Good News 1952 (Vol II No 03) Mar_w

7/28/2019 Good News 1952 (Vol II No 03) Mar_w

1/16

The National MagazIne ofAMBASSADOR COLLEGE

VOL. II, NUMBER 3 MARCH, 1952

reth, where he had been brought up:and, as his custom was, he went into thesynagogue on the sabbath day, and stoodup for to read." Here we see that fromchildhood, Jesus customarily went to thesynagogue-the Jewish name for thechurch-on the sabbath.Since this article .js to explain theteaching of Paul to the Gentile converts,a full explanation of Jesus' exampleneed not be given. But to understand itcompletely, write for the booklet"Which Day is the Sabbath of the NewTestament?"There are dozens of scriptures in theBible where Jesus showed the peoplehow to keep the sabbath as God intended. It is lawful, Jesus said, to do good onthat day, because the Sabbath was madefor man (Mark 2:27).Remember, Jesus was set ting an example for the New Testament church.

Jesus observed also the passover, andfestival of unlea,vened bread before heentered his rninistry! . (Luke 2:41,42) .And he continued to so do afterward(John 2:13, 23 and 6:4). Other festivals of God are mentioned, as the Festival of Tabernacles, to which the ApostleJohn devoted an entire chapter, theseventh.No t once did Jesus tell us we shouldnot observe these days. He set us an example by keeping them. No where canyou find He offered sacrifice on thesedays, either, except the passover. He sub-

Did Paul Preach aNEW KIND of Christianity?So many are asking about Paul's instruction to Gentile converts.

Did Paul teach against the Sabbath and Holy Days? Here is an.answer you have probably NEVER seen in print before!By Herman L. Hoeh

spent three and one-half years of hisministry preaching an Old Covenantmessage? That's not what your Biblesays! The law and the prophets werepreached until John, and from that timeon', the Gospel was preached-the NewTestament message (Luke 16:16) .Jesus Christ is the minister of the newcovenant based on better promises thanthe old (Heb, 8:6; 12:24). The message Jesus preached-the very words ofthe gospel-is the way of life Jesuspracticed. Jesus did not do one thingthat we should not be doing today. Hecondemned those who "say, and do not."(Mat. 23:3). Everywhere we find Jesusliving .according to the message hepreached, and commanding his disci-ples to follow his steps. The works Hedid we are to do also (John 14: 12).Jesus preached and lived a NewTestament message in opposi tion to the

Jews. I f we claim to abide in Christ, weought to walk even as He walked-follow his example!Which Days?

Jesus set the pattern for the way weare to obey the Father. So let 's examineit before we turn to the teaching of Paulto the Gentiles.What was Jesus' custom about observing days?Luke 4: 16 shows Jesus attendingservice on the sabbath day before hebegan to preach. He had come to "Naza-erhaps you have heard that Jesus

Examples from ChristPaul tells Gentile converts in Ephesians 5: 1 to be "followers of God." Butdoes the Bible give us examples of

HOW to follow God?It certainly does. The Father made itclear how each of us is to live, by sending His Son into the world to set us anexample. Peter tells us that Christ set usan example that we should follow hisStt:ps-I Peter 2: 21. "The man who professes to continue in Him is himselfalso bound to live as He lived" saidJohn. ( I John 2:6, WeYIIlouth trans.)The first thing to remember is thatwe must abide in the practices andteachings of Christ. We are bound bythe Word of God to follow his example.

New Covenant Minister

Y O U HAVE been born into a con-fused world which is filled withconfused teaching.Many of you have been taught thatPaul instituted a new kind of Christianity to the Gentiles. You have been toldby some that Paul abolished the observance of AL L days. Yet others say thatChrist commanded "Christian" days forHis church.Who is right? To understand thetruth, we must first acquaint ourselveswith the inspired practice of Jesus andthe true church.


2/16

Page 2srituted for the lamb the symbols of unleavened bread and wine.But was all this preaching just forJews?

Nailed to the Cross?There are all varieties of argumeatsby those who "can' t see it." So you haveprobably heard that even though Jesus

DID NOT ONCE DURING HIS WHOLELIFE preach against the days God instituted, they were abolished by his death.If that were so, the Holy Spiri t couldnot have inspired the Apostle to say thatthe day after the death of Jesus was ahigh day or annual festival (John19: 31) and that the seventh day wasstill the sabbath according to the fourthcommandment (Luke 23:56).Then all of Jesus' preaching wouldhave been for nothing, and whose example are we to follow?But, perhaps the apostles changed thedays? Did Paul tell the Gentile converts

to keep different days?The Apostles' ExamplesHere is what Paul told the Gentileconverts at Corinth: "Be ye followers ofme, even as I also am of Christ (I Cor.

11: 1)."And to those Gentile-born at Philippi,he wrote: "Be followers together ofme . . . so as ye have us for an example(Phil . 3: 17):' And to the once paganThessalonians he wrote: "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches ofCod which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus( I Thess. 2: 14) ."Here are conclusive texts that GEN-TILES, on .being converted are commanded to follow the examples of theApostle to the Gentiles "as I also am ofChrist," and to follow the example ofthe churches of God in Judaea! Thosewere composed of Jewish members!Did Paul follow the example ofJesus?Could Paul have lived any other waythan that of Jesus? For he himself said:"Chr ist liveth in me." And Christ is thesame, yesterday, today and forever! Jesus doesn't change. He lives the samekind of life in us as he lived in Paul-the same life He, h i m s ~ l f , lived whenpreaching the Gospel in person.But can we be sure we are followingChrist's example when we follow theteachings of Paul? Certainly.It was Paul's manner to keep the sabbath JUSt as it was Jesus' custom! "Butt hat was to Jews," many will say (Acts17: 2). Of course, but did you ever readwhere the Gentiles asked Paul, AFTERTHE JEWS HAD GONE OUT OF THESYNAGOGUE, to preach to them the nextsabbath? Here, as recorded in Acts13:43-45, was Paul's great opportunityto tell Gentiles to meet him some dif-

The GOOD NEWS[erent day if the Sabbath were changed!But what happened? Paul d idn' t sayany such th ing ; but, instead, met withthem "the next sabbath." EverywherePaul followed the example of Christ inkeeping the sabbath, even when amongGentiles!Many of you are right now thinkingof several texts where the first day of theweek is mentioned. But did you everstop to notice that in every text it wasa common work day? You can't affordto delay writing for Mr. Armstrong'sbooklet "Which Day is the Sabbath ofthe New Testament?" which explainseveryone of these texts.

Did Gentiles Keep Festivals?We see now that Paul kept the sabbath among Gentiles, but surely hewouldn' t have taught the Gent ile converts to keep the annual festivals ofGod? That's another fable you've beentold!Afte1" the handwriting of ordinanceswere abolished, we find the true churchfilled with the Spiri t of God on the annual festival of Pentecost! (Acrs 2: 1 )The passover and days of' unleavenedbread were kep t by the churches in In-daea (Acts 12: 3) . And we have readwhere Paul praised the Gentiles in Thessalonica for following the churches ofGod in Judaea!-The Jewish brethren!But does the Bible record that the annual holy days were held where the Gentiles lived-long after those rituals thatwere nailed to the cross were abolished?Yes, indeed.The Holy Spirit inspired Luke towri te in Acts 20:6 that the days of unleavened bread occurred in far off Philippi! The disciples sailed away "afterthe days of unleavened bread."In I Corinthians 16:8, Paul told theGentiles he was intending to be atEphesus, a Gentile city, the day of Pentecost. If this is not enough proof, thenlet's turn to 1 Cor. 5: 8 where Paul commanded Gentile converts to observeone of these festivals."For even Chris t our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore . . ." what?Read it! "Therefore let, us keep thefeast, not with old leaven. . . but with

the unleavened bread of sincerity andtruth."He re and in I Cor. 11: 20-34, Paul isinstructing the Corinthians how to keepthe passover and the festival of unleavened bread. They are commanded not touse leaven on those days. But instead oftaking unleavened bread according tothe letter of the law as the Jews did,Paul admonished these Corinthians toobey according to the spirit, by usingunleavened bread-the symbol of righteOUf>ness-with a pure heart in sincerity.This -rapid sketch of the practice of

March, 1952Jesus and the early church, which wasguided by the inspiration of the Apostles, shows the PRACTICE of real Christianity as it began.But what about those three texts thatPaul wrote to Genti le converts? Don'tthey say that these days were abolished?-And that Christ ians departed fromgrace by observing them?Esteeming One Day Above AnotherIn spite of rhe Biblical evidence already presented, many people firmly believe tha t Paul said it didn't make anydifference which days we keep if wekeep them to God as best we believe inour own human reasoning. Is that whatPaul really said? Let's see."One man esreerneth one day aboveanother: another esreerneth every dayalike. Let every man be fully persuadedin his own mind." Romans 14:5,6.By taking these verses Out of theirsetting, people make Paul say something

altogether different. Does he say to observe Christmas, Easter, Lent, Good Friday, Sunday, or the Festival of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven? Does hesay here that Jesus did away with thevery days He kept?Does Paul say "God esreemeth oneday above anorher" and "God esteernethevery day alike"? It doesn't say "God,"but "one MAN esteemeth one day aboveanother." This tells us what certainMEN thought, nor what God says!We are not to be ' judged by whatmen think, but by the word of God!John 12: 48 reads: "The word that 1have spoken, the same shall judge himin the last day." Jesus is not going tojudge you by what any man believes, butby the words He spoke!Nexr, notice that these saints at Rome,having differing opinions, were forbidden to judge one another as unworthy ofChrist. "Who are you that judges another man's servant? to his own master hestands or falls. Yes, he shall be help up:for God is able to make him stand."(Rom. 14:4)Paul is not sanctioning or condemning any particular days, but warning thesaints not to judge one anorher andcause str ife for having differing opinions abour things they did not yet understand clearly."Let every man be fully persuaded inhis own mind."Does this give license to believe whatever you want? God commands: "Leannot unto thine own understanding."(Prov. 3: 5) How are you going to befully assured in your own mind UNTILYOU KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS IN HISWORD? "The holy scriptures . . . areable to make you wise to salvation" Paulwrote Timothy. (2 Tim. 3: 15) ByPleasecontinue on page 12


3/16

IF YOU DIE ...Will You Live Again?You are going to be surprised by the NEW FACTS you will learnabout the resurrection in this article-facts you have NEVER beentaught, but information which your Bible has ALWAYS contained.

