Musick-al Notes

Musick-al note: #  116                                    

         God is the giver of salvation.  He alone has the right to say how any man or every man may be saved.  In John 3:16 it is written, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  God’s great gift of His Son for the salvation of man is the basis of his saving man.  Peter said in Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  If there is salvation in no other than Jesus, then every man must enter into Christ Jesus to be saved. Paul said in Galatians 3:26-27   “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”  Putting on Christ through the waters of Baptism makes one a child of God.  When one is baptized (puts on Christ) his sins are forgiven and he becomes a servant of God.  Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Being then made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”  Ephesians 1:7   “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 

        What shall we say then, can man follow just any way he desires and expect salvation from God?  What did Jesus say about ‘differing’ ways? In Matthew 15:3-9 he said that the Pharisees were following traditions and their doctrines were commandments of men which rendered their worship vain. There are so many churches with different doctrines and practices in the world today.  Are we safe then to follow any of them?  No! (Revelation 22:18-19) Since God did not spare his only Son for our salvation, how could we look to any other way or man to save us?   Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Look again at Acts 4:12 and Hebrews 5:9 everyone who desires salvation must come to Jesus who is the Christ, the Son of God.  Every person who wants to be IN CHRIST will be baptized into Him (Galatians 3:26-27).  And everyone who is in Christ must continue to live in Christ being obedient to His will.  There is no other way to be saved! 

                Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 115  

       We do not even want to think about this question or its answer.  Yet continuing to avoid facing the truth does not change our situation nor our destiny in eternity. It is unethical for a writer to eschew knowledge of and shirk one’s responsibility to teach and warn everyone of a coming disaster in failure to obey the teaching of the Scriptures. God’s Word is very explicit in regard to those who refuse to follow His Son, Jesus Christ.  According to many verses, they will be lost to exist in an eternal Hell (Matthew 7:13-23, Matthew 23:33, 25:41-46, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23, and many others).  All people would rather speak only of God’s love and peace with eternal bliss to come and never considering that obedience is necessary to avoid the coming judgment with eternal punishment being the outcome. We must consider carefully such verses as Matthew 25:31-46.

       Consider also what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9,  “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” Again, he wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor Sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

        Read also about the glory and blessings of the eternal city of God in Revelation 21:1-26, then think about verses 8 and 27. “But the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars will be in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.  Nothing that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie will enter, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  We become children of God when we obey the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 3:26-27) and our names are written in the book of life.  To deny and refuse to obey Christ is to choose God’s vengeance and everlasting destruction in eternal death (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). To obey Him is the better choice for in him one can have eternal blessings in His presence.

               Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 114  

        The Lord Jesus said, “I give you eternal life” and it is true.  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.” If there is never a night in that place and it is always day, then there can never be an end to its existence. God said through Isaiah “I am the only God, I know the end from the beginning and I am able to complete all my designs” (Isaiah 46:8-13). 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 living (without any limits of His duration, power, knowledge or presence). 

       We must recognize that God exists outside of the entity known as the world universe. The fact that He created this universe means that He was and is beyond all we can see, placing in the heavens both sun and stars, He then surrounds all of our universe before time began and after time ends, however He also dwells within our universe to know bless the humblest of men and punish the rebellious who refuse to obey Him. (Isaiah 15-21).  His desire is to save all mankind (2 Peter 3:9) is shown by His sending his son to ransom us from our sins (1 Timothy 2:6). We have all sinned and unknowingly committed ourselves to death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). Through God’s mercy and grace, He accepted Jesus death in lieu of our death, making it possible to save us in our obedience to the Gospel of Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 6:3-7,16-19, Hebrews 5:8-9, 1 Peter 3:21).  Obedient believers are destined to live eternal lives with God and His Son (Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:23-24, John 14:1-6).

                  Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note #  113   

        We read the Old Testament with dismay of the accounts of many men and the Israelites who hardened their hearts as revealed in the Word of God and wonder that they could not see the folly of their ways and turn to obey God.  What vast changes would have been made in history if these would have repented and followed the will of the Father?  What would have been the outcome if Cain had repented to obey God?  No one could possibly conceive of the vast difference it would have made in the annals of history as well as in their lives. Consider the time when the spies returned from examining the Promised Land.  Had they trusted God, they would have entered instead of 40 years of wandering and death in the wilderness.   We are quick to condemn for we are able to read and understand the outcome of the total situation.  Yet at the same time we condemn them because we are able to read the history of destruction that followed their action.  Do we really have a heart that is responsive and yielding to the Loving God?  Do we willingly follow His commands or follow our own wills? Here is a test of ourselves whether our hearts are hardened or responsive. If we disagree over some matter, do our feelings got hurt and we do not even speak to that person.  In our pride of thinking that we could not possibly be wrong, do we expect them to come on bended knee for pardon as though we are a supreme being.  Do we hold our grudge against them instead of humbly and in love settle our differences as God requests?  

