Old Paths Advocate Volume 5 Number 2

Editorial

The Necessity

The “Old Paths Advocate” is a necessity. We have many papers. They all do some good, and many do much harm. Here are some good 'features of some of them: “The Apostolic Review” is doing a good work in its fight against institu­tionalism. The “Bible Colleges” and “Orphan Homes,” and other institutions that rob God of the glory that should be given Him through the Church (Ephesians 3:21), are set forth in their true light in the “Review.” “The Firm Foundation” has done a great deal of good by its stand against the reception of people (into our fellowship) who have believed and obeyed a sectarian system instead of the gospel. “The Word and Work” is strong in its stand against sin in the Church. It makes a strong appeal for personal consecration. We are glad of these good features about these papers, and rejoice to see the good they are doing by their stand on these things.

​But the “Old Paths Advocate” is destined to do more good than any of the other papers, because we hope to combine the good features of the other papers with the good features of the “Advocate,” and thus make it the best of all! While the other papers have many good, features, they are all, we think, too loose when it comes to keeping the worship unspotted by the traditions of Babylon. By their silence on so many innovations, the brethren who are influenced by them finally embrace them.

“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
But seen too often face to face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

So let us have your subscriptions and donations. Many sample copies of this first issue will be sent out. Let each one who receives one, send a dollar right now to, “Old Paths Advocate,” Lebanon, Missouri.

J. D. Phillips

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Special Interest

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A Book, Free!

Our book, which we announced in the January issue of the “Old Paths Advocate,” is now ready for the printer. We think it will be ready for delivery by the time this reaches our readers. It is on “The Cup Question,” and the Chapters are as follows:

1. New Testament Meaning of “Cup”.
2. A Literal Cup.
3. Metonymy.
4. Paul’s “Cup of Devils”.
5. The Cup is a Sign of the Covenant.
6. Early Meetings.
7. One Cup.
8. Two or More Cups.
9. Individual Cups.
10. Unity.

This Book Is Free! As a means of doing mission work among the brethren, we are putting this book out free! It is not likely that those who need it most will order it; so, we have decided to put it out free. You can help me to get this before the public by sending me the names of those who will be interested in reading it. Please send postage.

You Can Help! It will cost about $50.00 to print and mail the book. I do not want payment for my work. The Lord will pay me “in that day.” I am a slave for Christ. I devote my time to His blessed service. His transcendent grace “is sufficient for me.”

Those who are able and will can do a good service to the cause of our Lord by sending me a donation to help cover the cost of printing and mailing. Several have promised to help bear the financial burden of the work, but no donations have been received, as of yet. So, send in yours now, as the book will go to press soon.

There is much in this book, but I have said but little. I have let the scholars, - such as Thayer, Lightfoot, Pickering, Robinson, Pfeiffer, et al, speak for me. Their statements regarding language are authoritative, mine are not. So, I have let them do most of the talking on the various phases of the subject.

J. D. Phillips

Special Notice!

“A Written Discussion on The Sunday School Class Question Between J. P. Watson and O. H. Tallman,” both of Cookeville, Tenn., reached me yesterday, and I have read it through once and will begin reading it again soon. I have read everything that has ever been published by our brethren on this live and vital issue, and I unhesitatingly recommend this discussion as the very best that I have ever seen. Bro. Watson, in his usual humble and childlike spirit, met and refuted Pro. Tallman on every point - so much so that Bro. Tallman refused to help bear his half of the expenses of publishing the book! So, Bro. Watson had to bear this heavy expense alone. The book is well printed on good, white paper, and is very neat in appearance. The price is only 35 cents per copy. Send now for your copy. It would be a good idea to order a few extra copies to give to your Sunday School friends. Address all orders to Bro. J. P. Watson, R. 9, Cookeville, Tennessee.

J. D. Phillips

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Articles

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Acts 20:7

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, (discoursed with them, Revised Version) ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight.”

