Volume 1 	            Lawrence, Kansas    		October 1961	  	       Number 10

"But he lied unto him." This statement is taken from a story in I Kings chapter 13. The Lord had sent a young prophet to condemn the idolatry of the wicked Jeroboam, with the added instructions not to remain to eat or drink in that place. An old prophet deceived the young man by telling him that God had said to bring him back. The young man believed the lie and as a result lost his life. His sincerity in accepting the falsehood of the old man did not save him.

Many people in the world today affirm it makes no difference what a man believes religiously, just so he is honest and sincere in his belief. This would imply that the belief of a lie is as good as belief of truth so long as we do not know it is a lie. Many people have mistakenly swallowed poison thinking it was wholesome medicine, but the sincerity of their belief did not offset the effect of the poison.

Others have made heavy financial investments in certain stocks and bonds believing they were of much value, only to lose all they invested. Why will men adopt a rule of action in the realm of the spirit which they know will not hold true in other lines of human action? Sincerity can no more turn falsehood into truth than it can change the poisonous toadstool into an edible mushroom. It is a material truth that two and two make four. No deception or sincerity can change that fact, nor will any amount of specious reasoning cause two and two to make six. This is the unalterable law of nature. The God of nature is also the God of the Bible, and the laws of truth in the Bible are as unalterable as those in nature.

In the Bible God sets forth certain imperishable and important truths essential to man's salvation. Man's redemption and sanctification is accomplished through the truth. Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth"—(John 17:17). False teaching and sincerity can never produce the same results as the truth. It is of the utmost importance that men learn and obey the truth, for Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free"—(John 8:32). Truth is not men's opinions, nor is it subject to their whims and fancies. God's spiritual truth is as unchangeable as material truth. The devil told Eve a lie, and being deceived she believed it. Her sincerity did not save her from the punishment of the Lord (Genesis chapter 3). The Jews in ignorance, crucified Christ, believing he was an impostor (Acts 3:1.7), but this did not justify their horrible deed. Paul, with an approving conscience, persecuted the church of God, but later he admitted he was the "chief of sinners"—(I Timothy 1:12-16.) Many Christians were put to death by zealots under the delusive impression that they were doing "God's service"—(John 16:2), but they were murderers of Gods people just the same. Jacob believed the lie told him by his sons as to the fate of his favorite son, Joseph (Genesis 37:32-35), but Joseph still lived regardless of Jacob's belief.

You have a soul of infinite value. A great price has been paid for its redemption. How foolhardy to risk your greatest possession through lack of knowledge of the truth. It is imperative that you accept only the revealed truth of God in behalf of your salvation. In the Bible God reveals a universal law of salvation, and no one can be saved except through obedience to that law, for God's blessings are pronounced only on the obedient. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city"—(Revelation 22:14). Christ became the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him"—(Hebrews. 5:9). Accepting the false teachings of designing men, cannot bring you to God. Jesus predicted that false teachers would arise whose deception would be so great as to deceive the "very elect"—(Matthew 24:24). And Satan has the power to transform himself into "an angel of light" and his servants are "ministers of righteousness"—(II Corinthians 11:13-15). The word of God and it alone can perfect the man of God "unto all good works"—(II Timothy 3:16-17) for therein is revealed everything a man must believe and obey in order to inherit eternal life. As your friend we urge upon you the necessity of studying that word in order that you might be "wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus."