G.E.Jones.Spiritual.Understanding.E.R.Harper

John T. Willis credits Jo Bass as his high school mentor. Jo Bass used G. E. Jones' Baptist list of proof texts promoting the present Supernatural Guidance of THE Holy Spirit. Missing "prepositions 101a" most theologians SEE "The Spirit OF Go " or Christ as ANOTHER GOD which, they claim, is required to make the Words of the Father and Son gods INTELLIGIBLE.

[C. Leonard.Allen.POURED.OUT.The.Spirit.of.God.Empowering.the.Mission.of.God]

Paul wants BOTH male and female to be SILENT "so that we might all be SAFE and come to a knowledge of the truth."  In all of the "silent" passages the reason is that women sold their services by music or drug-induced madness to PROVE to the males that they were the ONLY ones who could be driven mad and therefore MEDIATRIX between God and man.  In all of these passages the MARK of such women was to silence Jesus.

1Tim. 2:5 For there is ONE GOD
        and ONE mediator between God and men,
        the MAN Christ Jesus;

Heb. 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
        SPAKE in time past unto the fathers BY the prophets,
Heb. 1:2 Hath in these last days SPOKEN unto us BY his Son,
        whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
        by whom also he made the worlds; [g1655 Aion or Messianic Age]

Zech. 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone,
        lest they should HEAR the law,
        and the WORDS which the Lord of hosts hath sent in HIS spirit by the former prophets:
         therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

God's Spirit is not another god person. Spirit is literally WIND and only in a figurative or parable sense "his BREATH" which communicates "His Mental disposition."

God is not a criple: God puts HIS WORDS directly into the MOUTH of the Former Prophets OR His Son. God does not put words into the mouth of Jo Bass or John T. Willis.  A puff of WIND is a parable word to hide truth from the wise (speakers, singers, instrument players)

Ex. 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him,
        and put WORDS in his MOUTH:
        and I will be with thy MOUTH,
        and with his MOUTH, and will TEACH you what ye shall do.
Num. 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee:
        have I now any power at all to say any thing?
        the word that God putteth in my MOUTH, that shall I speak.
Num. 23:5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s MOUTH,
        and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
Num. 23:16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his MOUTH,
        and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

Jesus as SON of god and NOT God is the only ones HEAR and SPEAK the WORDS God put into His Mouth.  The METHOD is Spirit without measure meaning to SPEAK and not METRON or musical melody.

Is. 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord;
        My SPIRIT that is upon thee,
        and my WORDS which I have put in thy MOUTH,
        shall not depart out of thy MOUTH,
        nor out of the MOUTH of thy seed,
        nor out of the MOUTH of thy seed’s seed,
        saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

The prophets defined the REST of MESSIAH both inclusively and exclusively.
Jesus made these Prophecies as "holy scripture" more certain and commanded that what HE COMMANDED be taught until He comes again. This is contained in the Word, Logos or Regulative Principle which excludes any NEW personal opinion, experience, rhetoric, singing, playing instruments, acting or selling learning at retail which Paul outlawed as CORRUPTING THE WORD.

G.E.Jones BOOK and teaching of Baptist Preachers 

I have reviewed just a few of Jones-Jo Bass proof texts being used to ATTACK E.R. Harper as a FEMINIST attack on Scripture as the ONLY resource for Faith and Practice. 

The prophesied end-time MOTHER GODDESS attack is used by Jeanene Reese who appeals to the EARTH GODDESS of the Sumerian EVAH as an ABOMINATION which Moses Repudiates by having Eve DERIVED as an ANCILLARY out of Adam.

Because the New Age movement has no single set of beliefs, it is difficult to offer a blanket definition of it. New Agers can hold to any number of neopagan beliefs, from pantheism, panentheism, monism, reincarnation and karma, to a belief in a World-Soul and in Mother Earth (Gaia) as a goddess or living entity. Various psychotechnologies  (e.g.,
    guided imagery, possibility thinking, hypnosis, "dream work," "past-life regression," Yoga, Tantra, and hallucinogenic drugs), divina­tion (tarot, astrology), and spiritistic practices (now usually referred to as "channeling") are undertaken in order to raise practitioners to new levels of consciousness, to develop new "mind-body-spirit" potentials, to effect "inner healing," or to attain psychic powers.

"An increasing number of churches and syna­gogues have begun to enlarge their context to include support commit­tees for personal growth, holistic health centers, healing services, meditation workshops, consciousness-altering through music, even biofeedback training"[ Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy (Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, Inc., 1980), p. 369].

THE EVIL EVE, INANNA, ZOE, LUCIFER

Apollod. 1.1 Sky was the first who ruled over the whole world.¹ And having wedded Earth, he begat first the Hundred-handed, as they are named: Briareus, Gyes, Cottus, who were unsurpassed in size and might, each of them having a hundred hands and fifty heads.
        But Earth, grieved at the destruction of her children, who had been cast into Tartarus, persuaded the Titans to attack their father and gave Cronus an adamantine sickle. And they, all but Ocean, attacked him, and Cronus cut off his father's genitals and threw them into the sea; and from the drops of the flowing blood were born Furies, to wit, Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera.⁶ And, having dethroned their father, they brought up their brethren who had been hurled down to Tartarus, and committed the sovereignty to Cronus. [5]

THE SECOND EVE OR HERA IN THE THEOLOGY OF THE WOMEN AT SINAI

But he again bound and shut them up in Tartarus, and wedded his sister Rhea; and since both Earth and Sky foretold him that he would be dethroned by his own son, he used to swallow his offspring at birth. His firstborn Hestia he swallowed, then Demeter and Hera, and after them Pluto and Poseidon.⁷ [6] Enraged at this, Rhea repaired to Crete, when she was big with Zeus, and

In putting forth this new book the writer is endeavoring to accomplish a two-fold purpose.
        First, he is answering an attack on himself by Eld. E. R. Harper of Little Rock, Arkansas. 
        Some time ago, Eld. Harper took this writer as his subject for several radio addresses. It was originally the writer’s purpose to answer Harper only, but after undertaking the work he has decided to also furnish the reader a clear cut discourse on Spiritual understanding.

John T. Willis: In 1947-1951 I was in High School at Abilene High School.  Jay and Jo Bass played an important role in our development.

At the Highland Church of Christ, a faithful Christian woman who studied the Bible very carefully,
        TAUGHT the elders at Highland that THIS TRADITIONAL view was far from the truth of the Bible.
        She cited numerous texts in the Bible that the Holy Spirit works in our lives  just as much as he did in the first century.
        Slowly, but surely, the whole church listened and learned and changed our position FOR THE GOOD.

Mr. Harper's attack was brought about by an article by this writer on "Does the Spirit Aid in the Understanding of the Bible?"  In this article the writer took occasion to answer an attack on Bible practices by Eld. Harper.  In his attack upon the writer, Eld. Harper accused him of misrepresenting Campbellite teachings and practices.  These radio addresses Mr. Harper put out in) book form. They may be obtained from Eld. E. R. Harper of Little Rock, Arkansas.  In this discourse the writer is answering this book and those radio addresses.

In this book we shall further endeavor to go into the teaching of the Word of God on Spiritual Knowledge. 
        This writer is also presenting several new and convincing arguments against. Campbellites
        that have never before been used, so far as the writer has been able to ascertain.
        One of these new arguments is on John's Baptism. 

Prophecy promised that there would be a tiny remnant of Jews still alive in Jerusalem Before thee Kingdom or Church of Christ was empowered by the glorified Jesus as HOLY SPIRIT returned and "poured out what you see and hear."  John baptized with WATER FOR the Remission of Sins.  This excluded the Race of Vipers who would be baptized with SPIRIT (Wind) and FIRE.  This CHAFF not fit for the kingdom would be heaped up like chaff and BURNED.

Those baptized for the remission of sins and the gift of A holy spirit (their's) were SAVED BY BAPTISM (1 Peter 3:21) because that ASKED God for A good conscience, consciousness or a CO-PERCEPTION of the Word which enabled them to be STUDENTS of the WORD onl.

G.E.Jones: Another argument throws new light upon Gal. 3:27.    In his library research the writer has discovered in "Roman Antiquities" the Roman custom which gave rise to the expression: "Put on" used in the Gal. 3:27 and other places.  The writer also shows that Campbellites' position not only makes water baptism essential to salvation, but Holy Spirit baptism as well.

But after that faith (system of religion) is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:25
        For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26
        For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27

We put on Christ "in the sense of sinking into a garment; to invest with clothing."

Verses 26 and 27 are in the form of a parallelism: One JUSTIFIEDby believing that Christ is God and that He is the door or access to Himself. One exercises the faith as "the power to become children of God" by walking through the "door" or by "putting on Christ" in baptism which is not a work of the Law of Moses or a work of self-righteousness but that which Christ clearly commanded with salvation on the wet side of the grave:

The WHAT	The HOW
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Who died). Galatians 3:27	For [Enim] as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27

[27] quicumque Enim in Christo baptizati estis Christum induistis

Enim why because, for, for instance, namely, that is to say, I mean, in fact I. To corroborate a preceding assertion, yes indeed, yes truly, of a truth, to be sure, certainly, indeed: A. To prove or show the grounds of a preceding assertion

the The-O-Lites which may never have been a minimal student is always going to be diverted to a phrase or clause which says what THEY want to bellieve. It MAY be that if you do not love the Truth Christ will not even LET you quote the full text

WHAT one understands from the Greek and Latin Text:

Cic. Off. 1.39 13. Again, if under stress of circumstances individuals have made any promise to the enemy,
        they are bound to keep their word even then.
FOR INSTANCE, in the First Punic War, when Regulus was taken prisoner by the Carthaginians,
        he was sent to Rome on parole to negotiate an exchange of prisoners;

G.E.Jones:  "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not (lease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and Spiritual Understanding."  Col. 1:9.

THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE THAT DOCTORS OF THE LAW TEACH AND PUBLISH BASED ON ISOLATED VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT. ERASMUS WROTE ABOUT THAT LONG LONG AGO.  THE CONCEPT OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND LECTIO DIVINA (the Thesslian Witch)

Lipscomb University Preaching 2008 From Denominational Imagination!   "This conference proposes that WE allow the worlds imagined         in the essential biblical narratives         to dramatically shape our preaching and lives. We believe that preaching REconstitutes biblical paradigms when it engages Scripture’s vision by REpresenting what is absent and making present what is inaccessible to the end that followers of God will live into a God-shaped reality. logi^k-os , ē, on, (logos) A. of or for speaking or speech, merē l. the organs of speech, Plu.Cor.38: logikē, hē, speech, Opposite. mousikē, Opposite phantasia” expressed in speech, cf. 71, al. 2. imagination, i.e. the re-presentation of appearances or images, primarily derived from sensation (cf. “aisthēsis” 11), hotan mē kath' hauto alla di' aisthēseōs parē tini to toiouton au pathos c. creative imagination, “ph. sophōtera mimēseōs dēmiourgos” Philostr.VA6.19. Iamblichus 3.8 OTHER MODES OF ENTRANCEMENT. In regard to another kind of divination thou makest this statement, namely: "Others who understand themselves in other respects become divinely inspired through the fancy:4 some taking darkness as accessory, others employing certain potions, and others depending on singing and magic figures. Some are affected by means of water, others by gazing on a wall, others by the hypæthral air, and others by the sun or some other of the heavenly luminaries." 4. Greek, fantastikon (Phantasia, or imagination) is defined by Chrysippos and Plutarch as the faculty which reveals itself and its causes; phantastikon or fancy, the term here used, as a vain impulse of the mind with no real cause; phantaston as the imaginable, anything that may make an impression; phantasma, a phantom, an apparition. Logos , Opposite. kata pathos, Arist.EN1169a5 or personal experiences Opposite matēn , Dor. mata_n ma^, Adv. random, balse, dreams Opposite human reasoning. Opposite muthos, as history to legend, intelligent utterance,  Opposite phōnē, 3. any articulate sound,

Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
        whereof ye HEARD before in the WORD of the TRUTH of the ;
Col 1:6 Which is COME unto you, as it is in all the world;
        and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you,
        since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant,
        who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

The church as Ekklesia or Synagogue was understood by the Campbells as A SCHOOL OF CHRIST.
Worship is defined as READING and MUSING the Word delivered by Jesus to the Apostles.
 
This teaching was ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS.
The Church of Christ of Messiah is defined inclusively and exclusively in the Prophets.
Jesus CERTIFIED or fulfilled all of these teachings.
Men like Peter left us a MEMORY of the Apostle's eye and ear witness and teachings of Jesus.
When God put His WORDS into the MOUTH of Jesus then SPIRIT is a figurative or parable word

All words translated SPIRIT produces the Mind or Mental disposition of that Person.

John 6:63 It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth;
        the flesh [Jones's flesh] profiteth nothing:
        the WORDS that I speak unto you,
        they are SPIRIT, and they are life.

Therefore, to be filled with the MIND OF CHRIST one must have the same spirit or MENTAL DISPOSITION.

Eph. 2:20 And are built upon [Educated by]
        the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
        Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2Pet. 3:2 That ye may be MINDFUL of the WORDS
        PROPHESIED: which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
        FULFILLED:     AND of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

THE ASSEMBLY SILENCES SELF PLEASURE WHICH IN GREEK AND LATIN SILENCES SINGING, PLAYING OR ACTINT.

Rom. 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,
        The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Rom. 15:4 For whatsoever things were WRITTEN AFORETIME were written for our LEARNING,
        that we through patience and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have hope.
Rom. 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation
        grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom. 15:6 That ye may with ONE MIND and ONE MOUTH glorify God,
         the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THIS IS DEFINED AND UNDERSTOOD AS SPEAKING THE WORD IN UNISON. TH

If A Holy Spirit Person was going to fill up the MIND with the WILL. (written down) of God then why would God have it written and why would Paul have to pray?

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
        and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL
        in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
        being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,
        unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
         of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
        and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood,
        even the forgiveness of sins:

Rom. 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
         as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
        and bring glad tidings of good things!

Peter in Acts 2 promised that the believers who repented AND were baptized would receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit.  Their spirit was UNholy but is now A holy spirit--theirs--so that the Word of Christ can be understood fully.  In 2 Corinthians 3 people could not READ the BLACK text on BROWN paper until they were converted: converted has the same meaning as Remission of sins at baptism.  Only a Little Flock who gladly RECEIVED the Word or invitation wanted to be baptized. That is when Jedus removes believers from the evil world and translates their spirit into a heavenly kingdom.

Jesus said "My Word is Spirit and Life" John 6:63: to increase in spiritual understanding Paul shows how:

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled,
        and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,
        which ye have HEARD, and which was PREACHED  to every creature which is under heaven;
        whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
        and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
        Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister,
        according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

It is Clear that G. E. Jones, Jo Bass nor the Highland elders were able to even SEE the whole context.

Does the Spirit Aid in the Understanding of the Bible?

G.E.Jones: In order that the reader may have before him a knowledge of the article which Mr. Harper attacked, the writer is re-printing that article as it appeared in the Baptist Message.