This passage indicates that the disciples came together to break bread, and that Paul’s preaching was a special treat for them, so it may be profitable to investigate as to what they would have done besides “breaking bread” if Paul-had not been there, and also what else they may have done while Paul was there. Associated with the “breaking bread” are several items in Acts 2:42. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 says: “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” The “breaking bread” is regulated in detail in 1 Corinthians 11:20-29, while the “fellowship” or “collection” is regulated in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, and the whole of the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians chapter 14), is given over to regulating the part that everyone is expected to take in the worship. Added to this is the fact that every Christian is a priest (1 Peter 2:5 and 1 Peter 5:9) and that our offerings are partly “the fruit of our lips” (Hebrews 13:15) makes plain that we cannot lightly refuse to serve in this way.

Some have tried to throw out the whole of the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians on the ground that some of the things there regulated were done through inspiration, but this argument would throw out all preaching and teaching, as these were also done by inspiration at the first. We are now commanded to ‘‘study” (2 Timothy 2:15) and there is nothing in this chapter that may not be done now, with a little study and preparation. It seems a little strange that those who think it inadvisable to follow this chapter on Sunday still think it just the thing, any night during the week.

We will connect the acts of public worship this way. “They continued steadfastly” Acts 2:42. “Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together” Acts 20:7. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,” 1 Corinthians 16:2. “If therefore the whole church be come together” 1 Corinthians 14:23. “When ye come together,” 1 Corinthians 14:26. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” Hebrews 10:25. These passages undoubtedly refer to the assembly of the church on the first day of the week and should be studied as a whole.

Now, if the church worshiped at all at Troas, (Acts 20:7) we have the same reason for believing that they left off the singing, praying, collection, etc., as we have for believing that they left off any other part of the public worship on account of Paul’s being there, because none of these things are mentioned. We will investigate as to what Paul really did at Troas. In Acts 20:7, the Revised Version renders “preach” “discoursed with” which changes the meaning somewhat, while the Greek word here is (dialegomai) from which we get (dialogue) and is usually translated (dispute or reasoned with). See Mark 9:34, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:9, etc., while it is only translated (preach) in Acts 20:7-9. This will suggest that Paul’s preaching at Troas was more like teaching with the brethren taking some part at least in so far as to ask and answer questions. This is in harmony with the custom of Christ and the apostles to teach as well as preach. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,” Matthew 4:23. “And early in the morning he came into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.” John 8:2. “And daily in the temple, arid in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Our preachers now often neglect to teach the church and confine themselves to preaching only.

The great commission as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, says: “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, ...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Revised Version) This cannot be done by preaching alone. Paul says to Timothy; 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” This means that when a preacher leaves a church that he should have so taught and trained it that it will be able to carry on without him, with its own teachers who have been taught by him to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you;” Matthew 28:20.

The method as used in the assemblies on the first day of the week for a large part may have been a little different from that originally understood as “teaching or preaching”. It is classified as prophesying and does not always mean the foretelling of future events. 1 Corinthians 14:3, says; “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” And in the 31st verse we have a positive law on this subject which says; “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” And this “all” means all. with some exceptions that may be noticed elsewhere but in no case gives all of the time over to the preacher in the Lord s day worship.

Neander, the great church historian, says in Volume 1, page 420 “The reading of the scriptures was followed, as in the Jewish synagogues, by short, and originally very simple addresses, in familiar language, the effusion of the heart, which gave an exposition and application of what was read.” Further on page 258: “These presbyters or bishops then, as we variously call the same functionaries, considered from different points of view, had the general superintendence of the common interest, but the office of teaching was not committed exclusively to them. For, as we have already remarked, all Christians originally had the right of pouring out their hearts before their brethren, and of speaking in the public assemblies for their edification.”

THE SCHAFF-HERZOG ENCYCLOPEDIA, says: “It may be considered settled, that there is no order of clergy, in the modern sense of the term, in the New Testament; i.e., there is no class of men mentioned to whom spiritual functions exclusively belonged. Every believer is a priest unto God. Every believer has as much right as anybody else to pray, to preach, to baptize, to administer communion.” Volume 1, pp. 498.