        Sometimes we are quick to castigate those who will not obey the Gospel of Christ, while at the same time we have no intention of giving our all to the Lord.  Many of us would do just as the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23) if we were faced with the same commandment.  We detest the Pharisees because of the woes Jesus placed upon them (Matthew 23) but how often we do the same.   We exalt ourselves in pride, appear righteous by attending services and giving out of our wealth.  We even hinder others who would enter the kingdom of God by not teaching the Word of God in love and humility.   How hard is your heart?  Do you respond to the will of God or do you go your own way?  Do you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness or your own will?  How hard IS your heart?

                   Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 112             

       A covenant is an agreement between two entities be it individuals, groups, or companies whether enemies or friends that is agreeable to each.  I speak of a covenant between God who is pure, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent and man who is limited in power, knowledge and length of life on earth.  They are unequal to say the least.  Man has a propensity to sin while God cannot even be tempted to sin.  God has always initiated the covenant relationship with man because He knows what is best for man whom He created in His own image.  

      The covenant with Israel contained the Ten Commandments and with instructions regarding worship and daily living (Exodus 20 through Leviticus 27). Their response was, “All the words that the Lord has spoken, we will do and we will be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7)  God also gave many warnings of destruction should they turn aside to other gods and disobey His commands.  He stated that they would be His treasured possession, and they would be a holy nation of priests to Him if they obeyed His precepts. They were given a land and great blessings, even forgiving their sins.

      The new covenant came through God’s Son, Jesus the Christ (Hebrews 10:9-10).  This covenant called for the love of man by demonstrating the greatest love of all – Jesus death on the cross to take away the penalty of the sins of all men (Hebrews 2:9).  That penalty was death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23).  Being raised from the dead by the power of God, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).  To obey Jesus, we must repent of our sins, confess His name before men, be buried with Him in baptism and rise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:2-11).  Thus we enter a covenant relationship with God when we believe and obey the Gospel of Christ.  God washes away our sins and gives us new life when we are baptized (Acts 22:16).  He adds us to Christ’s church (Acts 2:47), makes us His child (Galatians 3:26-27), frees us from Satan and gives us ability to live and serve Him in this life and anticipate an eternal life in His presence.  The faithful will also be separated from His wrath (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) when Jesus is revealed from heaven to be glorified by His Saints.

                 Gordon Musick

Musick-al note #  111

     The Gospel is not complete without baptism because baptism is the action by which a person is saved (1 Peter 3:21).  It is the action by which one is added to His body, which is His church (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:22- 23).  It is the action which puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:27) and makes one a child of God.  Baptism must be obeyed from the heart (Romans 6:17-18) and when done by faith, it makes one a servant of God. However, baptism follows other necessary things.  A person must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24).  That faith must be followed by obedience in repenting of sins, (Luke 3:1-5, Acts 17:30, Acts 2:2:38, Acts 8:37).  One’s faith must obey Christ in confessing that He is the Christ before men, (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10).  Then one in faith can obey Christ by being baptized (buried) for remission of sins, (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:1-5, Galatians 3:27, l Corinthians 12:13).   Without faith that obeys the Lord in repenting, confessing Christ, and being baptized, one cannot be saved for the Lord declared these things to be necessary.

     Notice:  that baptism is a burial of one’s death to sin, (Romans 6:2-4), It is in the water of baptism that one’s sins are cleansed in the blood of Christ, (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 10:19-23, Romans 6:17-18) and that person is to walk in “newness of life” for having been buried with Christ, we are raised with Him, being forgiven our iniquities.  This “newness of life” means to live without sin in following Christ’s teachings for we are a member of Christ’s church for He adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:41, 47).  The church (those who are obedient to Him) meet for worship, even if it means leaving friends and family.  Sometimes this means leaving a religious group, for many groups teach doctrines of men which are not found in the New Testament.  As you can see, great changes will be expected of those who obey God’s Word and their commitment to Jesus Christ will have to be complete to do so.  Jesus’ words (the New Testament) must become their only rule of authority in religious matters.  Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the only way to the Father, (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). There is salvation in no other one.  There is no other way for men to reach heaven, and – we need to know this – the world will hate those who follow Christ Jesus (John 15:18-20).  Yet heaven will overshadow all the trials that may come their way (Romans 8:17-18).

    We urge you to not follow the teachings of man for only God’s Word can give you light to follow Christ, (Psalms 119:105, John 17:17).

                   Gordon Musick

Musick-al note #  110

     If we were left to our own devices none could enter the kingdom of God for all men are sinners.  Paul said in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  There is only one end to those who remain in sin and that is spiritual death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). We can all give thanks to God for sending Jesus, His Son into the world who paid the debt of death for all sin in order to ransom every person who has sinned (1 Timothy 2:6). Jesus rose from the dead and is now at the right hand of God and offers eternal life to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9). By obeying Christ Jesus we can have our sins forgiven in His blood (Ephesians 1:7).  Our sins are washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16) when we obey the Gospel.  Paul said in Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked that though 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.” Peter said in 1 Peter 1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”  Redemption is given to man through the blood of Christ Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for sin. He will save all people who obey Him.  ‘Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”. (Hebrews 5:8-9). In obeying the Gospel we put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27). We are also added to His church at the same time (Acts 2:47)..              

  Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 109       

       It should not be a surprise to people that there are two sides to the salvation of our souls.  God formed man in his own image with the freedom to act and choose.  When men believed Satan’s lies, they disobeyed God and lost their fellowship with Him (Genesis 3).  God loved mankind and initiated redemption but men continued to choose disobedience and sin.  God continued His plan Histo save all who would recognize and love Him, finally sending His Son, Jesus into the world to save lost mankind. Jesus took upon Himself the sin-debt (Ezekiel 18:3, Romans 6:23) of every man and paid its price by dying on the cross for all men (Hebrews 2:9).  We thank the Lord God for accepting His death in lieu of the death of all men. Jesus was raised from the dead and now sits at God’s own right hand offering eternal salvation to all who believe and obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).   

     Every gift must be received by a person or it has been offered in vain. God’s gift of eternal life is received by believing and obeying Jesus.  That gift is offered to everyone, but it must be accepted by each or the offer is made in vain and man remains under the penalty of his sins. God is not willing that any should perish and be lost (2 Peter 3:9), but He does not force but only entreats one to accept.  Every person accepts this great gift by believing that Jesus is the Christ (John 3:16), repenting (turning from) every sin (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30), confessing Christ Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32-33) and being buried with Him (Colossians 2:12) in baptism (submerged in water).  It is in the act of baptism that God washes away each person’s sin (Acts 22:16). They are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-10).   In being baptized, we become children of God (Galatians 3:26-27) and we are added to His body (1 Corinthians 12:13) which is His church (Ephesians 1:22-23).  This obedience to the Gospel of Christ is the beginning of our new life (Romans 6:4) in which we continue to pay attention to the Words of Jesus that we may do them (Matthew 7:21-27, Hebrews 2:1-3).  Also in obeying the Gospel of Christ we place ourselves in Christ and in His ultimate safety from the wrath of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).  It is therefore so very important that we do our part in saving our souls by obeying Him and living for Him.  God has done His part.  Will we do our part? 

               Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note #:  108         

         How often we deceive ourselves into thinking that our conduct is pleasing to God because we are able to exonerate ourselves as we observe others in the faith.  This comparing self with ourselves is not wise.  We must “look into the perfect law of liberty” as a mirror to know self as we are.  A close introspection is needed by us all at times, that we know ourselves as God knows us.  God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7), we cannot deceive Him, let us not deceive ourselves either for we will reap what we sow.  If we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption, if we sow to the Spirit, we shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

         One may be approved by the fellow man as to his life, his words, his travels, his recreation or any other phase of his life, but this is not the most important thing for man.  Approval of God is the most important thing for man for we will all meet god in a righteous judgment.  Nothing will be hidden from Him for “all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).  We than cannot give an excuse to man concerning our spiritual obligations and be right with God for He truly knows us.  If we cover our laxness, lethargy and indifference toward the Lord’s work by a multitude of activity in other matters, we may find ourselves pleasing to man yet be very displeasing to the Lord.

         What you do with your time is really none of my business, but what you do with your time will determine your true relationship to the Lord God.  Be sure you remember that whatever you do, or wherever you go, the Lord know everything about you.  Be fair to yourself by being righteous in life, thus to be prepared to meet God whom you love.

                       Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note 107    

        Jesus teaches us that Christianity is a religion of doing, of working and of accomplishing God’s will.  No person regardless of how pious he looks, is acceptable unto God unless he is doing God’s will.  In Matthew 7:21 Jesus states, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  We often declare and rightly so that one must obey the commands of God to become a Christian, but it is equally true that one must continue to obey God to remain faithful to the heavenly call.

          According to Acts 8:4 the disciples of the first century went everywhere preaching the Word, obeying the great commission of the Lord Jesus.  If you are not able to do this great work among your friends, then by your support, you must help those who are able and willing to do so.  While not teaching others yourself, you must surely invite them and make the necessary arrangements that your friends be brought into contact with a teacher of the Word.  You can do this by personal visits, invitations to the services, or arranging home Bible studies either in their home or yours so that you might have a part in their knowing of the Lord and Savior. Jesus desires that all come to a knowledge of the truth that they might be saved, and your working together with Him and others will accomplish that end.

          Paul taught in Galatians 6:1 that we ought to restore the fallen.  We must be about the Lord’s work for He does not desire that any should perish but that all come to repentance.  This work must be done through personal visitation.  If you are not able to teach in this way, then you must support those who can and are willing to do it.  Your support to hold up their hands is most necessary for so often it seems that this is very discouraging work.  Those who are thus weakened are actually worse than babes in Christ.  They have lost their desire, their love and their concern and we must lead then through love and concern for their souls that they remember their Lord and return before they pass the point of no return.

          These are only two of the obligations laid upon us who desire to follow the Lord.  What do you do concerning these works?  What should you do?

                 Gordon Musick