Does The Holy Spirit Aid In Understanding The Bible, And Are Christian Experiences Real

"Now we have received, not
        the spirit OF this world,
        but the SPIRIT which is OF God,
        that we might KNOW the things that are freely GIVEN us of God." 1 Cor. 2:12.

SPIRIT produces ONLY WORDS which carry God's Mental disposition.
GOD THROUGH JESUS DELIVERED THE WORD, LOGOS OR REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE WHICH OUTLAWS ANY HUMAN INPUT.

2Pet. 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
        to them that have obtained like precious faith with us
        through
        The righteousness of God
        AND
        our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2Pet. 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pet. 1:3 According as his divine power HATH given unto us
        all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
        through the KNOWLEDGE of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

God put His WORDS into the MOUTH of Jesus without the need of another god person. Spirit is a figurative word to give humans a small understanding.

1Pet. 3:21 The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US
        (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
        but the request for a good conscience toward God,)
        by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

AT BAPTISM GOD GIVES US A HOLY SPIRIT OR A GOOD CONSCIENCE SO WE CAN READ BLACK TEXT ON BROWN PAPER.

-suneidēsis , eōs, hē,

A. knowledge shared with another, tōn algēmatōn (in a midwife) Sor.1.4.

2. communication, information, heurēseis s. PPar. p.422 (ii A.D.);  . eisēnegkan tois kollēgais autōn

-Heurēseis find that, find means, be able,
eisēnegkan tois kollēgais autōn” carry with one, sweep along, of a river,
2. bring in for oneself, 3. bring in with one, introduce,

-eispherô , fut.
2. bring in for oneself, “ta ek tōn agrōn es to teikhos” Hdt.5.34, cf. Th.5.115 :—so in Pass., siton esenēneikhthai or “-ekhthai” Hdt.9.411

``Heredotus 5.XXXIV. Now the Naxians had no suspicion at all that it was they who were to be attacked by that force. However, when they learned the truth, they immediately brought inside their walls all that was in their fields, stored both meat and drink in case of a siege, and strengthened their walls. [2]

6. draw breath, Id.Somn.Vig.

3. knowledge, lue tauta panta mē dialeipsas agathē s. (v.l. agathē tukhē) Hp.Ep.1.

4. consciousness, awareness, [tēs hautou sustaseōs] Chrysipp.Stoic.3.43, cf. Phld.Rh.2.140 S., 2 Ep.Cor.4.2, 5.11, 1 Ep.Pet.2.19; “tēs kakopragmosunēs” Democr.297, cf. D.S.4.65, Ep.Hebr.10.2; “kata suneidēsin atarakhoi diamenousi” Hero Bel.73; inner consciousness, “en s. sou basilea mē katarasē” LXX Ec. 10.20; in 1 Ep.Cor.8.7 suneidēsei is f.l. for sunētheia.

First, notice that OF is a preposition. If the Spirit OF God is a separate person then the Spirit OF the world must be another person or people. This Spirit or MIND of God is a WHICH and not a WHOM.

Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee,
        that thou shouldest know HIS WILL, and SEE that Just One,
        and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Acts 22:15 For THOU shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast SEEN AND HEARD
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou?
        arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
        for I HAVE APPEARED UNTO THEE for this purpose,
        to make thee a minister and a witness
        both of these things which thou hast seen,
        and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Jones is not an apostle so that Jesus of Nazareth in His Holy Spirit State does not speak to him.

LATER, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT APPEARED TO PAUL IT WAS THE SPIRIT OF JESUS AS HOLY SPIRIT.

Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia,
        and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Acts 16:7  and when they were come over against Mysia,
         they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit OF JESUS suffered them not; 

1Cor. 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto US by his Spirit:
        for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2Pet. 3:2 That ye may be MINDFUL of the WORDS
        PROPHESIED: which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
        FULFILLED:     AND of the commandment of US the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

God's Spirit is His in the same sense that our spirit belongs to us:

1Cor. 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man,
        save the SPIRIT OF man which is IN him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man,
        but the Spirit of God.

IT IS BLASPHEMY TO SAY THAT GOD DOES NOT HAVE A SPIRIT BUT DEPENDS ON ANOTHER GOD TO SPEAK FOR HIM.

1Cor. 2:12 Now we have received,
        not the spirit OF the world, [not a person!!]
        but the spirit WHICH is of God;
        that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God.

SPIRIT (breath) produces WORDS of KNOWLEDGE.

1Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak,
        not in the WORDS which man’s wisdom teacheth,
         but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
        for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
        because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cor. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the MIND of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND of Christ.

G. E. Jones: Spiritual things are not understood by a process of natural reasoning. The Bible is unlike any other book. It is not understood by the philosopher, or the wise of this world, but by the one who has the Spirit of God. 

If you have A holy spirit or A good conscience, consciousness or a CO-perception of the Word you can understand the WORD which is the LOGOS or Regulative principle. The RATIONAL discord of God. G. E. Jones skips his logic to misunderstand that the "spirit" OF the World is not a PERSON and therefore the Spirit OF God cannot be a person. If we have the MIND of God we can understand the Word. The truth is hidden in plain text.

G. E. Jones: If a person be sufficiently keen in intellect he can master the problem of arithmetic, science, or history.  But it is not so with the word of God. Unless that person has the Spirit of God he will never understand spiritual things. This is where the world blundered. They have tried to understand spiritual things by a process of natural reasoning, when a knowledge of things of God must be received by faith. Jude writes of those who "Speak evil of things they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves."

It is impossible to know anything about God which He hs not revealed.  Therefore, God gave the Gospel OF THE KINGDOM and reserved the mysteries to Christians, Disciples or STUDENTS of Christ.

Rom. 1:16   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST:
        for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; [Pistis demands to COMPLY]
        to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Having missed John Calvin as resource, he does not grasp that Calvin said that no one can be saved without a direct operation of the Spirit: He gave us the Scriptures and ordained men to preach it.  Faith comes by hearing and certainly no one would understand Christ connection of baptism and remission of sins if he had never read the Scriptures inspired by the Spirit OF Christ in the Prophets and Apostles.

G. E. Jones: The lost man cannot understand the things of the spirit, because he does not have a spiritual understanding. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things." 1 Cor. 1:14-15.

Heb. 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, [Church of Christ]
        which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
        and to the spirits OF just men made PERFECT

Paul draws the following parallel
        The Spirit OF God is to God
        What man's spirit is to man
        But WE have the MIND of Christ.
The YOU in Paul's letter are those who need to hear the word preached.
As an apostle, Paul was guided into ALL truth.
G. E. Jones is not a Christ nor is he an apostle.

No one in Corinth had the smallest gift. However, in 1 Corinthians 12 to rebuke the ALL who thought their musical gibberish was "a god" speaking to them,

1Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

If you can Speak the WORD (Logos) by inspiration, Paul allows only ONE EACH.

1Cor. 12:8 For to ONE is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
        to ANOTHER the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Cor. 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit;
         to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

That means that if ONE of G.E.Jones' teachers could understand BLACK text on BROWN paper because A Holy Spirit person SPOKE to him or WROTE to him the true meaning which God was UNABLE to do, that means that G.E.Jones does not NEED to have the same SPIRIT OF INSPIRATION.

G. E. Jones: We are told in Eph. 4:18 that their understanding is darkened.   Paul wrote "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew." 1 Cor. 2:7-8.

Again, G. E. Jones is unable to read the context proving that he is NOT INSPIRED

Eph. 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,
        that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,
        in the vanity of their mind,
Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened,
        being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,
        because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph. 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
        to work all uncleanness with greediness.

They are OF the World and Jesus doesn't even PRAY for them:

Eph. 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph. 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him,
        and have been taught by him,
        as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph. 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
        which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph. 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit OF your mind;
Eph. 4:24 And that ye put on the new man,
        which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

WE renew or mind or spirit because we are not OF the World or ecumenical

Rom. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world:
        but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
         that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Eph. 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit OF YOUR mind;

G. E. Jones:He also tells us in the following verses that the things that eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, and that hath not entered into the heart of man, what God hath revealed unto us by His spirit.        

Jesus said "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
        that thou has hid these things from the wise [sophists] and prudent,
        and has revealed them unto babes," Lk. 10:21.

GOD HIDES FROM THE WISE, SOPHISTS, SPEAKERS, SINGERS, INSTRUMENT PLAYERS.  Any claim to "private interpret" or Further Expound anything Jesus has made more PERFECT accuses God and Jesus of being INTELLIGIBLE (Leonard Allen) and unable to deliver the Word ONCE FOR ALL as the only way to DETECT anyone who SPEAKS ON THEIR own.  Jesus calls them the Sons of the Devil.

Sophia , Ion. -iē, h(, prop. A. cleverness or skill in handicraft and art, in music and singing, tekhnē kai s. h.Merc.483, cf. 511; in poetry, Sol.13.52, Pi.O.1.117, Ar.Ra.882, X.An.1.2.8,

Sophistes (Latin) A. master of one's craft, adept, expert, of diviners, Hdt.2.49;
        of poets, “meletan sophistais prosbalon” Pi.I.5(4).28,
        of musicians, “sophistēs . . parapaiōn khelun”
        with modal words added, “hoi s. tōn hierōn melōn”
        God does not PREACH, SING, PLAY OR GYRATE IN THE HOLY PLACE

PSALLO never in recorded history meant to Play An Instrument: it is demeaning to the Spirit OF Christ and of Paul to say that they were too ignorant to use any of the ALWAYS instrument-specific compound words. In Jeremiah 23 the Spirit OF (a preposition) says that if you say that God said something He did not say that DESPISES God and His Word and is the word BLASPHEMY.

God never commanded what even the Scribes says that DAVID used because He was the slaughter king of elders in rebellion who hired a King to set over us: that means a PASTOR PERSON.  The Spirit OF Christ warns about the lying pen of the Scribes: you write it and God will burn it. He called the Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites and the Ezekiel 33 version Christ named self-preachers, singers and instrument players.

Melos sp. musical member, phrase: hence, song, strain
2. music to which a song is set, tune, Arist.Po.1450a14 Opposite ;  rhuthmos, Opposite  metron, Pl.Grg. 502c; opp. rhuthmos, rhēma, Id.Lg.656c;
melody of an instrument, “phormigx d' au phtheggoith' hieron m. ēde kai aulos”

G. E. Jones:It is just as true today that the WISE of this world do not understand, and God has revealed these things to those the world despises. It is still true that "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the mighty, that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Cor. 1:26-29.

Matt. 11:25   At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Psa. 94:10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct?
        he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Psa. 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Vānus , a, um, adj. etym. dub.; cf. vaco,

I. that contains nothing, empty, void. vacant.
II. Trop., empty as to purport or result, idle, null, groundless, unmeaning, fruitless, vain
“Oratio non suis vana laudibus, non crimine alieno laeta,” id. 4, 41, 1.— ” weak, wavering
3. Vanum est, with subject-clause: “vanum arbitror esse circa canis ortum angues candidos membranam eam exuere,” Plin. 30, 3, 8, § 25.—

Cano a. In gen., to sing, to cause to resound, to celebrate in song, to sing of, Lucr. 5, 328: “laudes mortui, Examples for the signif. to practice magic, to charm,

Plin. Nat. 30.25 There is another marvellous fact also mentioned, with reference to the cuckoo: if, upon the spot where a person hears this bird for the first time, he traces round the space occupied by his right foot and then digs up the earth, it will effectually prevent fleas from breeding, wherever it is thrown.

Turba vana sanctitudinis, festaque confusā resonabat regia turbā,” id. ib. 12, 214

1Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren,
        how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are calle

WISE guys are:

sophos , ē, on, A. skilled in any handicraft or art, clever, harmatēlatas s. Pi.P.5.115, cf. N.7.17; “kubernētēs” A.Supp.770; “mantis” Id.Th.382; “oiōnothetas” S.OT484 (lyr.); of a sculptor, E.Fr.372; even of hedgers and ditchers, Margites Fr.2; but in this sense mostly of poets and musicians, Pi.O.1.9, P.1.42, 3.113; en kithara s. E.IT1238 (lyr.), cf. Ar.Ra.896 (lyr.), etc.; tēn tekhnēn -ōteros ib.766; “peri ti” Pl.Lg.696c; glōssē s. S.Fr.88.10; “sophos ho polla eidōs phua, mathontes de labroi” Pi.O.2.86.
sophōn kreissō tade better than all craft, S.Ph.124
later sophōtatos as a title, esp. of lawyers or professors,
also en oiōnois, kithara, E. IT662, 1238 (lyr.

Marg-os  A. mad, marge madman! Od.16.421; “maia philē, margēn se theoi thesan” 23.11, cf. Pi.O.2.96
margoi hēdonai  2. of appetite, greedy, gluttonous, “meta d' eprepe gasteri margē” Od.18.2;
3. lewd, lustful, Thgn.581, A.Supp.741, E.El.1027

G. E. Jones: This preacher went on to say to the people that you are wise enough, smart enough, and intelligent enough to obey the gospel. I wonder if this preacher has never read where the gospel is hid to the lost. If he will read 2 Cor. 4:3 he will find it. 

2Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
        but by manifestation of the truth
        commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Cor. 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Cor. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Cor. 4:5 For we preach not ourselves,
        but Christ Jesus the Lord;
        and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
         hath shined in our hearts,
        to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
        in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Cor. 4:7 But WE have this treasure in earthen vessels,
        that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

THEM MARK OF THOSE OF THE WORLD

Jesus said that God HIDES from the wise or SOPHISTS.

Jesus said that He will not pray for the WORLD.  How did God MARK those of the World.

1Cor. 2:12KJV Now WE have received, not the spirit OF the world,
        but the spirit which is OF God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2.12  hēmeis de ou to pneuma tou kosmou elabomen alla to pneuma to ek tou theou, hina eidōmen ta hupo tou theou kharisthenta hēmin:

THE GREEK DEFINITION OF THE NATURAL MAN WHO WILL NEVER OBEY THE WORD

THE SPIRIT OF THE NATURAL MAN:

spīrĭtus spiritum Phoebus mihi, Phoebus [Abaddon, Apollyon] artem Carminis [music, enchantment] dedit, poetic spirit or inspiration, Hor. C. 4, 6, 29; cf an evil spirit

1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit FROM God came upon Saul,

and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

prŏphēta and prŏphētes , a forteller, soothsayer, [used of Sorcery]
: sacerdotes Aegyptiorum, quos prophetas vocant,” Macr. S. 7, 13, 9: “Aegyptius, propheta primarius,” App. M. 2, p. 127, 3.—Of the Jewish prophets, Lact. 1, 4, 1; 4, 11, 1; 7, 24, 9; Vulg. Luc. 1, 70.

