. Why not through the first two chapters? As has been pointed out, the sins were committed in the first part of chapter three; prior to the sins, there was no need to talk about salvation. Adam might have asked, “Salvation from what?” However, God did give Adam the information about the consequences of sin, when he told the man: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). The “death” in this context is spiritual. “The story of salvation” has it beginning, on earth, following the sins committed.
“The story of salvation” its the story of the bloodline which ended in Jesus of Nazareth. There are two, shall we say, “start overs,” in “the story of salvation.” The first being with Noah, as the God looked upon man, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Just how evil mankind had become, is beyond our abilities to understand! To help with this, one of the major points in God giving us the history of Israel is to show us his mercy! The story of Israel is one of simplicity; Israel obeys God, Israel sins against God, Israel, because of their sins, is taken into captivity, Israel repents and God through his mercy receives them back into his favor. It is a story of mercy, and is part of “The story of salvation!” It was in fact, the keeping of the bloodline, as it was running through the tribe of Judah. Nevertheless, the wickedness of Noah’s time is beyond our abilities to understand! God’s anger has never reached that point again, where he would say: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Gen. 6:7), since that time. We read about sin, the awfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah, but never do we see God reach the conclusion about man as he did in the time of Noah. So, just how evil were they in the time of Noah? Well “the story of salvation” is saved through Noah and the bloodline continues through him, then Shem. It must not be forgotten, God’s mercy is seen in the salvation of Noah and his family, they were saved by water and it was a “figure” of our being saved today by baptism (1 Pet. 2:20-21).
The second “start over” takes us to Abram! After giving the generations of Shem and bringing us to Terah, the father of Abram (Abraham). The “land of his nativity” being the “Ur of the Chaldees” (Gen. 11:28). Idolatry had become the way of life, even in the bloodline through which “The story of salvation” would flow. So, what was God’s answer to this great threat? At some point, in the flow of events, God said to Abram: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:1-3). So God in order to keep the bloodline separated Abram from the people of the land of “Ur of the Chaldees.” He also promised that a great nation would come from Abram, which would be the nation of Israel. With this separation, a new people would be formed. They would be called Hebrews, Abram being the first person called a Hebrew. The bloodline, the seed of woman, would continue through Israel, through the tribe of Judah. This nation would be given a law, only for those whom God brought forth out of Egyptian bondage (Deut. 5:1-6). They would cross the Red Sea, being saved from the bondage of the Egyptians; this also would serve as a “figure,” in “The story of salvation” revealed in the New Testament.
Thus, “The story of salvation” moved through the Hebrew nation, through the bloodline of Judah. The New Testament picks up “The story of salvation” in the bloodline of Judah, as it introduces us to Jesus of Nazareth.