“Every child of God, by virtue of his birthright into the family of God, a family of kings and priests to God, has the right to perform any and every service connected with the church of God, limited only by his ability to do it decently and in order. Everyone should be encouraged to take part in the services, and in doing service each manifests his talent for the work and trains himself for fitness in God’s work. The congregation is the school for educating and preparing men for any and all the work God has commanded to his church.” David Lipscomb; in Gospel Advocate, May 31, 1906.

“When the bishop rests from his labors, the church, of which he has the oversight, by his labors, and by the opportunity afforded all the members of exercising their faculties of communication and inquiry in the public assembly, finds within itself others educated and qualified to be appointed to the same good work.” ...“Dear Sir, my very soul is stirred up within me, when I think of what a world of mischief the popular clergy have done. They have shut up every body’s mouth but their own: and theirs they will not open unless they are paid for it. This is the plain, blunt fact.” Campbell in Christian Baptist, Volume 1, pages 70 & 71.

​As important as preaching is in the plan of salvation and the work of the church, I believe it to be a mistake to use Acts 20:7 as an excuse to employ a preacher to do the things in the worship of the church on Lord's Day that the Lord ordained that the church should do. Preaching Sunday night and occasionally during the week is enough preaching for any church. The midweek prayer meeting is all right, too, but there is no scriptural authority for using it as a substitute for the Lord’s day worship. Why not be as particular in following the teaching of the New Testament on this question as any other?

T. C. Hawley

Wondering

I wonder, how many of us can truthfully say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight.” Now, if we would just stop here, possibly, many of us could truthfully say, “I have fought a good fight.” But how about the rest of this passage? Hear Paul: “I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.” I wonder how many of us, when we grow old or when we have “finished our course,” can truthfully say, as Paul did, the above words. Have we, and are we, really keeping “the faith”?

​I wonder how anyone can “keep the faith” when they are continually adding something to the work and worship of the church things which are not taught in “the faith”; seeing that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). I wonder if anyone can “keep the faith,” while advocating the use of instrumental music in the worship; the Sunday School; or a plurality of cups. Can they say with Jesus, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things… for I do always those things that please Him.” (John 8:28-29) I wonder???

Brotherly,
C. H. Lee

Finds The Scripture

I noticed in “Old Paths Advocate,” January 1, 1932, page 6, columns 1 and 2, an article under the caption; “God’s Distillery,” by brother J. E. Spear; an assertion thus, “Grape juice is not mentioned in the Bible any more than the class system.” Please, read Numbers 6:3 (American Standard Version).

Yours for the “Old Paths,”
Joseph Miller

The Church of God

The church of God (1 Corinthians 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:32) is Christ’s church (Matthew 16:18) which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). It embraces every born again or saved person during this present age. (John 3:3, John  3:5; Acts 2:47; 2 Timothy 2:19). The individual congregations are called churches of Christ. (Romans 16:16). This church began a corporate existence on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, Acts 2:41, and Acts 2:47) and will be in the world until the Lord takes it out at His coming. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-19). Christ is its head (Colossians 1:18), the Scripture its Creed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Its work is threefold:

(1) Evangelization - that is, preaching the gospel to the lost. (Matthew 28:16-20).
(2) Edification - that is, teaching, the second part of the great Commission. (Ephesians 4:12).
(3) Philanthropy - that is, the practice of love toward all mankind. (Galatians 6:10; 2 Peter 1:7). The church is God’s kingdom in the world during this age. (Colossians 1:13). While He is away we serve and suffer. (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). When He comes back we shall reign with Him. (2 Timothy 21:12; Revelation 3:2).

