THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

When Naaman the leper came to Elisha in 2 Kings 5 he was looking for a way to be healed of the certain death of leprosy. A captive maiden had told Naaman’s wife about a prophet in Israel that could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Standing at the door of the house of Elisha, Naaman is told what to do to be saved from this terrible disease. “Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean" (2 Kings 5:10).

At first Naaman was furious about the instructions and refused to obey. After the admonition of his servants, Naaman “went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14). The commander of the Syrian army was now free from the horrible consequences of leprosy because of two things: the grace of God and his own obedience to the will of God.

Salvation from sin (more horrible than leprosy) is cured in the same manner. The grace of God is abundant toward man through the offering of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14). However the grace of God is of no effect if we do not obey the will of God. This obedience is found in the implication to work fully the plan of salvation given to us by the grace of God (Philippians 2:12). Naaman was not saved simply by the grace of God nor when he believed in the grace of God. His salvation came about when he believed in the grace of God, embraced the message of the grace of God and acted upon the will of God by obedience in the Jordan river. There were no magic potions in the river but the obedience of Naaman to the instructions of the prophet of God is how he was saved. Was he saved by works? Obedience is works.

In John 6 the people asked Jesus, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:28-29). Remarkably, we find that belief itself is a work. Salvation can never be without works because belief is necessary for salvation (John 8:24).

Could Naaman have been cleansed by faith alone? No, he had to follow the pattern Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:12 – “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). This idea of “working out … salvation” is to ‘finish, cause to happen’ and fortifies the Biblical teaching of man’s necessity of obeying the will of God. Noah would not have been saved if he relied solely upon the grace of God (Genesis 6:7,13,14; Hebrews 11:7) and not built the ark (Genesis 6:22). Salvation by grace alone would have destroyed Noah and his family and Naaman would never have been cleansed from leprosy. "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).

Ephesians 2 reminds us that our salvation is not based upon our own merit but God’s grace but without works we are not justified. “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). Justified by works!

Prior to Israel's occupation of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan River. Their request and Moses' response are found in the book of Numbers, (32:1-27) and have practical application to our attitudes today with regard to our responsibilities to God, His purpose, and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Reuben and Gad were two of the twelve tribes of Israel and had much livestock. As Israel prepared to cross over the Jordan River and enter into Canaan to possess it, Reuben and Gad saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead (the Transjordan) was good for livestock. They determined that rather than cross the Jordan and settle in that land, they wanted instead to remain on the eastern side of the Jordan River and settle there (Numbers 32:1). So they requested to be given the land east of the Jordan as their possession, and not the lands west of the Jordan with the other ten tribes Numbers 32:2-5).

Moses responded that the request, as it stood, was not fair to the ten tribes. There were enemies in the land, and so he asked, "Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?" (Numbers 32:6). Moses knew that the people could be discouraged if their numbers dwindled significantly (Numbers 32:7). The only reason the lands Reuben and Gad desired were now safe is because of a united effort of all the people. They would be no different than the ten spies of the previous generation who had discouraged Israel by their report and had aroused God's anger. This could turn out to be very destructive to God's people (Numbers 32:8-15)!

Reuben and Gad then offered to send their warriors to help possess the Promised Land (Numbers 32:16-19). Moses agreed to this solution, but with a stern warning. All will be fine if they do as they had promised. However, if they renege on their promise, Moses said, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:20-23).

We need to understand that Israel was at war. So are we. It is a different kind of war in which we are engaged; a spiritual war. The New Testament Scriptures put it this way: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). It is a spiritual war that requires specialized armor and weapons. Since it is a war against Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness, the armor and weapons we employ are different from the ones used by Israel, different, but not without parallel.

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17; see context vss. 10-18)

Think of the battlefield! Many have stood for the truth in the past, finding their way of the religious creeds and systems concocted by man turning to the Scriptures, the Word of God alone. Once established on such a wonderful and firm foundation, brethren have withstood new innovations that would lead them back into the religious apostasies of the past. Also, standing firm on God's Rock, brethren have rejected the ever changing moral dictates of human society and culture favoring instead the moral teachings and principles found in the revelation of God. We, today, are the recipients and beneficiaries of countless struggles and battles, waged in the hearts of men and women.

How much should we appreciate the efforts of those in the past to secure and make known the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the "perfect Law of Liberty"? We are free to enjoy the blessings of God's family as we look with fond expectation toward "our promised land"; our "Canaan's Land"; our "unshakeable heavenly kingdom" . Yes, there is still a "Jordan River" which we, too, must cross.

The battlefield is the heart. Paul wrote that "every thought must be brought captive to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Jesus once asked what was probably a rhetorical question about His return. He asked about when He comes again, will He "find faith upon the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Let us answer, "Yes! If we have anything to do with it!"

But then, there is another question we would do well to think about as well. "Shall our brethren go to war while we sit here?" Will I be content to let others make all the sacrifices and do all the work? Will I expect them to carry extra oil for their lamps and mine? Will I watch them take the risks that faith sometimes calls for? Will I see their lights shining forth into a dark world while I have dimmed my own? Will it be only them, and not me, who labors in the vineyard, who rebukes and encourages, who shares and serves with dedication, courage and resolve?

Shall I just sit idly by as my brethren exert themselves by faith? Will I jealously guard my "comfort zone" doing all I can to ensure that I am not overly disturbed? Do I really think or expect I can really enjoy all the wonderful spiritual blessings in Christ for which I will not labor myself? How can I be filled with peace, hope, joy, love and confidence if I am willing to sit safely on the other side of the river while others cross over to meet their obligations to the Lord and His kingdom?

Moses said, "Now why are you discouraging the sons of Israel from crossing over into the land which the LORD has given them?” (Numbers 32:7). When we neglect our responsibility to God and His people, we also discourage our brethren!

When Reuben and Gad realized the effect of sitting while their brethren went to war, they immediately made arrangements to do their part. Moses was even patient with them, allowing them time to care for their families (Numbers 32:24) They in turn promised to do their part in going to war. They succeeded because they understood that they could not just cast aside their own responsibilities to God. Let us all, today, realize the same lessons as we serve our King, Jesus, and fight the good fight of faith.

The usual definition for grace, "unmerited favor," is not broad enough in its scope to fully define all that is meant by the term (see Luke 2:40; Colossians 4:6). W. E. Vine defines it as, "That which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard;…on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally…especially with reference to the Divine favor or grace, e.g., Acts 14:26…" (Expository Dict. Of New Testament Words, pp. 509–510).

As seen in the Bible, grace, in respect to salvation, is a summary of all God has done to effect the salvation of man. It includes all of His acts which show favor to undeserving mankind. But God’s grace is more than mere passive pity. It expresses itself in real, concrete acts of love (Romans 5:8).

Considering several New Testament passages makes it easy to see how His grace runs through all God has done for man’s salvation. By grace He sacrificed His Son (Hebrews 5:8–9). By grace He revealed His plan of salvation (1 Corinthians 2:9–12; Galatians 1:11–12; Ephesians 3:1–5). It is by grace that God raises sinners to a new life in Christ (Ephesians 2:4–7; cf. Romans 6:4–5). By His grace, God commissioned His Son to build the church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28).

While grace includes all God has done to bring about the salvation of man, it excludes salvation by meritorious works (Romans 4:4; 11:6). Salvation by works of this nature would demand a life of perfect obedience to divine law -- it would be of debt. Salvation by grace, on the other hand, bridges the gap between our imperfection and God’s perfect law by means of pardon and forgiveness (1 John 2:1).

The presence and reality of sin is what makes the grace of God necessary. Since all have sinned (Romans 3:10, 23), all, therefore, are under the sentence of death, the penalty for or the wages of sin (Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).

God, in His matchless love, provided His Son to die in man’s place (1 Peter 1:18–19). While the grace of God is demonstrated in many ways, none is greater than its manifestation in His Son (Romans 3:23–24). Since man has sinned, he deserves the punishment of the second death in hell and no works he could do would earn or merit his salvation from it. Therefore, salvation is that which is given by the grace of God, a favor man has not merited. Hence, salvation is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Some have erroneously concluded from Romans 6:14–15 that we are "not under law but under grace" and that law and grace are mutually exclusive. However, the fact we are under grace does not mean we are not subject to law and that it is not essential for us to keep divine law.

We are subject to law from God. The teaching of Christ is called "law" (1 Corinthians 9:21; 1 John 3:4; Isaiah 2:1–3). We are required to obey that law (1 John 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 4:24; 1 Peter 4:11). Whenever God has spoken to man or given a law, He has expected strict obedience and the utmost respect for His word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Leviticus 10:1–2; Revelation 22:18–19).

Grace does not mean we are not subject to law, rather, it means that we have a means of forgiveness when we violate that law, if we meet the divine conditions. The teaching of the apostle Paul in Romans 6:14–15 is that we are not under a system of mere law without grace as a means of justification. Depending on mere law would require perfect law-keeping for justification. Such would make one a legalist. Our justification is by grace through faith.

Though salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:8), it is not by grace alone. Some teach otherwise: "We believe the scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace" (Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, ch. 8, art. 4). Actually, one is saved by nothing alone. The many factors of salvation include: faith (Romans 5:1); repentance (Acts 11:18); blood (Romans 5:9–10); works (James 2:24); baptism (1 Peter 3:21); the gospel (Romans 1:16); confession (1 John 4:2); and grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Salvation by grace is through the teaching of the gospel, God’s "power unto salvation" (Romons 1:16). It is called "the word of His grace" (Acts 14:3) and "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). It is by the gospel that the kindness of God redeems man and provides him all spiritual blessings. The word is the medium of His grace (Titus 2:11–12). The word of His grace is able to build up and strengthen the Christian so that he might grow in Christ, grow unto salvation (Acts 20:32; 1 Peter 2:1–2).

But God’s grace is conditional. It is conditioned upon obedient faith made perfect by works (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 5:1–2; James 2:17–26; Matthew 7:21). The obedient works upon which salvation is conditioned do not nullify grace for they do not earn salvation. The examples of Naaman (2 Kings 5) and the blind man (John 9:6–7) show that these gifts were given by grace but conditions had to be met to receive them.