— Frank R. Williams

The story of salvation, on earth, starts with the words of God to “the serpent” in Genesis 3:15: “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.” Though this verse is not quoted by any New Testament writer, nevertheless, Jesus did tell the eleven after his death, as recorded by Luke: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Genesis; thus, chapter three is at the very beginning of the writing of Moses and though Jesus’ words may not directly point to the Genesis prophesy; Moses is the writer of the book of Genesis and the door is opened for Jesus’ words to include the Genesis’ prophesy.
It also stands to reason, sin having been injected into this world, the first series of sins having been committed, that God would address his plan of salvation; thus, the beginning of the story of salvation on earth. Noticing the words of the text is important, if we are to gain some understanding of the prophesy. God spoke to “the serpent,” telling him, that he would, from this point in time forward, put “enmity between thee and the woman.” This is a bloodline enmity between “the serpent” and the woman, as she would give birth to the “seed,” the bloodline. Her next “seed,” who would be Seth, would be the first in this bloodline. Without naming all those in this bloodline, it reaches Abram (Abraham) to whom God would say: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen. 12:2-3). The “nation” which God promises Abram would continue the bloodline; as God would say to Abram at a later time: “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Gen. 17:7). The “seed,” the bloodline would go through Isaac and Jacob, who would be the father of the nation of Israel; his name being changed to Israel. However, this bloodline would not run through the whole of Israel, but through Judah. But, God also promised, that through the seed” of Abram, “shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, the same promise is stated elsewhere). The apostle referring to this promise wrote: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). Therefore, there is no room for doubt as to the “seed” promise made to Abram; this “seed” is Christ and it reaches back to the “seed” of woman.
Now going back to the Genesis three prophesy, and noting the “enmity” would also be “between thy (serpent, FRW) seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This is the conclusion of the bloodline “enmity!” The “seed” of the serpent would “bruise” the “heel” of the woman’s “seed;” while the woman’s “seed” would“bruise his head.” Clearly, there is a great victory on the part of the “seed” of the woman; as bruising one’s “head” is a death blow to his power, while the bruising of the “heel,” through most uncomfortable, it is much less. So, to what do these words point? In order to get at the larger point of the Genesis prophesy; the power of the “serpent” must be clarified. From the first sin committed, satan (the serpent) held mankind in bondage. There was no way of forgiveness! This was even true all the way through the history of the nation of Israel; yes, they offered, beginning with Adam and Eve through the nation of Israel, animal sacrifices, but as the Hebrew letter states: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). The “blood” of all those sacrifices was, in fact, pointing to the blood by which sins could be forgiven! This brings us to the bruising of the “heel” of the “seed” of woman! The language allows us to see what looked like a victory for the “serpent” when the “seed” of woman was nailed to the cross, but it was a victory for the “seed” of the woman; as the power of satan was destroyed in the blood of the “seed” of woman. Through the blood of the sinless Jesus, the means of forgiveness was finally realized! The apostle Paul wrote when speaking of Jesus: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). Satan’s head had been bruised; a death blow to the long held power of satan was defeated.
The Greek word used by Paul (apolutrōis) expresses “a releasing effected by payment of ransom.” The blood of Jesus is the ransom payment, worthy to free mankind from the bondage of satan; and the story of salvation is realized!

— Frank R. Willams

Where did it start? Did it start with man, or did it start with God? To answer these questions, here is another question: “Who was in need of salvation?” An easy question to answer, it is not God, but man who is in need of salvation. Of course, this brings to mind yet another question, “Why is man in need of being saved?”
Asking questions is a good way to get at the truth, whatever the area of truth one is dealing with. Understanding it is man that is in need of being saved (Which will be addressed later in this article.); it brings us to the question above, “Why is man in need of being saved?” It is easy to see that one question may in fact lead to any number of questions that need answers. Of course, if there is no God, the God who is not made of gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device (Acts 17:29), then, there is no story of salvation.
While looking at the subject of God, it will serve the reader well to look briefly at what it would mean if there is no God. If there is no God, then, there is no such thing as right and wrong, good and evil; other than what one thinks within himself; and cannot be binding on any other. Therefore, everyone would be free to do whatever seems right to him at the moment. True, a group of people, such as a nation, or state, could by the majority vote and make rules, laws, of right and wrong, but it would always be subject to change at the whim of the next majority! Therefore, it must be confessed that there would be no absolute standard! On the other hand, if God exists, and he does, then the very nature of being God necessitates a moral standard!
This truth will help us see why man is in need of salvation and with this the story of salvation has its beginning. Let us take a trip back in time to the Garden of Eden. God having created man and woman, male and female created he them (Gen. 1:27), gave to the man certain responsibilities. Before doing so, the story of how God created the man is told; “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). He then said to the man in regard to the garden: “dress it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15), but this was not all; God also said to him: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). There was nothing difficult about these commandments; as they were clearly stated! God even stated the consequences for eating of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” as he said, “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” There was no ambiguity, but clear and unmistakable truth.
Man was created innocent and without sin in the world! He was not in need of being saved, for he was not lost. It is here that God looked upon the man whom he had created and said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). With this, God made the woman: “he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; (22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Gen. 2:21-22). In this, marriage had its beginning and the first family was created. At this point, mankind was still not in need of salvation, for no sin existed! But this would change as the day arrived when the tempter came upon the scene. It is here the story of salvation has its beginning; the one thing which the man and woman were forbidden to eat, which had the penalty of death was before them, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). In this series of events, the woman “being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Tim. 2:14), yielded and ate of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;” and she gave unto her husband and he did eat. In this series of events sin entered into the world.
Now mankind was in need of salvation and the story of salvation begins. God wasted no time, knowing the need of salvation! God said to the satan: “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 the beginning of what has been called, the Protevangelium. Justin Martyr (160 AD) and Irenaeus (180 AD) called this verse the Protevangelium; the first messianic prophecy in the Old Testament. In our time, Frank Derek Kidner describes it as “the first glimmer of the gospel.” However man may describe it, the story of salvation has its earthly beginning!
However, it would be incorrect if we concluded that this is the real beginning of the story of salvation. We learn in the New Testament that if first began in the eternal mind of God which he proposed in Christ (Eph. 3:11)!