Miriam and the Levites "prophesied" with musical instruments as the prīmārĭus , a, um, adj. id., I.one of the first, of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, remarkable (class.): “primarius parasitus,”

ventus , First, always "just wind or hot air."
3. Ventis verba dare, i. q. not to keep one's word or promise, Ov. H. 2, 25 Ruhnk. —4. Vento vivere, to live upon wind or air,
B. Plur., personified as deities, the winds: te, Apollo sancte, fer opem; teque, omnipotens Neptune, invoco; Vosque adeo, Venti! Turpil. ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 34, 73 (Com. Rel. v. 119 Rib.); Lucr. 5, 1230 (1228); cf. Ov. H. 17 (18), 37.— 1. Windiness, flatulence, Col. 6, 30, 8.—

Paul silences men who might produce WRATH or and ORGY and he silences women recorded as "the mad women of Corinth." They were OF the world but thought that their prophesy or mani was speaking for Paul's God.  Paul said that there is only ONE GOD the Father and one mediator between man and God, the Man Christ Jesus.  If both men and women are silenced then "we might all be saved or SAFE and come to a knowledge of the Truth."

The Muses were the prostitute worship team of Abaddon or Apollon known as LOCUSTS: they lulled you to sleep and then gave you the STRIKE or smite of Death.

Plat. Phaedrus 244d The ancients, then testify that in proportion as prophecy (mantike) is superior to augury, both in name and in fact, in the same proportion madness, which comes from god, is superior to sanity, which is of human origin. Moreover, when diseases and the greatest troubles have been visited upon certain families through some ancient guilt, madness

244e Moreover, when diseases and the greatest troubles have been visited upon certain families through some ancient guilt, madness  has entered in and by oracular power has found a way of release for those in need, taking refuge in prayers and the service of the gods, and so, by purifications and sacred rites, he who has this madness is made safe for the present and the after time, and for him who is rightly possessed of madness a release from present
245a ills is found. And a third kind of possession and madness comes from the Muses. This takes hold upon a gentle and pure soul, arouses it and inspires it to songs [ōdas opposite Logos] and other poetry, and thus by adorning [kosmousa] countless deeds of the ancients educates later generations.
        But he who without the divine madness comes to the doors of the Muses, confident that he will be a good poet by art, meets with no success, and the poetry of the sane man vanishes into nothingness before that of the inspired madmen.

The Adornment is the Lying Wonders: This is particularly telling when the commanded SPEAKING the Word of God is replaced with the songs honoring the experiences and opinions of human preachers and song writers.  The Kosmos or WORLD is that for which Jesus said He will not even pray.

kosm-eō  2. generally, arrange, prepare, “dorpon ekosmei” Od. 7.13; “k. aoidēn ē” Bacch.59; “erga” Hes.Op.306;

RELIGIONISTS OUTSIDE OF GOD'S GRACE

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
        according to the prince of the power of the air,
        the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Kosmos , ho,  natgural, II.rnament, decoration, esp. of women; “hieros k.” OGI90.40 (Rosetta, ii B. C.): pl., ornaments, A.Ag.1271; “hoi peri to sōma k.” Isoc.2.32: metaph., of ornaments of speech, such as epithets, Id.9.9 (pl.), Arist.Rh.1408a14, Po.1457b2, 1458a33; hadumelē k. keladein to sing sweet songs of praise, Pi.O.11 (10).13 (s.v.l.).

Hēdu^-melēs , Dor. had- , Aeol. ad- , es, A. sweet-singing, “khelidoi” Anacr.67, cf. Sapph.122（Comp.), Pi.N.2.25; sweet-sounding, “xoana” S.Fr.238, etc.: poet. fem., “hēdumeleia surigx” Nonn.D.29.287.

Surigx , iggos, hē,

A. shepherd's pipe, Panspipe, “aulōn suriggōn t' enopē” Il.10.13; “nomēes terpomenoi surigxi” 18.526; “suriggōn enopē” h.Merc.512; “hupo ligurōn suriggōn hiesan audēn” Hes.Sc.278; “ou molpan suriggos ekhōn” S.Ph.213 (lyr.); kalaminē s. Ar.Fr.719; “kat' agrous tois nomeusi surigx an tis eiē” Pl.R.399d.

2. cat-call, whistle, hiss, as in theatres, Id.Lg.700c; cf. “surizō” 11.2, surigmos:—the last part of the nomos Puthikos was called surigges, prob. because it imitated the dying hisses of the serpent Pytho, Str.9.3.10.

3. mouthpiece of the aulos,

ALL names of instruments and musical terms are defined as enchantment or sorcery because it intends to tap into the fears and superstitious people ALWAYS to pick their pockets.

Aoid-ē a^], Att. contr. ōdē (q. v.), hē, : (aeidō):— 5. = eppsdē, spell, incantation, “okhēes ōkeiais . . anathrōskontes aoidais” A.R.4.42, cf. 59. Cf. ōdē.    A.divinely sounding, divinely sweet,

ōdē OPPOSITE  lexis  2. = epōdos, magic song, spell, Longus 2.7.
2. act of singing, song, thespesios A.divinely sounding, divinely sweet,
Lexis A.speech, OPPOSITE ōdē, orders given by word of mouth, the style used here (in courts of justice. word for word,
4. TEXT of an author, OPPOSITE exegesis,

1Cor. 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

La^l-eō ,  II. chatter, opp. articulate speech, as of locusts, chirp, Theoc.5.34; mesēmbrias lalein tettix (sc. eimi), a very grasshopper to chirp at midday, LOCUST
III. of musical sounds, “aulō laleō” Theoc.20.29; of trees, v.supr.1.2; “di'aulou ē salpiggos l.” Arist. Aud.801a29; of Echo, D.C.74.14: also c.acc. cogn., magadin lalein sound the magadis,

Mousa A.“Olumpiades M., Dios aigiokhoio thugateres” [ALWAYS "DAUGHTERS"]
II. mousa, as Appellat., music, song “kanakhan . . theias antiluron mousas” S.Tr.643

Matt. 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not,
        then cometh the wicked one,
        and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.
        This is he which received seed by the way side.

Matt. 13:38 The field is the WORLD; the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
        but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

mundus ,     B. Like the Gr. kosmos, the universe, the world, esp. the heavens and the heavenly bodies: ut hunc hac varietate distinctum bene Graeci kosmon,  Euphemistically for the Lower World, the infernal regions
e. Esp. (eccl. Lat.), the world as opposed to the church; this world, the realm of sin and death, as opposed to Christ's kingdom of holiness and life: “non pro mundo rogo,” Vulg. Johan. 17, 9: “de mundo non sunt,” id. ib. 17, 16: “princeps hujus mundi (i. e. Satan),” id. ib. 12, 31; “14, 30: regnum meum non est de hoc mundo,” id. ib. 18, 36; cf. id. Eph. 2, 2; 6, 12.

Those OF the World are the

sperma  2. metaph., germ, origin of anything, elements,
II. of animals, seed, semen, pheroisa s. theou pregnant by the god, Pi.P.3.15; but s. pherein Hērakleous to be pregnant of Heracles, 2. race, origin, descent,

1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

John 8:44 Ye are OF your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

G. E. Jones: Does he not know that the natural man, cannot know the things of the spirit? Read 1 Cor. 2:14. Or does he believe that part of God's word?

Jones: Does he not know that a man must receive the Spirit of God to know the things given to us of God? 1 Cor. 2:12.

1Cor. 2:12KJV Now WE have received, not the spirit OF the world,
        but the spirit which is OF God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2.12  hēmeis de ou to pneuma tou kosmou elabomen alla to pneuma to ek tou theou, hina eidōmen ta hupo tou theou kharisthenta hēmin:

Paul was the WE or Apostles and the Corinthians were the YOU to whom Paul wrote letters and would write again to teach them.  Paul was ordained as an APOSTLE and a Church of Christ is built upon or EDUCATED by the Prophets and Apostles which are the WORDS of the Spirit OF Christ.  Jesus warned Paul that he would be taken captive if he went to Jerusalem. Paul risked his life to teach the Jews in Jerusalem the TRUE Christ-ordained way to be purified from sins:

Acts 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou?
        arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
        calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Acts 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
        for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,
        to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen,
        and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Jones and Jo Bass, Mike Cope and Highland Church would say that Jesus sends A holy spirit person or people. Because Jesus sent a human as His AGENT they are saying that Jesus was a liar and made Paul suffer for nothing.  Why would Jesus send an evangelists.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes,
        and to turn them from darkness to light,
         and from the power of Satan unto God,
        THAT they may receive forgiveness of sins,
        and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles,
        that they should repent
        and turn to God, [convert is parallel to be baptized]
        and do works meet for repentance.

Paul:

1Cor. 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
        yet not the wisdom of this world,
        nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
        even the hidden wisdom,
        which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Cor. 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew:
        for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Cor. 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
        for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Cor. 2:11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man,
        save the spirit OF the man, which is IN him?
        even so the things OF God none knoweth,
        save the Spirit OF God.
1Cor. 2:12KJV Now WE have received, not the spirit OF the world,
        but the spirit which is OF God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

SPIRIT means a "person" only when Applied to Abaddon or Apollyon the Leader of the Muses or the Devil's Musical Worship Team.

1Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,
        but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
        comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

If Jo Bass, Jones and Highland Church of Christ is taught BY a holy spirit PERSON then they MUST have heard AUDIBLE voices speaking to them.

1Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
        for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
        because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cor. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,
        yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the MIND of the Lord,
        that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND of Christ.

If there was ONE person in Corinth who had a spiritual MIND
they would STILL need Paul to SPEAK the Word which IS Spirit (John 6:63)

1Cor. 3:1 And I, brethren, could not SPEAK unto you as unto spiritual,
        but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Cor. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat:
        for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

G. E. Jones: "We read where the Lord opened Lydia's heart that she attended unto the things spoken of by Paul." So understanding of spiritual things must be imparted to man by the Spirit of God. The Lord said, "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." Prov. 1:23. If any wish to object to this because it is from the Old Testament, then let him consider my text which is from the New Testament. When man is willing to forsake his own wisdom, and, in his helplessness call upon God for the wisdom he needs, then the Spirit of God gives the ability to understand and trust in Christ

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God,

heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened

Paul didn't open her WOMB to give Birth. The other meaning is that Paul expounded or preached the gospel to her. This is the ONLY way to open hearts outside of a somewhat distorted Calvinism?

Dianoigo (g1272) dee-an-oy'-go; from 1223 and 455; to open thoroughly,

LITERALLY as a first-born or

FIGURATIVE to expound: - open.

that she attended to Paul

Prosecho (g4337) pros-ekh'-o; to hold the mind (3563 towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to

Jesus showed how God opens the heart:

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Lu.24:32

Calvin though fanatic those who thought that God produced faith apart from the Word or that the Spirit taught apart from the Word.

If Lydia was saved by a supernatural act then she was saved before the Lord opened her heart by Paul's speaking to her:

unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts 16:14

And when she was baptized... (Acts 16:15)

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. Acts 16:14LNIV

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Acts 14:27

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Acts 10:17

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Acts 16:17

Paul commanded Lydia to do something; Lydia adhered to that command; Lydia was baptized.

Lydia "showed regard for" the commandment of Paul by being baptized. This is identical to those who submitted to John's baptism:

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans,
........... justified God (or showed regard for God's commandment)
........... being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29

But the Pharisees and lawyers
........... rejected the counsel of God for themselves,
........... being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30

 

The Natural Man Is Without Spiritual Understanding

G. E. Jones: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth (discerns) all things. Yet he himself is judged (discerned) of no man." 1 Cor. 2:14-15.

This shows positively that the natural or un-renewed man cannot know the things of the Spirit. They are spiritually discerned. To discern means to understand. Then spiritual things are understood only by the one with a spiritual mind.

In the first paragraph of his book Mr. Harper starts with the heading "Natural Man Can't Understand Bible—Jones."  He then seeks to show that it is not the Bible that teaches that the natural man cannot understand the Bible, but Jones.

Now reader, does not 1 Cor. 2:14-15 show plainly that the natural man does not know the things of the Spirit? Does not the apostle say they are spiritually discerned? Does he not say "He that is spiritual discerneth all things"?         Is the natural man spiritual?  Does he have a spiritual discernment? If not, then he does not understand spiritual things. Why does Mr. Harper want to deny this positive statement of the Word of God as though it were Jones instead of the Bible that teaches it?

Mr. Harper tries to escape the issue by applying this to the receiving of the inspired word by the apostles. But the apostle is not talking about how the Bible was given, but how that same word is received in the hearts of men, and who can discern or understand it. Mr. Harper applies this to the apostles only.  But Paul said "He that is spiritual judgeth all things."  Were the apostles the only ones who were spiritual?  Let us see. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." Gal. 6:1. From this we see that others were spiritual as well as, the apostles. Now. Paul said such "Judgeth (discerneth) all things."

In the beginning the apostle said "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Cor. 2:4-5. Whose faith was Paul talking about standing in the power of God? It was the faith of those Corinthian brethren. Were they apostles? Certainly not. If it was necessary for the gospel to be preached in the power of the Spirit for the Corinthians' faith to stand in the power of God, then is it not necessary for the gospel to be preached in the power of the Spirit today for our faith to stand in the power of God? Does the faith of a child of God stand today in the wisdom of men or the power of God? So we see that the apostle had under consideration the salvation of those Corinthians and their spiritual discernment.

"But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day when Moses is read the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the veil shall be taken, away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." II Cor. 3:14-17.

From, the above passage we see that Israel had, a veil over their hearts. Their minds were blinded. This veil shut out the light of truth from their hearts even as a curtain shuts out the light from a room. Before light can shine into a room the curtain or veil must be removed. So it is with the heart of man. This veil, the apostle said, is taken away when it (the heart, in the above verse) shall turn unto the Lord. Then he says, "The Lord is that Spirit." So we see it is the work of the Spirit to remove the veil that is over the hearts of the lost that they might receive the light of the truth. If Mr. Harper had a thick veil over his eyes could he see what was before him? Must not that veil be first removed? Even so is it with the heart of the lost man.

In the next chapter the apostle goes on, to say, "If our gospel be hid (R.V. veiled) it is (R.V. veiled) to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world bath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them." II Cor. 4:3-4. When I said the gospel was hid to the lost and gave II Cor. 4:3 as a reference, Mr. Harper said I misquoted this verse. I did not quote it at all.   I merely gave the reference. Then he implies that I put the wrong construction on, the verse and that it is not hid to the lost. Mr. Harper said, "Notice it did not say that the gospel is hid to them that are lost", but "If it be hid."

Thus you see Mr. Harper does not believe that it is hid to the lost. Does not the next verse go on to say "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, etc."? Now is this not plain that the devil, who is god of this world, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers? Here is the veil that Paul said was over their hearts in the passage above. II Cor. 3:15. Paul emphatically asserts that this veil is upon their hearts. Then he goes on to teach that the gospel is hid (veiled) to the lost man. The unbeliever's mind is blinded.

read hear 2 cor 3

Now let us read further—"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." II Cor. 4:6.

I am come as light in the world.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
1Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Phil. 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
2Pet. 1:19 ¶ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

G. E. Jones: When a curtain is removed from over a window then light shines into the room. Even so when the Spirit of God takes away the veil (II Cor. 3:16-17) that is upon the heart (II Cor. 3:15) then God shines in our heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, etc. When does this light shine in our hearts?

When the heart turns unto the Lord, and Spirit takes away the veil.

