Musick-al Notes

Musick-al note # 134   

     God speaks to us today through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).  The New Testament is the Word that He has given for us to study and know His will. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 14:26, 16:7-16).  Those men wrote His words for us to have after they died (2 Peter 1:12-16, 3:1-2).  Paul stated that anyone who was spiritual would recognize that his writings were the commands of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37).  It is God’s Word and given to direct man throughout this life that he may walk with Him in the eternal realms.

     Since one hears the Word of the Lord (through study of the New Testament) then that person must read and study the New Testament again and again to differentiate His Word from the teachings of man.  God desires that we be saved and has given His Word to that end (2 Peter 3:9, John 20:31).  If we are still confused or do not know God’s will, it is our lack of study or we are being led astray by false teachers who are confusing us.  We say therefore, “Study the Word”, commit it to memory and learn to handle it properly and make it the center of your heart (2 Timothy 2:15) for it will give you all that you need for spiritual advancement (2 Peter 1:3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Do not follow the doctrines of men (any teaching that is not revealed in the New Testament or is different from its words) because such teachings will only render your worship vain (Matthew 15:9).  Such teachings (doctrines) pervert (change) the Gospel and cause its followers to come under the curse of God (Galatians 1:6-9).  There are many who do not obey the Gospel because of their failure to study the Word that they might know God and follow the truth (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).  Again let me say to you, “Make it your aim to ‘study the Word’ that you might know and obey the God of heaven.

             Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 133

          No person can be truly happy in the Christian life until he gives his all to the cause of Christ.  This is not saying one must become a pauper and a beggar for one might do so and be very unhappy because he has not given himself to the Lord.  We must give all of self!  When we satisfy ourselves and our lusts, we are not giving our all to the Lord and invariable unhappiness will result.   We may offer many excuses for our failure, but the real truth is – selfishness rules our lives.

          There is a great need to re-evaluate our own lives and our own thinking concerning spiritual living.  Are we really interested in serving the great God of heaven? Are we vitally concerned because the lost around us are destined to an eternity in torment?  Does the work we do for the Lord Jesus correspond to the profusion of affirmations of love made by our mouths?

          While we may answer the foregoing questions in the affirmative, what does our manner of living show?  Do we spend more time drinking coffee than we spend seeking the lost for the Master?  Does our conversations reflect more interest in the world (sports, T.V., business, etc.) than concern for the souls of men?  Does our attitudes show we love the praises of men rather than the praises of God?  Does our actions in periods of worship declare that we love God and reverence Him or do they show that we are unconcerned, satisfying self and anxious to be free to go on our way?

          Dear friends, answer for yourself this question, “Will God save us in eternity for what we are saying or will He save us because we give ourselves to Him to do His will”? (Ephesians 2:8).  We ought then to follow the course in life that will show that we are doing His will (Ephesians 2:10).  No matter how much we TALK to one another about Christianity or meet in class to discuss God’s will, we will not be blessed until we begin to perform the work about which we speak and know must be done.  Let us dedicate ourselves to the doing of the Lord’s will that we may be greatly blessed of Him.

                     Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 132 

     What is the differentiation of the importance of the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross?  God had commanded His people in the Old Testament times to offer sacrifices of bulls, goats, calves and birds.  These were to make atonement for their sins.  The basic meaning of the Hebrew word, “kaphar”, translated, “atonement” means “to cover”.  Elementary logic should indicate that “atonement” does not mean to “take away sins” but rather to “cover” them so that it allowed God to “wink at” sin (Acts 17:30); to overlook or cover the sin ONLY in view of the fact that they would be taken away by the blood of Christ.  It is significant that the word “atonement” is not used in the original text in talking about what the blood of Jesus did for us.  It is not rich and expressive enough.  The ONLY way the Bible reveals that God could be just and justify the ungodly is that man’s sin be paid for by the blood of Christ. This is the very center of Christianity!  In Romans 3:25, when the Authorized Version has “remission of sins that are past”, the Greek text does not have “aphesis”–remission, but “paresis”–a passing over, as the ASV puts it.  So the blood of Jesus does not merely atone (cover) our sin, it “takes away” (airo) the guilt of sin from us as in John 1:29.  It takes us away from sin (exeletai) as in Gal. 1:4.  It disannuls the effect of sin (athetesis) as in Hebrews 9:26.  It redeems us from the world of sin (agorazo) as in Rev. 5:9. It redeems us OUT OF sin (exagorazo) as in Gal. 3:13. God decreed that every soul that sinned would die (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23) Jesus paid the ransom antilutron (1 Tim.  2:6) by dying for us (Romans 5:6-9, Hebrews 2:9).

