Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
November 14, 1957
NUMBER 28, PAGE 8-10a

Letters To Rosemary -- No. III.

Anonymous

Dear Rosemary;

I haven't heard that you have made an effort to get your life straightened out. It is my desire that I may be of some help to you and your daughter in living a better life. Also, you know that you are not going to live forever. A few more years at the most are in store for you, and after that comes your judgement. I wish to point out some of the things that you need to know before you meet your Lord. You cannot ignore the Lord; you will meet Him. Remember that John records in his account of the Gospel, Chapter 12, verse 48," He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." So you see, you will be judged by the words in the Bible, regardless of whether you know and do what the Bible says or not.

In the Old Testament we read in Ezekial 33;8,9," When I say unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou host delivered thy soul." I am warning you. I can not save you. That requires some effort on your part.

I can assist you, but if you are not saved, I wish it to appear on my record that I tried to help you.

In II Timothy 3:16 we read that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctorine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." So we see that we are not tinkering with a human book, but that we have inspired Word of God to guide us and save us from sins. In Romans 14:11,12 we are told, "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. What kind of story do you plan to tell the Lord? In II Corinthians 5:10 Paul says, "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Let us keep in mind the words of that wise king of the Old Testament who said in Proverbs 14:12," there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." So let us study God's Word very carefully to make sure that we don't get on the way that "seemeth right." Let us make sure that we are on the right way.

Let us look at Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." This tells us that when we sin we will be paid our wages, which is death. However, we know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that we might have our sins blotted out and not remembered against us.

II Peter 3:9,10 tells us, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Peter tells us that it is not the Lord's intention that any one should not be saved; in fact, the Lord is very patient with sinners, but He ,will not wait forever. We each have no way of knowing how long He will wait for us. We are told that the Judgement Day will come upon us like a thief in the night. We won't have any warning to get ready for our judgement, so it is necessary that each one of us should get our lives in order as soon as possible, and live as though each hour might be our last one. When the Lord returns, He will come with His angels "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power," as we learn from Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, Chapter 1, verses 8 and 9.

Let us give a little thought to the reward that is promised to those persons who remain faithful to death. In Revelation 21:4 we read, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." In verse 18, beginning, we read a description of the heavenly city we inherit, "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass, and the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was of pure gold, as it were transparent glass, and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." In Chanter 22, verse 5, we read, "And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them Light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Here we have a description of the blessings that will be given to those who are saved. Everyone will be happy and contented. There will be nothing lacking. Everything will be perfect in fact, the blessings given to the faithful are beyond our wildest imagination. Truly, everyone should desire this reward.

We cannot study the blessings promised to the faithful without spending a little time looking at what is in store for those who fail to do God's will. In the same book of Revelation. John tells us that," Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." In Matthew 25:46 we hear Jesus talking about those who have failed to do His will," And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." In Proverbs 15:9 Solomon says, "The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness." In II Peter 2:4 we learn that, "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement.

This might be a good time to go into the subject of who will be judged. Let us study some of the groups of people who will be present. We wish to be in one of the groups that will inherit the eternal blessings.

1. Atheist — he denies that there is a God.

In Genesis 1:1, the Bible Says," In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Psalms 14:1," The fool bath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psalms 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Romans 1:20,21, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

2. Infidel — he denies that Christ was the promised Son of God.

In John 20:31,32, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

3. Agnostic — doubter, don't know, no faith.

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

4. Scoffer — ridicules Christian religion.

II Peter 3:4-7, "Saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of. That by the word of God the heavens were of gold, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men."

5. Moral Salvationist — believes he will be saved because he is "good."

The tenth chapter of Acts of the Apostles tells of a good man, Cornelius, a very devout man, but he was not saved until after he heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Peter and obeyed it.

We learn in Ephesians 1:3 that all spiritual blessings in heavenly places are in Christ. We must be in Christ to enjoy these blessings. In Revelation 3:27 Paul tells us, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

6. Immoral personfollows lust of flesh, eyes. In Paul's letter to the Galations, Chapter 5 and verses

19-21 he tells them, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

7. Vain Religionist — vain means empty, no good.

In Matthew 15:8,9, Jesus is speaking, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Every day you hear people say that you should attend the church of your choice and that it makes no difference which church you choose. Such statements are made either in ignorance or with the intention to deceive the listener. In Mathew 7:13,16 Jesus is speaking, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Again in verse 21,23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is now in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out the devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Let us look again at Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." I have a question for you. Will the good people who go to the church of their choice be saved at the Judgement? In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

8. Hypocrite — one who pretends to be something he isn't.

In Matthew 23:27,28 Jesus pronounces a woe upon the religious leaders of his day, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

9. Lukewarm Christian.

Let us look at the Lord's promise to these people in Revelation 3:15,16, "I know thv works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." How many of these will be saved?

10. Faithful Christian.

In Revelation 21:7 we are told, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." In Revelation 2:10 the Lord tells us, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

All these people will appear at the judgment. They should be prepared. Jesus tells us in John 12:48, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." We learn in the next two verses that even Jesus did not speak his own will but was directed by the Father. Verses 49 and 50, "For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." Jesus tells his Disciples in John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." In John 16:13 Jesus says, "Howbeit when he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear; that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." Thus we see that even as Jesus spoke only as the Father directed him so the Father would direct the Holy Spirit who in turn would guide the apostles.

The Holy Spirit directed the author of Hebrews to write, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." Here we learn that Christ made the worlds at the creation, and also that we are to hear Jesus. This is further affirmed in Matthew 17:5, when God told Peter, James, and John, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him."