Frank R. Williams

In this last article under the above title the subject of authority will be addressed. In the first place, no “search for the ancient order of things” can truthfully be made if the authority for “ancient order of things” is unknown! For an example of what happens when the authority is lost, the following is given.
“And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying, (4) Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: (5) And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house, (6) Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. (7) Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully. (8) And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. (9) And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. (10) And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. (11) And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, (13) Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us” (2 Kings 22:3-13).
The point being, you cannot obey the law if the book of the law is lost! Notice the last words from the above text: “the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us!” It should be clear to all, that when we have 1,200 (or more) religious bodies, denominational churches, all claiming to be following and obeying the the one Book, that “the words of the book” have been lost! In Josiah’s time, the book had been literally lost, while in our time we all have “the book,” but its authority has been lost. For example, in the denominational churches it cannot even be agreed upon as to “what baptism” is: is it sprinkling, pouring, or is it a burial? Never mind the following words appear in the inspired text with the word “baptism;” “buried with him by baptism” (Rom. 6:4), and “Buried with him in baptism” (Col. 2:12). Then, with these words a resurrection from the water is expressed: “baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) and “wherein also ye are risen” (Col. 2:12). Baptism is, according to the authority of Christ, a burial and resurrection. It should be clear the authority of Christ has been lost in some denominational churches who teach that baptism is sprinkling or pouring!
Then, it appears that most denominational churches are unable to agree that baptism is necessary in order to be saved. This is in spite of the following inspired words: “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:20-21). Was Noah and family saved by water? Yes, if one accepts the authority of the New Testament! Does baptism now save us? Yes, if one accepts the authority of the New Testament! Yet, very few denominational churches believe this.
Now, one must read the above with the understanding that in the case of Noah and in the case of those who are saved today, that Peter is not teaching that Noah was saved by water alone. Was the ark necessary? Yes, of course the ark was necessary to Noah and his family being saved. The same is true with baptism today. Peter was not teaching baptism only, nor baptism of regeneration. But, as in the case of Noah, other things were necessary; such as the building of the ark, the taking of the animals on board, getting the family onto the ark, were all necessary! Yet, these other necessary things do not change the fact that Noah was saved by water! So, in the case of baptism, it is absolutely necessary, but it is not the only thing necessary. Peter fully understood that belief (faith), repentance, and confession, are necessary before one is saved. He himself, by the Holy Spirit, on the great Pentecost day, said to those believing Jews: “… Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Friends, every time you put a New Testament verse against another New Testament verse, you are wrong every time! The authority of Christ must be found and put into the heart/mind, if “the ancient order of things” is to be restored among religious people of today!

