Musick-al Notes

Musick-al note # 168           

          What is the most important thing that you to do in life?  Many things are important and the order we live our lives shows what we think is most important.  What worth is our work, labor, energy, time to produce these things?  A few years of pleasure?  Is this all there is to life? What happens after we die?  Is there life after death or nothing after death?  Many live as though death ends it all, but within all men, there is a yearning or hope that there is more.  What does the Bible teach about this?

            The Bible begins with God creating the universe with the world and everything within it. His existence is outside the boundary of our universe, thus it is impossible for man to examine, prove or negate His existence, intelligence, power or abilities.  To assume that this universe came into existence without an intelligent thought or force in its making is simply futile thinking for the heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalms 19:1). Man came into being when God formed him, breathed life into him and he became a living soul in God’s own likeness.  God gave man the ability to think, reason, love, develop many things and even desire life after death.  God gave man free-will to choose the course of his life, how he will live but each one will give an account to Him (Hebrews 9:27, Romans 14:11-12) according to his deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10).

            Is it any wonder than that God said to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Genesis 3:6).  Jesus spoke of this in answering the Sadducees and added, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:32).  Moses knew they were all dead and buried but God said “they are living!”  Life is beyond the grave!  Jesus taught more concerning that ‘life’ beyond life here in his teaching of ‘the rich man and Lazarus’. Both men died but the rich man was in torment while Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side. Between the two lay a great gulf that could not be crossed. The rich man begged for help even a drop of water from Lazarus finger.  When the rich man knew nothing could be done for him, he asked that Lazarus be sent to his family to warn his five brothers so they would not come to the place of torment.  Abraham reminded the rich man that Moses and the Prophets were to be heeded. The rich man begged for someone from the dead to go to them so they would repent. Abraham replied that if they do not listen to the written Word, they would not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:19-31).

            The lesson is extremely clear.  There is life beyond the grave.  However there are two locales in that region.  One is wonderful but the other is chillingly dreadful.  The New Testament is abundantly clear that the way each individual lives determines that person’s destiny after they die. It is also abundantly clear that God wants no person to miss heaven (2 Peter 3:9). He sent Jesus into the world that those who believe and obey Him would come to Him after this life is over (Matthew 7:21-27, John 3:16-21, 8:12, 10:9-10, Hebrews 5:9, Revelation 22:18-19). The choice is – either follow Christ Jesus to life (Acts 4:12) or be forever lost (Matthew 25:46).

                Gordon Musick     

Musick-al note # 167

        There is a great deal of controversy in regard to the matter of ABORTION.  Some evidently feel that there is no moral basis for consideration in this matter and if a mother wishes to abort the fetus, it is nothing. Others seem to feel that as long as the mother has felt no movement, it is nothing.  Others have no such qualms and will abort the fetus even in the third trimester of pregnancy.

       Is there no morality to be connected with the beginnings of life?  I think there is and I believe that the Bible teaches that men and women should consider the life in the womb as very precious.  Is there life in the womb?  YES.  Does God consider the fetus to be a child?  YES.  Mary, only a few days from her conception, went to Zacharias’ home to see Elizabeth (before the birth of either child), was greeted with, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy’ (Luke 1:42-44).

       Is there any place in the Scriptures where a woman is pregnant that the fetus of the unborn is ever referred to anything other than a CHILD, even from the time of conception?

It does not matter that a government, king, priest or any other should decree that abortion is legal with no moral wrong in it. The question should be, “Is it right to end the life of a person if that person has committed no wrong?”  Such taking of life is called murder by society as well as the courts of the land. Shouldn’t it be the same for those unborn children in their mother’s wombs?  It is the taking of life of an innocent person.  This is the venue of one who cannot protest, cry out or protect themselves!  Viewed in this way, isn’t it wrong in every way; cruel, inhuman, heartless and completely against God’s will for man! 

      Should we not realize that God has always given life to every individual and He alone has the right to take away life as well?       

             Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note #   166                      

          This question is perhaps asked most often by young people who are seeking guidelines for their lives but all Christians should be concerned with knowing that their actions are pleasing to the living God.  Usually this question is asked when we have a desire to do something that we haven’t done before and are uncertain as to its being proper conduct for ourselves. Some have said simply, “If in doubt, don’t.”  Yet there should be a better and surer way of making decisions of great importance than this.  I believe there is.  First, seek the answer from God’s word.  If God has spoken, then the answer is clear and final and the Christian’s question is settled.  If the Word of God is silent on the matter then a second method of reaching a decision must be available. The Word of God teaches us principles upon living to help us ascertain the correctness or incorrectness of such actions, plans or desires.  Using this method involves three questions which comprise the guidelines of right or wrong.

          The first of these questions is, “Will this (act, word, place) honor and glorify God?”  If it will bring honor to God, then the Christian can know that the object of his desire is pleasing in the sight of God.  If it would not please God or glorify God but dishonor or displease Him, then the Christian will avoid doing that activity. The second question is, “Will this action help others spiritually?”  If such action should cause another to stumble or be less spiritual and sin, then such should to be avoided.  Our actions should be designed to draw others to Christ and not hinder them. The third question is, “Will this help myself to be more spiritual?”  Will I be a better Christian because I do this thing or will I be less spiritually minded?  While my influence on others ought to be good, my influence on myself ought to be of great importance. Therefore, I ought to avoid those things which degrade myself.

          The final guideline for considering right or wrong is the motive of love which is to seek the best for others.  While we have liberty in Christ, love binds us to high ideals and high goals in life.  Love for God and Christ will bring us under subjection to obey His will (John 14:15). Love for others will cause us to seek to give our best for their good.  Love for Christ will elevate us to such a plane that we will not desecrate ourselves for selfish pleasures. The question “Is it right or is it wrong?” can be answered by these principles. Those who love God and His Son who died for them will seek righteousness and will act accordingly.

            Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 165         

         No sane individual hates one part of his body and gives all his concern to another part.  We cleanse all the body when we bathe; we protect all the body when in danger; we medicate any or all the body when it is hurt or sick; we do all we can to keep the body intact for we know that we cannot do without a limb or another part without great stress upon the whole body. 

        Well might we follow the admonition of Paul to “have the same care for one another” in the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:24).  In the Lord’s body, we often fail to have this care for one another or even any concern for others.  Do we not see that such an attitude actually destroys the body of believers in Christ and we in turn are greatly affected?  Just as a body will die if not cared for, so will the body of Christians be destroyed if such unconcern is gendered and allowed to continue.  How much love and concern do you as an individual Christian show to your follow members in the body of Christ?  Aren’t we doing the opposite of the admonition of Paul when we think we can “go it alone” or allow our fellow Christians to drift into oblivion without striving to keep them close the Christ?  Isn’t this the same as saying, “I have no need of you and that the body is as well off without them as they are with them?” There should be only one time when the body of Christ is better without a particular member than with him.  That is when that person walks in sin willfully and obstinately refuses to repent of sin..

         When our attitudes are such that we alienate fellow Christians, we are guilty of dividing and destroying the body of Christ (Matthew 12:25).  We should be friends in Christ Jesus and anyone guilty of causing persons not to be such will have to face the Judge of all men because of their works. Do we have so much of the spirit of the world that love for each other is not in our hearts? Our fellowship must not depend on the whims and fancies of the moment.  We are all bought with the same blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7)?  There be no divisions among us.  It would be so much better if all Christians work their best, knowing that their fellow Christians’ love is constant and sure.

                Gordon Musick

 Musick-al note # 164

           The question has risen, “Is it a sin for a Christian to drink any alcoholic beverage”?  Didn’t Jesus miraculously make wine at a wedding feast?  Wasn’t Timothy told to take a little wine?  How could it be wrong?  In the Old Testament, the only persons commanded to totally abstain from all alcoholic consumption were the ‘Nazarites. There is no commandment in the New Testament indicating that a Christian is condemned for consuming an alcoholic beverage. However drunkenness is always condemned and drunkenness is the result of drinking too much alcoholic beverage.  No one, either Christian or non-Christian, whatever his color, age, race, or circumstance has any right to do ANYTHING that destroys the lives and happiness of himself and others, and brings disgrace and reproach upon people. This includes drunkenness. The fact that many people drink does not alter the truth: “it is drunkenness that is condemned”.