Y OUrecall how man in great physical danger fights for his life! Heexerts almost superhuman energyto save himself and does not give upuntil all strength is gone!But what about DEATH? It is the op-posite of life. It takes away this verymortal life that you would defend withall your strength!All people down through the ageshave had to die, but this is not a satis

fying answer when you yourself haveto face it.

IS DEATH THE END OF EVERYTHING?Just what IS the chance of YOUR comingback to life, of l iv ing again? Your onlyhope of li ving again is by a resurrection.But what is your ASSURANCE, if any, ofsuch an occurrence?Where can you look for such assurance? You can look to the Bible! It willgive you the answers to those importantlife and death questions that no humanmind can give! I t is the revealed WORDof GOD.

Predicted Far in AdvanceAs usual, with great events, God hasmade the resurrections known for hun dreds of years in advance! Job, fifteenhundred years before Christ, said"Though after my skin worms destroythis body, yet in my flesh will I see God."(Job 19:26). David said, "God will redeem my soul from the power of thegrave: for he shall receive me." (Ps,49: 15 ). These two were speaking oftheir own future resurrection to immor-tality.Isaiah 700 years before Christ, prophesied Christ's resurrection; for in Isa.26: 19 he says "Thy dead men shall live,together with my dead body shall theyarise.' Also, David says of Chris t' s resurrection, "Thou wi lt not leave my soulin hell ( the grave); neither wilt thousuffer thine Holy one to see corruption."(Ps, 16:10). All these resurrections areresurrections to IMMORTALITY!But Daniel, about 500 B.C., has FORETOLD that there is going to be, IN THEFUTURE, a resurrection wh ich can alsobe followed by a sentencing to eternaldeath-to erlasting concempt-e-t'Andat that time shall Michael st and up--

By Dr, C. P. Meredithand many of them that sleep in the dustof the ear th shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and ever-lasting contempt." (Daniel 12: 1,2)But even BEFORE Isa iah and Danielprophesied the resurrection of Christin fact practically at the very time Godformed man, God, referring to Christ'scoming said, "I will pu t enmity betweenthee (the serpent) and the woman, andbetween thy seed and her seed; it (theseed) shall bruise thy (Satan's) head-"(Gen. 3: 15) . Satan deceived Eve intoeating of the tree of knowledge of goodand evil (Gen. 3:6), the penalty ofwhich was death (verse 3) . Had Adamand Eve not eaten of this tree, theywould likely have eaten of the tree oflife (Gen. 2: 9) and they and we couldhave lived forever. A just God made itpossible that through woman's seedChrist (Christ had no earth ly father) allmankind could aga in have a chance toeternal life through a resurrection fromdeath. ( l Tim. 2:14 and Isaiah 7:14).Romans 5:10 says "If -we were reconciled to God by the death of his son we shall be saved by his life."Do you get the significance of this?We are saved " -by his (Christ's) life."The HOLY SPIRIT! Chris t had this by being begotten of it. (Psalms 2:7; Matthew 1: 20). WEwho repent and are baptized receioe it as a gift! (Acts 2: 38).We weren't born with any immorta lsoul, we must receive eternal life as agift. Now we are beginning to see whyChrist's resurrection was as impor tantas the shedding of his BLOOD for theforegiveness of our past sins! It meansthat IF the same life (Holy Spir it) isin us that was in Chris t, God CAN andWILL RESURRECT US TO IMMORTALI'IY;for Romans 8: 11 says "I f the Spirit (theHoly Spirit) of him (God the Father)that raised up Jesus from the dead dwellin you, he that raised Chris t from thedead shall also quicken your mortalbodies by his Spi ri t (Holy Spiri t) tha tdwells in you."No wonder the RESURRECTION OF

JESUS was such an ,important event tothe whole EARTH! IT WAS TO PROVETHAT THE EOLYSPIRIT WITHINA PER-

SON WOULD CAUSE A RESURRECTIONTO IMMORTALI'IY AFTER DEATH!Bible Based on a Plan

The preachers today DO NOT GRASPTHE FACT that the WHOLE BIBLE dealswith ONE SUBJECT ONLY-THE FORMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD byGOD the FATHER!!It can also be called the family of God.It will be a family of SPIRIT BEINGS withGod the Father at the head; Christ willbe the eldest son, and those who arefinally saved at the resurrect ion will bethe Other sons. (See parables on Kingdom of God-Matt. 13 and Mark 4) .THE RESURRECTION TO IMMORTALITY represents THE VITAL TRANSITIONFROM THIS MORTAL BODY-BY BEINGBORN AGAIN-INTO THE SPIRIT FORMAND ENTRANCE INTOTHE KINGDOM OFG O D ~ "-except a man be born again hecannot see the kingdom of God." (John3:3) .With such a close-knit message as thisto tell, can ANY PERSON say the old

testament is done awaY"or say that Paul'swritings should be left Out or onlypreach from sections here and there?The ENTIRE BIBLE is ONE COMPACTUNIT and drives hard toward the subjectit has to reveal, once it is PROPERLYunderstood!As we go on now to study the variousRESURRECTIONS, let us keep in mindhow the MASTER-MIND, God the Father,reveals HIS PLAN to us. It will build ourFAITH in the resurrection! We willKNOW that we are in a world that isrunning according to a PRECONCEIVEDDEFINITE PLAN!

Resurrection of Jesus ChristFrom the t ime Adam and Eve sinned,

God foretold the coming of ONE whowould again give man an opportunityto immortal life, and foretold of hisdescent through Abraham. HE who wasto give us the opportunity of a RESURRECTION to ETERNAL LIFE--CHRIST!Chr is t was TO BRUISE the SERPENT'SHEAD (Gen. 3: 15 ); his, origin to bethrough Abraham (Gen. 12: 3 ); and tobe through the Judah branch of Abraham (Gen. 49: 10); and the Pharez


4/16

Page 4 The GOOD NEWS March, 1952

Herbert W. ArmstrongPubllsber 471d EtUlor

Sent free on personal request, as theLord provides. Address communicarious IU the Editor, Box 111, Pasadena,California.

The national magazine ofAMBASSADOR COLLEGE

ministering to The Church-of Godscattered abro(l.d, andreporting on campus happenings

1:35-the power which strengthenedhim against temptation FROM BIRTH! 1Cor. 15: 17 says "I f Christ be not raised,your fa ith is in vain."Suppose Christ had died but set notime as to when he would be resurrectedand suppose further, that after a year orso his body disappeared. YOU ANn IWOULD HAVE NO EVIDENCE WHATEVERTHAT WE WOULD EVER BE RESURRECTEDand BECOME IMMORTAL! His bodymight only have been stolen.But Christ has given us the evidence!When the Scribes and Pharisees askedChrist for a SIGN (of his being the Messiah-or Savior) he said he would beTHREE DAYS AND NIGHTS in the grave(Matt. 12:40)-NOT one and a halfdays as the churches today believe, butTHREE! By this teaching of a day and ahalf the devil is trying to take our vetyevidence of a salvation hope away fromus.Christ arose the third day! He wascrucified late Wednesday afternoon andarose late Sabbath (Saturday) afternoon.(Our booklet "Does Easter really commemorate the Resurrection?" clearly explains this.)The thing that confuses people is thatthey mistake the Sabbath that is mentioned as drawing on in Luke 23:54 fora WEEKLY SABBATH whereas it was actually an ANNUAL SABBATH-which happened to fall on Thunday in A.D. 31.After this came their WEEKLY SABBATHon Saturday. Between these days thewomen bought and prepared spices

(Mark 16: 1).God has seen to it that these twoWORLD IMPORTANT EVENTS-the Crucifixion and the Resurrection-havebeen well witnessed! Christ's healingand miracles had attracted a large following. People were interesterd in himwherever he went. On the day of Hiscrucifixion a large multitude was present.(Matt. 27: 24)Mary (Jesus' mother) and the othertwo Marys and John were present On.19:25,26) also.As Christ said he would rise the thirdday the chief priests and Pharisees tookgreat precautions to see that his bodydid not disappear by being stolen by thedisciples, so a guard was set and a greatstone was rolled over the sepulture entrance. (Matt . 27: 63-66)Christ's body did disappear though!On. 20: 1) He had been RESURRECTEDfrom the dead THETHIRD DAY and MaryMagdalene (John 20: 14), the disciplesOn. 20: 19), and after that about 500people saw him at one time! (1 Cor.IS :6). Fifry days later in Jerusalem alarge number gathered from all over theworld to observe Pentecosr and awaitthe coming of the Holy' Spir it (Acts2:2).

ornsa STATIONSWAIT-Chicago-8zo on dial- l .ooP.M. Sundays.KMAC-San Antonio---{)30 on dial-7 :00 P.M. SundaysKLEE-Houston-6l0 on dial, 10:00P.M. Sun. and 12 midnightMon. thru Sat.

HEARD ON PACIFIC COAST:XERB-50,000 watts-I090 on dial

-7:00 P.M. every night.XEDM-1580 on d ial, ellery night,8:00 P.M. Pacific Coast time.KALI-Los Angeles-1430 on d ia l -7:30 A.M. ellery morning. -KXL-Portland-l0,000 watts. 750on dial-2:30 P.M., Sundays.KVI-Seattle-Tacoma-570, first ondial-1O:30 P.M. Sundays.

Herbert W. Armst rong analyzes today's news, with the prophecies ofThe WORLD TOMORROW!TO THE NATION & CANADA:XERF-1570 on your dial (extr emetop. of dial) every Sunday

night, 7:15 P.M. CentralStandard time.XEG":-1050 on your dial, every night,8:00 P.M. Central Standardtime.XEtO-800 on your dial, every night,9 :00 P.M. Central Standardtime. (8 :00 Mountain Standard time.)XEFW-81O on dial, every night,9:00 P.M., and every morning,6 :30 A.M. (heard in Easternstates one hour later) .

