____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 23, 2000 ____________________________________________________ Are Modern Revelations From God? by David Dann The message of the Bible with regard to the revelation of God's word is summed up in these terms: ``Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar'' (Prov. 30:5-6). However, many religious groups claim to receive modern revelations of truth from God even today. The phrase ``modern revelation'' is used to refer to any supposed truth of God that has been given to man since the completion of books of the Bible. For example, a man may claim that God has spoken to him and revealed some new and important truth to him that was not previously known. Such claims are made quite frequently among the religious groups of our day. Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Roman Catholics, and various Pentecostal churches all construct their doctrine, to some extent, upon their claim to receive special modern revelations of truth from God. Can we determine whether or not the claims of modern revelation are true? According to the Scriptures, there are some things that we can positively know about such revelations. The Bible teaches that modern revelations: 1. Make God a liar. Jude begins his epistle by stating that he, ``found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnest for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints'' (Jude 3). ``The faith'' refers to the gospel, or to the body of God's revealed truth (Gal. 1:23; Col. 2:7). Jude, by inspiration of God, says that God's truth ``was once for all delivered.'' That is the same as saying that it was delivered one time for all time. In other words, God revealed all of the truth he intended to reveal by the close of the first century A.D. Those who claim that God continues to reveal new truth today would make God out to be a liar. But as Paul said, ``let God be true, but every man a liar'' (Rom. 3:4). 2. Make Christ a false prophet. In this book of John we read that Jesus promised his apostles that the Holy Spirit would, ``guide you into all truth'' (Jn. 16:13). This is a promise that was made to the Lord's apostles who were alive at that time. Did God hold back a portion of the truth from the apostles and reveal it to men in some special, miraculous way today? If so, Christ is a false prophet, for he claimed that all truth would be revealed to his apostles in the first century A.D. 3. Make the Holy Spirit rebellious. Again, Jesus told his apostles, ``Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come'' (Jn. 16:13). The apostles to whom the entirety of truth was revealed have recorded that truth, and have all be dead for nearly two thousand years. There is no living person today who can accurately fit the description of those to whom the Holy Spirit was to reveal the truth. If the Holy Spirit is revealing more spiritual truth to modern religious leaders, then he is doing it in clear violation of and rebellion against what Jesus said in John 16:13. 4. Make God the author of religious confusion and division. Would God reveal one thing to the Pope, something different to the Jehovah's Witnesses, and something different still to the Mormons? If so, God is responsible for all of the religious confusion and division that exists in the world today. However, the apostle Paul right says, ``God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints'' (1 Cor. 14:33). The real authors of religious confusion and division are those who claim to have received modern revelations of truth. 5. Are accursed. Paul writes, ``But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed'' (Gal. 1:8). Any revelation of ``truth'' that is different from what the apostles preached is not the truth at all, and those who preach it are doomed to destruction. However, those who claim to receive such revelations are quick to point out that their message is really just the same as that of the apostles. If there message is the same as the message of the New Testament, then why do we need their message? What is the purpose of it? Those who make such claims are accursed. Conclusion The apostle Peter clearly states that God has ``given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness'' (2 Pet. 1:3). Obviously, the ``all things'' of which Peter spoke could not have included any modern or current revelation of divine truth. Therefore, modern revelations have nothing to do with godliness. -- Via Sound Doctrine, January 23, 2000 ___________________________________________ The News Camera's View of Homosexuality by Steve Klein Recently New York City hosted its fifth annual ``gay pride parade.'' Marching in the parade this year, among other political notables, was Hillary Rodham Clinton. The news cameras recorded her big smile. The microphones picked up her comments concerning how wonderful it was to march in a parade with so many of her ``friends.'' I saw no shots of the lewd and shameful homosexual acts performed by parade participants as they marched. Odd, isn't it, how modern news teams can film every detail of a gruesome accident, or show every minute of a police chase, but all they were able to pick up at this event were smiles and syrupy comments? (Of course I, for one, was thankful NOT to see and hear the disgusting details of the paraders' behavior). Naturally, there was no in-depth coverage of the increased instances of AIDS and other societal problems that have corresponded with the expansion of ``gay rights'' over the last few years. Any reports about AIDS are always cleverly designed to create sympathy for AIDS victims and then transfer that sympathy to homosexuals in general. The other evening, one