The Truth In Print, June 2006 Vol. 12 Issue 5
Just Good Advice Versus The Gospel That Saves
Solomon said, “The tongue of the wise is health...”
(Prov.. 12:18). Obvious to the meaning of the word health is “a remedy or cure.” Consider the difference
between just giving another advice on a particular problem and dealing with the
real issues of repentance, obedience to the gospel, and their obtaining the
remission of sins with the blessings that follow.
The World’s Remedy
Question: When a worldly individual advises another worldly individual
to not worry just go out and have fun then what always comes back? Hear
Solomon, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is
heaviness” (Prov. 14:13). Answer: grief, pain, depression — all of the anxiety
that was there before! Example: “You need to limit your consumption of alcohol
but you can keep on drinking, partying, etc.”
God’s Remedy
Concerned reader, God’s remedy begins by
identifying the sin and stating the penalty. Take drunkenness, revelry and such
like — the penalty is eternal death (Cf. Rom. 6:23; Gal. 5:19-21). Additionally
a Christian would tell another what they must do to be free from being enslaved
to sin? They must be told that being set free from
sin will enable them to be a slave of righteousness (Cf. Rom. 6:16-18). Therein
lies the cure!
In order for
them to be set free from sin God’s remedy requires that they be baptized into
Christ in order to put on Christ (Cf.
Rom. 6:3-6). On Pentecost Peter commanded them to “be baptized”
(imperative mood) for the remission of their sins. One is not saved then
baptized, for Jesus said baptism is a prerequisite to salvation (Cf. Mark
16:15-16). Moreover Peter taught that baptism saves us (Cf. I Pet. 3:21). The
word baptize (baptize) means to “immerse, submerge”). One of the violations of
scriptural authority is to identify specific authority — baptize means to
immerse — and then for one to say that their personal situation can change the
specific to something that suits them, something else they like. Yet people who will admit that the word
“baptize” means a burial will then turn and say that sprinkling and pouring are
ok too. Not so!
God’s remedies
deal with the soul, the need of instruction, the penalty for having
sinned, and what is necessary for one to
receive the remission of their sins (Matt. 11:28-29; Matt. 16:26; John 6:44-45;
Mk. 16:15-16). Friend, the
best advice given to another concerning their problems that does not begin to
deal with the real issues of repentance, obedience to the Gospel, and what they
must do to have forgiveness falls far short of a lasting remedy for Sin (Cf.
Lk. 12:13-21). While there may be
nothing wrong with us involving ourselves in the disputes and problems among
family and friends in the world, the primary thing is the Gospel and one’s
eternal salvation (Cf. Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:34-39; Acts 16:28-34; Acts 24:25-26).
God’s remedies
are found in the church (Cf. Eph. 3:21).
Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”
(Matthew 16:18). After having promised to build His church we read, “And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:18-20). Baptism that saves is not
separated from the church Christ built. Jesus has only “one” body or church, and He is the Savior of the
body (Cf. Eph. 4:4-5; 5:23). The “one” baptism mentioned in Eph. 4:4-5 is that
of Mk. 16:15-16 which is for all men
every where in order that they might be saved (Cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16). This
“one” baptism puts one into Christ just as stated earlier (Cf. Rom. 6:3). Also
the “one” baptism puts one into the “one” body (Cf. I Cor. 12:13). The “one”
body, the church, is not any denomination made by man! Most want solutions to problems but without God’s remedy for
their sin and without being in the one body which is the saved! These
are looking for remedies but they do not want to be free from being a slave of
sin having become a slave of righteousness. The truth is that without
conviction for what the New Testament teaches these individuals will fight you
tooth and nail on the necessity of repentance and baptism into Christ, into the
one body His church, in order to put on Christ, and for the remission of their
sin to be free from sin’s penalty!
Some Sins And Their Remedy
I once identified a man’s sin by reading
Prov. 23:29-35 to him. He was an Alcoholic. I easily showed him in the context
that he should avoid alcohol altogether. The graphic description of the
alcoholic’s plight in Proverbs 23:29-35 certainly shows “the end” result of
alcoholism, but such need to hear more, much more! He considered himself to be
a Christian but he needed to be told to repent and obey the Gospel!
Sinners need
to believe the Word spoken by Jesus and understand the penalty of eternal death
and punishment! (Cf. Jo. 12:48; Rev. 20:13-14) Hear Jesus, “And take
heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon
you unawares. [35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the
face of the whole earth. [36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may
be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:34-36). They
must understand the spiritual “end” of having done what they are doing. Hear
Paul, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
Concerned reader, in Ephesus obedience to
the Gospel was the recorded cure for drug use and sorcery (Cf. Acts 19:5,
18-19). Can you begin to see this is the solution? I hope so. What is the solution? Believe the Gospel, understand the
penalties for your sins, obey the Gospel and “become a slave of righteousness”
(Rom. 6:16-18, 1-7).
Over time sin takes its toll and Anxiety
causes depression (Cf. Prov. 12:25). No
doubt anxiety is killing a lot of people today. The
bible says that these individuals need guidance in God’s word not money as a
cure all. The words of life are the solution to their sin (Cf. Prov.
12:25-26). Here is the solution: They need to understand the penalty of not
being prepared when the Lord comes (Cf. LK. 21:34; 2 Th. 1:8-10). These need to hear the Gospel, believe in the deity
of Christ, repent of their sins, confess Christ, and be baptized for the
remission of their sins (Cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41; Rom.
10:9-10; Acts 22:16; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 18:8, etc.). Having obeyed the Gospel
they need to believe Christ’s word that those who put His kingdom first will be
provided for (Cf. Matt. 6:24-34). As they study the New Testament, Christ’s
law, they will find strength (Cf. I Pet. 5:7; Heb. 7:25, 13:5; Rom. 15:30; Col.
4:2). Continued diligence following obedience will enable them to guard against letting the “cares” of this
world choke the word and thus cause them to become unfruitful, thus lost again
(Cf. Lk. 8:14; Lk. 13:6-9; 2 Pet. 2:2; John 15:1-6). They will learn that work
is a command to be obeyed (Eph. 4:28), yet “rest” is a benefit to be realized
by God’s children (Cf. Ps. 127:2; Ps. 3:5; Ps. 4:8; Pr. 34:24-26). In times of
transition they won’t be frightened above measure (Cf. Pr. 6:20-22).
When money is their “god” they need to
hear that their sin is Covetousness (Cf. Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5). These are
obsessed with getting more and more while denying it is the Lords; they will go
to hell (Cf. Rev. 21:8, 22:15). By reading
Matt. 6:24-34 one will understand there is no reason for their covetous
life. Having obeyed the Gospel (see above) they will guard their hearts (Cf.
Lk. 12:15; 16:34-35). It is good mental health to
be content (Cf. Eccles. 6:9). Godliness is a means of great gain
when accompanied by contentment, Paul said (Cf. I Tim. 6:6-10).
Friend, why not desire God’s remedy?
By Bob W. Lovelace, evangelist