Now reader, did I misrepresent the Word of God when I said the gospel was hidden to the lost man? Is it not Mr. Harper who is unwilling to accept the truth of God's word? Mr. Harper says the lost man can understand.

Gospel
hear believe

In his radio address against the mourner's bench he said to the people "You are smart enough, intelligent enough to understand and obey the gospel. What does the Word of God say? "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Rom. 3:11.

 
Rom. 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom. 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom. 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom. 3:19 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

G. E. Jones: The ninth verse of the same chapter tells us he is speaking about Jews and Gentiles and that they are all under sin. So none of those under sin, neither Jew nor Gentile, "understand". Mr. Harper says they can. God's word says they do not. This veil over their hearts keeps them from seeing the truth.

John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them,
         If God were your Father, ye would love me:
         for I proceeded forth and came from God;
        neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
         He was a murderer from the beginning,
         and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
        When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not..


1Cor. 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Cor. 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Heb. 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The Lost Man Has a Darkened Understanding

G. E. Jones: "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the Understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart." Eph. 4:17-18.

Mr. Harper says the young people of today have been to school and have studied psychology and that they are smart enough, intelligent enough of themselves to understand the gospel and obey it.

The Word of God says, they do not understand but their understanding is darkened. God's Word says they are ignorant, not smart. God's Word says their hearts are blind instead of seeing. Why does the man want to deny all that? It is the fruit of his "salvation by works" doctrine. His position forces him to deny the plain teaching of the Word of God. If he accepts God's Word as to the condition of the lost, his doctrine goes down, therefore he rejects the Word of God and holds his traditions. "Full well ye do reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:9.

FATALISM

G. E. Jones: Mr. Harper says this is "Fatalism". Page 10. Yes, it is fatal to Mr. Harper's doctrine. It digs it up by the roots. But it is not the fatalism Mr. Harper would have you to believe. Quoting from Page 10 of his book we read, "Here we have a man lost and has to obey the gospel or go to hell. But he can't even understand it, unless God fills him with His Spirit.     Well, if God does not fill me with His Spirit, who is to blame, God or Man?" There you are in plain words. You see the man rules out the Work of the Spirit. He, like Adam tries to throw the blame on God.     Now let us see what the Word of God teaches on this point.

"Turn you at my reproof;
        behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you,
        I will make known my words unto you." Prov. 1:23.

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Proverbs 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates:
        in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
        and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

-infantĭa , ae, f. id.,I. inability to speak. I . Lit.: “linguae,” Lucr. 5, 1031.—
B. In partic., want of eloquence: “infantia ejus, qui rem norit, sed eam explicare dicendo non queat,” Cic. de Or. 3, 35, 142: “incredibilis accusatorum,” id. Att. 4, 16, 8: infantiae in dicendo, Quint. 5, 13, 38. —

Alawys denounced: I move, in the next place, that the flute-girl, who has just made her appearance, be told to go away and play to herself, or, if she likes, to the women who are within.
        Aulêtrida. It was the fashion at convivia to provide pipers, dancers, jesters,
        jugglers et hoc genus omne to amuse the guests.
       Aul-êtris A.flute- , [Jesus cast out the musical minstrels LIKE DUNG using the same "musical" term defining to play the flute, steal other people's inheritance, pollute, prostitute and as "Lucifer was cast as profane" out of heaven.]
Alawys approved: To-day let us have conversation instead; and, if you will allow me, I will tell you what sort of conversation. 

Alawys denounced: [347c] For it seems to me that arguing about poetry is comparable to the wine-parties of common market-folk. These people, owing to their inability to carry on a familiar conversation over their wine by means of their own voices and discussions--such is their lack of education--put a premium on flute-girls by hiring the extraneous voice of the flute at a high price, and carry on their intercourse by means of its utterance.
Alawys approved: But where the party consists of thorough gentlemen who have had a proper education, you will see neither flute-girls nor dancing-girls nor harp-girls, but only the company contenting themselves with their own conversation, and none of these fooleries and frolics--each speaking and listening decently in his turn.

Suneimi: To be joined with, Intercourse is II. to have intercourse with a person, live with hêdonê, desires after pleasure, pleasant lusts, voluptuosus,

-stultus , foolish, simple, silly, fatuous, etc. (cf.: insulsus, ineptus, insipiens, brutus).
“levitas,” Phaedr. 5, 7, 3: gloria, id. 3, 17, 12: “dies,” i. e. foolishly spent, Tib. 1, 4, 34; cf. “vita,” Sen. Ep. 15, 10: “ignes,” Ov. M. 9, 746: “consilium stultissimum,” Liv. 45, 23, 11: “opes,” M

Scornful: Pestĭlentĭa II. Trop., a plague, pest, pestilence (poet. and in postclass. prose): “oratio plena veneni et pestilentiae,” Cat. 44, 11: “cathedra pestilentiae,” the seat of the scornful, Vulg. Psa. 1, 1.— In plur.: “animorum labes et pestilentiae,” Gell. 1, 2, 4.

Lēvĭtas (laev- ), ātis, f. 2. lēvis, II. Trop., of speech, smoothness, fluency, facility: “Demosthenes nihil levitate Aeschini et splendore verborum cedit,” Cic. Or. 31, 110: “verborum,” Quint. 10, 1, 52: “effeminata,” id. 8, 3, 6.

Noxĭus , a, um, adj. (A. Lit.: noxia, ut Serv. Sulpicius Rufus ait, damnum significat, apud poëtas autem et oratores ponitur pro culpā, at noxa peccatum, aut pro peccato poenam,

Apollo in a crow; Bacchus in a goat; [caper, capella]
Diana in a cat; Venus in a fish;
Saturnian Juno in a snow-white cow;
Cyllenian Hermes in an Ibis' wings.’--

Such stuff she droned out from her noisy mouth:
and then they summoned us; but, haply, time
permits thee not, nor leisure thee permits,
that thou shouldst hearken to our melodies.”

“Nay doubt it not,” quoth Pallas, “but relate
your melodies in order.” And she sat
beneath the pleasant shadows of the grove.
And thus again Urania; “On our side
we trusted all to one.” Which having said,
Calliope arose. Her glorious hair
was bound with ivy. She attuned the chords,
and chanted as she struck the sounding strings:--

Struck is percutio:
II. (With the idea of the verb predominating.) To strike, beat, hit, smite, shoot, etc. (cf.: ico, pulso, ferio).
a. To strike, stamp, coin money (post-Aug.): “ut nummum argenteum notā sideris Capricorni percusserit,” Suet. Aug. 94; id. Ner. 25. —

b. To strike, play a musical instrument (poet.): “lyram,” Ov. Am. 3, 12, 40; Val. Fl. 5, 100.—

1. To smite, strike, visit with calamity of any kind (class.): “percussus calamitate,” Cic. Mur. 24, 49: “percussus fortunae vulnere,” id. Ac. 1, 3, 11: “ruina,” Vulg. Zach. 14, 18: anathemate. id. Mal. 4, 6: “plaga,” id. 1 Macc. 1, 32: “in stuporem,” id. Zach. 12, 4.—

2. To strike, shock, make an impression upon, affect deeply, move, astound (class.): “percussisti me de oratione prolatā,” Cic. Att. 3, 12, 3; id. Mil. 29, 79: 

pulso to push, strike, beat (cf.: tundo, ferio, pello). I.Lit.: 
Of military engines
Of musical instruments: chordas digitis et pectine eburno,to strike, play upon,
A. In gen., to urge or drive on, to impel, to set in violent motion, to move, agitate, disturb, disquiet
C.To drive away, remove, put out of the way,
D. To injure, insult: pulsatos infecto foedere divos, of treason

Inficio    to stain, dye, color, tinge with: .: “Gorgoneis Alecto infecta
 venenis,”  2. To spoil, corrupt, infect inficimur opinionum pravitate,

Venenum like pharmakon or SORCERY
1. A potion that destroys life, poison, venom, a magical potion, charm: b. Trop., charm, seduction: occultum inspires ignem fallasque veneno (i. e. amoris),” Verg. A. 1, 688.— “avaritia pecuniae studium habet: ea quasi venenis malis imbuta corpus animum que virilem effeminat,” Sall. C. 11, 3.

Verg. Ecl. 8
DAMON
“Rise, Lucifer, and, heralding the light,
bring in the genial day, while I make moan
fooled by vain passion for a faithless bride,
for Nysa, and with this my dying breath
call on the gods, though little it bestead—
the gods who heard her vows and heeded not.
‘Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.’

of Damon and Alphesiboeus now,
those shepherd-singers at whose rival strains
the heifer wondering forgot to graze,
the lynx stood awe-struck, and the flowing streams,
unwonted loiterers, stayed their course to hear—
how Damon and Alphesiboeus sang
their pastoral ditties, will I tell the tale.

MuStrabo.html


http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0004&query=id%3D%2331


in Rev 18, discord, charm, seduce

G. E. Jones: Pr 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold,

..........I will POUR out MY spirit unto you,
..........I will make known my words unto you.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

 PIRIT NEVER SPEAKS OF A "PEOPLE": ALL OF THOSE WHO CLAIM GUIDANCE ARE BEING LED BY AN EVIL SPIRIT: SATAN.

-Spīrĭtus I. fin.; dat. SPIRITO, Inscr. Orell. 3030; gen., dat., and abl. plur. only eccl. and late Lat., e. g. spirituum, Vulg. Marc. 6, 7: “spiritibus,” Aug. Serm. 216, 11 fin.; Vulg. Luc. 8, 2), m. spiro, a breathing or gentle blowing of air, a breath, breeze (syn.: aura, flatus).
        2. The breath of a god, inspiration: “haec fieri non possent, nisi ea uno divino et continuato spiritu continerentur,” by a divine inspiration, Cic. N. D. 2, 7, 19; 3, 11, 28; cf.: “poëtam quasi divino quodam spiritu inflari,” id. Arch. 8, 18.—

        A. (Class.) A haughty spirit, haughtiness, pride, arrogance; also, spirit, high spirit, energy, courage (esp. freq. in the plur.; syn. animi). “longissima est complexio verborum, quae volvi uno spiritu potest,” id. de Or. 3, 47, 182: “quos idem Deus de suis spiritibus figuravit,”

Figūro , āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. figura,

I. to form, fashion, shape (rare but class.).
2. In rhet. lang., to adorn with figures: “tam translatis verbis quam propriis figuratur oratio,” Quint. 9, 1, 9:
B. Trop., of speech, figurative (not in Cic., but very freq. in Quint.): oratio eskhēmatismenē,

Quint. Inst. 9 1.9 It is best therefore in dealing with these topics to adopt the generally accepted terms and to understand the actual thing, by whatever name it is called. But we must note the fact that trope figure are often combined in the expression of the same thought, since figures are introduced just as much by the metaphorical as by the literal use of words.

2. Spiritus, personified, a spirit (late Lat.); so, “esp., Spiritus Sanctus or simply Spiritus,” the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Cod. Just. 1, 1, 1; Aus. Ephem. 2, 18: “jurare per Deum et per Christum et per Spiritum Sanctum,” Veg. 2, 5: “nocens ille Spiritus,” an evil spirit, Lact. 4, 27, 12: “Spiritus nigri,” evil spirits, Sedul. Carm. 3, 41.

G. E. Jones:I quoted this in my first article, but for some reason Mr. Harper failed to notice it. Here God calls upon a man.to turn at His reproof. This even means to turn from one's own thoughts. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." Isa. 55:7. "My thoughts are not your thoughts."

Isa. 55:8. God promises that if one turns at His reproof. He will pour out His Spirit unto him; He will make known His words unto him. Now isn't that plain that in pouring out His Spirit God makes known his words to man? Man's part is to turn at God's reproof. So. Mr. Harper, you, and not God, are to blame. Man cannot help being spiritually blind, but he can help remaining that way. Let us illustrate.  There is a blind man. He has cataracts over his eyes.  He is not to blame for not seeing. Here comes a skilled surgeon and promises to perform an operation that will remove the blindness if the man will submit himself to the operation. Now, if the man refuses to submit to the operation. he is not to blame for being blind, but for remaining that way. When man turns at God's reproof, the Great Surgeon performs an operation that opens a man's spiritual eyes.

"Behold, thou desireth truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Ps. 51:6. Here is God giving knowledge in man's inward or hidden part. But the poor man will not believe it. He had rather have his psychology than to have God make him to know wisdom in the inward part. He prefers to lean to his own understanding. Prov. 3:5.

God Must Give To Man a Spiritual Understanding

We have found that there is a veil over the heart of the lost man and that this veil hides the gospel of Christ unto him. II Cor. 3:15; 4:4.  We have found that man's understanding is darkened.  Eph. 4:18. We have found that their hearts were blinded.  II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18. We have found that there is none that understandeth. Rom. 3:11.

Since man is in the above described condition God must give to him an understanding. The veil must be taken away to let the light of the gospel shine in.  Apart from this work of the Spirit man could never know the truth. Can we prove from the Word of God that God does give this inward wisdom, or this ability to understand and accept the truth? We certainly can prove this.

"Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Ps. 51:6. "The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day." Deut. 29:4.

"We know that the Son of God hath come and given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true." I John 5:4.

"Nevertheless when it (the heart of verse 14) shall turn unto the Lord the veil shall be taken away." II Cor. 3:16. What veil shall be taken away? That veil that veils the gospel to the lost. "If our gospel be hid (veiled R. V.) it is veiled unto them that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded their minds, etc." II Cor. 4:34. This veil hides the gospel to the lost is the veil of II Cor. 3:14-15, that is over their minds and hearts. Until it is taken away the gospel remains hidden to man.  David prayed, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statues; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law." Ps. 119:33-34. Here we have David praying that God will give him an understanding. We have found in I John 5:20 that God does give an understanding.

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments." Ps. 119:73. Thus we see that God must give an understanding before man can learn His commandments.

The Lord asked Job?  "Who bath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the heart? Job 38:36.

James wrote "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not." James 1:5. But Harper will not ask God for this wisdom. He has studied psychology. He thinks he is wise enough, smart enough, and intelligent enough to understand and obey the gospel without the work of the Spirit of God. He says "Here we have a man lost and has to obey the gospel or go to hell". But he can't understand it unless God fills him with His Spirit. Well, if God does not fill me with His Spirit who is to blame, God or Man? If I go to hell can I help it? I can't obey the gospel for I am not smart enough to understand it, so says our (Jones') article." Page 10.

From this we see that he thinks he is smart enough, he thinks he has understanding apart from God's Spirit. "Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked.'' Rev. 3:17. There is Harper's picture. He thinks he sees. He thinks he knows. He thinks he needs nothing. He does not need the Spirit of God to give him an understanding. Psychology has made him wise enough to understand independent of the Spirit of God. But what does God say, "Knowest thou not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and blind', etc." Poor man, he thinks he does not need God's Spirit to enable him to see, when God says he is blind. Like the Pharisees, he claims to see, therefore his sin remaineth.

"For judgment I am come into the world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees said unto Him, Are we blind also? (They did not think they were, but, like Harper, claimed to see.) Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind ye should have no sin: but now ve say, we see, therefore your sin remaineth." John 9:39-41.