     The superiority of Jesus sacrifice on the Cross over the sacrifices of the Old Testament is clearly seen in the effectiveness of His sacrifice over that of the animals sacrificed.  They could not take away sin (Hebrews 10:4) but Jesus took away our sins (Hebrews 9:12, 15; 10:12, 14, 18). We can have assurance before God because of the work and sacrifice of Jesus who gave himself for us that He might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18).  His salvation is offered to all who will obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9; Matt 7:21-26).

                 Gordon Musick

 Musick-al Note # 131   

          In Matthew 11:16-19 Jesus gives a stirring illustration of the way so many people act in regard to Christianity and their response to Him.  He said, “It is like children playing in the market, one group calls to another group saying, “We have played wedding music and you did not join us, and we have done everything including mourning but you have not responded to our pleas at all.”  Jesus explained his figure by saying it corresponds to John the Baptist and to Himself, yet the people did not respond.

          So often we are just like that generation.  Reading the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, a person can observe the many times God has entreated His people to live for Him. In His great love He sent His Son to draw us to Him (John 3:16).   We do not respond to the great love of God and is Son, Jesus Christ, nor do we respond to the exceeding great and precious promises given to encourage us (2 Peter 1:4).  Nor do we tremble and fear when we hear the awesome warnings that come from the Word of God (2 John 9-11).  Are we simply playing with Christianity and making up our rules as we go.  We fear neither man or God and we shrug off any thought of opposition (2 Thessalonians 1:6-12) and continue in our complacent way of life.  We are pretty well satisfied and yet we have no peace – no real joy and no great goal to which we are striving.  Has ‘heaven’ become just a word in our language, an idea that is spoken about in sermons, we do not view it as an eternal home to which we should be going.  If we truly did, we would be striving with all our might to go there.  We are not fully convinced that sin and disobedience will separate us from an eternity of bliss (Matthew 25:46) and be the cause of an eternity of suffering in the fire of Hell which is prepared for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

          God is – and His Word abides forever (Psalms 119:89).  We must be about His business both in serving and worshipping Him.  He is the savior of all men; without Him we will be lost throughout eternity, having missed the prize for which we thought we might gain by a pretended Christianity.

               Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 130          

          As we read the lament of our Lord in Matthew 23:37, we pause to wonder just why such people who had looked for the coming of the Lord would treat Him in such a manner.  We reason that they must surely be a hard-hearted people to do such a thing or else they were totally ignorant of His greatness.  Then we think of all He had taught and done among them in His three and one-half years ministry and we believe that they should have known Him, the Lord of Glory.  It seems that these people had their hearts set on something different than that which the Lord brought.  Perhaps they looked for a physical kingdom with themselves in the leadership of the world.  Even His disciples never completely understood His meaning of a spiritual kingdom until after His resurrection.

          Is it any different today?  We have the oracles of God and we know that the prophecies concerning Him came true. We can read of His mighty kingdom and the glory that undoubtedly is His?  Are we showing by our lives and works that we are truly His?  Some indeed so love the Lord that they give their all to Him.  We need to ask ourselves this question, “What about us today”?  Do we accept the directives given in the Word of God, knowing that they come from Him (John 12:49-50) or do we think that God has given man liberty to ignore His word and do only what we want to do?  Have we been given a divine blessing to change His Word (Galatians 1:9) and teach doctrines in groups that ignore Jesus’ teaching of His church (Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 2:18-23)?  Can any man be approved of God when he blindly follows groups not established by Christ Jesus (Galatians 1:6-9)?  Remember Jesus said that every plant that the Father has not planted will be rooted up and are led by blind leaders (Matthew 15:13-14).  Sadly to blindly follow will lead to one’s destruction (Luke 6:39).