Word and Work

False Doctrines Exposed - Number 1

The Bible, or the will of God, which is so plainly revealed in the Bible, has been man’s guide for about six-thousand years. It is Truth from beginning to end. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” - 2 Timothy 3:16. Profitable for what kind of doctrine? We learn in Titus 2:1. It is sound doctrine, or true doctrine, because God’s book, God’s law, or word is truth. It is a perfect law of liberty. - James 1:25, Galatians 5:1, John 17:17, John 8:32. Anything found in the Bible is God’s divine and revealed will. Anything found in the Bible is Truth. “Let God be true and every man a liar.” - Romans 3:4.

We are to have enough confidence in our divine Father to prompt us to believe what he says in preference to any man. This does not mean that all are liars; but that men do lie and have lied and God has never. Hence, His superiority in this respect over man.

Since God never lies, His word, law, or doctrine, is Truth. “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.” - John 17:17. I think all readers with an unbiased mind will agree that God’s doctrine is found in God’s holy book, the Bible. We are commanded to continue in this doctrine. - 1 Timothy 4:17. “And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and teaching and in breaking of bread and prayers.” - Acts 2:42.

Now I think that we are prepared to examine some of the false doctrines that are being taught today. I want to make it plain to my readers that all doctrines not found in the book of God, the Bible, are false and all who are teaching, or are following them are ignorantly, dangerously, and radically wrong. All doctrines that are being taught without scriptural authority originated with the devil and, therefore, are hell-born. I say that they are hell-born because they are false. The devil has been a liar from the beginning and the father of liars. - John 8:44. All men who are teaching doctrines not found in the Bible are not only teaching hell-born doctrines but they and their followers are hell bound if they do not repent of their evil works. To teach a falsehood is to teach a lie, and we learn of their end in Revelation 21:8 - “And all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.” I believe that the Judge of mankind will say to these false teachers in the last great day, “Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you.” The devil told the first lie that was ever told. Yes, and this one falsehood that was told in the Garden of Eden by the devil brought disgrace, reproach, sorrow, and death upon the entire human family. When you go to Genesis 3:4 and learn that the devil told Adam and Eve, “Ye shall not surely die,” you have found the beginning of false doctrines. God had told Adam and Eve that they should die; while the devil said. “Ye shall not surely die.”

Here begins my series of articles on false doctrines. Which shall I attack first? I think that it would be fair and just to attack the first one taught, that is, the doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy, or ‘‘once in grace always in grace.” This doctrine is very popular and widely taught, and if there is such a thing in existence today as a hell born doctrine it is this; because it originated with the devil and the devil preached the first sermon of this kind that was ever preached. This he did in the Garden of Eden when he told Adam and Eve that they should not surely die. All right-minded people know that this was false; because as a result of their disobedience death came upon the human family. “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 And yet some people today believe that a man can live in willful disobedience and still be saved.

If all men believed in this doctrine, both Christianity and morality would be destroyed from the earth. If I prove by the word of God that people have fallen from grace and can fall, I believe you will be honest enough to accept it.

In 1 Corinthians 10:12 the Apostle Paul says, “Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” If a Christian cannot fall why has God warned against it. “Let us, therefore, fear lest a promise being left us in entering into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it.” - Hebrews 4:1. “Take heed, brethren lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” - Hebrews 3:12 - “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away to renew them to repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame.” - Hebrews 6:4-6.

If they cannot fall, why does the Bible say that they, did fall? “Neither let us commit fornication as some of them also committed and fell in one day twenty-three thousand.” - 1 Corinthians 10:8 “Ju­das, by transgression fell that he might go to his own place.” - Acts 1:25. Christians should avoid things that might cause them to fall. “But above all things swear not neither by heaven neither by earth, neither by any other oath; but let your ‘yea’ be ‘yea’ and your ‘nay’ ‘nay’ lest you fall into condemnation.” - James 5:12. You can fall from your own steadfastness. - 2 Peter 3:17. God has given us a remedy if we do fall. - Revelation 2:5, and tells us what to do to keep from falling - 2 Peter 1:10. Paul told the brethren who were inclined to go back under the law of Moses that they were fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4.