What do we get from these passages? Simply this, the one who claims to see when in reality he is blind, he will remain in his sin. But the one who is willing to confess his blindness, renounce his psychology, and cease to lean on his own understanding, (Prov. 3:5), God will cause that person, though blind to see. He shall be given an understanding (I John 5:20) and be made to know wisdom in the inward parts. Job 38:36. God will give him an, heart to perceive, ears to hear, and eyes to see. Deut. 29:4. Here is the hidden wisdom God puts in the inward parts, the wisdom the world does not know.

The difference between Harper and the Word of God is this: Harper tells the young people they have been to school and they are smart enough, intelligent enough to understand the Word of God for themselves without any aid from the Spirit of God, whereas God says "Knowest thou not that thou art wretched, miserable and blind, etc." They prefer to lean on their own understanding rather than the Spirit of God.

Now compare Prov. 1:23 with I Cor. 2:12. The first reference says if man will turn at God's reproof God will pour out His Spirit unto him and make His words known unto Him." I Cor. 2:12 says "Now we have received not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit of God, that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God."

If I Cor. 2:12 refers only to the apostles, then Prov. 1:23 applies only to the apostles and they are the only ones called upon to turn at God's reproof. These two verses teach the very same identical thought, viz, that God through His Spirit must enable man to know the things of God. Here are two witnesses, one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament, testifying to the same thing. Mr. Harper ignored the Old Testament witness because he knew he could not switch that to the apostles, yet it teaches exactly what I Cor. 2:12 teaches. Better try again, Mr. Harper.

The Holy Spirit Gives Further Understanding To the Saved

Paul wrote to the Ephesians and said, "I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus. Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, etc." Eph. 1:15-18.

The apostle wrote to the brethren of Colosse, saying, we "Do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING." Col. 1:9.

Here we see the apostle prays that God might fill these saved people with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. What kind of understanding? Natural understanding that comes from studying psychology? No, but it is a Spiritual Understanding.

We are not disparaging the study of the Word of God, but we are insisting that along with our reading of the Word there must be the enabling power of the Spirit for man to understand what he reads. The word which was given by the Spirit, must be received through the Spirit. Seeing you have purified your souls in the obeying the truth through the Spirit, etc." I Pet. 1:22.

There we see this Spirit revealed truth is obeyed through the Spirit. It must also be spiritually understood.  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally" James 1:5. "Filled with all wisdom and Spiritual understanding." Col. 1:9.

The objectors to this position ask "If this is so why do not all of God's children see alike on all things?" Here man puts his own reason against the plain teachings of God's Word. But in reply to that we will say there are many factors that enter into this. There are many who do not wish to understand the things about our Lord's Second Coming. When that subject is brought up they shut up like a clam. Certainly God will not give such an one understanding on that line.  The same principle applies to the doctrines of election, predestination, and the security of the believer. If a person does not desire wisdom on these things God certainly will not give it. Paul wrote Timothy, "The Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Naturalism Vs Supernaturalism

The cause of Christ has suffered immeasurably by putting emphasis on mere human training, and leaving the Spirit's work in the background.  This trend is leading professed Christianity step by step into modernism. The writer has tried to maintain a safe balance on this point. He neither believes that God will impart to man an understanding of Spiritual things apart from the study of the Word; neither does he believe that simply studying that Word independent of the enlightening work of the Spirit will lead to an understanding of the same.

The infidel and atheist try to account for the origin of the universe and man through a natural process. Thus we have the evolutionary theory. They rule God out of it. The Christian believes the universe and man are a product of a supernatural power. The infidel thinks the Bible is merely a human book. The Christian believes it is a supernatural revelation from God.  The infidel thinks Christ was a mere man and that His birth was the result of natural causes. The believer believes His birth was supernatural. Some professing believers forsake the supernatural and take the ground of naturalism and make the new birth the result of mere human works. The real child of God believes the new birth is a supernatural experience brought about through the Spirit's work. When it comes to the understanding of the Word others forsake the supernatural and cross over and take their stand with the infidel and modernist, and rule out the Spirit. Others go this far with us but when it comes to the security of the believer they too leave the supernatural and take their stand with the rationalist and teach one must preserve himself by his own works. We still maintain the supernatural side and contend that our security is a matter of divine power. Now, when it comes to the resurrection of the body, Campbellites and others who believe in the resurrection are forced to leave the ground of the naturalist and come back to supernatural ground. Thus they dodge back and forth.

The Spirit wrought in creation. Gen. 1:2. The Spirit wrought in the inspiration of the Word. II Pet. 1:21. It wrought in the birth of Christ. Matt. 1:20. The Spirit works in the receiving of the truth. I Pet. 1:22. The Spirit works in enabling us to preach the word. I Cor. 2:4-5. The Spirit works in our understanding of the Word. Col. 1:9, and Eph. 1:17-18. The Spirit works in our security. I John 4:4. The Spirit will work in our resurrection unto life. Rom. 8:11. Let us keep our stand on the side of the supernatural and not be crossing back and forth. Man has ever tried to rule God out of human affairs. This spirit of unbelief tries to slip in under the guise of being Christian and rule God out in the new birth and spiritual work. Let us guard against this subtle work of the devil which seeks to contest the supernatural at every step of the way. If we depended more on the Holy Spirit and less on human wisdom and organization we would be better off.

Mr. Harper Appeals to Scholars

Mr. Harper claims that all of the second chapter of I Corinthians applies to the apostles and not to us. In order to prove his statement he does what all Campbellites do, he leaves the Bible and runs to Mr. Adam Clark and some other scholars to prove his contention. When these gentlemen are cornered with the word of God and cannot meet the argument they fly the track and try to brow beat people with what some scholars have said. They never talk very long or write much without telling us what some scholars have said.

In the first place I would like to know when and where God made any scholar or bunch of scholars an authority to interpret the Word of God for us and we common people must accept their interpretation without question. This smacks of Roman Catholicism. The Catholic priests teach that the common people are incapable of interpreting the Word of God and must depend on the priesthood to give them their ideas about God and His Word. Campbellites seek to force us to take the opinions of those men whom they call scholars, and whom they wish to choose. Mr. Harper, when and where did God make Mr. Adam Clark or any other scholar, or bunch of scholars to be our authority on Bible interpretations? I have known all along that Campbellites' faith stood in the wisdom of men and not in the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:4-5.  And now, Mr. Harper proves it by appealing to the wisdom of man to establish his point. I am not under obligation to take Mr. Adam Clark's interpretation, any more than Harper's. "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater'', I John 5:9.  I establish my doctrine with the Word of God, Mr. Harper seeks to establish his with the witness of men. His faith stands in the wisdom of men. I Cor. 2:5.

In the second place, I would like to ask Mr. Harper if he does not know that the wise of this world, even religious teachers have, as a rule, been wrong concerning the things of God.

"I thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Matt. 11-25.

"Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, that no flesh should glory in his presence." I Cor. 1:26-29.

The wise men of Egypt led the Egyptians tor destruction at the Red Sea. The wise men of Babylon could not interpret the handwriting on the wall. Thus Mr. Harper's appeal to the wisdom of man betrays him and his bunch as having their faith to stand in the wisdom of men.

Third, this is the weapon of the devil. He used it on the woman in the Garden of Eden. "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, etc." Gen. 3:6. In short, the devil said, "If you would be wise, you must eat of the forbidden fruit." The evolutionists use this same weapon and say '"All scholarship is agreed that evolution is true." Campbellites resort to the same weapon and try to make it appear that all scholarship is lined up with them.

FALSE RELIGION CATERS TO THE GREAT

One of the distinguishing characteristics of a false religion is that it caters to the big men. When Nebuchadnezzar would bring all faiths together and unify them in the worship of his golden image, he called together all the great men of his province. Dan. 3:1-28. Campbellites erect their image of salvation by works and call together a bunch of men they call wise and say, "See here who we have on our side." The three Hebrew children stood out alone against Nebuchadnezzar's great men. They were right and Nebuchadnezzar and his counsellors were wrong, though in the majority. The very refuge Mr. Harper takes betrays him as being one of the false teachers of the last days.

"These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, their mouth speak great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Jude 16. Such swelling words as psychology, and complaining at God's people who shout and praise Him, and glorying in great men. Paul told the Corinthian brethren that they were "Not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against the other." I Cor. 4:6.  By appealing to wise men whom he exalts above that which is written he becomes puffed up. "Let God be true and every man a liar." Rom. 3:4. In leaving the Word of God and appealing to wise men he unknowingly betrays the fact that his faith stands in the wisdom of men. He rules out the work of the Spirit of God and leans on his own understanding and the wisdom of men. God's Word says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Prov. 3:5. Mr. Harper prefers to lean on psychology and his own understanding, rather than in the Spirit of God.

THE MOURNERS' BENCH

Mr. Harper tries to wiggle out of his former broadcast against the "Mourners' Bench." In that first broadcast, he accused some city preachers of going out into the country and using the mourners' bench and coming back to the towns and cities and not using it. He asked why they used it in the country and not in the city. He asked "If it was good for country people, why would it not be good for the city people?" (This writer uses it in town as well as in the country). Then Mr. Harper went on to say that these preachers knew they could not put it over on town and city people. Our young people had been to school and had studied psychology and were too intelligent for that. Now, reader, if this is not implying that the country people are ignorant and the town and city people are wise, I am unable to understand language. And he charges me of trying to create prejudice. I simply took his words at their meaning.

In Mr. Harper's answer to my article he tries to fix that all up with the country people by telling about being a country boy and holding country meetings. Well, I was taking notes on his former broadcast and most certainly heard him accuse the city preachers (Baptists, I suppose) of using the mourners' bench in the country and not using it in town. Some may do that and they are inconsistent if they do, but this writer knows many who do not. Those who do not use it in the city and do the country do so mostly because the Baptist country churches will not let them run this Campbellite formality over on them.

WHO MISREPRESENTS?

Mr. Harper in his book goes on to say "Let me say to the credit of our country people, that they no longer go on as they once did. They too, have learned that to mourn does not mean that you have to become hysterical and lose your mind and have to be carried home hog-tied as they have been from my home because they have been worked up by some preacher and a lot of folks standing around them telling them all the scary stories that they have ever heard or could think up."

Now talk about misrepresentation, here it is. I have never read a grosser one. I challenge Mr. Harper to bring the proof where a mourner was ever tied with ropes or cords like a hog and was carried home that way. This writer is fifty-one years old. He has attended Baptist and Methodist's meetings since he could first remember. He has held over one-hundred and fifty meetings himself and yet he has to see the first mourner who had to be carried home, to say nothing of being hog tied. He has seen mourners unwilling to leave and go home because of their great desire to be saved, but has yet to see one who could not get up and walk out on his or her own legs. Talk about misrepresentation, and an effort to prejudice the minds of the people, this is the limit.  This is about the gist of the whole matter. Mr. Harper has perhaps seen some person with Campbellite connection go to the altar. They did not want to leave, and their Campbellite kinsfolk took them away forcibly against their will to their homes.       They, like the Pharisees, would not go into the kingdom and would not suffer those who were entering to enter. Matt. 23:13.

Now he says that "In a few days when the excitement is all over they didn't know whether they had it or not." Some more misrepresentation or ignorance of the facts. This writer personally knows that more of those who make a profession at the mourner's bench prove steadfast than those who do not. 

Mr. Harper against the System, Not the Bench

In Mr. Harper's broadcast, in reply to my article, he said it was not the mourning he was against but the system. He said you get some people on the mourners' bench and they go to singing some old song, and some woman goes to shouting that is the thing he is against.  Now, Mr. Harper, why did you not put that part of your radio message in print? Why did you leave it out of your book? Were you afraid that would backfire?

It certainly will. You need not say I am misrepresenting you because you left it out of your book. I took notes on that broadcast and knew at once what I would do with you. So, it is the shouting you are against is it? Here it is. I said it was not the bench he was against but the mourning. Here he says it is the system. There is a confession that it is not the bench that gives offense but the system of mourning. Now he unknowingly admits the things of which I charged him. There it is at last. If you are not against shouting, say so. Say your people believe in shouting and do shout for joy.

DID BIBLE SAINTS SHOUT?

"Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy." Ps. 5:11.

"But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout, of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off." Ezra 3:12-12. Does this sound like a Campbellite meeting or an old fashioned Baptist revival?  When did anything like this ever take place in a Campbellite meeting?  Had Mr. Harper been there on that occasion he would have said these people were hysterical. Perhaps these people in Ezra 3:12-12 had not been off to school and studied psychology.

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly; and riding upon an ass, etc." Zech. 9:9.

We find the fulfillment of this prophecy in Luke 19:35-40. Here the multitude of our Lord's disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice. The Pharisees, like the Campbellites, were disturbed at this and asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Jesus answered "If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Mr. Harper, maybe Jesus and these disciples had not been to school and studied psychology like you and the Pharisees. Do you think those disciples were hysterical? If you had been there on that occasion which crowd would you have joined, the hysterical crowd that was shouting, or the Pharisees, who did not want any shouting? Those Pharisees who studied the Word of God were too blind to see the fulfillment of their own scriptures in this occasion. You, who think you are well posted on the scriptures are too blind to see that you are condemning yourself and putting yourself in the class with the Pharisees. Tell me, Mr. Harper, why the Campbellites never shout for joy? You claim to have put your trust in the Lord. Well, the Word of God says for such to "Shout for joy." Did you ever hear a Baptist "shout for joy"? If the Baptist do and the Campbellites do not, who is carrying out Ps. 5:11? Did you ever see people who used, the mourner's bench shout for joy?  Yes, you have, because in your broadcast you said some old woman would get to shouting and get them at the mourner's bench excited.   Well! Well! Well! These mourner's bench people were "shouting for joy" just as Ps. 5:11 said to do. These objectors to the mourner's bench do not shout, but object to shouting just like the Pharisees. "Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matt. 7:16. Bring in your psychology.

Mr. Harper says "I am against this system that gets a man all worked up and then trying to make him think that the Lord sent His Spirit into the man's heart and saved him while he was in that condition before the man obeyed the gospel." Here we have it. Mr. Harper objects to a man being saved before he is baptized.  Here is a man with a godly sorrow. He is repenting. "A godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation." II Cor. 7:10. Mr. Harper says he must have faith before he can repent. So here is a man with both faith and repentance, but according to Mr. Harper he has not obeyed the gospel. You did not say "Before the man had fully obeyed the gospel." So you make being baptized "obeying the gospel," and then when Baptists expose you, you holler misrepresentation.

