THE NEW CREATION

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Volume 87, Numbers 7 & 8 July/Aug 2024

Contents
Page
Contents….....………………………………………………….….1
Editorial: The Hope of Glory...……...…...………………………2
Giving Thanks in Everything..…..…………...………...……......4
Test the Spirits …………..…….............................. …...………7
Telling Others………………...……..…….......................….......9
Words to Live by…………………………..…..………...……....12
Knowledge and Love…………….……………….……………..15
Major Evolutionary Premise Fails in Real-Life Test………….18
The Light and Life of Men (Part 2)………………....................21
Baptized for the Dead……….……………………………..…...26
That I May Know Him (poem)………….……………………....30
Be Responsible…. ………………………………………………32
A Portrait of Jesus: Bringing His Father Glory………………..34
Prayer List………………………………………………..……....35
Grads/Websites………..………………………...…………...…36
Conferences and Conventions ...………..……...……….........37

NOTE: The thoughts presented in the articles are those of the writer and
are not necessarily totally endorsed by the New Creation Staff. “Study to
show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15.
“Prove ALL things and hold fast to what is good.” – 1 Thess. 5:21.

The New Creation magazine and all of CDMI’s other publications are sent out
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the world. All donations are tax exempt.

1
 The Hope of Glory
Editor’s
The apostle Paul writes of the mystery hid Page
from generations but now made known to the
saints. What is the mystery? He answers,
“Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col.1:27).
What is Christ in you? If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creation, as we read in 2 Cor.5:17.
It’s the begetting and development of the spirit in the mind of
the consecrated follower, transforming him from the mind of
the flesh to the mind of Christ. If transformed over time into a
tried and true believer in submission to God’s will, we have a
hope that enters within the vail of the most holy. (Rom. 12:1,
2; Heb. 6:19)
What is the glory that we hope for? This question in-
vites a discussion on God’s plan of the ages. Thus, Peter
writes of three worlds: the world that was, the present world
(heavens and earth), and the world to come wherein dwells
righteousness. These three worlds make up the progressive
plan of God for the creation, fall, redemption, and restitution of
all – all who will. (2Peter 3)
God created Adam in His own image and likeness; Adam
had no tendency to sin. He was perfect. In God’s arrange-
ment, and as expressed in Genesis, it was not good for man
to be alone, so God created Eve from Adam. They were the
first pair and did well until Lucifer, a spiritual son of God saw
an opportunity to deceive Eve and persuade her to disobey
God. He told the first lie, “God knows you shall not surely die.”
When Adam realized that Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit,
he made the decision to eat of the same tree of the knowledge
of good and evil and die with her. That brought them into a
condition that did not have God’s approval. Ultimately, God
made animal skins for them as coverings and as a penalty
sent them out of the Garden of Eden to till the ground and
bear children. The average life span was a lot longer then than
it is today. Adam lived 930 years, yet he came to the end of
his life and died. His offspring having been born in sin and
shaped in iniquity were under the death penalty. All die be-

2
cause of Adam’s sin. All are born sinners. “There are none
righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:10).
However, God in His plan of the ages had determined to
rescue the race from its fallen condition and bring it to perfec-
tion of being and mind. This was the grand plan, and in the
three worlds and associated ages, God has been working to
bring His plan to fruition. The first world or dispensation expe-
rienced the fall of man and ended with the flood. The second
world (also referred to as “this present evil world” is from the
flood and goes forward to the return of Christ and the estab-
lishment of his Kingdom here on earth. The third world, or last
world mentioned in the scriptures, runs from the establishment
of his Kingdom here on earth and lasts 1000 years, the mil-
lennium of Rev. 20.
In each of these “worlds,” there are objectives that God is
accomplishing. In the world that was before the flood, mankind
was learning the exceeding sinfulness of sin. The angels as
observers also had a great teaching period in what they saw
of iniquity in the earth. In the second “world,” God started the
development of a nation through promises to men of faith, no-
tably Abraham, to whom God promised that he would have a
son and a lineage through which all the families of the earth
would be blessed. The nation of Israel was part of this prom-
ise, but the main seed was Jesus, because on him all hope for
salvation from sin and death rested.
A further development in this present evil world was the
selection of followers of Christ to live and reign with him during
the “world to come,” his 1000 year kingdom. This message of
the high calling opened to Jews at Pentecost and Gentiles
shortly thereafter. This opportunity was given to those of faith
to come into Christ, develop his spirit through the aid of the
holy spirit, and if transformed by the renewing of the mind, to
be associated with him in the work of resurrecting, educating,
blessing and uplifting mankind back to perfection of thought,
word, and deed. That is the hope of glory that God has
made available to us. If we have this hope, let us run with
patience the race that is before us (Heb. 12:1).
R. Whittaker