         Should any who claim to be Christians commit any act from adultery to murder does not make that sin acceptable. When we know of  people  doing anything not authorized of God, or explicitly condemned by the Word of God, we should strive to help them to live correctly or “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness’ (Ephesians 5:11).  Notice that the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) include drunkenness, and verse 21 says, “Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”.  When a person continues to become drunken and refuses to change, their sin will condemn them before the Lord. When Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities”, he revealed three things.  First, it was not the custom of Timothy to drink wine, or Paul would not have needed to instruct him to do so.  Second, he was only told to use a little wine. Third, it was for medical purposes–for his stomach’s sake and often infirmities.  No one should use this verse as an excuse to drink for it was not given as a rule for all people.  We should live our lives in a manner that brings glory to Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17), even if it means that we drink no alcoholic beverage.

              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 163     

         A person who studies the Bible must remember that Jesus said “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).  Far too many people forget that He said “EVERY” word which means that we must study all of the Bible and not trust our thinking by ignoring anything that God is written.  Everyone has sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) thus everyone is destined to die spiritually as Adam and Eve died when they ate of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16).  They did not die physically but spiritually – separated from God who created them.

        God has decreed that those who sin will surely die (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23).  The penalty of sin is death!  Everyone has sinned.  How shall we escape?  Jesus, who never sinned, died to pay the penalty for everyone!  His death paid the ransom for the penalty of sin (death) note Matthew 20:28 and 1 Timothy 2:6 which show that the ransom was for all people. Many other verses state the fact that His dying was to make it possible to have life in Him (Isaiah 53, Romans 5:6-10, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:4-5, 1 Peter 3:18).  His death, the death of a sinless person for all the sinners in the world was accepted by the Lord God who sent Jesus into the world for this very purpose.  His death did not eliminate all sin, but did take away the penalty of all the sins of those who come to Him in obedience to His Gospel.   They respond to Him by dying to sin (Romans 6:1) in repentance and burying their old man of sin in baptism will be raised to a new life (Romans 6:1-11).  As Paul was required to do, we must also do (Acts 22:16).  By being baptized into Christ we become children of God (Galatians 3:26-27).  Failure to obey His commands will result in dire consequences (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Obedience to Jesus shows that we love Him (John 14:21-24) but disobedience shows that we do not love Him. Remember Jesus said he would save all who obey His words (Hebrews 5:9),

              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 163      

         A person who studies the Bible must remember that Jesus said “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).  Far too many people forget that He said “EVERY” word which means that we must study all of the Bible and not trust our thinking by ignoring anything that God is written.  Everyone has sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) thus everyone is destined to die spiritually as Adam and Eve died when they ate of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16).  They did not die physically but spiritually – separated from God who created them.

        God has decreed that those who sin will surely die (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23).  The penalty of sin is death!  Everyone has sinned.  How shall we escape?  Jesus, who never sinned, died to pay the penalty for everyone!  His death paid the ransom for the penalty of sin (death) note Matthew 20:28 and 1 Timothy 2:6 which show that the ransom was for all people. Many other verses state the fact that His dying was to make it possible to have life in Him (Isaiah 53, Romans 5:6-10, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:4-5, 1 Peter 3:18).  His death, the death of a sinless person for all the sinners in the world was accepted by the Lord God who sent Jesus into the world for this very purpose.  His death did not eliminate all sin, but did take away the penalty of all the sins of those who come to Him in obedience to His Gospel.   They respond to Him by dying to sin (Romans 6:1) in repentance and burying their old man of sin in baptism will be raised to a new life (Romans 6:1-11).  As Paul was required to do, we must also do (Acts 22:16).  By being baptized into Christ we become children of God (Galatians 3:26-27).  Failure to obey His commands will result in dire consequences (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Obedience to Jesus shows that we love Him (John 14:21-24) but disobedience shows that we do not love Him. Remember Jesus said he would save all who obey His words (Hebrews 5:9),

              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 162            

        Jesus gave a Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This commission was given to the Apostles who were to teach those who were baptized to observe all that he commanded. They were in turn were to teach and baptize those who believe, and teach them to observe all that he commanded.  Each person who believed and obeyed was to teach others to observe all that Jesus commanded. This commission reaches to disciples today who are taught the Word of God and render obedience to that Word. They are to teach and baptize those who believe, then teach them to observe all that Jesus taught that they might go forth to teach, baptize and teach others to do the same. Therefore we must conclude that when disciples are taught and are baptized, they are to follow Jesus’ teaching, go forth and teach others the Word of God, baptize those who believe and teach them to observe all Jesus commanded in the great commission.

