Allow your mind to drift back a little more than 400 years — long before you were born or even before America was populated by Europeans looking for a new land and a new freedom to practice their religious beliefs without persecution. It was during these times in 1594 that modern science was a mixture of alchemists, sorcery, and superstition. Witches were considered to exist and many were burned at the stake. Houses were considered to be haunted by ghosts, and spirits were said to walk the corridors at night. People were afraid of those who were thought to be possessed with devils and evil spirits. Religious leaders preformed exorcisms to rid people of demonic possessions. The Bible talked about a “Holy Ghost.”
        It was “common knowledge” in 1594 that ghosts and spirits haunted, inhabited, and indwelled people and things. And what’s more, they caused things to move, shake and tremble. Would the Holy Ghost do any less? It was easy to believe that the Holy Ghost would cause great miraculous events to occur in the lives of those of whom he dwelled. It was in this environment that John Calvin advocated and promoted the doctrine of “Total Depravity.” This doctrine by Calvin, along with others, is still widely accepted by many religious people today. Many churches of many different denominations teach this doctrine as part of their creed.
        “Total Depravity” or “Total Hereditary Depravity” as some teach it, says that all mankind inherits the sin of Adam and becomes guilty of Adam’s sin and are spiritually lost even before they are born. They teach such a person is totally deprived of salvation and is spiritually dead. He is so dead and so depraved, that he cannot even have faith, nor can he understand the Scriptures, or even obey God’s will. In fact, he cannot even come close to God until the Holy Ghost indwells him and allows him to have an understanding of spiritual things and to come to salvation.
        Considering the environment in which Calvin lived, it is easy to see how this teaching could have been perpetuated 400 years ago. But today, it’s very hard to see how so many people can be led astray in their thinking with the amount of resources and knowledge that is available for everyone to study. Just a quick look at Matthew 18:3 shows that God does not consider children to be depraved, lost, and guilty of sin. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” In fact, this passage says just the opposite. Children are pure and without sin. We need to be like them in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.
        Surely everyone has read the passage in Ezekiel 18:20, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Is this passage not crystal clear proof that no one inherits the sins of Adam?
        What about the teaching that we cannot understand or obey the Scriptures until we are indwelled (enlightened) by the Holy Spirit? Many people teach and hold this view. But another check of the Scriptures shows this also to be wrong.
        There are many doctrines taught concerning the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There are many good books on this subject for more information. I would recommend the books by Howard Winters, Rod Rutherford, and Robert Taylor. These are very good sources for more study. But no matter what you believe about the Holy Spirit, whether you believe in a literal personal indwelling or whether you hold that the Holy Spirit dwells in us indirectly through the word, or if you believe that the “gift of the Holy Spirit” is all the blessings given to those who are “in Christ“ almost all would agree that the Bible teaches in Acts 2:38 that the “gift of the Holy Spirit” is given AFTER salvation. “Then Peter said to them, 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 Ghost.”
        It is true that the only way to salvation is through the Gospel. The Gospel has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit in the Bible, the Inspired Word. In this sense, we have been guided into salvation by the Holy Spirit and taught what we must do to be saved. In fact, anything that man knows about God or God’s will comes to us by the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:10-11). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us through the inspired word.
        It would be unfortunate for any person to feel that he was so “depraved and spiritually dead” that he had no hope of understanding God’s simple plan of salvation and therefore made no effort to try to understand. That person would be forever spiritually dead waiting for God to reveal what the Holy Spirit revealed long ago through and in and by his holy word.
                221 Westbend School Rd.
                Lewisville, NC 27023
               


