Musick-al Notes

Musical-al note # 318
There are many preachers and teachers who offer a great many words to explain their doctrines when asked about becoming a Christian. Most of their words are given in regard to becoming a member of their particular religious group consisting of acceptance of their teaching, name, requirements and customs. Biblical scripture is used to support their doctrine by twisting its plain wording to make it say what they desire, claiming that the original language has other meanings or simply by ignoring or adding their own explanations that fit their teaching. This is especially true in regard to the teaching of baptism. To either ignore baptism or change the meaning of the word in order to substitute and add another teaching violates the basic principle of truth (Revelation 22:18-19}.
Many churches teach that there are different modes or ways of being baptized such as being sprinkled with water or having water poured over the person. How did these other methods or modes of baptism begin if the Scriptures only speak of baptism being a burial? These methods began in the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years after Christ died and His church began. It was assumed to be a substitute for baptism for those who were sick or dying and was called “clinical” baptism. The practice came into general acceptance for years and then carried over into protestant churches as denominationalism flourished. People accepted and believed the doctrines taught because few could read and few copies of Scripture were available. As Bibles became available and people began to read and think for themselves, they learned that only a burial in water constituted proper baptism. However, then as even today, many choose to disregard the Word of God and still accept sprinkling and pouring of water on a person is an acceptable form of baptism because the preacher said so and he wouldn’t lie, would he?
The importance of Baptism is revealed in the New Testament so I urge you to study these words carefully. Consider what the New Testament says that baptism is. It is a ‘burial in water’ (Romans 6:4), it is ‘obeying a form of the teaching’ that Christ died, was buried and has been raised to life again (Romans 6:17-18), it is ‘obeying the Gospel’ of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), it is the ‘answer of a good conscience’ in response to God’s invitation to obey Him (1 Peter 3:21), it is ‘calling on his name’ (Acts 22:16) as ‘our sins are washed away’ (Acts 22:16) and it is the ‘act that saves’ a person (1 Peter 3:21). What shall we say then? If we desire salvation from our sin, we will answer God’s call to die to our sins, be buried in water to signify our obedience to Him and be raised to walk in newness of life.
Now consider the New Testament declarations proclaiming what obeying God’s Word in faith does. It ‘puts one INTO Christ’ (Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-17), it puts one into His death (Romans 6:3), it puts one ‘into His body, his church’ (1 Corinthians 12-13), it ‘washes away our sins’ (Acts 22:16), it ‘frees us of sins’ (1 Peter 1:22, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 8:1). It ‘gives us new life’ (Colossians2:12), it ‘makes us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), it ‘gives us the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 5:32), it ‘reconciles us to God’ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), it makes us ‘servants of righteousness’ (Romans 6:17) and makes us ‘children of God’ (Galatians 3:26-27). All these things are to be desired and can be obtained through faith in obedience to God’s Will.
If in your study, you find that you have been baptized in a way other than that which the Bible teaches, for another purpose than the Scriptures teach or for another reason than that which Jesus has revealed, we urge you to contact us or a member of the Church of Christ in your area. We or they will help you obey Christ Jesus to the saving of your soul.
Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 317                                            

      Can one use any type of bread that is available or must we use the unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper for worship?  This question presupposes that man can render worship to God in any manner that he chooses.  When we strive to follow the New Testament and only the New Testament, we find NO COMMAND or no example of the Christians of the First Century using anything other than unleavened bread in the keeping of the communion service.  Paul spoke of the excesses of the Corinthian church in which some drank to excess and were drunken when they should be remembering the Lord’s death.  The night in which Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (communion), He used unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine that was on the table from the Passover.  He said in Matthew 26:28-29, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you. “For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  If Christians desire to have the Lord eat and drink (commune) with them, they will use only unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine to remember the Lord’s death following the example of Jesus early disciples.