"The WORLD TOMORROW"RADIO LOG

a short return, to a PHYSICAL LIFE andwere of no great importance except tothe ones involved!Bur on Christ 's resurrection dependsthe RESURRECTION and ETERNAL LIFEof ALL OF US; for 1 Cor. 15: 17,18 says,"If Christ be not raised, your faith isvain; ye are yet in your sins. Then theyalso which are fallen asleep in Christare perished." Doomed to eternal death!Do you understand it? Had Christbeen an o.rdinary mortal man withoutthe Spirit of God, he would have SINNEDsometime dur ing his life and could nothave paid OUR DEBT for sin! "The wagesof sin is DEATH . . ." (Rom. 6:23)ETERNAL DEATH! His sin would havetaken his own life and God would nothave resurrected him! .He would havehad no life left to PAY FOR OUR SINSWE COULD NOT EXPECT TO BE RESUR-RECTED TO ETERNAL LIFE!

I t took on UNUSUAL HUMAN BEINGto go through life without. sinning. Hewas known as the Messiah On . 1 :41 ) the ANOINTED ONE-one who was tocome to REDEEM the people. He wasBEGOTTEN of the HOLY SPIRIT (Luke

NUMBER 3OL. II

Herman Hoeh, Exe&utille EdilorRaymond Cole, Marion McNair,Raymond McNair, Paul Smith

Assaciate EditorsOwen Smith, Campu$ Editor

Kenneth Herrmann, Sdmce EditorDick Armstrong, Pi&lure EditorRod Meredith, Sport$ Editor

branch of Judah. (Gen . 38:28 ,29,30).David foretold Jesus' resurrectionabout 1,000 years B.C. (Ps. 16:10), andIsaiah about 700 years B.C. (Isaiah 7: 14and 26: 19). Christ himself foretold thathis resurrection would occur the THIRDDAY-72 hours (not less than 2 days36 hours, as the churches today teach)and IT HAPPENED IN 72 HOURS! (Readour bookle t "Does Easter really commemorate the Resurrection?")Now, let us look back over these happenings-a sequence of events, prophesied always well in advance, and extending over a period of four thousand yearsand always fulfilled! Should not this inspire YOUf' CONFIDENCE in the ONEthe SUPREME GOD--who saw that theseevents were prophesied, and saw thatthey ALWAYS CAME TO PASS? Whatever God says by His..Holy Word, the

Bible, will be done!The resurrection of Christ was an entirely diffuent type of event than hasever happened on this earth before orsince. The pagans had taught about im-mortal souls and that people returned tolife after death in various o ther forms(i.e. reincarnations), bur they couldnever produce PROOF. Christ, before hiscrucifixion, raised many of the deadback to life to fill our their natural lifespan. (Matt. 9:24,25; Matt. 10:8; Luke7:15; Ju. 11:44).These resurrections were all, only for


5/16

tJarch, 1952From this point , the news "of the resurrection was spread by the apostles"(Acts 4: 2), and their converts. Gibbon,in his Decline and Fall of the RomanEmpire, says that the resU1'1'ectinn is oneof the best authenticated facts in allhistOry. Also Gibbon says ''. . . it is nowonder that so advantageous an offer(resurrection and eternal life), shouldhave been accepted by great numbers ofevery religion . . ."THEWORLD WAS CONVINCED OF THISRESURRECTION TO A DIFFERENT 'lYPE

OF BEING!-to immortal life in thefamily of God.Resurrection Is Necessary

You have probably been taught thatyou have been born with an immortalsoul which goes immediately to heaven,purgatOry or hell when you die. This isNOT TRUE! YOUR BIBLE DOES NOTTEACH IT! "The first man is of the earth,earthy-." (1 Cor. 15:47)The SAME word "NEPHESH"-whichmeans flesh-whether of animal 01' manwas translated "creaturo' in Gen. 1 :24where it was associated with animals,and "soul" in Gen. 2: 7 where the Biblespeaks of man becoming a LIVING SOUL!In other words, both animal and manare composed of ONETHING-the SAMETHING-MORTAL FLESH, and, as borninto this world, one has no more animmortal soul inside him than the other!(Ecc. 3:19,20)No one would contend that any beastsare in purgatury or eternal torment.Another passage, that shows that ANYONE THAT DIES GOES TO HIS .GRAVE

AND IS THERE NOW, is Acts 2:29 whichshows that David is now in his sepulture,". . . David . . . is both dead and buried,and his sepulture is with us unto thisday."Now notice this: if anyone is inheaven, purgatory or hell where mostpreachers -today say they are, then theyare STILL ALIVE; THEREFORE THEyCOULD NOT BE RESURRECTED--for thevery word "RESURRECTION" i tself implies that those resurrected were DEAD!THEREFORE A RESURRECTION isNECESSARY if a person who once died isbrought to life again! How sadly and

without reason have the Bible teachingsbeen distorted! WE COULD NOTATTAINIMMORTALI'lY and GOD WOULD BE DEFEATED IN HIS MAIN PURPOSE OF CREATING MAN-the CREATION OF A SPIRrr BEING! BUTWE VO HAVE THIS HOPEOF A RESURRECTION!Bible Teaches Resurrection fo r Al l". . . There shall be a resurrection ofthe dead, both the JUSt and the unjust "(Acts 24: 15). Paul said this when hewas be ing tried before Felix. Do yougrasp the meaning of this? EVERYONE

The GOOD NEWSis going to be resurrected!"... the hour is coming, in which allthat are in the graves shall hear hisvoice, and shall come forth; they thathave done good, unto the resurrection oflife; and they tha t have done evil, Untothe resurrection of judgment." (John5: 28,29) Daniel 12.2 gives the samechought- A RESURRECTION FOR EVERYONE.

Many ResurrectionsNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN FORA SURPRISE! Undoubtedly you are goingto learn of one resurrection that younever heard of before and possibly twoor three! Yet they are in YOUR BIBLE.

The things that are in the BIBLE are JUStnot being taught today!The First Resurrection

The FIRST resurrection of man TO1MMORTALI'lY that has ever occurred inthis world (except Christ's), will occurwhen Chris t comes at the LAST TRUMP.1 Thessalonians 4: 17 describes this: "Forthe Eternal himself shall descend fromheaven with a greatshour, with the voice0' the archangel, and with the trump(LASTTRUMP) of God: and the dead inChrist shall rise first.

"Then we which are alive and remainshall be caught up together with themin the clouds to meet the Eternal in theair: and so shall we ever be with theEternal." (But they will go immediatelyto Jerusalem to start their 1,000 yearsrule. Read Zechariah 14).This is the resurrect ion just aheadnow! 1 Cor. 15:51 thru 56 describes

this same resurrection and Rev, 11:15describes the blowing (sounding) of the"last trump" which ushers this periodin. Read these verses!The JUST DEAD will be raised by thepower of God exerted through the me-dium of Jesus Christ (John 6:44),These are they WHO HAVE REPENTED(i.e. turned from their former ways),been baptized, received the GIFT of theHOLY SPIRIT and were overcomers to theend (Acts 2: 3 8 and Romans 8: 11).(NOTE! This HOLY SPIRIT is a GIFTthat is given ONLY TO THOSE WHOQUALIFY TO RECEIVE IT! This is theNEAREST thing we ever have in this lifeto the IMAGINARY IMMORTAL SOULthat people WRONGLY THINK everyoneis BORN with!)Of this resurrection, Rev. 20: 6 says,"Blessed is he that hath part in the FIRSTRESURRECTION: on such the SECONDDEATH (i.e. the e ternal dea th) hath nopower, . .""And I saw thrones, and they sat uponthem, and judgment was given unrothem . . ." (Rev. 20:4). This is the resurrect ion to the SPIRIT FORM (1 Cor. 15:

44) just described. Now notice verse 5,

Page 5"... but the REST OF THE DEAD LIVEDNOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSANDYEARS WERE FINISHED."-al1 but theGOOD DEAD stay dead through the 1,000years! There are no resurrections in themillennium of those long dead!A thousand year per iod followsChrist's second coming and during rhistime Christ RULES THIS EARTH. (Isaiah11; Jeremiah 31:1-18; Ezekiel 36). Thisone thousand years is the time represenred by the Feast of Tabernacle! (Lev.23:34 and Exodus 23: 16) in GOD'SHOLY DAYS. It is a time when GodREALLY BEGINS IN EARNEST TO SAVEPEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEEND OF THISAGE AND INTOTHEWORLD TOMORROW!

Another ResurrectionAt the end of the thousand years, dur

ing which t ime Christ has been rulingthis earth and the earth has been full ofthe knowledge of the Eternal, (a condition that certainly has not been presentup to now), there will be another resurrection!Matthew 13: 24 thrn 30 and verses 36thru 42 (the parable of the tares), describes this HARVEST! Note verse thirty"Let both grow toge ther unt il the harvest . . ."Also note verse 39 ". . . the harvest isthe end of the world . . ." -or consummation of the age-the one thousandyear age and the time of RESURRECTIONwhich will follow. Matthew 25:31 thru34 describes the salvation of the worlddur ing the mil lennium and this RESURRECTION also!

Now you are REALLY GOING TO GETA SURPRISE! Yet it is only WHAT YOUROWN BIBLE TELLS YOU if YOU WILLREAD IT!Most of you have been told by thechurches ever since you could rememberthat if anyone is NOT SAVED IN THEPRESENT LIFE then he is ETERNALLYLOST!But what about all those MILLIONSAND MILLIONS of PEOPLE back therewho were BORN BEFORE CHRIST'S TIMEWHO NEVER HAD THECHANCE OF SALVATION because CHRIST had not yetcome to MAKE IT AVAILABLE?REMEMBER tha t the BIBLE says "IFthe Spirit (the Holy Spirit) of him(God the Father) rhar raised up Jesusfrom the dead dwell in you, he thatraised up Christ shall also quicken yourmortal bodies by his Spirit (the HolySpirit) that dwelleth in you." BUT-THE. HOLY SPIRIT from the Father WAS NOTAVAILABLE to people on the earth untilafter Christ ascended!Christ had to ascend unto heaven first!Christ said in John 16:7 "For if I go notaway the Comforter (the Holy Spirit)will not come unro you; but if I depart,I will send him unto you." The Holy


6/16

Page 6Spirit FIRST CAME TO THIS EARTH TOBE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEN fifty daysafter Christ was crucified! It came onthe day of PENTECOST (Acts 2:1-4).These MILLIONS are NOT LOST FOR-EVER! -They NEVER were called to besaved! God is a JUST GOD and he hasPROVIDED A WAY whereby they CAN BESAVED!Also, what about the great numbersince Christ's day who have shown verylittle interest in religion and have died?

