Musick-al Notes

Musick-al note # 238

God promised the Land of Canaan to the Jews on the condition that they serve him faithfully, but if they corrupted their worship and rejected God, they would perish from off the land (Deuteronomy 4:26-27).  It came to pass just as he said.  Israel’s final rejection of God’s work among them came when they rejected Jesus and crucified him.  God made a new Covenant with the house of Israel (Hebrews 8:7-13) which includes both Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:27-29) and makes us partakers of the promise which God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  So, “Israel after the flesh” (1 Cor.10:18) has no special relationship with God any more. However, “Spiritual Israel” (members of the church of the

Lord – all those who have accepted the New Covenant of Christ) are the children of the promise (Gal.4:28). They have a special relationship as children of God through their obedience to the Gospel (Gal.3:26-28).  So the cause of perpetual strife between obedient believers and unbelievers is the same as the cause of all strife since the beginning. Those who accept God’s way are hated by those who selfishly disobey because they want their own way as Cain did in Genesis 4:6-8.

          Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 237               

     There is a difference in physical death and spiritual death.  When Paul made the statement in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death”, he was speaking of spiritual death as God had instructed Adam when He placed him in the garden to work and keep it (Genesis 2:15-17).  Satan used this to tempt Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, saying that she would not die alluding to physical death.  Many people today make the same assumption when they read the Genesis account. Look more closely to the Genesis record and you will find that physical death came upon Adam (thus upon all men) when they were cast out of the Garden of Eden and separated from the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24).  This death came as one of the consequences following the sin of Adam and Eve.  If they had eaten of the tree of life, they would have continued to live in their sinful state forever (Genesis 3:22).

Spiritual death

     We are not RESPONSIBLE for Adam’s sin, but we must bear the consequences of it.  Just as an individual in a nation is not RESPONSIBLE for what the head of a nation may do, but he must bear the consequences of their decisions.  Men lived several hundred years of physical life before the flood, but later the Psalmist said the span of living was reduced to 70 years. (Psalms 90:10).  When we die the body returns to the dust from which man was made but the spirit returns to God who gave it (Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 12:7). Yes, we do suffer physical death because of Adam’s sin, nor do we inherit sin because if Adam’s sin. Jesus said of little children, let them come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:14). Little children are unable to judge between right and wrong, thus they cannot sin because no sin is imputed to those who cannot choose. When a child becomes older and is able to know what he should do and does chooses to do wrong instead becomes a sinner and is guilty before God.  We have hope in Christ who came into the world to save sinners (Matthew 18:11). He gave his life on the Cross of Calvary to pay the ransom for all men (1 Timothy 2:6) enabling everyone to be able to go to heaven in obedience to Him (Hebrews 5:9).

                    Gordon Musick

 Musick-al Note # 236                                           

          This question is perhaps asked most often by young people who are seeking guidelines for their lives but all Christians are 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 uncertainly as to its being proper conduct for ourselves is involved.  Some would say simply, “If in doubt, don’t.” Yet there ought to be a better and surer way of making decisions of 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 can still help in that we use certain principles to 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 God, or displease God, then the Christian will avoid doing that thing.

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 ought to be avoided.  Our actions ought to be designed to draw others to Christ and not hinder.  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 spiritual 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.  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.  Love for other will cause us to seek their best good.  Love or self will elevate us to such a plane that we will not desecrate ourselves for selfish pleasures.  “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 # 235               

         Often Christians want to invite their friends to services of the church, but they seem to have very little success.  The suggestions listed below should be of help to those who have not been successful in the past.  Remember these suggestions and use them in preparing for the coming Gospel Meeting.

         DO IT.  The chief reason that our friends do not come to services with us is that we do not ask them.  Rarely is an ideal opportunity presented to ask one to come to services.  Opportunities have to be created.  Sometimes it is necessary to use discipline on ourselves in order to get the job done.

         BE SERIOUS.  The concern for another’s soul is a serious matter. One should not be frivolous about it.  Your friend will realize how important the invitation is to you by the way you invite him. Pretended piety is not desired, but genuine sincerity will do much to make your invitation appreciated.

         BE ENTHUSIASTIC.  The Gospel is something to be enthusiastic about.  It is the only thing that can lift a man out of sin and save his soul.  Every lost should needs it.  Certainly if we have something which we can give a friend which is valuable, we will have enthusiasm in telling him about it.

         BE SPECIFIC.  A vague “We would like for you to come to the meeting” will not attract many.  We need to be specific.  The time, the preacher and the place are all important to the invited.  Even more important is to get a commitment from the person himself.  Such a commitment as to arrange a time of meeting him there will do much to cause him to come.  For the glory of God, the building up of the church and the love of your friends, invite them to the meeting.

           Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 235

     Often Christians want to invite their friends to services of the church, but they seem to have very little success.  The suggestions listed below should be of help to those who have not been successful in the past.  Remember these suggestions and use them in preparing for the coming Gospel Meeting.
     DO IT.  The chief reason that our friends do not come to services with us is that we do not ask them.  Rarely is an ideal opportunity presented to ask one to come to services.  Opportunities have to be created.  Sometimes it is necessary to use discipline on ourselves in order to get the job done.
     BE SERIOUS.  The concern for another's soul is a serious matter. One should not be frivolous about it.  Your friend will realize how important the invitation is to you by the way you invite him. Pretended piety is not desired, but genuine sincerity will do much to make your invitation appreciated.
     BE ENTHUSIASTIC.  The Gospel is something to be enthusiastic about.  It is the only thing that can lift a man out of sin and save his soul.  Every lost should needs it.  Certainly if we have something which we can give a friend which is valuable, we will have enthusiasm in telling him about it.
     BE SPECIFIC.  A vague "We would like for you to come to the meeting" will not attract many.  We need to be specific.  The time, the preacher and the place are all important to the invited.  Even more important is to get a commitment from the person himself.  Such a commitment as to arrange a time of meeting him there will do much to cause him to come.  For the glory of God, the building up of the church and the love of your friends, invite them to the meeting.
       Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 234
After God created the world and formed man from the dust of the earth, He placed Adam and Eve in a garden called Eden. He visited with them in the evenings and had complete fellowship with them. Adam and Eve transgressed the command of God when they ate the forbidden fruit. Their sin separated them from God resulting in their being driven from the garden and the tree of life.
Before the Law of Moses was given to the Israelites, God made His will known to man through the heads of families. That dispensation of time has been called the Patriarchal Age. These heads of families heard God through oral teaching, visions and dreams. Although most men sought and followed their own desires; some, such as Enoch, walked with God, evidently hearing Him and doing His will. However, the majority became so wicked and violent that every thought and imagination of their hearts was evil. God decided to destroy the world, but Noah was a just and upright man who walked with God. He buillt an ark in obedience to God’s command and his family was saved from the sinful world by the flood. Sin, however, continued as a plague in the lives of men. The last Patriarch was Abraham who lived seventy-five years among the Chaldeans before he was called by the Lord God to leave his father’s house. He was promised a great nation of descendants, a great amount of land (Genesis 15:18-21) and that one of his descendants would be a blessing to all men (Genesis 12:1-3).
Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (Isaac’s son), moved the family to Egypt, where they were later enslaved for four hundred years as they grew into a great nation of people. Delivered from bondage under the leadership of Moses, they received the Law at Sinai, which began the time referred to as the Mosaical Age. Their lack of faith in God caused them to stumble and rebel at the border of the Promised Land. Only two faithful adults (Joshua and Caleb) maintained faith in God and all the others died in the wilderness because of their rebellion. All those under twenty years of age and the children born in the wilderness entered the Promised Land. They were the chosen people of God, they had the covenant, the promises, and the oracles of God, yet they continued to sin and failed to believe God and the Word that He had given to them. They were led by judges, priests and kings but no one was able to keep these people on the path of righteousness. Many prophets were sent to the nation to warn and direct them toward Godly living, but sin increased and men even misdirected the Law of God to serve their own purposes. The prophet Jeremiah said that God would make a new covenant with His people (Jeremiah 31:31-32). The writer of Hebrews stated that God did make a new and better covenant for His people because the first covenant was faulty in that people did not keep first one (Hebrews 8:6-13).
God sent His promised blessing to them – His own Son, the Anointed One – but they rejected Him. Yet thanks be to God, to everyone who does receive Him is given power to become a child of God (John 1:11-12). His exemplary life of teaching was filled with miracles which proved that He was from God. He stated that his message was not his own but that He taught the will of God that men were to follow (John 8:28-29). There are a multitude of other verses in the New Testament that teach us to follow only the teaching of Jesus and his apostles. Hebrews 1:1-2, “In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” John 20:30-31, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” There is no other way to get to heaven but by Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus said that men must do more than just call Him ‘Lord’ but that they must also obey His words. Many did good works in His name (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46) but they were rejected because they did not obey Him. Jesus said that if anyone loves Him (John 14:23-24), they will obey His teaching, but failure to obey would show that they do not really love Him. The Hebrew writer (Hebrews 2:1-2) gave a very stern warning against forgetting the words of Jesus. Peter stated in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through Christ Jesus. He also said we were to remember Jesus teachings which He revealed and were given to men by the Apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2).
An individual must always be aware of what is being taught and what they are doing; then be sure to compare those things with Biblical truth, because there are many who would deceive and draw men away from the truth. There are many who declare that they follow the Lord but their teachings are different from the Word of God. John warned in 1 John 4:1 to not believe every teacher but try them because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Paul told Timothy to do his best to be approved by God by correctly handling the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). This means then that we must continually read and study the Bible to know and to understand its teaching. Jesus said to blindly follow a teacher is not wise because if the one you follow is blind, you will both fall into the pit and be lost (Luke 6:39).
Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 233