Now, those who come to the mourner's bench (most, but not all) claim to be forgiven and always rejoice and frequently shout for joy. You Campbellites claim to get forgiveness when baptized and never shout for joy. Now isn't that strange that you who claim to have the Bible truth never shout for joy as Ps. 5:11 tells us, and as Bible saints did; and those who follow what you call unsound practice and teaching do "shout for joy". If you should go into the chemistry room, would you expect to get the right results using the right formula or using the wrong one? If you Campbellites have the correct formula in the plan of salvation why do you never "shout for joy", (Ps. 5:11) like Bible saints?  Luke 19:37. If we Baptists have the wrong formula why do our people "shout for joy" as did Bible saints? Now, Mr. Harper, you will never answer this. You may make fun of it and like the Pharisees laugh for scorn, but you know it is the truth. Have you ever shouted Mr. Harper? I have, both in the church house, and in my room alone with God, studying His Word. Was that excitement? May God have mercy on you and give you repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

You asked if Elijah and John the Baptist used the Mourner's bench. Did they use the hearer's bench? You (did not answer that, did you? In the next verse where it says they used the hearers' bench it says they used the mourners' bench. I do not find where they ever used any benches, either for hearers or mourners, but I do find the same "system" as you call it.

THE SYSTEM

"If all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling clown on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." I Cor. 14:24-25. Did you ever have a convicted sinner fall on his face in one of your meetings? I have seen it in Baptist meetings.

"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart; and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning and rend your hearts; and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, etc." Joel 2:12-13.

"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you this man went down to his house justified, etc." Luke 18:13-14.

Here we have all that is practiced in the Mourners' Bench System", as Mr. Harper calls it. We have a convicted sinner falling on his face. I Cor. 14:24-25. We have great heart rending sorrow, weeping and mourning. Joel 2:12-13. We have a sinner smiting his breast. Luke 18:13-14. Baptist meetings have all of this along with the shouting. Campbellite meetings have none of it.  We also have the sinner praying. Jonah, 3rd chapter, and Luke 18:13. Campbellites teach them they should not pray. The Ninevites prayed, and Jesus said they repented. "Let man and beast be covered with sack cloth and cry mightily unto God, etc." Jonah 3:8, and Matt. 12:41. Apply your psychology to this great demonstration at Nineveh.

Harper Admits It Condemns Him

I said in my article it was not the bench that offended Mr. Harper but the mourning. He has virtually admitted that when he said "It just proves this: That if you have to have it that way, by that system, by the mourner’s Bench System of getting religion, then all those who do not practice it that way and do not get it that way are lost." There you are. He has admitted that I was right when I said, "The trouble with him is that he knows that if a person has to come to God by the way of mourning he (Harper) has never been saved." Now in the quotation above he gives this as his objection to the Mourners' Bench System. Now, Mr. Harper, since we have found the system in the Word of God, what will you do? We have found everything but the bench. We are not contending for the bench but for the "system" as you call it.  We have found weeping, mourning, crying mightily unto God, a convicted sinner falling on his face, and another smiting his breast. We have also found Bible saints "shouting." What more do you want, Mr. Harper? Now, if it is the seats or benches that offend, pitch them all out the window—hearers seats along with mourners seats, but for the sake of lost souls, and for God's sake, do not throw out the mourning, weeping, crying mightily unto God, and the shouting for joy along with the benches. The Campbellites throw out the mourning, weeping, crying mightily unto God, the breast smiting, the falling on the face, and the shouting for joy, and keep the benches. Better discard the benches and have the other. Baptists do not care if the mourners' bench is the front seat or the middle seat. Only recently we had three mourners on their knees in the choir.

That is exactly the point Mr. Harper. If you get salvation (not religion) you have to come by the way of deep mourning and prayer like the Ninevites and the Publican. There is no repentance without it. You are lost if you did not come this way. I do not mean the front seat or any seat, but I mean the "system" you are against, one that brings bitter weeping and mourning: one that brings crying unto God. Jon 3:8.  Reject it if you will and be lost. Study psychology if you please and be spoiled through the philosophy of this world. Have you never read where it is written "Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit"?  Col. 2:8. This word philosophy, you know, comes from two words which put together mean "Love of learning." Have you never read where it says, "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." I Cor. 8:1. Have you never read where Jude says "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, (not spiritually) as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves," Jude 10. Leaning on your psychology you are speaking things you know naturally. Where do you get your psychology? Did you get it from the Word of God; from the Spirit of God; or the wisdom of this world? Didn't you know that this word psychology was coined by a French infidel to account for religious phenomena he did not understand? And here you are tracking with this infidel. You seek to account for the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men producing Bible mourning, weeping, and then shouting by a world taught psychology. The Pharisees tried to account for the work of Jesus by attributing His work to the devil. Mark 3:22-30. You try to account for the Spirit's work by attributing it to psychology. You had better beware. I would not stand in your shoes for the whole world. Had it ever occurred to you that there might be something about this affair you do not know anything about? What is psychology anyway? Do you know? Isn't it just a big high sounding phrase (as Peter said, great swelling words of vanity, II Pet. 2:18) coined by an ungodly man to account for something he knows nothing about? Does the Spirit of God work on the minds of men? How do you know but that accounts for a lot of phenomena in the world? If the Baptists in their "Mourners' System" show the same phenomena as shown in Bible days, viz, mourning, weeping, heart rending sorrow, crying mightily unto God, and then "shouting for joy", (Joel 2:12-13; Jonah 3:8; Ps. 5:11; Luke 19:37,) why should you attribute it to psychology? For one reason only. It condemns your formalistic system. Like Cain, You became wroth, and your countenance falls. Gen, 4:5. God had respect to Abel's offering, but He did not for Cain’s offering. Gen. 4:5. If God has respect to your Campbellites System why do not your people become filled with the Spirit and "Shout for joy" and "Praise God with a loud voice?" If God does not have respect to Baptist way of repentance, why does He make them "shout for joy"? Answer it Mr. Harper.

Mr. Harper Takes Refuge under Scholarship Again

This time Mr. Harper runs to Matthew Henry and others for comfort. But there is nothing in Matthew Henry's words to help him. I agree that even, after we are saved we should and do have a habitual seriousness of mind. But what about that "Godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto Salvation?" What about the Ninevites who sat in sackcloth and cried mightily unto God?  Were they saved people before they did this? What about the Publican who said "God be merciful unto me a sinner"?  Was he justified before this mourning and praying or after it?

Mr. Harper says "This mourning mentioned here (Matt. 5:4, the verse on which Matthew Henry commented) is not for an hour, then get saved and start screaming and then it is all over."  (Mr. Harper were the Ninevites screaming when they cried mightily unto God?) Let us not dodge the issue. We are talking about mourning on the part of the sinner seeking the Lord. Is he to mourn? Does he mourn?

"The Lord is nigh unto them of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Ps. 34:18.

"Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let your laughter he turned into mourning and your joy into heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of God and he will lift you up." Jas. 4:8-10.

Now, don't try to dodge the issue, Mr. Harper, these verses teach mourning and weeping on the part of the sinner. What if he does weep aloud? Did not the Ninevites cry aloud? Did they not repent? Jesus said they did. If so, was not crying aloud connected with their repentance?

Mr. Harper says Mr. Jones never touched the hem of the garment with reference to mourning as mentioned by our Lord. "He said this mourning was for ever day and ever minute souls are going to hell." Well, well, well, what does Mr. Harper know about Jones' private or public life? This preacher has wept many tears in the pulpit, in private, and at the altar with and over sinners something he never saw a Campbellite do. Some might do it, but I have attended their meetings, and have yet to see it.

Mr. Harper says Mr. Jones and his brethren have their victims at the altar or mourners' bench for hours mourning, as they call it, and crying to God for hours and sometimes years, and sometimes they never get it. Did not the Ninevites cry mightily unto God? Jonah 3:8. Did not Jesus say they repented?  Matt. 12:41. If they cried mightily unto God when repenting, why do you object to sinners crying unto God today? Isn't it because the pride of your heart resents this? Isn't it that old carnal mind that is enmity against God? Rom. 8:7. He implied on page 30 at the bottom that his father might have been one that never got it. It is true that some go mourning for a long time before they are saved, and some may never find salvation. Why? There may he an old grudge in their hearts they are unwilling to give up. I knew a man who had had a falling out with his neighbor over a ditch and had started a suit against that neighbor. He got under deep conviction and weeped and mourned, but stubbornly held on to his intention to carry his vengeance through to a finish. Finally he quit the meeting unsaved. The fault was not in the "System" but in the grudge this man steadfastly held.

John 3:5, and the $5 Offer

I offered Mr. Harper $5.00 to show where being baptized was obeying the gospel or any part of it. In his attempt at doing that he advanced Mark 16:16 and John 3:5.  Paul shows us that believing is obeying the gospel. "They have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" Rom. 10:16.  Here we have it from an inspired writer that we obey the gospel in believing.  As the result of obeying the gospel or believing, we are saved. John 3:18; 5:24; Rom. 1:16. After that we symbolize it in being baptized. I Pet. 3:21.

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16.  Yes, really, when he believes; and in a figure when baptized. Not being baptized will not condemn a man. What will cause him to be condemned?  "He that believeth not is condemned already, BECAUSE (here is your cause) he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.

Mr. Harper asks, "When the apostles went over the country preaching the gospel, if they did not tell men to believe in Christ, how would they know to believe? If they did not tell the people that Christ commanded baptism how would they know they should be baptized? Page 19.

We will answer this by asking Mr. Harper a few questions. If they did not tell the people Christ commanded that the Lord's supper be observed how would they know to observe it? If they did not teach that the ministry be supported, how would they know to support the ministry? Then, according to his own logic, eating the Lord's Supper and supporting the ministry is part of obeying the gospel and essential to obtain the remission of sins, since they could not have known to do so unless taught by the apostles.

Christ nowhere commanded a lost sinner to be baptized, or eat the Lord's Supper. Mr. Harper has never yet learned the difference in what God commanded the lost to do, and what He commanded His children to do.

Now let us look at John 3:5. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."  Mr. Harper thinks born of water in John 3:5 means being baptized, or receiving water baptism. Let us meet him on his own ground. If that means baptism, it will do no harm to read it that way. Now let us read, "Except a man be baptized of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.  If born of water is water baptism, then born of the Spirit is Holy Spirit baptism.  So, according to Mr. Harper's logic, it will take both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism to get the man in the kingdom. The verb "born" in John 3:5 precedes both "of water" and "of the Spirit" and is modified by both phrases. He cannot make born of water, water baptism, without making born of the Spirit, Holy Spirit baptism. Now, Mr. Harper has gone to the Holy Rollers.

Mr. Harper, when did you receive water baptism? Have you ever received Holy Spirit baptism? If not, and baptism is meant in John 3:5, you have never fully complied with that verse and have not gone into the kingdom. If you leave off Holy Spirit baptism you leave off the last part of John 3:5, and cannot get a man in the kingdom.

Pentecost Kingdom Theory and Holy Spirit Baptism

Not only will Campbellites' construction of John 3:5 .compel them to have Holy Spirit baptism, but their kingdom theory also does that. The Apostles received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Will you deny that, Mr. Harper? Acts 1:5. They received water baptism at the hands of John the Baptist. Will you deny that? Do you not teach that these apostles did not go into the kingdom until Pentecost?  Did they go into the kingdom before they received Holy Spirit baptism?   If so, did they go in before Pentecost?  And did the kingdom exist before Pentecost? If the kingdom came, as you teach, when the Holy Spirit came, and the apostles went into the kingdom when the Baptism of the Holy Spirit came did it not take Holy Spirit baptism, as well as water baptism to put the apostles in the kingdom? Nov, if you do away with Holy Spirit baptism, have you not destroyed your Pentecost plan and left yourselves without a plan of salvation?

If you keep both do you not have two baptisms?  Better call in your psychology and wise men again to help you out of this tight place.

BAPTISTS BORN OF WATER

Mr. Harper says Baptists are born of water. We do not deny it, for John 3:5 says we must be born of the water and of the Spirit.  But this is not the water in the creek. We are born of the "Living Water". John 4:10-14. We are buried in the water in the creek. Rom. 6:4. A man who doesn't know a birth from a burial is dumb indeed. Baptism is called a burial. It is never called a birth.  Neither is a burial ever called a birth.

Mr. Harper and His People under a Bogus Commission and Convicted by His Own Testimony

In trying to answer Eld. Bishop on what he said about Campbellite teaching sending everybody to hell prior to John the Baptist, Mr. Harper surely gets himself and people into a fix.  He puts them all under a bogus commission on his own testimony. Turn to Harper's book, "Truth Vindicated", Page 25-26, and read: "Now under this new law, under this new priesthood, under this new testament that we (Harper and his people) are under, baptism in the name of the Lord was given. It was never given nor practiced in His Name before His resurrection and ascension.  This accounts for why those back before John did not have to submit to the command of Baptism in the name of our Lord. Now what do you think of Mr. Bishop's argument?"

Here Mr. Harper states that baptism in the name of our Lord was not given nor practiced before our Lord's resurrection and ascension. Now, Mr. Harper, give us the chapter and verse where Jesus ever gave a commission after His ascension, and commanded baptism in His Name. Away goes Mark 16:15-16. That was before our Lord's ascension. Away goes Matt. 28:18-20. That also was before our Lord's ascension. Read it and see if you did not say it. That, then, takes you out from under Mark 16:15-16, and Matt. 28:18-20 for you say "Under this new testament we (you and your people) are under, baptism in the name of the Lord was given. It, (baptism) was not GIVEN nor practiced in His name before His resurrection and ASCENSION. Your commission to baptize then was given after Christ's ascension. Who gave it to you? Christ did.

He gave His commission before His ascension. Therefore, since you cannot find where Christ gave the commission after He ascended to heaven, you are under a bogus commission, and are guilty of perpetrating a fraud and practicing deception, and convicted upon your own testimony. Now, try your psychology on that. Better call in Adam Clark and a few more of your wise men to help you out on this. They will do you about as much good as the wise men did Belshazzar, when the hand was writing on the wall. Now, what do you think of Mr. Harper's argument?

This is not all. Mr. Harper has left the apostles and all the first members who went into the church which he said started at Pentecost, without remission of sins. He teaches that one must be baptized in the name of the Lord to receive remission of sins. But the apostles and the hundred and twenty of Acts. 1:15 were never baptized in the name of our Lord, if it was not given nor practiced until after His resurrection and ascension.  They were all baptized by John or during our Lord's personal ministry. John 4:1-2. So, according to Mr. Harper, they never received baptism in our Lord's name. Then, if it takes baptism in our Lord's name to give remission of sins, the apostles and the hundred and twenty never received remission of sins. Call in your psychology and wise men again. Help wanted. Mr. Harper is in a hole! Now what do you think of Mr. Harper's argument?

But, let us not leave the apostles in that shape. Baptists to the rescue. We will get the apostles and the hundred and twenty out of this scrape, but down will go Harper: - There is salvation in no other name but the name of Jesus. Acts 4:12. All who believe in Him receive remission of sins in His name. Acts 10:43. The apostles believed in the name of our Lord.  "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.      They were already clean. John 13:10-11: John 15:3.  Mr. Harper. I challenge you to deny that the apostles (beside Judas) believed in our Lord's name. I challenge you to deny that they were clean before Pentecost. You said Baptism in our Lord's name was not given nor practiced before His resurrection and ascension: Then the apostles must 'have received remission of sins in the name of Jesus, through believing in His name, and not through being baptized in His name,   for you say this baptism was not given nor practiced in His name before His ascension. Thus you establish the Baptist position that remission of sins in the name of Jesus is received through believing in His name, and not through being baptized in His Name.  Now, what do you think of Mr. Harper's argument? Help wanted! Harper is sinking.