3
 Giving Thanks in Everything
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all cir-
cumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (ESV)
“Giving thanks in all circumstances.” Is this possible? The an-
swer is “Yes, it is possible.” It is important to note what the text
says and what it does not say. The text does not say we
should give thanks for every circumstance, but it does say that
we should “give thanks in every circumstance.” There is a big
difference between the two. God would not require us to do
the impossible. It is interesting that the Apostle Paul is quite
assertive in the above statement. He doesn’t give it as a sug-
gestion, but states clearly, it is the will of God that we should
do this. Maybe we have not considered the ramifications of not
giving thanks. This is where obedience to the will of God
comes into the picture. Are there some benefits to giving
thanks in all circumstances. The answer is a resounding,
“yes!”
While we are not required to be thankful for sickness, pain,
loss of loved ones, possessions, etc., to give thanks to God in
these unwanted circumstances will help us take the focus off
ourselves and seek the benefit that may be hidden to us at the
moment. For one thing, it will be helpful in changing our atti-
tude from negative to one more positive as we look for the po-
tential benefits of the experience. As we look away from self,
we can encounter at least three things that will be blessings:
we’ll be more sympathetic, compassionate, and empathetic.
Sympathy moves you to feel for another person’s situation or
condition.
Compassion moves you to not only feel for their situation, but
to act and do something to help them.
Empathy moves you to enter the feelings and become one
with that person in their distress or difficulty.
There is something that we can learn in any given circum-
stance. Any of the above three attributes mentioned can be
4
learned best by experience. Unless we have gone through
something similar there is no way that we can truly enter
deeply into the feelings of what someone else is experiencing.
But if we have, then we can be used by the Lord to be a real
blessing to them in their distress. Sympathy, compassion, and
empathy aren’t something that come about naturally. By na-
ture, most of us have inherited a hardness of heart that can
only be softened by personal experiences motivated by divine
love. This can happen only as we look to the Lord for why He
has allowed us to undergo any particular circumstance.
Someone who has never had financial needs normally has
little compassion for someone less fortunate, even though
they may feel obliged to give something to help them. Feeling
sympathy, compassion, or empathy are quite different than
just feeling obligated.
Someone who has never lost a cherished loved-one can
never enter into the feelings of someone who is grieving for a
spouse, child, or friend they were especially close to. Without
experience, we can only imagine what they are going through.
They can be sympathetic only in a limited capacity and in of-
fering help and comfort.
Anyone who has never suffered severe pain or a life-
threatening illness, such as cancer, can only imagine what
another is suffering, thinking, and experiencing. But if some-
one has suffered similarly, it will make all the difference in their
ability to help the one suffering. This being the case, enables
one to not only sympathize but to also enter a much deeper
level of empathizing because they have been in their shoes
and know much of what the other person is going through, and
are then able to offer wiser counsel and encouragement (2
Cor. 1:3, 4).
What is an example of a way we can give thanks in a situa-
tion that would not seem like something we would normally
do? In the grieving for someone who has lost a loved one, it
may be helpful to share some personal experiences and
memories that you remember having of the loved one who
5
died. Contrary to the way some think, that we should avoid
mentioning their names, it is good and helpful to freely talk
about the one that is no longer here for this is telling the griev-
ing person that their loved one is remembered, that they have
not been forgotten and that we are thankful that we were
blessed to have known them.
Our theme text says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in ALL circumstances…” It is always good to know
that we are never alone in any of our circumstances, for that
brings us comfort and peace, something we can be grateful for
and give thanks for in our prayers. To remember that the
Scriptures hold out to us many promises such as “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus said, “I will never leave
you, nor forsake you….” (Heb. 13:5). May we take such prom-
ises to heart and give thanks as we pass through difficult cir-
cumstances knowing that our Lord is there beside us.
Not only are we to be thankful and rejoice that we always
have the Lord with us in all circumstances, but to realize also
that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who understand,
who are praying and supporting us. This is surely another
great blessing for which to give thanks and render praise to
our God.
E. Weeks

Some additional thoughts:

Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more. If
you concentrate on what you do not have, you will never, ever
have enough.”

When you are grateful, fear disappears, and blessings follow.

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings and

turn routine jobs into joy.

6
 Test the Spirits
In 1 John 4:1-3, the apostle said, “Dear friends, do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge
Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which
you have heard is coming, and even now is already in the
world.” (NIV)
The apostle Paul tells us: “The god of this age (Satan) has
blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they cannot see
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God.” (II Corinthians 4:4)
And Paul goes on to say: “Satan himself masquerades as an
angel of light. It is not surprising then if his servants masquer-
ade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their
actions deserve.” (II Corinthians 11:14-15)
The apostle Peter told us to: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your
enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, be-
cause you know that your brothers throughout the world are
undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (I Peter 5:8-9)
In Peter’s second epistle, he gives this warning: “There were
also false prophets among the people, just as there will be
false teachers among you. Many will follow their shameful
ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” (II Peter
2:1-2)
Paul identifies a “lawless one” in II Thessalonians 2:8-12, “And
then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus
will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the
splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be
in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and every sort of evil
that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because
they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason
7
God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe
the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not be-
lieved the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
The battle line is clear. Our leader led the way. In His testimo-
ny to Pilate, He said: “For this reason I was born (and for this
cause) I came into the world. To testify to the truth. Everyone
on the side of the truth listens to Me.” (John 18:37)
We have been given ample warning about our enemy who ex-
changes the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:25) Our chief
defense is God’s word delivered through the writings and
words of Our Lord and the apostles.
Remember what Paul instructed Timothy: “Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who
does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the
word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)
And in his letter to the Ephesian church, he said:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on
the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against
the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against
the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the full armor of
God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to
stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of
the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the
spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in
mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
Test the sprits! God Bless!
D. Anas
8
 Telling Others
Communication is the means whereby we make known to
others our ideas, fears, hopes, love, knowledge, and all other
available information that we wish to share. Communication is
universal. All people in the world have various means of com-
municating, speech being the leading one. Communication
can be soft and sweet, given in love, or it can be harsh and
cruel when prompted by hatred. It can be brisk and business-
like, imperiously commanding, pitifully pleading, reverently ho-
ly, worldly and profane, irresistibly humorous, deadly serious,
or it can be just everyday conversation. It all depends on the
persons, subjects, places, situations, and circumstances.
Areas of Communication
There are various areas of communications between a) hus-
band and wife, b) parent and children, c) brothers and sisters,
d) business associates, e) friends, f) nations, and g) God and
man. Each type of communication has been developed ac-
cording to the need, so that each field (i.e., medicine, law, ed-
ucation, science, etc.) has their specific language and words
unique to themselves. This is also true among the students of
God’s Word. We have our own terminology when we com-
municate with other Christians.
For many centuries, the spoken word was the only means of
communication among men. This was followed by the hand-
written word, and later the printed word. With the latter meth-
od, the dissemination of knowledge became more widespread.
Newspapers, books, magazines, audio and video tapes, tele-
phone, telegraph, television, radio, and in recent years the in-
ternet all transmit an endless flood of knowledge and infor-
mation around the world. This is a sign that we are living in the
time of the end as predicted by Daniel 12:4.
Our communication with God depends primarily on prayer and
the study of His Word, the Bible. The more we pray and read
the Scriptures, the more we will be in tune with His will for us.
Our enlightenment comes through God’s Holy Spirit revealing
truth to us.