ARE THEY LOST FOREVER? No, becausethey have never had a chance to salvation. They are blinded. God is NOT trying to save many now. He has BLINDEDthem! Read Romans 11;5,7,8,25. Acts7:42, Isaiah 28:13, Matthew 13:10,11,13.Now notice WHEN GOD IS GOING TOGIVE THESE PEOPLE THEIR FIRSTCHANCE for SALVATION! Note this care-fully! Y0# hatJe probably NEVER heardit explained before in its TRUE meaning!". . . Ye shall know I am the Eternal,when I have opened your graves . . . andbrought you up out of your graves, andshall pu t my spirit in you 'and ye shalllive, and I shall place you in your ownland ..." (Ezekiel 37:13-14). This isspeaking of ancient Israel-a peoplewho had been sca tt ered among the nations almost 150 years before this waswritten!WHEN does this take place? It cannot take place before Chri st returns toear th at his second coming because thatwill bring about the FIRST RESURRECTION. I t WILL NOT take place th en butonly after one thousand y,ears haveelapsed from the time of the first resur-rection because as we have already seen(please refer to First Resurrection) onlythe GOOD will be RESURRECTED then!(Also Rev. 20: 5.)Therefore THERE ARE ONLY TWO

CLASSES THIS RESURRECTION CAN POS-SIBLY REFER To--the evil dead whohave knowingly rejected the truth andthe dead who never had a chancel Theevil dead are those who DELIBERATELYDECIDED they did not want to be ruled.by God. There is NO REASON to givethem a second chance to attain immortality! They had their chance and turnedit down!Therefore IT IS THE CLASS OF PEOPLE, THE VAST BLINDED MAJORITY,WHO NEVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE TOACCEPT GOD'S WAY OF LIFE, WHO ARERESURRECTED!Read what Revelation 20: 11-12 saysabout this RESURRECTION: "... and Isaw a great whi te throne ... and I sawthe dead, small and great stand beforeGod .. ." these people are STANDINGA RESURRECTION-". . . and anotherbook was opened which is the book oflife . . ." they are given LIFE-"... and

The GOOD NEWSthe,fead were judged out of those thingsIT IS THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

JUDGMENT!Even the WORST of the sinners whonever had a chance, will be in this RES-URRECTION for even the inhabi tant s ofSODOM will be there! "When thy daughters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return the ir former estate, and Samariaand her daughters shall r eturn to the irformer estate . . . then thou (Jerusalem,refer to Ezekiel 37) . . . shall return toyour former estate." (Ezekiel 16:55.)Isaiah 65: 20 indicates ALL will live tobe a hundred years old in this age at thistime.God is indeed a just God (Deut, 32:4) and ALL WILL HAVE THEIR CHANCETO BE SAVED!

The Final ResurrectionRevelation 20:13,14,15 describes the

FINAL RESURRECTION in which the sea,death, and hell ("Hades"-the grave)give up their dead to be judged. Theseare they who, after be ing begotten byGod, rebelled, and those who have livedcontrary to God's way of life and haverefused to repent; be baptized, and thusreceive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Theseare cast into the lake of fire which is described in verse 14 as the SECOND DEATH.It is the EVERLASTING DEATH!

Why SoMany Resurrections?At ' first g lance it seems s trange thatthere ace so many resurrections, bu t letus examine. God the Father' is forminga spirit family of his very own f rom usmortals here on this earth, but he is alsoseeing to it that we develop into BEINGSOF CHARACTER-beings that can ULTI-

MATELY BE TRUSTED WITH the GREATPOWER THATGOD WILL GIVE US!This will take TIMEin order that manmay learn that HIS (MAN'S) OWN WAYSof doing things, guided by his own nat-ural tendencies, ARE WRONG and that heMUST be guided by God's laws in ALLhis activities or only WRETCHEDNESS andDEATH will result! We are just startingto see the terrible end results now ofman's own way of running this earth!

God is going to enlarge his KINGDOMgradually. An increasing number will begiven immortality at each resurrection.Only those who qualify to become asp ir it being and are changed into spi ri tcan enter into this k ingdom; for 1 Cor.15:50 says "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God."Matthew 13:31-32 describes the manner of growth of this kingdom: "Thekingdom of heaven (o r k ingdom ofGod) is like to a grain of mustard seed. .>. which is the least of all seeds; .bu twhen it is grown, it is the greatest amongthe herbs, and becometh a tree .. ."

March, 1952Only ONE person has been born intothis kingdom so far-this is Jesus Christ.

This was done by his resurrection to immortality. (Romans 8:29; Col. 1: 18).These resurrections to immortalitywhich are to GIVE BIRTH to the rest ofthe ci tizens of this spiri t kingdom havenot started yet, bu t will start at Christ'ssecond coming! When these do start,there will be a shorter space betweeneach succeeding resurrection.These people who are transformedinto spirit beings, will be used to governthe mortal beings here on this earth.These spirir beings of the KINGDOM willbe rulers, priests , and judges. (Rev. 1:6;2(}:4; 1 Cor. 6:2.) Ultimately ALL mortal men MUST be in this SPIRIT KINGDOMor CEASE TO EXIST! ALL of the Bibledoes start to MAKE SENSE once God'sPLAN is UNDERSTOOD!The Glorious Hope-The GoodNewsNo wonder the apostles who were all

witnesses to the resurrection of Christ toimmortality (Acts 2: 32; 3: 15) were sojoyous that they went diligently up anddown the land preaching this hope.From the Portfolio"By Owen SmithHere are some entertaInIng extractsfrom our campus newspaper the "Por tfolio" which should give you an insightinto our life. This paper is pu t out bythe Journalism class under the directionof Professor Walker, for the studentsonly."Tote that dirt; water those camellias;

plant those trees; clean these groundsup, make it 'snappy!" yells Mr. Allen orMr. Cole. "Work," that's the word; workfor a living, and work for a cause.A college that gives you work to enable you to go to it. A college thatmakes you proud of it, and makes youfeel a part of it because you helped makeit what it is. You planted those flowers;you watered that lawn, You cleared thatland; and you shaped that contour. It'sa part of you, and you are a part of it. Mr. Emile Mauler-Hiennecey is giv-ing an advanced course in French thatwill take up the s tudy of journal ism, radio scr ip t writing and public speakingalong with present-day customs of othermass communication media of France.Dick Armstrong is the only student

who has enrolled in the class so far.The subject material covered will beanalytical rather than creative. SeveralFrench newspapets will be subscribedto, and radio s tations in Par is are beingaddressed through correspondence toobtain radio scripts and analyze methodsof broadcasting in France.


7/16

An OPEN LETTERto those baptized last summer

Are you really living a.Christian life? Apply this test and see.

By Rod MeredithT HIS IS an open letter to all ofyou well-remembered people whowere baptized last summer.Every time I remember those pleasant summer days and nights when youand Raymond McNair and I came together before God in the performanceof His command to be baptized, I thinkof many things that I would like to sayto you.So I am beginning this article at 11: 20p.m. on a Saturday night . I feel that Godhas given me the essence of an open letter or article. I hope it will help and inspire everyone of you brethren and coworkers whom Raymond and I cannotrecall wi thou t having a feeling of lovesweep over us. We both feel that wetruly met God's own people on the tourlast summer. You were wonderful to usand we will never forget the many kindnesses you showed us.

How You Came to KnowGod brought us together last summerand I know that he had a great purposein it. As we met you brethren on our

tour through the South and Midwestwe realized more rhan ever that this wasthe work of the Creator. Each of youwas in different circumstances, each hada different background, yet somehowGod had opened each one of your mindsand hearts to realize that true Christianity was much more than you had beentaught in the "popular" churches.You wanted a real and a genuine relationship with your Creator and yourGod, and the "World Tomorrow" broadcast had helped you make a start in thisdirection. You learned through a t rueminister, Mr. Armstrong, that God'skingdom, in addition to aboundinggrace, has system, and law and order.You became willing to repent of breaking God's laws. Through your own personal Bible study and prayer, you hadcome to realize that God Almighty gaveus his laws because He wanted to showus the right way to live a full, happy,and abundant life.Yes, you knew that God gave us thoselaws out of LOVE, and you were wil lingto turn from your past ways and to beginobeying God. Raymond and I count it agreat joy and blessing to have been privileged to meet and talk with you, and to

baptize many of you-knowing that thiswas the first s tep toward a life of real accomplishment, love.. joy, and peace ofmind. We should all thank God that Hehas shown us the WAY to real peace andhappiness!Here in this world we see peoplegroping and struggling for peace andjoy, yet they will not obey the laws thata loving God has set in motion to produce those very results. Their churches,their pastors and leaders are blindingthem and preventing them from discovering this way to everything really goodand worthwhile.Let us rejoice then that God has seenfit to call us.out of this Babylon of confusion, and to give us the realizationthat the principle of LOVE, as expressedin the ten commandments, is actuallythe key to real deep-down human happiness. When you think about it, it's just"common sense," isn't it? Yes, God'stru th is so pla in that a li ttle child can understand if he will study with an openmind. Yet the world goes on with itsphilosophy of greed, competition, WAR,and hate. How thankful we can be justfor the knowledge that LOVE and OBEDI-ENCE to our Heavenly Father is theonly genuine key to successful, happyliving!