network news show profiled a High School football player who ``came out of the closet,'' announced he was a homosexual, and was openly accepted by his team and school. The program presented these events as wonderfully positive. In contrast, a similar news show ran a story a few weeks earlier about a program designed to help homosexuals overcome their problem and return to the ``straight'' life. The show presented this program in a distinctively negative light, with lots of questions about what effect it might have on men who were (supposedly) ``born homosexuals.'' It is obvious to anyone who pays attention to the news media that it has an overwhelming bias towards accepting and even promoting homosexuality. Their campaign has only been on for a few years, but it has been very successful. So, I was somewhat surprised today to learn that the Supreme Court just ruled that an avowed homosexual could be banned from serving as a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America. But, the vote was only 5 to 4. Twenty years ago there would have been no vote. Then, everybody knew that a homosexual had no business being a Scout Leader, or a school teacher. Now, many folks (included four Supreme Court Justices) think having a homosexual Scout Leader is a good idea. What's the point of this article? Why should Christian's care about how society is being influenced to regard homosexuality? Well, did you ever hear of Sodom and Gomorrah? God said ``their sin is very grave'' (Genesis 18:20), and ``He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground'' (Genesis 19:25). As Christians we should be very concerned about what God thinks of our cities! We should therefore be very concerned when homosexuality is no longer viewed as a sin, when ``gay'' churches are springing up everywhere and when people think that unrepentant homosexuals will go to heaven! ``Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites...will inherit the kingdom of God'' (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). -- Via The Exhorter, July 9, 2000 ___________________________________________ ?You Know What? by Robert F. Turner "Bro. Turner, what, if any, is the difference in Justification and Sanctification?" RM Reply: The querist knows, of course, that the terms have different meaning. Justification refers to a judicial declaration that one is ``free of guilt,'' while Sanctification refers to the ``setting apart'' of one, on the basis of holiness. (Use Concordance, Word Studies, etc., for details.) The Corinthians had been thieves, drunkards, etc., ``but ye were washed (washed, Yourselves, f.n.), but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God'' (1 Cor. 6:11). Both justification (forgiveness of their sins), and sanctification (set apart from the world on the basis of this cleansing) took place when they were converted. Both were made possible to sin-stained man by God-provided means. He loved us, gave His Son to die for us, and revealed the good news by His Holy Spirit. Having sinned, man cannot free himself from guilt, nor make himself holy. We must throw ourselves on the mercy of God -- ``by Grace are ye saved.'' But God's grace, expressed in Christ, while offered for the whole world (Jn. 3:16), is effectual only to those individuals who put their trust in Him (1 Tim. 4:10). Man is capable of being taught and can come to God (Jn. 6:45). The Spirit operates upon free-agent man with His sword, the word of God (Acts 2:37, 41; Eph. 6.17). There is no validity in the ``evangelical'' concept that the Holy Spirit must operate directly or immediately upon the alien sinner -- most of our brethren readily agree to that. But there is a growing acceptance of the equally false concept that there must be some ``apart from the word'' indwelling to ``enable'' the Christian to remain and grow in holiness (sanctification). The K.C. Moser books fostered this idea, and later writers give it impetus. We cannot call that consistent theology. If they deny total depravity of man, and think he is capable of coming to God; by what logic do they conclude the saint must be mystically ``enabled'' to stay with Him? Truth is, man can only become justified (free from guilt) through forgiveness; and man can only remain sanctified (set apart, holy) through further forgiveness. Whatever man must do to have sins forgiven initially, that is what he must do to be justified and sanctified initially. And as Abraham's ``righteousness'' was not static (once-for-all-time achieved) but repeatedly reaffirmed on the basis of continued faithfulness (Rom. 4:3,22; Jas.2:23), so is our righteousness. The progressive sanctification which follows one's coming to Christ is the result of spiritual growth toward maturity -- man follows the way set before him by divine revelation. But he is no more self-sufficient here than in his initial obedience. Walking in light, he prays without ceasing, confessing his dependence upon Christ and asking forgiveness for his sins. Until finally, through the mercies which God extends to the faithful in Christ Jesus, justified man is wholly sanctified in heaven (I Thes. 5:23). -- Via Plain Talk, February 1980 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us be praying for a speedy recovery for Margaret Mosier who recently underwent surgery, but is now back home. I will be preaching this morning in Philadelphia for the Mount Airy church of Christ, where James Baker is the regular preacher. In my stead at Avondale, John Thompson will be preaching the morning sermon; and I will return to preach in the evening. We welcome all of you who are visiting with us this day! Please come again. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________