9
Our communication with our brethren depends on both the
written and the spoken word. We should keep an open chan-
nel with everyone at all times. We need to keep in touch often
with one another. Open communication can be the means of
eliminating misunderstandings, healing breaches, and bringing
about peace and unity.
Communication has been in existence on earth since man’s
creation. We have the record of God communicating with Ad-
am in the Garden of Eden. He spoke to Cain, Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Prophets, and
many others. Except for Cain, all these men were ambassa-
dors for God.
Ambassadors for Christ
Likewise, we also are to be ambassadors for Christ in the
world, to tell others of God’s love, about our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ who died on Calvary’s cross for our sins, and
about the wonderful plan God has in store for all men when
Jesus returns to set up God’s Kingdom. We can tell them of
the coming resurrection of the dead and the restitution of all
things, and of the high calling by which God is selecting out of
every nation a people for His Name to be the bride of His Son
during this Gospel age to be ...“heirs of God and joint-heirs
with Jesus Christ” (Rom. 8:17).
Yes, here is an area of communication where we can do the
most good for mankind. We can bring light into the darkness
of people’s lives. We can bring hope to those who are in des-
pair. We can bring comfort to those that mourn, understanding
to the confused and peace to those who are fearful. We do all
this and more by telling and sharing with others what we have
learned from God’s Word. Most blessed -- we can tell others
of the wonderful relationship that they can have with God by
accepting the gift of Salvation and then becoming footstep fol-
lowers of His dear Son. Jesus said that we are to be lights in
the world (Mt. 5:14-16). Let’s not “hide our light under a bush-
el,” but instead put it on a candlestick so that it may shine out
brightly to all that come in contact with us.

10
Let us not be like the Dead Sea, which receives water from
the River Jordan but never gives it out. Rather, let us be like
the Sea of Galilee, which receiving water generously lets it
flow out. If we are unable to express ourselves verbally about
all the wonderful things God has made known to us, then we
can communicate by way of tracts or booklets. If we cannot do
the talking, let us ask a more capable brother or sister to help.
Sharing the Scriptures with our relatives, our neighbors, our
fellow workers and any who may have an open ear, will prove
our faithfulness to Jesus’ commission to tell it out to all the
world for a witness and to make disciples of all nations. The
Lord will bless our efforts to His Praise and Glory!
G. Boccaccio

I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story Of gracious heav’nly love
How Jesus left his glory That wondrous love to prove.
I love to tell the story, Because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings, As nothing else would do.

I love to tell the story! More wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies Of all our golden dreams,
I love to tell the story! It did so much for me;
And that is just the reason, I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story! ‘tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it More wonderfully sweet,
I love to tell the story, For some have never heard
The message of salvation From God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story! For those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory, I sing a new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.