Table of Contents

        “If a man die, shall be live again” (Job 14:14)? We all have asked that question. We ask it as we are by the grave of those we bury. There have been various explanations given by people as to what immortality is. Some say we are immortal only in the sense that the human race continues after we are gone. Others say we continue to live but only in the memory of those that knew us. Still others contend that our immortality is merely a continuation of our influence after our death. But what does the Bible teach about the immortality of a human being?
        Solomon wrote, “then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). The death of the body does not mean the cessation of the existence of the spirit of man. Death means there is a separation of the body from the spirit. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).
        Jesus taught, “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). Certainly this contends for existence after physical death. Both good and evil shall be raised. Both enter into judgment. They are separated there because one enters life, and the other enters damnation.
        When Lazarus died, Jesus said, “Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this” (John 11:23-26)? There is no way to deny the continued existence of man beyond the grave unless you flatly contradict the Son of God. “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matt. 22:23). At the time Jesus spoke those words, these Old Testament patriarchs had been physically dead many years. Yet, Jesus said God was the God of the living; that God was their God; and therefore they must have still existed somewhere and lived in some sense personally.
        In First Corinthians 15, Paul taught the reality of the resurrection. In his concluding remarks he said, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53).
        Moses led the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage, wandered with them for forty years in the wilderness, but because of his own transgression was not allowed to enter the promised land. He died and the Lord buried him. Yet, hundreds of years later, after John the Baptist had announced Jesus as the Christ, Christ having been born in Bethlehem, and having reached manhood and coming to the mount where He was transfigured, He had a conversation with Moses, and not only Moses, but also the great prophet Elijah who had also physically died long ago. “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and, bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid” (Matt. 17:1-6). Who can read this and doubt the Bible teaches life after death, and the immortality of the spirit of man even though the body has died? You may not agree with what the Bible teaches, but no honest man can deny that it teaches the immortality of man’s spirit.
        What are you worth? We are not concerned with what amount of material wealth you may have accumulated. We are talking about the most valuable of all things of your existence. What material possessions you may have will soon belong to somebody else anyway. Your physical body would bring a very small price. We are more concerned than just with the material body. Man is also a soul. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matt. 16:26)? Man’s body is but the place where his soul or spirit resides for a while.

        It’s because it will never cease to be. Man may change cars, houses, clothes, etc. You might even rid yourself of your own body. But you must live with yourself as a spirit for eternity. The soul outlasts the physical body and all the things of this world. We are speaking of that which is the inward man, the part of man that has been created in the spiritual likeness of God (Gen. 1:27). The fact that Jesus placed such a value on the soul proves to us that it is of great value. The fact that He died that the spirit might be saved shows the value He placed on it.
        Someone may say, “I do not believe I have a soul or that I am a soul.” Whether one believes it or not is not really the question. Whether the Bible is true or not is the question. The Bible affirms we are souls and spirits. But some object on the grounds that the soul cannot be seen and has no measurable weight. But why should we deny something we cannot see in this matter while we accept the reality of so many other things we cannot see? We accept the reality of their existence on the basis of evidence. So it is with the soul of man. Man’s thought-ability, his mind, his reasoning capacity, are evidences that man is not merely an animal, merely physical and nothing more.

        In Matthew 16:26 Christ mentioned the losing of the soul. James speaks of saving the soul (James 1:21; 5:20). Peter speaks of the salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9). He also mentions the purifying of the soul (1 Peter 1:22). Souls can be beguiled and unstable (2 Peter 2:14). The existence of the soul of man is not a debatable matter when one believes the message of the Bible.

        What must I do to save my soul in heaven? You must first admit the truthfulness of the inspired record that you have and are a soul. You have to admit that the soul can be lost in hell as well as saved in heaven. You have to admit that the soul will exist in one of two eternal destinies: heaven or hell. You have to admit that you cannot save yourself by yourself. You must acknowledge that God has provided a Savior and that only Savior is Jesus Christ, His Son. Then, in faith, you must obey the commands to repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins. Upon your obedience, God adds you to His church which is composed of the saved souls.
        Once a saved soul, you are to live faithfully in Christ as His disciple, being the light of the world, the salt of the earth, as a city on a hill to be seen of men that they might glorify the Father in heaven. You must live in the realization that physical death will eventually overtake you as it will all others. You must realize that though you die, you shall be raised, and judged, and sentenced to heaven or hell.
        “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25:46).
                Vol. 1 No. 9, A Burning Fire
                2720 S Chancery St.
                McMinnville, TN 37110


Table of Contents

        Ezekiel, a prophet of God, is reminded in almost identical words some thirty chapters apart, that he is to be “a watchman unto the house of Israel” (Ezek. 3:17; 33:7). Those who profess to be godly people often live as if there is no danger or consequences to their actions. A truth that must not be overlooked is that if there is no danger, there is no need for a warning from watch-men.
        God is gracious and loving to remind man of his enemy who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). What God said to Ezekiel about the obligations of watchmen is as valid today as it was then. Those who serve today as elders of a congregation of the Lord’s people are to “watch on behalf of” the souls they oversee (Heb. 13:17). Men serving as watchmen (elders) will surely be held accountable for failure to fulfill their duty, but may we remember “all” have an obligation to “watch” (Mark 13:35,37).
        Let us learn from Ezekiel a couple of indispensable traits of godly watchmen.