Do You Find This Hard?But a lot of us find even these simpletruths hard to practice. Many of youhave written us of your problems. Andlet me confess, brethren, that all of ushere have many problems in Chr ist ianl iv ing too. I often find myself t ty ing sohard to live up to the letter of the lawthat I neglect to show forth th e love and

kindness toward others that I should. Doof you have problems like this?How many times do we get so intent onthe battle wi th our own human naturethat we forget to help the other fellowwith his problems? It gives one a guil tyfeeling when he realizes this. Yet itseems almost impossible to fight the battle with oneself and the world around USat the same time.Aren't a lot of you having troubleovercoming your own bad habits andfaults? And don't you often become discouraged at your seeming lack of abilityto live a full and happy life, and to show

forth the love and "good works" that youknow God desires?Well, there is a way Out of this pre-dicament! .TheWay Out o f This Trouble

Brethren, let us realize first of all thatGod has called us for a definite purpose.He has predest inated us to become hisown children (Ephesians 1:5) and hehas purposed that we should be partakers of the divine nature (I I Peter 1:4) .Yes, we are to have the very natureand character of our heavenly Father implanted within us. Doesn't a humanchild have the nature of its father? Certainly! And God has given us this as anexact type of our bir th as one of His ownchildren. As a child of God, we will inherit the very nature and attributes ofGod!How else could we ever obey' Jesus'command, "Be ye therefore perfect, evenas your Father which is in heaven is perfect"? Many of us are just beginning torealize the tremendous meaning in thesewords! We are to grow spiritually, "unto

a perfect man, untarhe measure of thestature of the fullness of Christ."Is YOUR Life Exciting and Full?What a CHALLENGE this is to makethe most of our lives!God has commanded us to live full,exciting and productive lives just asJesus Christ did. Why should we trembleat this command? God stands bound tohelp us! Christ said that God is morewilling to give us the Holy Spirit thanwe are to give our hungry childrenbread (Luke 11: 13) .We can face life completely unafraid!God has promised that if we seek firstHis kingdom and righteousness, all ourmaterial needs will be added (Matthew6: 33). Christ said that even the veryhairs of your head are all numbered(Luke 12:7) and then said FEAR NOT!Why should we fear while we know thatGod is protecting us, guiding us, andproviding all our needs?Nearly everyone in the world today isseeking some kind of security. But asGod's own begotten children, we havethe only real and unfail ing securitythere is.With this knowledge then, let us face


8/16

Page 8our troubles squarely and without fear.We find that the true Christian life is atime of many trials and tests, don't we?But that is the WAY God is building oureharaet,er! Don't hard work and exercisehelp build physical strength? Well, Godis sending us through a spiritual "obstacle course" to strengthen us spiritually.

Here's ONE TestPaul tells us in II Timothy 3:12, "allthat will live godly in Christ Jesus shallsuffer persecution." In I Peter 3: 12-19,Peter tells Christians not to think itstrange because they are going througha fiery trial, but to REJOICE inasmuchas they are partakers of Christ's sufferings. Yes, we should be happy that wehave these momentary trials to helpbuild within us a holy and righteouscharacter which will last throughouteternity.Knowing that God is doing all thesethings to strengthen us, we can face lifewith renewed courage and enthusiasm,let us put the Ten Commandments andGod's other laws in practice in our dailylives. Yes, I said practice, because wewon't be able to do this perfectly at first.When we begin to become serious aboutthese things, .rnany of our erstwhilefriends and relatives will make fun ofus. Perhaps some of their criticism willbe justified, hec:msp we often tend to become too serious or sometimes ' evensanctimonious about our beliefs whenwe begin trying each day to live them.You Are the Only Light in theWorldBut we can grin and bear it, can 't we?Rome wasn't built in a day you know.It takes time and experience to learn touse the proper judgment in living byGod's laws. We need these problems tostrengthen us for the bigger ones ahead.We are helping to build the mostvaluable and lasting thing there is- thecharacter of God. That is why God isput ting us through this experience ofmaterial life.Christ said that his followers are "thelight of the world" and "the salt of theearth." We should be continually helping others with our time, money, orprayers. I t is our duty to give to those

who are really in need; to visit the sick;to comfort those who are in distress. Weare to be an example or a "light" tothose about us (Matt. 5:13-16).How should we go about this? Brethren, here is where we have to put faithand courage to work. Every true followerof Christ should try to develop his talents and abilities so that he can be moreof a light to his fellow men.Yet Perhaps Poor and UneducatedMany of you are in poor financial circumstances and some have not had very

The GOOD NEWSmuch of this world's education. This istrue because God is not now callingmany wise and wealthy of this world.But God has given each of you many"talents." Are yuu studying and developing those talents so that Christ may say,"Well done," when He returns?Remember that you are to take Jesusas an example. Do you think he usedsloppy speech? Didn' t he have a goodknowledge of world affairs? Wasn't Heneat and clean in appearance and courteous in manner? If you will study thelife of Christ carefully, you will see thathe was truly an educated, cultured man.Even when Christ was only 12, thelearned Pharisees were "astonished at hisunderstanding" (luke 2:47),If we are to be "perfect" even as Godand Christ are, we will have to acquirenew knowledge of how to live and conduct ourselves. No matter what our station in life, each of us should try ourbest to improve. By doing this, we willthen be able to help others much moreeffectively. They will respect our judgment more in spiritual matters becausethey see the good results it has broughtin our material life.The Challenge of Real ChristianityThis is really a challenge to grow,isn't it? Yet if we are to be kings andpriests in the kingdom of God, we willall have to multiply our present talentsand abilities many times.We will do thiswith God's help!Remember that, "unto whomsoevermuch is given, of him shall be much required" (luke 12:48). So those of uswho have had more education and opportunities will be expected to accorn-:plish much more than those less fortunate. Bur we are all commanded todevelop the talents 'that God has givenus, and to use them in His service.Make a fresh start! Don't be afraidto begin learning all over again theworthwhile things you only half-learnedyears ago. Get the books you need to improve your knowledge of the Englishlanguage, history, and of other vital subjects. learn more about your job so thatyou can be a more profitable workmanor farmer. This will probably mean an

increase. in your responsibility or pay,This is God's way! It will enable you toserve others more and to glorify God bythe example you set.Do you catch the vision? Wearebuilding the characters which will fit usto be kings and priests with Christ (Rev.S:10 and 20,6). "Know ye not that weshall judge angels?" (I Cor. 6: 3 ). Solet's give ourselves completely to God.The very purpose of life is to changeand grow better each clay. Let us continually ask God's help in this. "For withGod: nothing shall be impossible," as is

March, 1952recorded in Luke 1.:37.

The Big TestBUT, in the very process of developing our own characters, a tremendous re-sponsibility has been placed on ourshoulders! God has given us a job to dotogether, as co-workers with Christ.Christ said, "And this gospel of the

kingdom shall be preached in all theworld for a witness unto all nations; andtben shall the end come." Notice thatthis- was not a gospel about Christ, butthe "good news" or gospel of the kingdom of God. All of us who are sincerelysearching for truth realize that as yet,there is only one source proclaimingthis true gospel in any large or nationalmanner. This is the "World Tomorrow"program.That fact doesn't fill us with the zealit should! A lot of brethren don't fullyrealize yet what this means. It meansthat God has called some of us to fulfillthe most important miS!ion on the faceof the earth at this time! That's one wayGod develops His character in us.After being here at Ambassador College and _seeing this great work in action, I realize more than ever the jobahead for every true Christian. To thebest of our knowledge, God has raisedup no other work to fulfill this commission of Christ to proclaim His gospel asa witneS! to all nations, Most of us arejust common,.humble people, but Godhis somehow seen fit to open our eyesto His truth-and lay on our shouldersthe responsibili ty of carrying out thisworld-wide mission.YOU Must Help Change the World!Don't be a timid soul! God will showus the way, but we have to do our part,Doesn't this sound like something thatwill give life new meaning? You and I,all of us collectively, are trying to reachthe whole world with a message! It is astartling message of a new WORLD GOVERNMENT which will soon be set up byJesus Christ.People won't like this message! But itwill be the means of bringing thousandsof them to repentance. We will each behaving a part in changing the thoughts

and the lives of every person on earth!Think about it!Who could ask for a better chance tolive a truly worthwhile, happy and exciting life? And we have God's promisethat he will protect and guide us as wecarry out this Divine commission.So let us go about our task with en-thusiasm, We should each strive daily toput God's love to work in our lives."Present your bodies a living sacrifice,holy, acceptable, unto God which is yourreasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). WePleasecontinue on page 15


9/16

HOWto Observe God's FestivalsHere is a clear, simple explanation

showing how YOU can keep God's festivalsBy Herman L. Hoeh

HAVE YOU been robbing yourselfof happiness? Have you beencheating yourself of one of thegreatest joys of living?Like so many others, you probablyhave been surprised co learn for the firsttime that God wants to keep you happy.He isn't the stern God He has been pictured. One way God has provided forour happiness--our great joy-as wellas growth and development in the trueChristian life, is an opportunity for fellowship at His festivals with those whosehearts God has filled with His Spirit.You have read in previous issues of"The Good News" exactly. WHY thesefestivals are co be kept, and WHAT theirsignificance really is. Here's an articletelling how you can observe these HolyDays. I f you have missed previous articles, send for them immediately so youwill understand the truth with hundredsof others.

Purpose of FestivalsInvestigators have proven that youneed a weekly day of rest. But yourHeavenly Father knew that long ago. Hecreated you that way! That is why Godgave the weekly Sabbath as one of Hisfestivals! (Lev. 23:2,3.) But men havesubstituted their weekly holidays in

place of God's.Did you know that research men havealso "discovered" that we human beingsneed annual periods of rest so that wecan be more efficient? Get the most ourof life? God knew that long before ourmodern investigators, too! He createdus that way! That's why He institutedthe annual festivals. But God also knewthat YOU need to' spend these seasons inDIRECT CONTACT WITH HIM, not JUStby yourselves.These festivals are so arranged thatyou can have TWO annual periods ofeigh t days, one in the spring, the o therin the fall, when you can be [reo fromrhe worries of life and share the happiness of many others who have learnedtha t God's ways pay. On them and theother Holy Days, God meets with us. Onother days of our choosing, He is not inour midst because we are not gather ingtogether "in His name" or by His authority. No wonder the world doesn'tknow God!There is no time in all the year asjoyous as these festive seasons! They arenot yokes of bondage as many have beendeceived into believing, but days or-

dained to keep you FREE-if you followthe LAW OF LIBERTY with your wholeheart (James 2: 1 2 ) . ' By keeping theSabbarli and the annual Holy Days (memorials of creation and the plan of God)you are FREED from the superstitious, ignorant beliefs of men, who try co coverup thei r own unhappiness and dread oflife with their own "holidays," and whoconfuse you as co the Wil l and Purposeof the Creator.

