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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"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).
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July 23, 2006
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Contents:
1) Filthy Rag Righteousness (Tom Roberts)
2) Making All Things According to the Pattern
(Warren E. Berkley)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Filthy Rag Righteousness
by Tom Roberts
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." (Isa. 64:6).
Among some brethren today who have become enamored with
(and tainted by) aspects of Calvinism, the above passage is
being used as a proof-text that man is passive in the plan of
salvation due to his depraved character. While there are some
who are not consistent on this subject and will not adopt the
entire Tulip theology of Calvinism which includes "total
hereditary depravity," others are preaching that man is indeed
depraved to the extent that he cannot "do" anything to be saved
-- God must do it all. Quotations can be given from brethren
who are insisting that any attempt to have man "doing" anything
with regard to salvation is equal to salvation by works or
trusting in ourselves and not God. Such brethren are proceeding
ever further into the quicksand of denominational theology and
are already "over their heads" without realizing it.
Try to understand, if you are unfamiliar with this error,
just what is being taught by the use of this passage. Calvinism
teaches that all of mankind has become depraved in body and
soul due to the inheriting of sin from our fathers (from Adam
until now). Because of this depravity, no man is able to think
good thoughts, understand the Bible, perform any good works,
etc. If man (any man) is to be saved, this salvation must come
wholly, totally and exclusively from God because, in this view,
man's depravity has made him incapable of doing anything good.
Standard arguments among denominations reject baptism on the
grounds that it is a "work" and that man is depraved and cannot
"do" anything to save himself. This is the basis for the
doctrine of "salvation by faith alone." Adherents teach that
salvation is wholly of grace and that the "faith" of Ephesians
2:8,9 is a gift of God (rather than salvation itself being a
gift). Thus God brings about salvation by His own power and
grace without any action on the part of the man.
Faithful brethren have always rejected this error. There
is nothing in the obedience of faith that nullifies the grace
of God. Such passages as John 6:29; 8:39; Acts 10:34,35, etc.,
show that man is required to "work out your own salvation"
(Phil. 2:12) by obeying the conditions of God's grace. Yes, man
can freely choose to do right, understand the truth and obey it
(Rom. 6:16-18). He can do the works which God has appointed him
to show faithful obedience just as Abraham did for his own
justification. This "doing" is not the "worketh" that is
condemned in Romans 4:4ff. The Jews were condemned for trusting
in works for salvation and not trusting in God. But they were
never condemned for faithful obedience.
When anyone takes the passage in Isaiah 64:6 and uses it
to teach the depravity of man and an inability to obey God
because of that depravity, they have committed at least two
evils. First of all, they have violated the context. Secondly,
they have arrayed one Scripture against all the other
Scriptures which show the free morality of man.
Context. Isaiah was a prophet sent to a people who had
rebelled against God, were hypocritical, and yet who still
claimed to be faithful servants of God. A quick reading of
Isaiah will show this to be the case: 1:2-9,10-17 is but one
example. Under these circumstances, every act that Israel did
was an abomination to God. The very things required by the law
(observance of sabbaths, sacrifices, etc.) became acts of
hypocrisy because of the rebellious attitude of the Jews. It is
for this reason that Isaiah could truthfully say that "We are
all as an unclean thing" (64:6). It is for this reason that he
could charge that all the "righteousness" (their lawful deeds)
were as "filthy rags." Friends, it was not that the Jews were
depraved due to inheriting Adam's sin that caused this charge
against them. It was because they had willfully rebelled
against God and God would not receive their hypocritical
worship. For those of you who think otherwise, let me pose this
question to you: Was there ever a time when worship of man was
anything other than "filthy rags"? If so, what made it so? Was
Isaiah condemning the Jews because they were depraved by birth
or because they were hypocritical? I suggest a careful reading
of Isaiah to see the truth.
Arraying Scripture Against Scripture. No greater sin can
we commit than to suggest that one Scripture teaches something
that other Scriptures condemn. To do so is to charge God with
something less than honesty and to accept that the Bible is not
consistent with itself. Yet those who would use Isaiah 64:6 to
state that man is depraved and unclean from his birth are
guilty of this very thing. There are too many Scriptures that
show the innocence of a child at birth, the ability of man to
choose good from evil, the reflection of man of his Creator
(made in His image), and his free morality than to take this
one Scripture out of its context and use it deceitfully.
In the light of the truth, it makes me not a little angry
for some person, let alone a brother in Christ, to suggest that
man is totally passive in the plan of salvation and that
whatever he does (faith, repentance, baptism, etc.) are as
"filthy rags." Think, brethren! The very obedience that God has
asked us to do which is patterned after the faithful obedience
of Christ (Heb. 5:8,9) is filthy rags? Never in a million
years! In the words of Peter, "in every nation he that feareth
him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him" (Acts
10:35). Can a sinner work? Yes. Are sinners' works acceptable
to God? Yes, when they show the trust of the sinner toward God.
Does the sinner have something to do in his own justification?
Yes, as he righteously works those things which God has
assigned as conditions of grace. This is the proper relation of
"salvation by grace through faith" (Eph. 2:8,9).