Does the Bible teach that babies have no sin when it also says that all have sinned?  The Bible does say that there is none righteous, no not one. Striving to make these statements conflict is a misunderstanding of what our Lord Jesus Christ taught about babies and about sin.  We are born with an ABILITY or TENDENCY to sin, for we want our own way.  Adam was the same way (that is, he had both the ability and tendency to sin) BEFORE he sinned, so it is not a part of any "fallen nature" which we are presumed to inherit from Adam.  But the Bible teaches that we do not (in fact, cannot) inherit Adam's sin, or the sin of any other, for "Sin is a transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). Also, knowing to do good and not doing it is sin (James 4:17).  One cannot inherit DOING something or inherit FAILING TO DO something.  Besides, one inherits PHYSICAL characteristics, not SPIRITUAL ones.  We get our spirits from God (Hebrews 12:9). If children could inherit the SPIRITUAL NATURE from their father, then when parents were converted and made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) all the children born to them after that would inherit their DIVINE NATURE!  Therefore, we cannot inherit Adam's "fallen nature".  Read also Ezekiel 18, especially verses 19-20 and you will see that a son will not share the guilt of the father.  Jesus taught in Mt. 18:3 that one must become like a little child to inherit the kingdom of heaven, so such a child is certainly not a lost sinner!  The same teaching is given in Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17.  Paul in writing the book of Romans was speaking to responsible adults and everyone who reaches the age of accountability has sinned, so he said in Romans 3:23. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." John said the same thing in 1 John 1:8, 10 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."  We must not seek to tempt the Lord in what he has said in His word but rather "study to show ourselves approved unto him, rightly dividing the Word."
              Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 232
There are a great many preachers and teachers who offer a great many words in regard 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 without any thought of baptism. Yet its importance is revealed so I urge you to study these words carefully.
WHAT BAPTISM DOES
It puts one INTO Christ – Gal 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-17
It puts one into His death – Romans 6:3
It puts one into His body – 1 Cor. 12:13
It washes away our sins – Acts 22:16
It frees us of sins – 1 Peter 1:22, Rom 6:17-18
It saves us from sin – Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Rom 8:1
It gives us new life – Col 2:12, Rom 6:3-4
It makes us new creatures – 2 Cor. 5:17
It gives us the Holy Spirit – Acts 5:32
It reconciles us to God – 2 Cor. 5:18-21
It makes us servants of righteousness – Rom 6:17
It makes us children of God – Gal 3:26-27
WHAT BAPTISM IS
Baptism is a burial in water – Rom 6:4
Baptism is obeying the form of doctrine – Rom 6:17-18
Baptism is obeying the gospel – 1 Cor. 15:1-4
Baptism is answering God with a good conscience – 1 Peter 3:21
Baptism is calling on His name – Acts 22:16
Baptism is where sins are washed away – Acts 22:16
Baptism is the act that saves a person 1 Peter 3:21
Baptism is reenactment of the Death, Burial and
Resurrection of Christ – Rom 6:17-18

Musick-al note # 232   

       There are a great many preachers and teachers who offer a great many words in regard 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 without any thought of baptism. Yet its importance is revealed so I urge you to study these words carefully.

             WHAT BAPTISM DOES

It puts one INTO Christ – Gal 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-17

It puts one into His death – Romans 6:3

It puts one into His body – 1 Cor. 12:13

It washes away our sins – Acts 22:16

It frees us of sins – 1 Peter 1:22, Rom 6:17-18

It saves us from sin – Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Rom 8:1

It gives us new life – Col 2:12, Rom 6:3-4

It makes us new creatures – 2 Cor. 5:17

It gives us the Holy Spirit – Acts 5:32

It reconciles us to God – 2 Cor. 5:18-21

It makes us servants of righteousness – Rom 6:17

It makes us children of God – Gal 3:26-27

            WHAT BAPTISM IS

Baptism is a burial in water – Rom 6:4

Baptism is obeying the form of doctrine – Rom 6:17-18

Baptism is obeying the gospel – 1 Cor. 15:1-4

Baptism is answering God with a good conscience – 1 Peter 3:21

Baptism is calling on His name – Acts 22:16

Baptism is where sins are washed away – Acts 22:16

Baptism is the act that saves a person 1 Peter 3:21

Baptism is reenactment of the Death, Burial and

           Resurrection of Christ – Rom 6:17-18