​Weigh what I have said in the estimation of God’s word. If you find it to be the truth, accept it; if not, reject it. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32.

O. B. Perkins
Editor of the Loyal Guide
(to be continued)

“Conscious Salvation”

“There is nothing so certain as salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and all who have that experience know it.” - “The Baptist Record.”

In becoming a Christian, it is obviously plain that there is something to believe and something to do, but in being a Christian there is also something to experience. Capricious feelings alone are not the evidence of pardon, yet rejoicing has its place in the gospel plan.

The Gospel Plan versus Sensationalism
The evangelism of the Apostles was of marked simplicity. It consisted in the gospel story plainly and simply told. It was void of all sensationalism and ostentation.

The New Testament plan of salvation has never changed. Its simple conditions, briefly put, are: Belief, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism.

1. Belief. - Belief is an act of the mind. Something to believe. This is what it says: “God’s message is close to you, on your lips and on your mind that is, the message about faith that we preach, for if with your lips you acknowledge the message that Jesus is Lord, and with your mind you believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, for with their minds men believe and are made upright, and with their lips they make the acknowledgement and are saved.” For the Scripture says, “No one who has faith in him will be disappointed.” Romans 10:8-11. - (Goodspeed).

There are three cardinal facts in the confession of faith required in order to become a Christian.

First, that Jesus Christ came in human flesh.
Second, that Jesus Christ died for us.
Third, that God raised him from the dead.

2. Repent. - Repentance is an act of the will; something to do.

On Pentecost Peter told the Jewish believers to repent. “That repentance leading to the forgive­ness of sins should be preached to all the heathen in his name.” Luke 24:47.

3. Confess. - Confession is an act of the affections. Something to do. “With their lips they make the acknowledgment.

“Then Phillip began and starting from this passage, he told him the good news about Jesus. As they went along the road, they came to some water and the Eunuch said, “Here is some water! What is there to prevent my being baptized?” And Phillip said, “If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest,” and he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:35-37.

He confessed his faith in Christ.

4. Baptism. - Baptism is an act of the soul. Something to do.

There is not an authority known to me that does not admit that in baptism the apostolic practice was that of immersion.

Satan has convinced many people that they can stop short of baptism and be saved.

Let us not conclude that Satan has no motive back of his action. He certainly has, and his actions are well studied before he takes them. He knew before man did that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” Satan knew that if he could induce Cain to omit the blood of his sacrifice, he would not only lead him to commit further sin, but that the sins he had already committed would not be forgiven. Satan knows that the blood of Christ is the power that cleanses us from our sins. Satan also knows that it was in Christ’s death that He shed His blood, and no one knows better than Satan that it is necessary that we should come into the death of Christ to come into His blood. He knows that baptism is the ordinance God has set between men and the blood of Christ; We are baptized into His death where His blood was shed. “Do you know that all of us who have been baptized into union with Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death,” and “you have become obedient from your heart to the standard of teaching that. you received, and so you have been freed from sin.” Romans 6:3 and Romans 6:17.

The word of God reveals the conditions upon which salvation is promised, and when these conditions are met, the promises of God are received.

If Satan can keep us from being baptized, he has kept us from the atoning blood of Christ.

The evidence of pardon and the ground of our hope is the surety of God’s word. Hebrews 6:17-18.

What surer evidence can we have, than the immutable word of God? When the Eunuch was baptized he “went on his way rejoicing.” When the Philippian jailer was baptized, the same hour of the night, he returned to his house “rejoicing, believing in God.”

There are conditions upon which one reaches the forgiveness of sins. The blood of Christ is the cause of salvation, while faith, repentance, confession and baptism are conditions.

The conditions may be as necessary as the cause, still the cause is not the condition. The blood of Christ is the procuring cause while Faith, Repentance, Confession and Baptism are the appropriating conditions upon which the blessing of remissions of sins is promised.

​All who comply with the conditions have “Conscious Salvation.”

R. L. Ludlam, Jr.