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 6, pp. 178, 182, March 21,
1985
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-2-
Making All Things
According to the Pattern
by Warren E. Berkley
Many features of the Old Testament system (law of Moses)
were put in place by God, to picture what would eventually
become reality through the work of Jesus Christ, our great High
Priest. For instance, various details in the Jewish tabernacle
served to foreshadow the good things God would eventually
confer upon believers. The good things to come were pictured by
various elements of the Mosaic system. The law, therefore was a
shadow of the good things to come, (see Heb. 9:11 & 10:1).
This is one reason why, when Moses supervised the building
of that tabernacle, it was crucial for him to make all things
according to the pattern which came from the perfect mind of
God. Even the detailed furnishings had to be made exactly like
the pattern the Lord had shown Moses, (Num. 8:4). Various
features of the old Jewish system were designed by God to
foreshadow gospel blessings; these institutions served as the
copies or shadows of the heavenly things, so Moses was divinely
instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. God said
to him: see that you make all things according to the pattern
shown you on the mountain. (Heb. 8:5; Acts 7:44; Ex. 25:9,40;
26:30; Num. 8:4.)
We have not been instructed to build, or rebuild that
Mosaic tabernacle, but when we study these things we must
carefully explore for any underlying principles that pertain to
us. Just as God expressed His mind to Moses and gave
instructions to Him, He has expressed His mind to us, and given
us instructions to follow (Heb. 1:1,2). We're to "hold fast to
the pattern of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13).
I am convinced there is such a principle, and I can best
express it this way: God's purpose is carried out when His
pattern is followed! The tabernacle is an excellent example. In
having the Jews build that tabernacle, we know that God had a
purpose in mind. He didn't do this accidentally, nor was this
an exercise to keep the Jewish laborers and artisans busy. God
had a purpose in mind, when He had the people build the
tabernacle; an immediate purpose [Jewish worship], and an
ultimate purpose [symbolic of the New Covenant blessings, see
Heb. 9:9]. The pattern, or blueprint God gave to Moses was
designed to implement God's purposes, both immediate and
ultimate.
The principle is: God, in His perfect mind, forms a
purpose; then He reveals His pattern, with admonitions to
follow His instructions. Only when men follow God's pattern, is
God's purpose carried out. Stated negatively, if I don't follow
God's pattern, I fail to carry out His purpose!
In the case of the tabernacle, if Moses had ignored God's
pattern and followed a human plan -- the tabernacle would not
have fulfilled God's purpose; it would not have effectively
functioned in foreshadowing the new covenant and the
high-priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary (of
which the earthly was only a replica)! Only as we follow God's
pattern, can it be said that we have performed His purpose. We
need to acknowledge how purpose and pattern go together. Behind
every pattern revealed by God, there are divine purposes, which
are fulfilled when we follow His pattern.
Applications Follow: MARRIAGE. God had certain purposes in
mind by instituting the marriage relationship: (a)
companionship, (b) reproduction, (c) the nurturing of children,
and (d) the foundation of the social order. God had these good
purposes in mind. To accomplish these purposes, God revealed a
pattern (instructions, law). If we ignore God's pattern for
husband and wife, God's purposes are not carried out.
THE LORD'S SUPPER. All anyone knows about the Lord's
Supper is from the Bible. What about the elements we use ...
the significance we attach to this feast ... the regularity
with which we partake ... Where did we come up with all this?
The Bible. When I take everything the New Testament says about
the Lord's Supper, and use that as my pattern, is there
anything wrong with that? Does that make me a radical, a
Pharisee, or a conservative or anti? I think it makes me a
Christian. This is what being a Christian is all about: letting
Christ be the head of the church, and following the
instructions given by Christ through His apostles ... making
all things according to the pattern, in order for the purposes
of God to be fulfilled.
THE LOCAL CHURCH. God, in His wisdom, set up the local
church. That's why, when you read the New Testament, you read
about local churches (Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth,
etc.). Christians got together. They formed themselves into
local groups, to worship together, to edify one another, and to
join together for the preaching of the gospel.
Now, when God set up the local church, through the
preaching of the apostles, let there be no doubt, God had
certain purposes in mind! I submit, if we want a local church
to fulfill the purposes intended by God, we need to follow the
pattern given by God. Is that difficult or complicated? Is that
an expression of human tradition? NO, it is entirely
reasonable, and in keeping with everything the Scriptures
teach.
So, when it comes to things like ELDERS AND DEACONS; the
preaching and teaching we do; the way we use our resources; the
worship we provide for; the support of gospel preachers; the
assistance given to needy saints, and all other matters that
have to do with the local church, we should follow the pattern
given by God!
This is not a matter of being conservative, it is a matter
of being right. This isn't just about continuing to do what
those men believed in, who started a local church in a
community, it is about continuing steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine (Acts 2:42). When we follow God's pattern, because we
love God, want to honor Christ and carry out divine purposes --
this is not the mentality of a Pharisee, this is the mentality
of a servant who wants to obey the Lord.
Hebrews 8:5 may not call upon us to build a tabernacle,
yet the underlying principle is trans-dispensational. It has
always been necessary to follow any pattern given by God. This
is the only way we can carry out His purposes.
-- via Exton Exhorter
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News & Notes
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of
Evelyn Williams who passed away recently at the age of 89. She
was the mother of Lee Mayfield, who attends with her husband
Jim at the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales. Let those
of us who are Christians be remembering, in prayer, the
bereaved. (Mrs. Williams and the Mayfields had been former
members of the Lake Villa Drive church of Christ in Metairie;
but, since Katrina, the church no longer meets there.)
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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