          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 316
Jesus made a statement in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25) so astounding that their import should be carefully considered by all people, especially to those who declare to have faith in Christ Jesus. In this parable, the virgins went out to welcome the bridegroom at his coming with lamps to light the way. Five took oil in vessels with their lamps but five did not take extra oil with them. When the bridegroom did not come when they expected, they slept. At midnight the cry rose that the bridegroom had arrived. The five with oil trimmed their lamps, adding oil to them. The other five found their lamps without oil and asked for their oil but it could not be given. The five with oil went in with him to the marriage while the others went elsewhere for oil. When the bridegroom went into the wedding, the door was shut. Those four words (THE DOOR WAS SHUT) sealed the future for everyone who wished be with the bride and bridegroom. The other virgins cam and asked for the door to be opened, but the bridegroom replied, “I never knew you”. The door was shut to prevent any others from entering.
I do not know of any significance Jesus may have meant in reference to oil in his teaching but he said that because his servants do not know the day and hour he is coming, they must continue to be prepared and watchful to be ready for his coming at any time or they would be rejected. The scriptures mention several things that cause men to miss the wedding feast. Unbelief (John 8:24), failure to enter Christ, the door (John 10:9) or to hear and follow him (John 10:27-28) all cause one to miss heaven. It is not enough to call him (Lord, Lord) if we do not obey Him or declare that we work and teach in his name (Matthew 7:21). Jesus also declared that we must not teach doctrines of men (Matthew 15:9). A careful reading and study of the New Testament will reveal many other warnings about transgression of His will.
Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 315
To be a Christian, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ but only believing without obedience is not sufficient. Nor can an individual think that when one is baptized, salvation is secure with nothing more required. The new life must be considered and one must know what it is and how to continue living to be sure of heaven after physical death.
We must continue to be faithful, obediently living our lives in service to Christ. We must not love the world or things of the world (1 John 2:15) but love God and His son. A person may be blessed with much of the world’s goods, but without love for them, rather to use them to help and assist others who are in need. Faith is listening to God and being obedient to His will. We must live every day with a recognition of God to be pleasing to Him. We recognize that we have different abilities, we use what we are and have to give glory to Him in life. If we have little or much, we use what we have to serve (Luke 12:48).
We must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means that we are to worship from the inner man (heart) and according to God’s Word. In order to continue to be pleasing to God, each person must study the Word of God and obey that Word continually. We must place our trust in God who gave this Word (the Bible) for our guide, and in His Son who died on the Cross that He might pay the price of our sins. As we study and mature in handling the word of God correctly, God will be pleased with our lives. However, if we stop living correctly and live worldly lives in sin as most men live, we will be condemned. It is required of every man to study and follow the Word of God. In so doing we will have obeyed Him and will be blessed with eternal life.
Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 314

          We should know that baptism is a great turning point in the life of an individual who has believed that Christ Jesus is the Lord of life, turned from sin in repentance, confessed that Jesus is Lord, baptized (buried in water) and raised to live a new life. This is the beginning (as a birth) of a new child of God (1 Peter 2:2). We should desire the Word of God to enable us to grow and develop into mature Christians who reflect Christian values and love.  As a small child can dabble on the shore of an ocean, we must grow and develop a mature stature that really studies the deep things of God. Paul spoke of this 1 Corinthians 3:1-2) and stated that he sought their growth and perfection (2 Corinthians 13:9). The writer of Hebrews said that we must not be content to live as babies, feeding only on the milk of the Word but growing in faithful use of the powerful Word.  We can become able teachers of the word of righteousness and discerning good from evil (Hebrews 5:11-14) be able to recognize and warn against the wiles (teachings) of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-12). Being clothed with the armor of God, we can stand secure in Christ (Ephesians 6:13-18) knowing that God will never forsake His people.