What Is a Festival?A festival, or feast, as ordained byGod is a time of rejoicing, both spir itually and materially. The Sabbath is aweekly festival, a period of rest fromour usual labors, with everything possihlp prepared the day before. There willbe fu ture articles explain ing how , tokeep the Sabbath as God intended.The annual festivals are nor alwaysresr days, however. The passover is afestival but not a sabbath day.The intervening days in the major spr ing and fallfestivals are not sabbaths either. All festivals are COMMANDED ASSEMBLIES orconvocations called by God, in which weare to meet at the place He chooses.In this age, however, God realizesthat many of his people are unable toassemble on the Sabbath or even on the

annual Holy Days. We are to worshipthe Father in Spirit and truth no mat terwhere we may be (John 4:21-24). Butwhen it is possible to assemble we arecommanded to do so. Many brethrenwho find it impossible to meet on theweekly Sabbath are able to do so on theannual Festivals.Last year a family, very dear to all ofus, thought they could not afford to attend the feast of Tabernacles. Becauseof neglect, when the t ime came they realized what it meant to spend these daysalone and not in the presence of, Godwhen they could have done so. Nowthey arc joyously planning to assembleon the f ~ s t i v a l s this year. So don' t letGod find any of you cheating yourselvesout of the precious joys of meeting withHis people.MEN re especially commanded to appear with offerings during the three seasons of {he' year, at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and the Feastof Tabernacles. The whole family iscomma-nded to come whenever possible(Deut, 16: 11, 14 and 16). Jesus andhis bro thers and sisters came with Joseph ar d Mary at the Passover and the

days of Unleavened Bread (Luke 2:41,42).God wants the men especially becausethey are the heads of the homes; but roday when many women are convertedand their husbands not, they shouldcome to the places God makes possiblefor the brethren to meet. Each year amother and daughter come about seventeen hundred miles to assemble onthe Festival of Tabernacles. If they cando it, God certainly can open the wayfor you to do the same, especially asmost of you don 't have nearly that distance to rravel.

How to Observe the PassoverAs most of you know, the Passovercomes the day before the sreat springFestival of Unleavened Bread. It is nota sabbath day; work may be done on it.

The Passover is a very serious t ime ofthe year. Jesus set us the example on theday of his death so that we today mightknow how to keep the passover.For the explanarion of how YOlT cankeep this commanded ordinance, whether with the brethren or in your ownhomes if necessary, be sure to write Mr.Armstrong. This is very important soyou will know where and how to observe it.Also, if you haven't already writ ten,ask for the booklet explaining when andhow ofren to keep the passover (or, aspopularly called, the "Lord's Supper").Although the passover is the day be-, fore the Feast of Unleavened Bread, itwas customary to use unleavened breadon the passover day as well (Luke22: 7) . No leavened bread is ever to beused with the passover service-whichis wrongly called "communion," "eucharist" or "Lord's supper" (Exodus23: 18). The morning after the passoverservice, which is still the same day (allthese days star t at sunset, not at mid

night) is probably the most convenientt ime to remove any leavening agents orleavened bread.Be sure that all leaven is removedfrom your premises. Don't store it insome other room. Removing leavenedproducts which cost a few cents is justone way God has of testing you to seehow much you prize true happinessabove the money and pleasures of thisage. By following His will, God willgive you more in this life in return foryour loving obedience (John 10:10).It is wise to arrange your purchases


10/16

Page 10so that when the passover comes therewill be little to discard. If you do havesome left that is suitable to give toneighbors or friends, that may be done.Remember, there is nothing wrong withleaven, it is merely used as a symbol ofsin in the festival. There is nothingwrong in bestowing it on unconvertedfriends or neighbors who do not understand the meaning of the feast.Perhaps some of you are wonderingwhat leaven is. A leavening agent is anysubstance that is used to puff up or produce fermentation causing dough toraise. Yeast, soda, baking powder, creamof tartar are such products. Bread, crackers, some prepared cereals, cakes andsome bought pies contain leaven andshould be discarded. Home made pies,cereals, and unleavened bread are to beused for the festival following the passover. Cakes with beaten egg whi te areleavened and should not be used.At first it may seem strange to dowithout leaven in a festival, but once wecome to know the mind of God andJesus Christ, we see the lesson of obedience it teaches. Happy are you if you dothese things, Jesus said (John 13: 17) .As there are many products containing leaven, be sure to examine the labelsof all products on your shelves. As willprobably happen, there will always besomeleavenecl rnarerial that somehowescapes! A very good type of the hiddensins that we don't always discover uponconversion. We must always throwawaythis forgotten leaven-a type of s in -upon discovering it.

Festival of Unleavened BreadHere is the great spring festival, midway in the first month of the sacred calendar, when the people of God are toassemble with one another and rejoiceover the wonderful year ahead. The feastis a seven-day period in which we celebrate with God, who has separated usfrom the troubles that overtake theworld, and who has opened up a newway of life that is full, abundant andwithout those needless worries.Whenever possible, Christians shouldgather together for the passover and theentire seven days of Unleavened Breadas God makes possible. The festival, although seven days long, has bur twoannual Holy Days or Sabbaths, occurringon the first and last days of the feast.The intervening days are not sabbathsor convocations.Annual sabbaths differ from the week-ly Sabbath in that cooking for the occasion may be done on them. But allother forms of work are not to be deneas the festival is meant to be a time ofrestful rejoicing. Exodus 12: 16 reads:"No manner of work shall be done inthem, save that which every man must

The GOOD NEWSeat, that only may be done of you."Although the intervening days arenot sabbaths and work may be done onthem, t ime on these days, when voluntary meetings of joy are held, is spentin good fellowship. As some of you willnot be able to assemble, be sure that theusual routine does not stop you from realizing the purpose of the occasion-atime of laying aside your labors and rejuvenating yourself spiritually and physically. The entire festival is meant to bea special period of happiness, free fromyour customary duties of life.

The Use of Unleavened BreadIn this feast, no leavened bread shouldbe in your homes and no leavened products should be eaten. Use UNLEAV

ENED bread instead, together with thecustomary meals. God wants you to rejoice especially on these days, so giveHim thanks by preparing wholesomefood with UNLEAVENED bread. I f someof you have never tasted unleavenedbread before, you have a surprise coming.Children should be trained by theirparents to eat unleavened bread duringthese days, and also TAUGHT THEMEANING FOR SO DOING. This will always be a wonderful experience forthem, because most children have nevertasted nutritious unleavened bread,which can either be bought, or bakedvery simply in your own home. Unleavened products are sold in most allstores near you. Just ask the grocer, orlook on the packages to see that noleavening is contained.

If some of you would enjoy bakingyour own unleavened bread, be sure towrite for the recipes, if you do not already have some.I f families are divided, with onlysome converted, difficulties may arise.Perhaps you area husband or a wifewhose family does not follow God.Don' t let that worry you, because Godtook all your troubles into account whenHe ordained these days. It is a test tosee how well you do His will and howmuch consideration and love and patience you can give to those who havenot changed from their wrong ways.

Never force your will on others. Thisfestival is a matter between. you andGod.You will not have these worries withmembers of your family when you assemble with brethren. But ifehis is notpossible, you might need to take the example of a co-worker from Texas, Hewas in partnership wi th another manwho would not approve of the festival.Rather than cause undue difficulties, hewent into another town for the festival,rented a neat, inexpensive room for thefestival and rejoiced wi th Gccl alone.

March, 1952And when he returned there was perfact harmony! Most of you will not findthat necessary as there are many morebrethren now with whom to assemble.It is so much more enjoyable to meetwith the saints or remain at home; butstill it is infinitely better to be alone inpeace than with angry attitudes surrounding you.

If God has not provided you the monetary means through the second tithe,whether your own or others, then, ofcourse, you will need to observe thesedays at home. First, explain to your family if they do not understand. If they donot object thanks be lO God. You mayhave to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves in explaining the matter ,however.If opposition might develop, it wouldbe well before saying anything, to delight unconverted members of your family with unleavened products so thatthey will not think anything strange

when you first mention it. It is surprising how many people know little ornothing about unleavened breads, butwho enjoy them from the very first. Perhaps if the. unconverted really enjoy it,nothing need be said about the festivaland you can use unleavened bread forthe entire week.Where the entire family serves God,all leaven must be removed by the beginning of the festival. If unconvertedmembers are in the family, all leavenshould be removed if they do not object.But if they object to the will of God,rather than provoke wrath, it is betterto reckon the house as the others property and not remove the leaven. Doingotherwise would involuntarily imposeyour religion on the unconverted. However, a wife can take all leaven from thekitchen shelves and place it where noobjections would be raised. You wivesshould not bake or buy leavened breadfor unconverted members of the family;nevertheless, allow others perfect freedom to eat it if they purchase it.When living with the unconvertedall these troubles can be avoided by at-tending the festival with the brethren.Of course, there might be l imit ing circumstances, especially if there is a

new born child. In I Samuel 1:21-23 weare given an example of Hannah, themother of Samuel, who, when her sonwas first born, was nor able to attend thepassover and feast.The first annual Sabbath or High Dayof Unleavened Bread is the only NIGHTconvocation that is commanded, exceptthe passover (Exodus 12:42). It is anight to be much observed, for the greatwonders that God does for us in makingit possible to live His way of life. Whatcould be more pleasant than beginningPleasecontinue on page 15


11/16

f2!jestion ~ O XYour questions answered in these columns! Your opportunity to have

those pltZzling queries, needing only a short reply, solved. If yours are nothere, then write them to us. As space permits they will be printed if ananswer is possible. Of course, questions demanding lengthy replies cannotbe placed in these columns. Edited by the Students.

March, 195Z

What Does "Not Under the Law,bu t Under Grace" Mean?

Does grace do away with the law? Ifyou keep the law, have you "fallen" fromgrace?Most people are confused by thosewho-claim to expound the words of Paul.You may hear one group quote one setof scriptures telling of the law, and another group quoting verses mentioninggrace. That is the wrong way to studythe Bible. Al l scripture IS given by inspiration.What does "grace" mean? Websterdefines it as mercy, favor, unmeritedkindness, an exemption or pardon asfrom a penalty.It is by grace, the undeserved pardonof God, that you are delivered from thepenalty of sin.-Romans6:23. Christpaid The penalty in your stead. I f you accept the grace of God, who permittedHis Son to die in your stead, to free youfrom sin, then you are under grace. Youare under an unmerited pardon, not "under the law.""What then? Shall we sin (that is,transgress the law-I John 3:4) because we are not under the law, bur under grace?" Romans 6:15. Tha t' s whatPaul asked! Shall we sin-shall we breakthe law? Remember, sin is the transgression of the law-I John 3:4.What is Paul's answer? "God forbid."