— Frank R. Williams

If you do not know everything the New Testament teaches, then you should “search for the ancient order of things!” By “ancient order” is meant the New Testament. Nothing later than the New Testament is old enough; so all “articles of faith” and such like are too late to be part of the “ancient order of things!” “The ancient order of things” is what God through Christ has authorized his people to do in the age of Christ. Who would desire to do anything else, more or less?
In this article the subject will answer the question: “What is the church authorized to do?” As a person looking at churches throughout the land, it will be noticed that they are engaged in many activities. Many churches have become very “social” in their activities; others have become very family oriented; then, some churches have put more importance in some area than in other areas. Thus, the question: “What did the apostles of Christ authorize the church of the New Testament to do?”
In a “search for the ancient order of things,” the honest “searcher” will allow God to speak through the inspired writers of the New Testament and begin and stop where they authorized works and activities of the church of the New Testament. By the words, “the church of the New Testament,” is meant the church revealed with approval under the oversight of the apostles of Christ. It must be understood, written on the pages of the New Testament, are things approved and disapproved; as the inspired writers wrote of what must be and what was being done by the churches and individuals to whom they wrote. In these writings they both praised in words of approval and wrote words of condemnation of things disapproved. Therefore, in any “search for the ancient order of things,” the honest “searcher” must be prepared to exclude all works and or activities disapproved and prepared to accept and to put into action all approved works and activities!
Through the years, it has been found that “the churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16) were authorized to engage in three areas. These three areas are: 1) worship, where the worshipper is edified, 2) helping those in need of things necessary to daily life, and 3) evangelism, teaching the gospel to the lost. In this “search,” it is also important to distinguish between personal activities and collective, church activities. The local church is not authorized to do everything the individual is allowed to do. The individual Christian is authorized to own and engage in business activities; while the local church has no such authority! In other words, the individual Christian may own and operate a Ford dealership, but the local church has no such authority. At the same time, the individual Christian has authority to engage in every work and activity the local church does. The individual Christian may worship, help the needy, and teach the lost; and the individual Christian does not need authority from the local church to do such! The authority for this individual is the New Testament itself!
If a group of Christians determine to form themselves into a local congregation, approved of God, there must be a total commitment to “the ancient order of things!” Otherwise, they should form themselves into a social club, a political group, a benevolent organization, or whatever they desire to be. The church of the New Testament may not do anything more or less than there is authority for, as found in “the search for the ancient order of things!”
The New Testament knows nothing of anything else, other than the one universal body of Christ which is organized in local autonomous congregations. These congregations have no authority to work and have activities other than the three named above: 1) worship, 2) helping those in need, and 3) evangelism.
If we are not bringing people to the church approved by the apostle of Christ, just what are we bringing people to? More importantly, why are we making the effort to bring people to something not approved by the apostles of Christ?

— Frank R. Williams

Each year the “Oklahoma City School of Biblical Studies” and the Barnes church of Christ has its annual lectures. These lectures take place the last weekend in April. A theme is chosen, then twelve subjects are chosen; finally, twelve speakers are picked to cover the subjects. Sometimes, due to events in the lives of the speakers, changes have to be made; some are unable to speak and this means that other speakers have to be found. Finally, all speakers are committed and outlines are prepared. It is here that the work on the Lectureship Book starts. Each lesson must be arranged, but these outlines/manuscripts do not all come in on time. This means, printing of the book must wait until the last moment. Finally, all outlines/manuscripts are sent in and the printing starts. If you have ever tried to print, you know printing does not always go as planned. Generally, part of the book is printed, followed with other parts until it is all done. Sixty copies are printed, put into a spiral binding and the book is ready for the lectureship. The books are sold at no profit, as the school and the Barnes congregation are not in the money making business!
The “Oklahoma City School of Biblical Studies” and the Barnes congregation are most grateful for each speaker and their willingness to give the time it takes in preparing the outlines/manuscripts and arriving at the Barnes church building and delivering their lessons. The lectureship books through the years, have been used in teaching Bible classes by some congregations. The outlines/manuscripts are also put on the school webpage, and the lessons are also made available so they can be seen. This means these lessons may be read and seen around the world! Work has been done and is still being done, to improve the quality of our recording abilities. This will means that even more will use them!
This year’s theme, “The churches of Christ are not growing at the same rate as in earlier years,” is a reality check! It is a proven fact; the churches of Christ are not growing at the same rate as in earlier years! Reasons for this reality must be identified, and answers given. This year’s lectureship has tried to identify ten reasons the growth rate has declined and how it may be reversed. One of the facts the churches of Christ must face is that the world has changed over the last ten to fifteen years. For many years the people we were teaching, believed in God and the Bible as the word of God. Sadly, this is not the case anymore. More teaching must be done to prove, with evidence that God exists! Then, we must do a lot more teaching proving the Bible is the inspired word of God! This being the case, the tentative theme of next year’s “26th Annual Oklahoma City Lectures” will be: “Can we trust the Bible?” If the Bible is to be seen, as it is in truth, the inspired word of God; then, it appears that some of the lessons must address the subject of proving God exists! Therefore, unless plans are changed, both subjects will be covered in our next lectureship!
It is a fact that the education system of our nation has for many years seen it as part of its requirement in teaching to convince the young of this nation that God does not exist. The Bible has been made nothing more than a subject of laughter! It is the firm opinion of this writer; the churches of Christ have failed to a very large degree, in addressing these two subjects! The number of atheists has grown over the last number of years; the number of agnostics has grown at a faster rate. Agnostics are created when little to no evidence is given proving the existence of God. Though my personal experience is limited in this area, I have seen enough to form the opinion that many agnostics just repeat what they have been taught, or heard. It is not that they have examined these two subjects personally, or to any degree!
As these subjects are addressed, it needs to be understood, many of these people are “egotistic;” in other words, they are stuck on themselves! God and the Bible just get in their way of living according to their dictates! Therefore, more teaching is needed on these two subjects: the existence of God and can we trust the Bible?