A godly watchmen is responsible to:
        “Hear the word at [His] mouth” (Ezek. 33:7)! It should be understood that a watchman is of no value if he does not have eyes with which to see and a mouth with which to speak. Many people, however, put great confidence in watchmen who have perfect vision and loud voices but are useless because of lockjaw. They dare not sound forth any warning regarding danger to the soul for fear of disturbing the flock.
        The first obligation of a godly watchman is to hear and heed the Word that God speaks. God speaks to us today through His Son, and His Son through His Word (Heb. 1:2; 12:48). One who will not hear and heed God’s Word will never qualify as God’s watchman!
        “Give them warning from me” (Ezek. 33:7)! Warnings are sounded forth in this world on a regular basis. Meteorologists warn of the impending danger of hurricanes and tornadoes. Law enforcement agencies warn of escaped criminals and other threats to society. Financial planners warn of the downside of certain investments. Physicians warn patients of certain physical conditions and test results. Manufacturers warn about recalls of certain foods because of contamination to the product. People desire and expect to be warned about these matters.
        Warnings that come from God’s Word regarding spiritual matters are generally not welcome. People say, “Don’t judge ... it is nobody’s business ... everybody else does it (as if that make’s it legal and right) ... this world is all that matters ... or I deserve to be happy and this is how I’m going to live.” People do not want to be told “no” or “it’s sinful and wrong” or “it’s immoral and detrimental to society.”
        God told Ezekiel, however, “give them warning from me.” The soul is more valuable than the physical body and earthly matters even though most people do not think so (Matt. 16:26). Watchmen who are devoted to God know there is impending danger in this world and are willing to warn people of such danger. Watchmen devoted to God understand they are responsible to warn people of soul damning sins and Satan’s snares! As was true in Ezekiel’s day, the same is true today: “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand” (33:8).


        We also learn of the responsibility of those who are warned. Let us observe:
        Their condition! People may convince themselves that their sinful actions are no big deal but sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Lawlessness (transgression of God’s law) without repentance leads to eternal death. This death is the result of separation from God. So many people living in sin are convinced God is with them and blessing them when God clearly states, “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2).
        Their opportunity! Those living contrary to the Lord’s will are given an opportunity to repent when they are warned by God’s watchmen. It is tragic to be deluded and deceived regarding sacred matters, but it is an act of mercy for God to allow His watchmen to warn of those dangers. The warning to repent or perish (Luke 13:3) is given in love of one’s soul. John recorded in his Gospel account, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (3:36).
        Their responsibility! Ezekiel, God’s watchman, was told: “Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul” (33:9). The warning is to turn, change directions —repent. The unashamed warning of the consequences of spurning God’s law may be despised and the watchman may be considered behind the times and out of touch with society’s demands, but hearing and heeding God’s Word is the only thing that will save the soul!
        We see then that both the watchmen and the warned have obligations and responsibilities for which they will be held accountable. God takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” and desires “that the wicked turn from his wicked way and live” (Ezek. 33:11).
        What a terrible fate awaits those who have been warned of their sins but they steadfastly refuse to repent! But the most nauseating and despicable thing is the professed watchman of God who knows what God’s Word says but refuses to sound forth the warning to those living in sin!
        May congregations learn before selecting elders that those who have not demonstrated they will hear and heed God’s Word will not sound forth the soul-saving warning! Let us make sure that our brethren’s and friend’s blood is not on our hands!
                484 CR 44700
                Blossom, TX 75416
                countryboy25@hughes.net