      The question is raised, “Must the one who does the baptizing be a believing man or just a believer?”  One may search the scriptures from Matthew to Revelation without finding any such qualification for those who baptize. If one adds some qualification that God has not given, he is guilty of USURPING the authority of Christ. Does God require a special relationship of the one who baptizes another?  If He does then no one could possibly have any assurance of salvation, for there would have to be an unbroken succession of people doing the baptizing back to the Apostles!  And even then, some Judas might have baptized the person in the line of the one who baptized me, and that would invalidate the baptism of all who followed! This is not to deny that most people who baptize are Christians since they are usually those who teach the truth, but to assert that the one who does the baptizing MUST be a Christian man is to put the emphasis and value in the PERSON doing the baptizing, whereas the value of being baptized is that an obedient believer in Christ Jesus is faithfully following His will from the heart. 

              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 162            

        Jesus gave a Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This commission was given to the Apostles who were to teach those who were baptized to observe all that he commanded. They were in turn were to teach and baptize those who believe, and teach them to observe all that he commanded.  Each person who believed and obeyed was to teach others to observe all that Jesus commanded. This commission reaches to disciples today who are taught the Word of God and render obedience to that Word. They are to teach and baptize those who believe, then teach them to observe all that Jesus taught that they might go forth to teach, baptize and teach others to do the same. Therefore we must conclude that when disciples are taught and are baptized, they are to follow Jesus’ teaching, go forth and teach others the Word of God, baptize those who believe and teach them to observe all Jesus commanded in the great commission.

      The question is raised, “Must the one who does the baptizing be a believing man or just a believer?”  One may search the scriptures from Matthew to Revelation without finding any such qualification for those who baptize. If one adds some qualification that God has not given, he is guilty of USURPING the authority of Christ. Does God require a special relationship of the one who baptizes another?  If He does then no one could possibly have any assurance of salvation, for there would have to be an unbroken succession of people doing the baptizing back to the Apostles!  And even then, some Judas might have baptized the person in the line of the one who baptized me, and that would invalidate the baptism of all who followed! This is not to deny that most people who baptize are Christians since they are usually those who teach the truth, but to assert that the one who does the baptizing MUST be a Christian man is to put the emphasis and value in the PERSON doing the baptizing, whereas the value of being baptized is that an obedient believer in Christ Jesus is faithfully following His will from the heart. 

              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 161       

        Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”  An ambassador is one who has authority to speak for another and whose words will be accepted by that one who have given authority nor them to speak.  Paul said, ‘As an ambassador for Christ, we speak for him”. If He were here He would tell you, “I have ransomed you from the penalty of sin. God laid all sin upon me and I bore its penalty to redeem you. I had no sin but you could not pay for your sins and be saved. God laid all sin upon me so that you might be made righteous before Him by being in me (Romans 8:1).  By my death, I paid the ransom to redeem you from the curse of sin (1 Timothy 2:6). Come unto me and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).  There is no way to God except by me (John 14:6). Obey my commands and you will be free (Hebrews 5:9). I sent my apostles and teachers that you might know my will. The necessary words of faith are those that are written (John 20:31). If you hear them and obey them, I will accept you and take you home to heaven with me” (John 14:1-3).

       Considering then what an ambassador does, we can be ambassadors for Christ IF WE SPEAK HIS WORDS!  No man has the right to change Jesus’ message or His commands. No ambassador ever has such rights. Be sure to speak and teach His truth so that the words men hear will be true to the new covenant (John 20:31, 2 Peter 1:3-21). To teach other words will be only the teaching of man (Matthew 15:9) which will render their worship vain.      As an ambassador, be sure you speak ONLY THE WORDS OF CHRIST for you speak for Him.  He will not hold anyone guiltless who adds to or takes from His words (Revelation 22:18-19).  Speak truth then and lead to salvation in Christ.

                   Gordon Musick