          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 313
Many religious groups teach that when one believes that Jesus is the Christ, that person receives remission of sins and thus enjoys salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation comes as a result of faith but also teaches that belief or faith is only the beginning of that which man must do to be saved. Jesus said in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” Those who believe in Jesus Christ have received the “right to become” children of God. The “right to become” is not the same as “becoming” therefore one must know what is required of man to actually “become” a child of God. We must believe but we must repent of sin. Jesus said in Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all Galileans, because they suffered such things. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus did not mean that we would die by having the tower fall on us or that our blood would be mingled with sacrifices but He did mean that if we do not repent, we will die in sin just as surely as they. We must believe that Jesus is the Christ, repent of sins, we must also confess His name before men for He said in Matthew 10:32-33, “”Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. We must believe, repent and confess the name of Jesus before men and we must also be baptized for Jesus said in John 3:5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This new birth is known as baptism. Paul said in Galatians 3:26-27, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” In Romans 6:17-18, “But God be thanked that you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. That form of doctrine is baptism which is a form of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. I Corinthians 15:1-4. The new birth, (baptism) gives us status as sons of God through faith, having obeyed the commands that Jesus has given which enable us to “put on Christ”.
Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 312
The answer to this question lies in the realm of faith. One obeys the commands of the Lord God as revealed in the New Testament because of the belief that this truly is the revelation of God to man today. One does not however have to have “blind” faith to do so. What I mean is that there are reasons for believing in God and in the Bible as the Word of God. Does God exist? Yes, I believe He does for several reasons. As stated by Guy N. Woods, these are: “1. every effect must have a cause. 2. Every effect must have an adequate and sufficient cause. 3. We have sensible evidence of our existence, and of the reality of the material world about us and in some way and at some time it had a beginning. 4. Things which have begun to exist are the result of an all-wise, all-powerful and an eternal being. The following facts confirm that this is true. (l) He who created the worlds, and all things therein, must be possessed of limitless and inexhaustible wisdom and knowledge; he must know all there is to know about everything. That the earth and all it contains were made by such a being is obvious in the rich beauty, the orderly operation, and the amazing perfection of creation. The skill and the wisdom requisite to such a task as creation involves, point to one perfect in knowledge, in wisdom and skill. Flawless in content, perfect in operation, harmonious in every detail, it is inevitable that the universe, and man, sprang from the hand of a being without limitation. (2) The creator must have been all-powerful. How else could he have made the towering mountains, the mighty oceans, the giant forests, and the vast multitudes of men and of beasts which inhabit the earth? Only one possessed of infinite power could be the cause of which these stupendous works are the effect. Men, with the accumulated knowledge of the ages, are incapable of producing one tiny building block of matter – the atom; deity built, in one mighty fiat, an infinite system of worlds, peopling this earth with creatures still below the level of angels. Only an all-powerful being could have performed such acts. (3) He who did all this must be eternal. He must always have existed. If ever there was a time when he did not exist, he could not exist now; for we can know by our reasoning regarding material things that which is without existence cannot make itself to exist; cannot begin by accident; and must be created. Hence, if ever God did not exist, he could not have created himself; he could not have begun by chance, and he could not have been created by some other supreme being, because there was no other! God must therefore, have always existed. By a simple and direct manner, and without appealing to the sacred writings, we have established the existence of Deity–an all-powerful, all-wise, and eternal Being. This is the God of the Bible, the attributes of whom must be learned from that sacred volume. Reason, logic, observation prompt reasonable and thoughtful men to the obvious conclusion that God exists. In the light of these facts does anyone doubt the existence of a divine being? Yes. David identifies him who so does in this fashion: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).
Now that we have established the basic idea that there is a God of such supreme intelligence and power, it is reasonable to assume that God loves his creation, man, and desires only good for mankind. If He is good, then He would undoubtedly reveal what kind of conduct he expects in us that we can achieve things that are good for our lives. He would reveal man’s origin, why man is on the earth and where man is going after he dies. Such a revelation would tell man about Himself and prepare man to come to Him when he leaves the world. That revelation would give man knowledge of those things which are pleasing to Him and those things which He will refuse to have come into His presence. A loving God would give these things in such a manner that every man could understand and be able to follow His bidding. To do this would require a book of revelations to reveal His will to mankind.
But what kind of book would this be? Consider the following comments from the pen of Jim McGuiggan:
“l. It would have to be capable of being understood.
2. It would have to be consistent with itself. That is, not self-contradictory.
3. It would have to be consistent with known facts from the various fields of learning
such as Archaeology, Science, Reason and others.
4. It would have to be consistent with its claim to be a supernatural revelation. That
is, it would have to show undoubted marks of its supernatural origin, such as
prophecy and its fulfillment.
5. It would have to be adapted to man’s spiritual and religious needs.
6. It would have to survive the most energetic and sustained attacks against its
accuracy, integrity of text and existence.
7. It would have to promote a high code of ethics.
8. It would undoubtedly attain a supreme position among literary products.
9. It would claim universal authority among all nations.”