Table of Contents

        Man has always been impressed with power. Power is “the ability to control others; to have authority; and to have influence” (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Some men have spent a lifetime trying to obtain power only to abuse it. Others have been successful in using it. There is a power that can divide asunder the soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12). It is the Word of God.
        The Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Word reveals the way to heaven. It is the guide for our lives. We cannot go wrong in following God’s inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
        A study of the Word of God shows its effect upon the disciples in the early church. When Paul and Silas came to Berea, they found those who “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). The Bereans did not go home and take the preacher’s word for what they heard. They studied the Word of God to see if the message was correct. How many people in the pews do this today? How many return home from worship to discuss, much less to study the passages they heard in the sermon or Bible class? Hopefully, more than we can tell. People who take the message as “Gospel” without checking the Word of God are living dangerously in their attempt to be pleasing to God. An open mind and heart in our study of the Scriptures is essential in having the attitude of changing our lifestyle or religious beliefs to fit God’s standard. There is power in the Word —if we will study it!
        The powerful Word of God brings results. When Peter preached the first Gospel sermon on the first Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection, the Word he preached brought results. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). Paul stated, “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” (Rom. 1:16). The power is in the Gospel, the Word, the good news of Christ. God’s Word convicted the people on Pentecost of their sins and it will do the same today when it is preached uncompromisingly and in love. The Word of God will bring results if we will just preach it, teach it and most of all, live it.
        Not only is the Word powerful enough to bring results, but it can also be a comfort to those who are in Christ. Paul comforted the Thessalonian brethren by revealing the truth concerning the dead in Christ. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him ... 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. 4:14-18). It is comforting to know that Jesus has prepared a home for the faithful. We should look forward to the second coming of Christ in that we will be taken up with Him in the clouds to stay for ever and ever.
        The Word of God is just as powerful as it was in the days of Abraham, Moses, Peter and Paul. Even man’s wisdom in 2022 cannot surpass the all-inspired, authoritative, living, active, comforting, convicting, powerful Word of God. Let us be prepared to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
               
               
               


Table of Contents

        As Jesus was teaching on one occasion, a woman spoke up to say that His mother was blessed because her womb bore Jesus and she nursed Him (Luke 11:27). The Master’s response to that woman’s statement put things in perspective: “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (11:28).
        The word “blessed” means one who is happy. In God’s sight, a happy person is one who hears and keeps His word.
        From the creation of the first humans, it always has been God’s will for people to learn His will and keep it. That was true for Adam and Eve. It was true for Deborah, David, and Daniel. It was true for Ezekiel, Esther, and Ezra. It likewise was true for Andrew, Agabus, and Aquila.
        It is true for every person living today as well. In our society (compared to days gone by), less emphasis is put on learning and following the Bible. That sad however, reality does not change what the Christ said: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”
        As unthinkable as it sounds today among some who identify themselves as Christians, there is not a premium placed on learning and heeding what God says. Yet, Jesus’ words still are true: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”
        And did you know that in God’s church there is a tendency on the part of some to look unfavorably on Bible lessons which highlight the need to keep God’s word? Though that be the case, this truth remains unaltered: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” Some deplore the mention of keeping commandments, as if it were a degrading, vile concept. Yet, our Lord told His close followers, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). How can it be wrong to teach about keeping the commands of the Lord if Jesus talked about the necessity of such?! We would prefer for the God of heaven to recognize us as keepers of His word rather than breakers of His instructions, would we not?
        Jesus taught that those who enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the Father’s will (Matt. 7:21). Would we not conclude from such a declaration that “doing” the Father’s will is a positive concept rather than being an evil one?
        There is no denying the Bible’s teaching that a person’s salvation comes about by God’s grace (Titus 2:11). It is equally true that God’s grace does not save people who do not respond to His message of grace in the proper manner. God, by His grace and the gospel of grace, saves those who obey Jesus (Heb. 5:9), which is the same thing as hearing and keeping God’s word (Luke 11:28).
        No grace, means no salvation. In the same way, no submission to God’s word, means no salvation. We understand that when we make the choice to obey God’s instructions given to us in the Bible, and He blesses us as a result, we do not deserve His blessings. We cannot earn His favor. We could never do enough good things to put the Lord in a position where He becomes a debtor to us. God does not owe you and me anything, period.
        The Christ’s words still ring true: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” We will never outgrow the need to learn and obey what God’s word says.
                120 Fawn Dr.
                Cleveland, TN 37412

Table of Contents