— Frank R. Williams

In any honest “search for the ancient order of things,” it must include a search in the book of authority: the New Testament. It answers to the question: “What does the New Testament authorize a church to do?” Authority is not a popular subject in religion! As so many are looking for a church that suits them. They are looking for a church that serves them. Many are just searching for a church that meets their needs.
The thought of pleasing God, never enters the mind of a large segment of the population today. These folks say, “Jesus is Lord,” but never appear to understand that in the word “Lord,” is authority. “Authority” authorizes, it allows a person, a church, to do certain things. In the “search for the ancient order of things,” there is a search for what is authorized! Jesus as Lord has given his church authority to worship; but not to worship in just any manner. Worship is a bowing before God; it is a pouring out of the spirit of the worshiper in thanksgiving for all the blessings received. Yet, the worshipper is not free to determine the acts of worship. Only God, the one being worshipped, has the right to accept and reject the acts of worship. God, desiring mankind to worship him, has revealed in the New Testament every act of worship which he authorizes and only these acts please him. Therefore, in the “search for the ancient order of things,” the honest “searcher” will read, study, and obey, what God has revealed in the New Testament in the area of worship.
Let it be understood, God desires that mankind worship him! Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). In the words of Jesus, he said “the Father seeketh such to worship him!” To what does the word “such” refer? It refers back to these words, “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Then, Jesus restated this truth: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Without doubt, all acceptable worship of God must be done “in spirit and in truth.” The word “spirit” as used here, expresses the right disposition of mind, a humble bowing before God. It yields to the pleasure of God, with no thought of pleasing self.
The word “truth” in Jesus’ words refers to what is authorized in “the teaching of Christ” (2 John 9). In the “search of the ancient order of things,” the “searcher” is seeking what pleases God, what is authorized in the authority of Christ. It would appear, that a “searcher” for “the ancient order of things,” that it would be impossible to worship God “in spirit,” while worshipping God in an act, in a manner, that has not been authorized in the authority of Christ. In other words, how can a person worship “in spirit,” a humble spirit bowing before the pleasure of God, while doing what is not pleasing to God? Thus, only acts of worship that are within the authority of Christ are acts of worship acceptable and pleasing to God.
Therefore, the “searcher” of “the ancient order of things,” will read, study, with an attitude of obeying what is found in the New Testament. Five things are revealed in the New Testament which the local church did under the guidance of the apostles of Christ. They are: 1) praying, 2) singing, 3) giving, 4) teaching, and 5) taking the Lord’s Supper. These five acts were all done on the “first day of the week,” known to us as Sunday. It was the day of the Lord’s triumphant resurrection. A day of new life, as Jesus came forth from the tomb. Here is what Jesus meant when he said worship of God is to be done “in spirit and in truth.” It is true, one can do the right things in the wrong “spirit,” and maybe, it is true, one can do the wrong things in the right “spirit.” But, acceptable worship must be done “in spirit and in truth!”
Friends, what passage would you have another read that authorizes any other manner of worship; other than “in spirit and in truth?” What passage would you have another read, that authorizes any other act of worship?

— Frank R. Williams