The question now is, “Does such a book exist?” If such a book does indeed exist, if believed and followed, it would put an end to all controversy about the existence of God, His role in regard to humanity, the kind of life man should live, His plan for redeeming man should he have failed to live accordingly, something about eternity and eternal life and a thousand other things. If it does exists, can it believed and followed? It is the contention of Christians the world over that there is such a book -a book of divine revelation, without error, and fully inspired! This book is the BIBLE. When it is believed and followed and its teachings will give the obedient ones a better life here and promises eternal life after this life is over.
Why obey the New Testament? Because it is the revelation of God, inspired by the eternal God to direct man to live eternally with Him. It tells how He sent His Son into the world to redeem man who had sinned so that man might escape the punishment of sin (Ezekiel 18-4). Since every man has sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), every man needs, (yes, must have) the redemption which God has provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is revealed in the New Testament how one can appropriate the cleansing blood of Jesus to his own life. When one believes the Word, turns from living a sinful life in repentance and obeys the gospel command to be buried with Christ in baptism, his sins are forgiven and he receives a new life IN CHRIST where all spiritual blessings are found (Acts 22:16, Romans 6:1-12, Galatians 3:26-27).
A note of warning is necessary. This great God of Heaven, who has made everything has appointed a day in which to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17:30-31. Every individual will come before Him and receive judgment as Paul stated in Romans 14:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. God has revealed to us that after this life comes Judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We urge you therefore to study carefully, with an open and honest heart that you may obey the Word of God to the end that you may be blessed.
Gordon Musick

 Musick-al note #311        

It is not revealed who wrote every one of the books of the Bible.  Because of its message, overall plan, unity and continuity, it is certain that God is the real author of the Bible by using these men to write His words.  Through inspiration, He gave to men His message and they wrote as the Spirit guided them (2 Peter 1:21).  God used about 40 men to scribe or write this Book though about 1600 years.  These men did not meet together to formulate its plan but these books reveal God to man, man’s beginning, his end and how to come to God through obedience.   Many of the books are named by the scribe of that book.  In the Old Testament, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah wrote. In the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and James wrote the books that bear their names.  Some books were written to certain people and to churches which bear those names. Some books bear within themselves who were their scribes.  There are books that have no notation and it is unknown who wrote them.  However, it is God’s Word for He inspired its writing and evidently continued to watch over it to keep it for succeeding generations of men. 

We must study it to be wise, understand its plan and obey it to be saved by the God of heaven.

          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 310      

There appears at least two reasons why Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem.  The first appears in Matthew 23:37-39 where He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  See! Your house is left to you desolate; “for I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ” 

  Jesus came to save His people from their sins but Jerusalem rejected Him.  He could have kept them from eternal misery of being lost in eternity but they refused to come to Him that He might heal them.  The second reason for Jesus weeping over Jerusalem is found both here and in Luke 19:41.  Jesus knew that the days were coming when the Roman armies would sack the city and destroy all that the Jews held as sacred.  The temple would be destroyed and never rebuilt.  The nation would be scattered over the earth never to return to their former glory.  Knowing the things that were to come, Jesus wept because of the terror, turmoil and heartache that the Jews were going to experience.

          Jesus continues to save every individual when they obey from the heart the pattern of the doctrine taught by Jesus and his disciples for by obeying, one is made free of sin and become servants of God (Romans 6:17-18).  Each person will determine for themselves to accept or reject the message from God. Will Jesus weep over you or rejoice with your response to His message?

          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 309

The Lord Jesus said, “I give you eternal life” and it is true because He is with the eternal God (John 10:30).  Eternity is of unlimited duration, the book of Revelation says in Revelation 21:25 “And its gates shall never be shut by day — and there shall be no night there.” Since there is never night in that place but is always day, and there will never be an end to its existence.  In Psalms 90:2, the Psalmist speaks by inspiration concerning God and the Eternity which He inhabits by saying, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.”  He has always been and will always be God in eternal (without a limit of duration) living. Jesus said to those who follow him “I give to them eternal life and they will never perish” (John 10:28). He is one with the Father who is greater than all. Therefore an obedient believer will never perish.  Their eternal life begins with their rising from the water of baptism into a new life (Romans 6:4).  Living in Christ (the new life) continues through death into eternal life with Him in heaven.

          Gordon Musick