"How shall we, that are dead to sin(transgressing God's Law), live anylonger therein?" (Romans 6: 1,2.)If we are under grace, the pardon ofGod, we are not to live in sin, we arenot to break God's law. If we breakGod's law by sinning, then we comeunder the law. It is over us. It has a

claim on our lives. It is only those whokeep the law tha t are not under the law;it has no claim over their lives.Grace does not do away with the law;it pardons our sin, making it possiblefor us to keep the law through the HolySpirit that is g iven to those that obeyGod-Aces 5:32.Wouldn't it be ridiculous for a judge

to grant a pardon to a criminal and thentell him to commit the same crimeagain? Yet that is exactly how ridiculous most people make God's grace.They turn the grace, the pardon, of

The GOOD NEWS

God into lasciviousness, license to doevil.I f grace could abolish the law, thenthere would be no more sin, becausethere is no sin where there is no l aw-(Romans 4: 15). And if ther e were nosin, there would need be no grace-nopardon of God-to deliver us from thepenalty of breaking the law.Chris t died in your stead and mine sothat we could obey God unto righteousness and not serve sin. As long as we

were under the claim of the law becauseof transgression, sin had dominion overus, we were its slaves. But now we arefree to obey the law unto righteousness-Rom. 6:16.Does God Hear Sinners?

Everyone has sinned and cut himselfoff from God. "Bur your iniquit ies haveseparated between you and your God,and your sins have hid his face fromyou, that he will not hear" (Isaiah59:2) .God hears not sinners (John 9:31) ,He will have no fellowship with thosewho sin. He hears only those who dorighteousness. But if everyone hassinned, then there must be a way forsinners to come to God, or else we couldnever become righteous. How can sinners seek GOU?The prophet Isaiah tells us the waysinners come to God. "Seek ye the Lordwhile he may be found, call upon himwhile he is near." But how do we call onGod? How do we seek Him? "Let thewicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let himreturn unto the Lord, and he will havemercy upon him; and to our God, for Hewill abundantly pardon." (Isa. 55:6,7).

Let him repent of transgressing God'sLaw, and accept Jesus Christ as Saviourfrom its penalty. Chris t is THE WAY.That's how you can come to God.For..ake the way you have been living,start to obey God. Once you REPENT ofgoin 5 the wrong way YOU ARE NOLON C;ER A SINNER IN GOD'S SIGHT.He ,ill hear you and give His HolySpir it to you, if you obey Him (Acts5:32 ). You mus t be willing to forsakeyour ways and thoughts and go the wayof God. Then He will hear you becauseyou "keep his commandments and DO

Page 11these things that are pleasing in I lissight" (I John 3: 22).

Do the Commandments ForbidALL Pictures and Statues?Are you one of those who have beenconfused about the meaning of the second command? "Thou shalt not makeunto thee any graven image, or any like

ness of any thing that is in heaven above,or that is in the earth beneath, or that isin the water under the earth; thou shaltnot down thyself to them, nor servethem.As is always the case, we must compare scriptures to give us the keys thatwill unlock the true meaning of thiscommand. In Num. 21: 9 God actuallycommanded the Israelites to make aBRAZEN' IMAGE of a serpent. Whosoever had been bit ten by a serpent, uponbeholding the brazen serpent washealed. Now would God have commanded the Israelites to make this image of asnake had it been sin, and then healedthem when they carried out His injunction?But when the Israelites later startedto worship this brazen serpent andburned incense to it, it had to be destroyed. King Hezekiah, a God fearingking, "Brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made." (2 Ki.18: 4). This proves that any image orreplica is an idol when it is worshipped.God gave the Israelites divine instructions concerning the building of thetabernacle and the temple. He had themmake likenesses of flowers, almonds andpomegranates (Ex. 25:31; 26:31).

I f we were to apply the command roprohibiting everything that man hasmade how absurd it would really be! Ifwe did this, we would not be permittedto make more than one machine, tool,implement or gadget of any kind, for ifwe made a second that would be makinga likeness of something that was in theearth.But now go back to the beginning ofthis question, and read the second Commandment again-or read it all in yourBible. God does not forbid the makingof images or pictures only. Look at Exodus 20, and especially verse 4. There isno period at the end of verse 4. It is notthe end of the sentence. Verse 5 is partof the same sentence. And verse 5commands us not to bow down to , orserve, or worship any image or picture.No place in all the Bible has Godgiven any prohibition against making orpossessing a picture or srarue, In e-r,'erypassage the command is against wor-shipping the thing. If a mother worshipsa pic ture of her child, then that worshipis idolatry. Otherwise it is not. It isnever the thing, but always our wronguse of things which constitutes sin.


12/16

Page 12

What Did Paul Preach?Continued from page 2

studying the word of God to prove allthings, and by holding fast that which isgood (I Thess. 5: 21 ), YOU BECOMEFULLY PERSUADED IN YOUR OWNMINDS concerning what God says.

"Able to Stand Before Him"God is able, said Paul, to make thesesaints stand before Him in the judgment, by revealing to them the wordsby which they wilt be judged. It was forthis very reason that Paul was writing tothese saints at Rome, some of whomwere weak in the faith, not having acquired perfect knowledge. He says:"For I long to see you, that I may impart

to you some spiritual gift, to the endthat you may be established (Ro.1: 11)."It is so plain. Here were converts atRome, still weak in the faith, who weredivided in their regard of days. Paultold them not to sit in judgment of oneanother, but to follow peace, becauseGod would judge them, after settingthem aright through more perfectknowledge which Paul was going topreach to them. In the meantime theywere to act in accordance with the bestthey knew from God's word, not man'sword.This did not give them liberty to doas they pleased. They were to obey God,or perish if they disobeyed after theknowledge of the truth had come. Forto him that knows to do good anddoesn't do it, it is sin. ( James 4: 17)

What Were These Days?But what days was Paul referring to?By reading these verses in thei r setting, rather than taking them out oftheir context, let's determine the answer.Paul is writing to the saints at Rome,both Jew and Gentile. He admonishedthem to receive those who are weak inthe faith (Ro. 14: 1 ), not to disputewith them over unimportant matters andsit in judgment on them. Some of theserecently converted Gentiles, being weakin the faith, refused 1lJ eat meats, subsisting on vegetables mainly.The reason for this is explained in ICorinthians 8. Most meat that could bebought had been offered to idols. Therefore some, with conscience of the idol"ate it as a thing offered unto an idol;and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us ' not toGod: for neither, if we eat, are we thebetter; nei ther, if we eat not, are we theworse ( I Cor. 8: 7,8) ."So here were saints who had not yetlearned that there was no harm in eatingmeat offered to idols previously by others provided it was done to God with a

The GOOD NEWSclear conscience. These Gentiles atRome had been converted and had giv-en up idolatry, but still held superstitious beliefs.in their minds, thinkingthat the idol was something real,But why should Paul have broken intohis dissertation about eating meat or refraining from eating it?Because in connection with the oldpagan idolatry, were numerous days ob-served as idolatrous festivals. These dayswere consecrated to deit ies of the statereligious cults and were "unlucky" because of the influence of the gods! Thesecivil and religious days were "regardedas unsuitable for many purposes, bothpublic and private : for battles, levies,sacred rites, journeys and marriages. Weare told that they owed their unluckyquality to the pronouncement of theSenate and pontiffs." (From Rest Daysby Webster, p. 171.)

So TheseWeren't God's DaysAfter All!As many as one third of the days ofthe old Roman calendar were marked as"unlawful for judicial and political business. . . and ... on which the state expected the citizens to abstain, as far aspossible, from their private business andlabour." No wonder Paul spoke of "every day"!Here at Rome were recently converted Gentiles who had given up idolatry,

but who still believed idols were real beings, and hence would not eat meat ofered to them. They also continued toregard superstitious beliefs that certaindays were better than others, or that alldays were alike-unlucky. These Christians no longer observed these days inthe old idolatrous manner-that wouldhave been sin. But they still regarded orjudged some days to be above others,as though the day had natural qualit iesof good or bad about it. It was a common superstition of the time, hard fornew Christians to root out.And how .!pany "worldly" as well asreligious people still have similar beliefstoday! Such as "unlucky" Friday thethirteenth!Paul was going to Rome to enlightentheir honest minds so they would giveup this foolish regard of heathen days.There is nothing here referring to theSabbath or the holydays of God whichPaul commanded to be observed by theGentiles. It is merely a plea to col-ratehonest beliefs held in ignorance.The Letter to the Galatians

But what about the festival: Paulmentioned to the Gentile conv .rts inGalatia?Among these people were Sentiledeceivers, professing great knowledgeand philosophy, who dehberarely

March, 1952wormed their way into the good gracesof the heathen converts trying to turnthem backward into their former ways.That is why Paul said in Galatians4: 10,11: "Ye observe days, and months,and times, and years. I am afraid of you,lest I have bestowed upon you labour invain."What is this that Paul is saying?Read it again!Did he say, "Ye observe the Sabbathand holydays"? NO! But Paul SAYS youare observing "Days and months, andtimes, and years."It does not say the holy days and sabbath! Nowhere in all the Bible can youfind one text calling God's occasions bythe names "days, months, times andyears"!