            Do we seek good works that we might glorify Christ?  Do we give our support to the Lord’s church in looking for work that will edify men to good works and support those things in every way possible?  If we are asked to help in doing a job, do we give willingly to accomplish it or are we reticent, hoping that someone else will do it?  Do we love the Lord enough to obey His will by following His leadership in seeking the lost or do we say to the Lord, “I will not”? 

             Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 130          

          As we read the lament of our Lord in Matthew 23:37, we pause to wonder just why such people who had looked for the coming of the Lord would treat Him in such a manner.  We reason that they must surely be a hard-hearted people to do such a thing or else they were totally ignorant of His greatness.  Then we think of all He had taught and done among them in His three and one-half years ministry and we believe that they should have known Him, the Lord of Glory.  It seems that these people had their hearts set on something different than that which the Lord brought.  Perhaps they looked for a physical kingdom with themselves in the leadership of the world.  Even His disciples never completely understood His meaning of a spiritual kingdom until after His resurrection.

          Is it any different today?  We have the oracles of God and we know that the prophecies concerning Him came true. We can read of His mighty kingdom and the glory that undoubtedly is His?  Are we showing by our lives and works that we are truly His?  Some indeed so love the Lord that they give their all to Him.  We need to ask ourselves this question, “What about us today”?  Do we accept the directives given in the Word of God, knowing that they come from Him (John 12:49-50) or do we think that God has given man liberty to ignore His word and do only what we want to do?  Have we been given a divine blessing to change His Word (Galatians 1:9) and teach doctrines in groups that ignore Jesus’ teaching of His church (Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 2:18-23)?  Can any man be approved of God when he blindly follows groups not established by Christ Jesus (Galatians 1:6-9)?  Remember Jesus said that every plant that the Father has not planted will be rooted up and are led by blind leaders (Matthew 15:13-14).  Sadly to blindly follow will lead to one’s destruction (Luke 6:39).

            Do we seek good works that we might glorify Christ?  Do we give our support to the Lord’s church in looking for work that will edify men to good works and support those things in every way possible?  If we are asked to help in doing a job, do we give willingly to accomplish it or are we reticent, hoping that someone else will do it?  Do we love the Lord enough to obey His will by following His leadership in seeking the lost or do we say to the Lord, “I will not”? 

             Gordon Musick

 Musick-al note # 129     

     The origin of sin lies with Satan himself who set himself against God from the creation of the world.  He was able to gather with the angels before God (Job 1:6 and other verses) but the context shows that Satan was against God by tempting Job to do evil.  At the very beginning of creation, Satan tempted Eve to disobey God and the world was cursed because of the sins that followed (Genesis 3:17).  God had created man in His image with freedom of choice to follow God or self.  Satan’s influence over man continues for history reveals that most men have rebelled from God to follow selfish ends but a few have always lived that followed God’s directives. Biblical history reveals that God destroyed those who refused to turn to Him.  Yet because the few did follow Him, the Lord turned from destroying the whole world.  Satan is still trying to destroy God’s people with lies, half-truths and false doctrines (Revelation 12:9-17),

     The Bible is very explicit as to what sin is. Basically it is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) caused by adding to or leaving out His commands (Revelation 22:18-19). It is “ungodliness” (Romans 1:18-32).  It is failure to follow God’s will (James 4:17).  When man is following the “works of the flesh” he is living a worldly life (Galatians 5:19-21).  As to what causes man to sin, the basis seems to be selfishness, greed, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). James said that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).  When man does what he wants to do without regard to other people, sin becomes evident.  Jesus said all evil things come from within (Mark 7:20-23) and James said it comes from the desires of man brought to fruition.  Sin comes from seeking to satisfy self and a failure to obey God.  Every man is tempted (James 1:14), but only those who follow that temptation to its end will sin (James 1:15), Jesus was tempted in all points as we are but He did not sin choosing the correct way to live (Hebrews 4:15).