Questions:

1. If it takes baptism in the name of our Lord to put one in Christ when and where did the apostles get into Christ?

2. When and where were they baptized in the name of the Lord, if baptism in His name was not given nor practiced before His ascension?

3.  If it takes baptism in the name of our Lord to put one in Christ, and the apostles never were baptized in that name did they ever get into Christ?

4.  Can your psychology help you out on this?

5.  Why don't you call in your wise men like Belshazzar did and see if they will help?

6.  Now what do you think of Harper's (not Bishop's) argument? "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Matt. 15:14.

JOHN'S BAPTISM

Campbellites claim that John's baptism was dis-annulled. They refer to the twelve that Paul baptized in Acts 19:1-5. They claim these twelve were first baptized by John. It is easy to prove that these were not baptized by John himself, but by someone who was trying to carry on the work of John. But, for sake of argument, we will let it remain as the Campbellites put it. It involves them into an inescapable difficulty. We find that John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  Luke 3:3. They claim that means John was baptizing them in order that they might obtain remission of sins. If so, and John baptized the twelve in Acts 19:1-5, did they not receive remission of sins as the result of this baptism? Then, for what purpose did Paul baptize these same twelve? Did he also baptize the same twelve in order to obtain the remission of sins? Why baptize people in order to obtain remission of sins when they already have obtained it?  If they did not get remission of sins both times when did they get it, as the result of John baptizing them, or as the result of Paul baptizing them?  If they did not get it as the result of John's baptism, then "For the remission of sins" in Luke 3:3 does not mean "In order to obtain". If it does not mean "In order to obtain" in Luke 3:3, then the same expression in Acts 2:38, does not mean it, and away goes Campbellite contention on Acts 2:38. If they did get remission of sins as the result of John's baptism and not as the result of being baptized by Paul, then Paul was not baptizing them in order that they might obtain remission of sins.         Campbellites say this was Christian baptism.  Then Christian baptism is not "In order to obtain the remission of sins". So their position on John's baptism catches them both ways. Maybe Mr. Harper's psychology can help him out here.

Baptism in the New Covenant

Mr. Harper puts baptism in the new covenant and then makes it a condition of getting into that covenant. Now, if baptism and the Lord's Supper are in the new covenant, then we could not possibly be under obligation to observe them until we were brought into covenant relationship. That is like having a man go to bed to get into the house. The bed is in the house.  He cannot possibly reach the bed until he is in the house. But Harper's logic would put a man to bed in order to get into the house.

Not a New Plan of Salvation, But a New System of Worship

What a confused mess Campbellism is anyway! Does not the poor fellow know that the Law of Moses was never given to make a man a member of the nation of Israel? It was given to regulate the worship, service, and conduct of a people already redeemed from Egyptian bondage. So baptism and the Lord's Supper are not the things that brings us into relationship with God, but it is the new form of worship and service given to people already in relationship with God.  I did not become a citizen of this country by obeying its laws. I come under those laws by being born into this country. They did not make me a citizen, but govern my conduct after I am a citizen. Can't the poor fellow see that?

Mr. Harper says we are not saved like people were back in the days of Abraham and before Christ came. Page 25. Then the poor fellow has a lot to say about the Levitical priesthood.  Pages 24-26. Does not the poor fellow know that Abraham lived 430 years before the Levitical priesthood was established? Gal. 3:17. How could Abraham be saved by or under a Levitical priesthood and the Law of Moses when they had no such thing in his day? Mr. Harper, was he saved by or under the Law of Moses? I dare you to say yes. Then, if people were saved by or under the Law of Moses and are saved through another plan today that would be two plans of salvation, would it not? Then if Abraham was saved, by what plan was he saved, by the Law or by the new plan? He could not have been saved by the Law of Moses for it was not yet given.  Then, if Abraham was not saved like us today, he must have been saved by a third plan of salvation.  Why all this tangled confusion? Because Mr. Harper does not realize that God has only had one plan of salvation all the way down. The law did not and could not give life. "If there had been a law given that could have given life then verily righteousness would have been by the law." Gal. 3:21. Mr. Harper, can't you see it is not a new plan of salvation we have today, but a new system of worship and service. Your whole trouble is in your salvation by works theory. We do not worship and serve God in order to he saved but we must first be saved. How can one worship God in Spirit and in truth until he is given the Spirit? John 4:23-24.

The Scripture is Plain that We are Saved like Abraham

"He that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed' God and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Gal. 3:5-6. We are saved by the hearing of faith. Even as Abraham was accounted righteousness, yet Mr. Harper and his people will stand up and deny it. Deny the plain statement of God's Word to keep his salvation by water plan.

But perhaps Mr. Harper will say that Abraham had to offer Isaac before he was saved. Let him read Rom. 4:1-25. We find in Rom. 4:17-21 that Abraham believed God when as yet Sara's womb was dead and his belief was imputed to him for righteousness. Can't he see this was before the birth of Isaac? Then Abraham was not justified before God by offering up Isaac, but justified before man. A living faith justifies us before God. Our works which are the fruits of this living faith and a renewed nature justify us before men. Paul goes on to say in Rom. 4:23-25 that "It was not written for his (Abraham's)  sake alone that it was imputed unto him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed,  if we believe on Him that raised Jesus from the dead." Thus we see we are saved like Abraham was saved. Abraham believed and it was imputed to him for righteousness.  Rom. 4:21-22. We believe and it is imputed unto us for righteousness. Rom. 4:23-25.  It was not through offering a lamb, or goat, or Isaac that Abraham was accepted of God, but through his faith apart from works. Rom. 4:1-6. "Even as David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." So, are we accounted righteous when we believe, apart from any works of our own.

"The promise that he should be heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Rom. 4:13.

So Abraham was not made righteous by the law. The promise to Abraham was through the righteousness of faith. The promise to Abraham's seed is through the righteousness of faith. Then why deny that we are saved like Abraham was saved? It is not a new plan of salvation, Mr. Harper, but a new system of worship and service. Your theory forces you to deny the Word of God at every turn. Put salvation before and without works (Rom. 4:6) and it will all clear up.

ACTS 2:38 AND SCHOLARS

From pages 37 to 47 in his book Mr. Harper takes up Acts 2:38 and goes to scholars again. In this part of his work he quotes from, or claims to quote from Dr. Goodspeed, Ernest D. Burton, Dr. Weymouth, Dr. Geo. Campbell, Dr. James McKnight, Dr. Phillip Doodridge, and. Dr. C. B. Williams of Union University, Tennesee.  Dr. Williams is a Baptist. He also gives us comments from Adam Clark and Matthew Henry.

Mr. Harper's scholars are not going to help him any more than did Belshazzar's wise men. Dan. 5:7-8. It is going to prove a boom-a-rang.

First, I want to show how Mr. Harper has grossly misrepresented Dr. Williams, and has purposely perverted what Dr. Williams said, in order to deceive people. I wrote Dr. Williams and here is His answer:

"3518 Obispo

Tampa, Florida

October 2, 1940

 

Elder G. E. Jones

Neelyville, Mo.

 

Dear Bro. Jones:

Yours received concerning Mr. Harper's twisting of my translation of Acts 2:38. I am glad you wrote me to clarify it.

 

I am quoting it from the book open before me:

 

Peter said to them, "You must repent -- and, as an expression of it, let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ -- that your sins may be forgiven." Perhaps, he did not tell the folks how it was punctuated, which gives the INTERPRETATION. He gave my translation WORD FOR WORD. But as you quoted it to me, he did not PUNCTUATE IT AS I DID.

 

You can see at a glance, I am sure, with my punctuation, it does not substantiate the Campbellite claim that you MUST BE BAPTIZED. THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN, but THE BAPTIST POSITION (and the position of other evangelicals) that baptism is merely an "expression" or symbol of repentance and the work it does in the soul; that repentance is the indispensable condition of FORGIVENESS OF SINS. The two dashes after "repent" and "Christ", separate baptism from forgiveness but make the clause, "that your sins may be forgiven", dependent on "repent", not on "be baptized". This seems to be what Peter teaches in his epistle. (I Pet. 3:21.)

 

By the way, I am enclosing a review of my Translation. Why not put 'it in your library?        It makes many a knotty passage look clear as crystal. I have on hand a few copies, etc.

 

(The rest of the letter is personal. G. E. J.)

 

With good wishes, I am

Yours in Him Who Loves us all,

Chas. B. Williams."

 

Reader, here is Dr. Williams' letter  to me word for word, punctuation marks, capitals, quotation marks and all, just as he wrote to me. He said Harper twisted his translation of Acts 2:38. He said Harper left out the punctuation which gives the Interpretation.  He said he made forgiveness of sins depend upon "repent" and not on "be baptized". Dr. Williams says his translation substantiates the Baptist position, and not the Campbellite claim.  In order that the reader may see that Mr. Harper has left out Dr. William's punctuation, I will give it as Mr. Harper gave it in his book and then as Dr. Williams had it in his translation.

 

Here it is as Mr. Harper gives it:

 

"Peter said unto them, you must repent and as an expression of it let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ that you may have your sins forgiven."  (Note: the underscored words Mr. Harper has in italics.)

 

Dr. Williams' translation:

 

Peter said to them, "You must repent -- and as an expression of it, let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ -- that your sins may be forgiven."

 

You will notice that Mr. Harper left out the two dashes after "repent", and "Christ". This makes that part of the sentence enclosed in those dashes a parenthetical statement. As Mr. Williams says, it separates baptism from forgiveness, and makes the clause "that your sins may be forgiven" dependent on "repent", and not on "be baptized."

 

Now, reader, why did Mr. Harper leave out those dashes? He knew it changed the whole sense of the verse. By leaving out those two dashes, he made Dr. Williams teach the opposite of what he did teach. Here we have a fair example of "The sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive!  Eph. 4:14. If this is a fair example as to how Mr. Harper deals with the works of other men, you can see that he will not do to trust.

 

Now, Mr. Harper, just why did you leave out those dashes?  Were you ignorant of the fact that they   gave the interpretation of the verse?  Dr. Williams said they did. You quoted him as a scholar. If he is a scholar as you claim, then certainly he knows what his punctuation marks mean. If you say he does not know, then you repudiate the scholarship of one of your scholars.  If you, knew what those dashes meant and purposely left them out, why did you do it? Was it to deceive the people?  Do you call this dealing honestly with the Word, as Paul said he did, II Cor. 4:2, or as many whom Paul said "Corrupt the Word?" II Cor. 2:17 Have you not read where it is said, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived." II Tim. 3:13.  Did you apostatize when you purposely misrepresented Dr. Williams'    translation, or were you just ignorant?  I thought you had been to school and were wise enough, smart enough, intelligent enough, to know better.  Is this the result of studying psychology?

 

Now, Mr. Harper, who is the man that misrepresents? In leaving out those dashes, you misrepresent Dr. Williams and try to make it appear that he is on your side. Are these the good works you expect to carry you to heaven?

 

Reader, here we have one of those wolves in sheep's clothing.  Jesus said "Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matt. 7:15-16.   Dr. Williams said by leaving out his punctuation marks Harper had twisted his translation.  Do you think Mr. Harper was too ignorant to know that he was misrepresenting Dr. Williams when he did it? Harper claims to have a B. S. degree. Is he that ignorant?  If he knew he was leaving out those dashes and knew it changed the meaning, then did he not do it to deceive? Is that the mark of a true servant of God, or of one of the false teachers in sheep's clothing?

 

Now, Mr. Harper, does not the word expression carry with it the meaning of declare?  Dr. Williams’ translation reads "And, as an expression of it, let every one of you be baptized in the name of Christ. If you will go to your dictionary you will find that to be one of its meanings. So, Dr. Williams, one of your scholars, your own witness, is against you.

 

I do not have Dr. Goodspeed's  translation, but it is easy to see if Mr. Harper left out Dr. Goodspeed's punctuation marks as he did in the case of Dr. Williams he has also twisted his translation.  A man who would do that once would not hesitate to do it over and over.

 

Now, he says Dr. Weymouth translates Acts 2:38: "Repent; replied Peter and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins". This is practically the same as the King James' translation.         But it does not say "For the purpose of obtaining the remission of sins." That is the point.  Is baptism something one must have in order to obtain remission of sins?

 

It is the blood of Christ that washes us from sins. "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Rev. 1:5. Here we see that the blood of Christ washes us from sins.

 

Now, I issue a challenge to Mr. Harper or any Campbellite to bring the proof that we come in contact with the blood of Christ in the act of Baptism. He must prove that to sustain his point.  I affirm that we reach the blood of Christ before baptism. We reach it through faith.  "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, etc." Rom. 3:24-25. Here we see faith and not baptism brings us in contact with the blood of Christ.

 

"By whom also we have access (an entrance) into this grace wherein we stand". Rom. 5:2. We have found we are justified freely by His grace and we have access by faith into this grace. If Mr. Harper wants to say that faith here means the New Testament order of things, let him go back a few verses and read about how Abraham's belief (before Isaac was born) was imputed to him for righteousness. Was Abraham's belief a New Testament order of things?  See Rom. 4:19-22.  Then it says this was not written for Abraham's sake only but for ours also to whom it shall be imputed "If we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Rom. 4:23-24. So it simply has reference to us believing in God as Abraham believed in Him. Then follows the verses saying we are justified by faith and have  access by faith into this grace. Rom. 5:1-2.

 

Now, if I am right in my argument, then I should find some verse that says the believer will receive remission of sins.   Can I find it?  I certainly can.

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

 

Now we find in the Exodus of the children of Israel that they were sheltered by the blood of the Passover lamb three days before they were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and sea. Ex. Chapters 12-14. I Cor. 10:1-11.  We are told in I Cor. 5:7 that Christ is our Passover. The blood of their Passover was before baptism.  The blood of our Passover is before baptism. Now, Mr. Harper, come on with the proof that you come in contact with the blood of Christ in baptism.  Let it be "For", "Unto", "In order to", etc., as you quote various men as saying.  Do they say that "Baptism is in order that one might obtain forgiveness of sins?     Dr. Williams whom you claimed to quote said baptism was separated from forgiveness of sins.  He does not say you must be baptized in order to 'have forgiveness of sins.

 

MATTHEW 3:11 AND ACTS 2:38

 

John said "I indeed baptize you with water unto (eis) repentance", Matt. 3:11. Does that mean that they were to be baptized in order that they might repent, or as a declaration of their repentance? If you make it "In order to obtain repentance" then you have baptism preceding repentance. Then baptism must have been for the purpose of declaring their repentance. So Dr. Williams teaches in his translation. I can take your "For", "Unto", "In order to" and meet you on your own ground and show that in no case is baptism "In order to obtain forgiveness" but everywhere and always it is a symbol or expression of repentance, remission of sins, etc.

 

Let the men say what they really said and do not put interpretations in their translations that are not there. Suppose that some do translate "Eis" in Acts 2:38 "In order to"; which do they mean is "In order to", "Repent" or "Be baptized"? Dr. Williams said he made forgiveness of sins dependent on "repent" and not "be baptized".  If others translate it "In order to" do you know that they mean that baptism is "In order to obtain remission of sins"? Quit twisting the translations men make.