What DaysWere These?Not ice the entire chapter-yes, theenti re Epistle to the Galatians. In thefirst three chapters Paul speaks to those

in the congregation who are beguiledinto Judaism which Jesus condemned asthe tradition of the elders. Judaism madethe laws of God of no effect! But inthe fourth chapter Paul ceases to speakabout ]udaizers. He is now writing tothe GENTILE converts, those who "werein bondage under the elements of theworld." Gal. 4:3."Howbeit then when you knew no tGod, you did service to them which bynature are no gods. But now, after thatyou have known God, HOW TIJRN YOUBACK AGAIN to the weak and beggardly elements, whereunto you desireAGAIN to be in bondage? Ye observedays, and months, and times, and years"I am alarmed about you, he concludes!Here were Gentile converts, who intimes past did not know God, who wereCutoff from Him (See Eph. 2: 12), who"were slaves to gods which were no godsat all." They had been serving demonsand idols, not the Living God. Falseteachers were coming among them, perverting the true gospel, beguiling themto turn again to their former ways. Paulwas alarmed. They were departing fromthe gospel and RETURNING to what?"Days, and months, and times andyears."Pagan holidays! They couldn't be returning to God's festivals. They neverheard of them before Paul preachedabout them.These Galatians were not observingthe occasions God instituted, but the oldpagan days--days which were creepinginto the church in Paul's day and nowmasquerade under Christian soundingnames. Paul denounces such vain practices.Here is the beginning of the observance of pagan days by the church andGod's condemnation of it. "Many of the


13/16

March, 1952holy days in the religious calendar ofChristendom were borrowed, as is wellknown, from the festivals of ancientpaganism." (Rest Days, p. 306.) Weare NOT TO LEARN the way of the heathen (Jer. 10).Christians are here admonished toquit following modernized heathen celebrations that are for no good use or purpose-counterfeit days that are attemptsto fill the void in the lives of religiouspeople.

What Are "Times" ?Turn to Leviticus 19:26 and Deuteronomy 18: 10,14 where Moses, according to the command of God, told the Israelites not to observe TIMES. This is

ABSOLUTE PROOF that the days Paul isforbidding are pagan and not God-given.To observe times originally was a heathen practice of divination often attachedto the heavenly bodies. In Greece it developed into regular seasons.Some church leaders today try to makeyou believe Paul was condemning Jewsfor returning to the Sabbath and days ufGod, which they claim were in the Lawof Moses. But the Law of Moses forbadeobservance of "Times." Paul was writingto Gentiles "who wanted to return to observing the "days" associated with

"Times"-Gentile days-Sunday, Easter,Christmas, etc.The Catholic Church "father," Chrysostom, admits that these superst it ioustimes which Paul forbids, were practicedby "Christians" in his day, but withoutthe idols as in days of old. He says:"Many were superstitiously addicted tothe observance of times, and made divination and conjectures upon them ...In the celebration of these times (they)set up lamps in the market-place, andcrown their doors with garlands."From Bingham's Antiquities of theChristian Church, pp. 1123, 1124.Besides times, the Greeks observedspecial days in honor of the dead. "Therites took place on the . . . unlucky daysaccompanied by complete idleness andcessation of business." From Rest Days,p.79.During the months of the year, festivals were held in honor of the Greekgods, Apollo (Apri l, October), Zeus(February, June), Artemas (April),Bacchus (January ) and many otherswhich you can read in the EncyclopediaAmericana, article "Festival."Also certain yearswere set aside quadrennially and biennial ly during whichwere national idolatrous feasts and thecelebration of the Olympic, Isthmian,Nemean and Pythian games. Everyoneof these were connected with idolatrousworship and ceremony.Paul was forbidding the return tothese practices by Genti le converts-s-

The GOOD NEWSnot the days Jesus observed, se tt ing usan example that we should follow hissteps. Many of the present holidays ofchristendom were celebrated in theheathen world when Paul and Christwere on earth, but they refused to observe them.

Holy Days and SabbathsAlthough speaking of Gentile practices in the two preceding epistles,Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, certainly is speaking of the days God instituted. In Colossians 2: 16 Paul is.thought by many to have abolishedthese days. Let's see if he did.First, stop to consider! Is it logicaltha t Paul would have commanded theGentiles in Corinth and elsewhere toobserve these festivals, and then contradict himself by telling the Colossiansnot to observe them? Yet most Christians would make Paul JUSt that inconsistent.The truth is so plain here in Colossians. What is Paul writing to the saintsin Colossc? "Let no man therefore judgeyou ..." Does this say: "God has abolished these"? Look at the verse again.It says, "Let no man . . . judge you"concerning these matters. To judge isnot to abolish. Paul is warning the Colossians not to let any MAN judge themabout certain matters. Why?"But why do you judge your brother?. . . for we shall all stand before thejudgment seat of Christ . . . So theneveryone of us shall give account ofhimself to God." Romans 14: 10,12.God is the Judge! Not man. It is bythe WORD OF GOD that we are all going

to be judged, not the ideas of man.(John 12:48.) Since we are to live asthose who are to be judged by the wordof God, then we have to go to otherpassages of scripture to find HOW GODWILL JUDGE US with reference tomeats, drinks and festive occasions. InColossians 2: 16 Paul does NOT mentionanything beingabolished. He ONLY saysthat we are not to let men judge us withregard to these things. It doesn't matterwhat human beings think, but it doesmatter what GOD THINKS.

SO let's examine the scripture to seewhat God's standard for Christians is.Traditions of Men

Paul begins the second chapter ofColossians with warnings against thosewho were seeking to beguile the churchafter the philosophy and traditions ofmen (verse 8). Then he mentions thatboth Jews and Gentiles have been rec-onciled to God by the death of JesusChris t and both have become circumcised in the heart. But how could theGentiles, uncircumcised in the flesh,come into this relationship to God to -

Page 13gether with physically circumcised Jews?By the fact that Christ was circumcised .for them, thus "blotting out thehandwriting of ordinances that wasagainst us, which was contrary to us, andtook it out of the way, nailing it to hiscross." (Col 2: 14.)Now what was this handwriting ofordinances that was against men? Evidently the same as' mentioned in Eph.2: 13-16 which put "enmity between Jewand Gentile." But what is it?The ten commandments? No.They are NEVER called ordinances.They were written by the Finger of God,not by the hand of Moses. They constitute the law of liberty (James 1: 25) ,holy, JUSt and good (Ro. 7:12). Thesabbath, one of its points, was madeFOR MAN, not against man (Mark 2:27This law could not have been meant byPaul because it is not abolished but eternal (Ps. 111: 8) and BY IT WE ARE TOBE JUDGED according to the apostleJames (Jas. 2: 12).Could the handwriting of ordinancesagainst us be the statutes which ordainedthe holy days forever? No. The entire119th Psalm, the longest in the Bible,and inspired by God, proves that thestatutes and judgments of God, whichdefine sin and regulate human relations,are eternal, good, making wise the ig-norant. These were not against tIS butfor us. So the laws regulating the holydays, as well as the sabbath, are still inforce and by them we shall be judged.The passover was insti tu ted as an ordinance, and Jesus commanded his disciples to observe it forever. Paul commanded the Gentiles at Corinth, as wehave seen, to keep this ordinance. (ICor. 11: 2,20-34.)

If the commandments, statutes andjudgments of God were all made forus, then the handwriting of ordinanceswhich were AGAINST us must havebeen the ritualistic laws "added becauseof transgression, till the seed shouldcome to whom the promise was made."Gal. 3: 19.Here it is at last! A group of lawsadded until a specific time because oftransgression. Since there must be alaw bejore there is transgression (Rom.4: 15), it is no wonder tha t this "handwriting of ordinances" was ADDED. Andit was added BECAUSE OF transgression,yet it could not justify the person whoperformed its works! It was a yoke!. (Acts 13:39; 15:10.) Therefore thishandwriting of ordinances was not corn-manded the Gentiles. (Acts. 15: 21. )But what were the specific laws included in these ordinances? Hebrews9: 10-15 has the answer!These handwritten ordinances ofMoses, given to Israel for a limited timeonly, not forever, "stood only in meats


14/16

Page 14and drinks, and diverse washings, andcarnal ordinances, imposed on them UNTIL the time of reformation." This isa system of physical rituals rela ti ng tothe Levitical priesthood, drink offerings,sacrifices and physical precepts regulating bathing when unclean. These ordinances were to cease as soon as the sac-rifice tbat could take away sins would beoffered. Once a sacrifice purges sin, thereis no need of offerings for sin. (Heb.10:2.)So we see that Paul is telling the Colossians to know the word of God sothoroughly that they could refute anyMAN who would dare to sit in judgmentof them for accepting the sacrifice ofChrist rather than the offerings of thelaw contained in ordinances.

"In Respect of "What does the Apostle mean when hetells the Colossians not to let any manjudge them "in respect of an holyday,or of the new moon, or of the sabbathdays"?This verse does not say as some holdfoolishly that the sabbath is binding bu tnot the holy d ays and new moons?

Neither does it say that all are abolished?This verse states ONLY that Christiansare not to allow any MAN to judge them"in respect of" these days. There is nos tatement here about anything beingabolished. The Moffa tt vers ion makesthis very plain: "So let none t ake you totask . . . in connexion witb observanceof festivals or new moons or sabbaths."It does not read: Let none take you totask because these days are abolished.No t at all!It says just the opposite-let no per-son take you to task or judge you "in thematter of" or "concerning" or "in connexion with" the observance of these occasions. It is GOD who shall judge youin connexion with the observance or "inrespect of" these days.The phrase "in respect of" is used byPaul (according to Thayer's Lexicon ofthe N ew Testament, p. 401) "where thewriter means to intimate that there areother matters, to be separated from thatwhich he has specified." That is, Paul is

speaking of a particular matter concerning these days-"in part" as the marginal reading of the King James Versionis. I t is in connexion with the sacrificesheld on these days that Paul wants theColossians to understand they must notallow men to judge them. It is the man-ner of observance that enters Paul'smind.Paul has just been mentioning theordinances that were consurnared inChrist-no longer in force. Converts arenot to offer sacrifices on these days because the ordinances regulat ing the sac-

The GOOD NEWSrifices are abolished. But that doesn'tabolish the days!No! Because these days began to beinstituted BEFORE the ordinances prescr ibing sacrifices and offerings wereADDED.The weekly and annual sabbaths wereNOT insti tuted for the purpose of sacrifice. God says: "For I spake not unto

your fathers, nor commanded them inthe day that I b rought them Out of theland of Egypt, concern ing burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice,and I will be your God, and ye shall bemy people: and walk ye in all theways that I have commanded you, thatit may be well unto you." (Jeremiah7:22,23.)God c

Good News 1952 (Vol II No 03) Mar_w

Documents

Transcript of Good News 1952 (Vol II No 03) Mar_w