     God still wants all men to be saved, not lost (2 Peter 3:9) and His Word was given to draw all men to Himself through faith in Jesus (John 20:30-31, Luke 6:46).  Paul said in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.  The key words are ‘in Christ Jesus’ for outside of Christ no one can be saved (John 14:6). Paul wrote that the way into Christ is being baptized into Him (Galatians 3:26-27).

              Gordon Musick  

Musick-al Note # 128              

          God inhabits eternity which surrounds (before, during and after) time and creation. Isaiah stated this when he wrote God’s revelation of Himself, “I am God, and there is no other and there is no other like me. I make known the end from the beginning and from ancient times, what is still to come” (Isaiah 46:9-10). His eternal nature has all knowledge from beginning to end as Isaiah 41:4 states. “Who has called every generation to rise from the beginning?  I, the Lord am He. I was with the first and I will be with the last.” Isaiah had revealed God saying, “There is no God but me. I am the first and I am the last. Apart from me, there is no God.” In his charge to Solomon, David made a statement that everyone should remember today, “The Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you: but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).  God knows man, even better than man knows himself and is able to supply man with all that he needs. There seems to be an attitude in the world today that one can deceive the Lord God: How foolish in the light of such passages as these.

          More pertinent to man’s need is the fact that man can know God, if he searches for Him.  God is no tyrant who plays “hide and seek” with men whom He has made.  He loves man and has sent His son, Jesus for everyone to know Him. (John 3:16, 17:3, 20:31), He desires that man know Him and obey Him and come to live with Him in eternity (2Peter 39).  He can be known and has even given instructions for man to know how to come to an unseen God.  If one will give heed to the words of the revelation that He has given, an individual can know God and serve Him.  Such a person will be blessed throughout his days here and inherit the joys of heaven when life in this world is gone.

          However, David’s statement includes a warning.  A warning against apostasy!  “If you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”  A terrible tragedy, to be cast away – lost throughout eternity – because you left God.  How could it happen?  When one refuses to obey His Word, choosing to live in sin, forsaking worship, neglecting His work in the rush for the riches and pleasures of this world that person is separated from God.  Without hope burning brightly in the heart, faith in God and His promises die and love for the Lord forgotten as love for worldly honor and praise increase.  Hymns are no longer sung; no prayers breathed in the stillness of night; no thought given to the Lord or His kingdom.  Even worse, you are LOST.  Lost from an eternity of bliss, joy and happiness.  LOST – cast away – into an eternity of anguish, misery, suffering and regret.  LOST – without hope – in Hell that was prepared for the Devil and his angels for all eternity (Matthew 25:41).

               Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 127

Christ is the Light (John 1:4-9) – without Him, we walk in darkness separated from God and the path that leads to glory.

Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 13:6). – Without the way, we are wanderers       and vagabonds without direction and knowledge of the eternity to which we go.                Without the truth, we believe the lies of Satan and expound them. – Without life that comes from Christ, we are dead because of our trespasses and sins.

 Christ is the water and bread of life (John 32-35, 48-55). – Without this food, we starve spiritually and satisfaction is far from us.

Christ is the true vine (John 15:1-6). – Without Christ, we are unfruitful branches that wither    and are destined to be burned up.

Christ is the door (gate) to eternal life (John 10:9). – Without Christ, we tread the road to    destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Christ is the solid foundation rock of life (Matthew 7:24). – Without Christ our lives are built upon sand which will fall on the day of testing.

Christ is the Alpha and the Omega (beginning and the end) of all mankind (John 1:3).           Revelation 21:1-6), – Without Christ, no man would exist for He created us (John 1:3)            and no man can have eternal life without Him (Acts 4:12, John 10:27-29)

Let us then consider our lives, our actions, our relationship to Him and our obedience to His Word for Christ is the source and giver of eternal life.  Without Him we are doomed to an eternity separated from Him.  His promise was to receive and save all who come to God through Him (John 6:37, Hebrews 7:25, Revelation 2:10, 21:7, 22:3-5).

        Gordon Musick