 3:19 THAT your sins be remited

ADAM CLARK

Mr. Harper gives Adam Clark's comments on Acts. 2:38. He quotes this man as saying, "For the remission or removal of sins -- (Harper could remember the dash here but forgot it when giving us Dr. Williams' translation)  that is "In reference to the remission or removal, of sins." Receive the baptism in reference to the removal of sins? and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, by whose agency alone the efficiency of the covenant is applied and by whose refining power the heart is purified. It was by being baptized in the name of Christ that men took upon themselves the profession of Christianity and it was in consequence of this that the disciples of Christ were called Christians."

There are many difficulties in this verse; but the simple meaning of the place may be easily apprehended.
        Noah believed in God; walked uprightly before him, and found grace in his sight;
        he obeyed him in building the ark,
        and God made it the means of his salvation from the waters of the deluge.

Now as the waters of the flood could not have saved Noah and his family,
        had they not made use of the ark;
        so the water of baptism saves no man,
                but as it is the means of his getting his heart purified by the Holy Spirit,
                and typifying to him that purification.

Now Harper adds, "Here we have one of, if not the greatest Commentator on earth saying that, First, you receive baptism; second, you receive the Holy Spirit; third, The Spirit administers the blood of the covenant; fourth Then you are purified." 

A greater commentator, than Dr. Clark, Luke, the inspired writer of Acts tells us the House of Cornelius, received the Holy Spirit before baptism. Luke's order: Believed, Received Holy Spirit, then, baptized.  Acts. 10:43-48.  

The holy spirit or breath or wind FELL on Cornelius  epipiptō , of storms, toisi barbaroisi ho borēs
of winds meeting one another, dialogismoi epipiptousi tini” Plu.Oth.9.

Spiritus means  a breathing or gentle blowing of air, a breath.2. The breath of a god, inspiration: by a divine inspiration, Spiritus, personified, a spirit

However, Clark says that the spirit or BREATH which caused Cornelius to speak in a language the doubting Jews understood was to prove that he was was justified and pure in the eyes of God: he was a godfearer.  Clark will say that this event does not change the fact that baptism was to enable him to be added to the church: baptism Clark says was a MEANS OF GRACE and out PUBLIC CONFESSION.

HARPER A BLIND GUIDE

Mr. Harper's order, taken from Mr. Clark's comments puts baptism before the purification of the heart.  The purification of the heart is an inward change.  Baptism is an outward affair.

Cornelius was a God fearer and worked righteous deeds: that made him a righteous person and qualified to become a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ.  However, he was not "saved" in the sense that he obeyed in baptism which was the only way to ask for or request A PERSONAL HOLY SPIRIT without which, as Clark notes, he would not be a member of the church-kingdom and therefore still outside of public confessors. Clark says that whatever happened with the holy "breath" it did not replace water baptism which was/is a MEANS of God's grace. G. E. Jones twists E.R. Harper and Adam Clark

So, like the Pharisees, Harper depends upon an outward work to bring an inward cleansing.

Obeying the prophecy  and direct command of Jesus Christ is NOT a work of the Law nor a work of self-righteousness.  To call a command of Jesus a WORK of a pharisees is pretty ignorant and evil.  

"Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may be clean also." Matt. 23:26. Campbellite righteousness is all outward.

Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: In Ezekiel 33 the Spirit OF Christ named performance preachers for hire, singers and instrument players.  E. R. Harper simply obeys the direct command of Scripture: G. E.. Edwards says that God was not smart enough to have His will for mankind delivered in human words and written on paper as the only way to guard AGAINST those who must hear voices giving them the message God was not capable of doing.

G.E.Jones does not know the meaning of righteousous: all godly people who do righteous deeds in keeping with the laws of their society are righteous or justified.  A Justified person gives a citizen the RIGHT to go before the judge and ask to be acquited.  A justified person has "standing" before God and is qualified to REQUEST a good consciousness or a holy spirit as the meaning of 1 Peter 3:21 BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU.

Both the Spirit of Christ in Isaiah and Adam Clark make baptism our confession or our faith.  Pistis means to comply.

Rom. 10:16 But they have not all OBEYED the gospel.
        For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath BELIEVED our report?
2Th. 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them
        that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Pet. 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
        and if it first begin at us,
        what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God

God put all of His authority in a human probably about 5ft 8inches tall and weight about 150 pounds of flesh: cooked down costing hundreds of dollers He would be worth about 25 dollars. How can any one say that God does not always work through INSTRUMENTAL MEANS. How could Jesus obeying the outward act of being crucified on a cross have any effect on the human spirit.

E. R. Harper never said nor ever thought that he DEPENDED on his outward work to save him.  Baptism is only available for those who believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. Obeying a form is ANTI-TUPOS.  Anti means instead of. We are baptized INSTEAD of dying on a cross.

Depending on baptism, an outward work to make an inward change they become blind guides. Had Mr. Harper's heart been right he would not have tried to deceive by leaving out Dr. Williams' punctuation marks and twisting his translation.

God makes the inward change by giving us a holy spirit (ours) ONLY after we have been baptized FOR the remission of sins. That is how it was prophesied and that is what Jesus exampled and commanded and written for our learning. If you declare as a hypocrite and a pharisees anyone who says that God cannot use external means is despising God which is the meaning of blasphemy. 

THE ROMAN TOGA AND GAL. 3:27

G. E. Jones claims to have ORIGINATED a vew that Paul is peaking of putting on a TOGA at the same time we are baptized INTO Christ really means putting on GARMENTS related to the ROLES of the Roman World.  Scripture speaks ANTITHESIS: instead of putting on the garments of gay young men or prostitutes we are SAFE FROM they by putting on CHRIST.  To become Disciples of Christ we PUT ON CHRIST in baptism as the only way to REQUEST that Jesus admit us as His Disciple. In any respects, Paul says we are saved BY FAITH which means BAPTIZED INTO Christ.

Now if we will study Gal. 3:24 to 4:5 in the light of the above Roman custom we can better understand what Paul meant when he spoke about "Putting on" Christ in baptism.

Roman custom or traditions are always the PAGAN THESIS: we do not put on the toga of FREEDOM FROM PARENTS but we put on CHRIST who is NOT a garment of freedom but the garment of submission. Putting on Christ is the ANTITHESIS of the Roman patterns.

The point is putting on CHRIST: We are CLOTHED with Christ and assume HIS righteous. We are hiden in Christ. The garments of LINEN are often the garments of the prositute: a woman wearning a man's garment or toga was advertizing herself. Togas are what women wear in Choirs or men in clergy garb. David cast off the STOLA and went naked with the dancing and instrumental girls.

Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For [enim what I mean is that]
        as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We have NOT put on Christ until we are BAPTIZED into Christ

Gal 3:27 hosoi gar eis Khriston ebaptisthēte, Khriston enedusasthe:

Gar  I. introducing the reason or cause of what precedes,  in introducing proofs or examples,
c. to introduce a detailed description or narration already alluded to. for of course, for you know

Eis means into and never because of.

bapt-izō ,  Pass., “baptisthētō hekastos eis aphesin hamartiōn” Act.Ap.2.38; “eis Khriston” Ep.Rom.6.3, etc.:—Med., dip oneself, LXX4 Ki.5.14; get oneself baptized, Act.Ap.22.16, 1 Ep.Cor.10.2:

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Gal 3.[27] quicumque enim in Christo baptizati estis Christum induistis

Matt. 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

2440.  himation, him-at´-ee-on; neuter of a presumed derivative of e¶nnumi ennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer): — apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

2067. esthesis, es´-thay-sis; from a derivative of 2066; clothing (concretely): — government.

ĕnim , To corroborate a preceding assertion, like equidem, certe, vero; hence freq. connected with these particles, esp. with vero (v. under B.), truly, certainly, to be sure, indeed, in fact:    yes indeed, yes truly, of a truth, to be sure, certainly, indeed: To prove or show the grounds of a preceding assertion, for: haec sunt non nugae; To explain a preceding assertion, for instance, namely:

enduō or endunō (enduneō v.

khi^tōn I. in early times, only of a man's tunic (the woman's being pepl  malakos, eunnētos, kithōn podēnekēs, worn by Babylonians,

II. coat of mail, prob. of leather covered with scales or rings
coats of iron scales with sleeves
2Cor. 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

indŭo ,  alicui insignia Bacchi,” Ov. M. 6, 598.— “Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum Induitur,” Verg. A. 2, 392: “et eamst (sc. vestem) indutus?

When the young Roman reached the time in life when he was set free from his schoolmaster or tutor he publicly declared his freedom by "Putting on" the manly toga, and wearing it in public. So, when the Galatians had been made free from the law,

through faith in Christ Jesus they "Put on" Christ in baptism as an outward declaration of their freedom. Baptism does not make us free, but declares our freedom.

Paul said that we PUT ON Christ WHEN we are baptized: we are baptized INTO Christ and not baptized BECAUSE we don't need it.

The manly toga the young Roman "Put on" did not make him free from his schoolmaster or tutor. It was a declaration of his freedom. When a woman "Puts on" black it does not make her a widow, but declares her to already be a widow. A general does not put on his uniform with stars to become a General, but to declare that he is a general.

The difference is that Jesus Christ PUTS ON HIMSELF only when BAPTISM NOW SAVES US because WE request A good conscience or A holy spirit. In fact, the young boy  did NOT put on the toga when HE decided he was free: he was free when the citizens say so.

So we "Put on" Christ in baptism for the purpose of declaring our freedom which we already have in Christ. Always, everywhere it is the child of God who is to do the "Putting on". "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The antecedent of the pronoun "You" in this verse is "Children of God" in the above verse.

It was the saints of Rome (Rom. 1:7) whom Paul admonished to "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ" in Rom. 13:14. It was the "Elect of God" whom Paul tells to "Put on" bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and  longsuffering.  Col. 3:12. It was the Ephesian brethren whom Paul told to "Put on" the whole armor of God. Eph. 6:11.

Rom. 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship,
        for [eis] obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Rom. 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Rom. 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
        Grace to you and peace from God our Father,
         and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are SAVED BY FAITH for (enim) what I means is those who have been baptized INTO Christ have PUT ON Christ.  Even believers who are caught up in evil can Put on Chris by putting on the ARMOUR OF LIGHT.

Rom. 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
        let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,
        and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom. 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day;
        not in rioting and drunkenness,
         not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

kōmos , aul-ētris , idos, hē, A.flute-girl, Simon.178, Ar.Ach.551, X.HG2.2.23, Pl.Prt.347d,
II. the ode sung at one of these festive processions, Pi.P.8.20, 70, O.4.10, B.8.103; “meligaruōn tektones kōmōn” Pi.N.3.5, cf. Ar.Th.104, 988 (

Rom. 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
        and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

As the Roman put on the various kinds of togas as an outward declaration of his circumstances, so God means for us to demonstrate our relationship to Him by "Putting on Christ" in baptism, to demonstrate ourselves as “the Elect of God” by “Putting on” a kindly disposition which becomes us as children of God.

Paul declares G. E. Jones a false teacher: in baptism we declare ourselves a SLAVE and we do not wear SOFT GARMENTS.

Rom. 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
        were baptized into his death?  [A Shroud]
Rom. 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him BY baptism into death:
        that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
        even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,
        we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Rom. 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
        his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
        whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom. 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin,
        but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom. 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

If the Holy Spirit is the agency through which the blood is applied as Dr. Clark said, then Cornelius and his household received the blood before baptism, since they received the Holy Spirit before baptism.

Spirit is literally WIND or BREATH: we contect the blood OF Christ when we obey that "pattern capable of being imitated." Neither Cornelius or we are SAVED in the sense of being added to the Church BY Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the MIND of Christ: Jesus said MY WORDS are Spirit and Life.  The Spirit of Christ left His body when He died and had nothing to do with baptism.  Baptism is obeying a FORM of the death and baptism is the only place we connect with the DEATH of Christ before we get A new, holy spirit.

Clark: This prejudice would have operated so as finally to prevent them from preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, had not God, by a particular interposition of his mercy and goodness, convinced Peter, and through him all the other apostles, that he had accepted the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and would put no difference between the one and the other,
         purifying their hearts by faith,
        and giving the Gentiles the Holy Ghost, as he had before given it to the Jews.
        The means which he used to produce this conviction in the minds of the apostles are detailed at length in the following chapter.

Jesus shed his blood on the Cross and was buried in a tomb: this is a type "capable of being imitated." 

God had declared that no one not even swine were IMPURE. By the faith of Jesus

Adam Clark on Cornelius

Clark 10:15: What God hath cleansed - God, who made at first the distinction between Jews and Gentiles, has a right to remove it, whenever and by whatever means he pleases: he, therefore, who made the distinction, for wise purposes, between the clean and the unclean, now pronounces all to be clean. He had authority to do the first; he has authority to do the last. God has purposed that the Gentiles shall have the Gospel preached to them: what he therefore has cleansed, "that call not thou common."

Clark 10:47  Can any man forbid water - These had evidently received the Holy Ghost, and consequently were become members of the mystical body of Christ; and yet St. Peter requires that they shall receive baptism by water, that they might become members of the Christian Church.

So we find that Jesus Christ had his water baptism as well as John; and that even he who gave the baptism of the Holy Ghost required the administration of water baptism also. Therefore the baptism of the Spirit did not supersede the baptism by water; nor indeed can it;
        as baptism, as well as the supper of our Lord,
        were intended, not only to be means of grace,
        but standing, irrefragable proofs of the truth of Christianity.

Acts 10:48

To be baptized in the name of the Lord - That is, in the name of Jesus Christ;
        which implied their taking upon them the public profession of Christianity,
        and believing on Christ Jesus as their Savior and Sovereign;
        for, as they were baptized in his name, they professed thereby to be his disciples and followers.

Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you,
        Whosoever shall confess me before men,
        him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

Corneleus was a righteous man and a god fearer: the sound of wind or breath caused Cornelius to speak a language which silenced the doubting Jews.  He was righteous or pure in a ceremonial sense.  That did not make Him a disciple of Christ nor a member of the Church of Christ. Only those who were baptized were saved in the SAFE sense and accepted or added to the church those who were baptized. Peter was to COMMAND words by which Cornelius might be saved: Peter commanded him to be baptized.

So far as the writer knows this is a new exposition of this passage of scripture in Galatians. Last spring he ran across this word "Toga" in the dictionary. After this he went to the public library at Poplar Bluff, Mo., and read some books on Roman antiquities. At once it became evident that Paul had in mind the Roman custom of putting their young boys under the care of a servant, called the schoolmaster or tutor. This passage in Gal. 3:24 to 4:5 shows this to be the case. When he spoke to the Galatians about "Putting on" Christ by being baptized, it was evident that he had in mind the custom of the young Roman "Putting on" the manly toga to declare his freedom from his schoolmaster. Baptism is to the child of God, what the manly toga was to the young Roman. The law was the schoolmaster, baptism is our manly toga.

 

By: G. E. JONES.

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