Hymns of Dawn

11
 Words to Live By
An expression familiar to most is, “What Goes Around,
Comes Around.” It unfortunately is usually expressed in re-
gard to a negative. To me, it was at one time a strange saying,
but later learned it rightly expressed that what one does to an-
other, whether good or bad, will sooner or later be visited upon
oneself. It seems to be an expression coined by man, but is it
scriptural? As will be shown, it is scriptural, and in the negative
serves as a warning, words to be taken to heart….words to
live by. But to be clear, it also pertains to good works, ex-
pressed in Ecclesiastes 11:1, “Cast your bread upon the wa-
ters, for after many days you will find it again.” Let us also heed
the warning of Mark 4:24 “…. Take heed what ye hear: with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto
you that hear shall more be given.” (Mat. 25:28) Clearly when
we use our abilities and resources in accordance with God’s
will, they will be rewarded….why, because we are being a
“good and faithful servant” doing the will of God who we must
serve (Mat 25:21). This is not an unusual concept. For in-
stance, even in this evil world a good “work ethic” is rewarded.
But to be rewarded, and do our Master’s will, we must first
know Him and His expectations, being led by His Word which
we find in the Holy Scriptures, and revealed by the Holy Spirit
that the Lord imparts to us (Luke 11:9). And if one thinks about
it, what God requires is also required in every aspect of our
walk. The best and most effective policies developed by man
for use in his course of business is centered on what is con-
tained in God’s Holy Word. It is God’s Word once absorbed in-
to our being that enables us to make the right and profitable
choices, every time. Honestly, we really need little else.
Getting back to our topic, living by God’s Word requires faith
that the Lord will repay, whether our works are good or bad. It
may be through men, but remember, it is of the Lord. Consider
Heb.11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” When hurt or
abused, God tells us to leave all these matters in His hands.
12
Romans 12:18 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Venge-
ance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” We are also warned
not to let the sun go down on our anger, otherwise it will lead to
sin (Eph. 4:26). We must realize that we are God’s children,
and He cares for us, even more than any earthly parent cares
for his/her child, so we must resist the fleshly urge to take mat-
ters into our own hands, but rather put our faith in our Heaven-
ly Father, knowing He will take the proper course in His due
time, and understanding and believing from the depth of our
hearts that He watches over us. Should we doubt? Remember
the example He gave us of Cornelius, a generous and God-
fearing gentile. We read concerning him in Acts 10: 3-4, “He
saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an
angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cor-
nelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said,
What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and
thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” God’s
care and reward to Cornelius far transcended the physical for
by his obedience and mercy, Cornelius was givien the oppor-
tunity to be a “new creature” in Christ, to receive a heavenly
reward (Rev. 17:14). The Bible provides so many examples to
build our faith. Remember Joseph who suffered great injus-
tice, who through faith in God, and his obedience or faithful-
ness through many trials, was preserved and greatly exalted
(Gen 37, 39, 41). Let us remember Job, who being described
as a perfect man by the Lord, suffered beyond measure at the
hand of Satan. After his losing everything, yet by unwavering
faith in God said in Job 1:21, “Naked came I out of my moth-
er's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave,
and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the
LORD.” By his unwavering faith the Lord blessed him with
greater understanding. Job proclaimed, “I have heard of thee
by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job
42:5-6). Job’s faith in God enabled him to stand and not be
shaken through great tribulation, for which he was not only
greatly rewarded materially, but more importantly, spiritually,
having grown in understanding. Through his faith, he was de-
13
livered from the “leviathan” a fearless monster which Job
41:34 declares, “he beholds all high things: he is king over all
the children of pride.” (Prov. 16:18) Therefore, it should
come as no surprise that even victorious, Job humbled himself
before God “in dust and ashes.” In both of these wonderful
examples it was faith in God that provided deliverance. Re-
member Eph 6:16, “Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked.”
It seems in this world that many if not most of our trials are
self-inflicted, yet provide us an opportunity to learn and grow
spiritually. The wonderful example of the prodigal son that Je-
sus gave us is to this point (Luke 15:11-32). After riotous liv-
ing, the prodigal son fell on hard times where he suffered
great depravation. Desperation led to his realizing that his fa-
ther’s servants were cared for, and now far better off than he.
Desperate and feeling he was not worthy to reassume his po-
sition as his father’s son having squandered his inheritance in
riotous living, he returned home repentant and humbled, seek-
ing only to be a servant. But his father rejoiced, having re-
ceived back not just a son, but a wise and faithful man who
now knew the love of his father. We have to always under-
stand and appreciate the love of our Heavenly Father, accept-
ing His every leading and striving always to be worthy of His
love and care.
We see time and time again, that the Lord’s judgements and
what he allows, even His chastisements, are for the ultimate
benefit of those he loves (Rev.3:19). We must also remember
that God’s judgements, unlike man’s, are not vindictive, but
are for our learning. Let us by patient endurance follow the
many examples given by the Lord, and lay up our treasures in
heaven (Mat. 6:20).
J. DiCesare

In God's works we see His hand; in His Word we see His face.

The Bible is a guide book; the way to master it is to let it master you.

14
 Knowledge and Love
One of the Apostle Paul’s most meaningful sayings is,
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” He does not mean
to depreciate knowledge or glorify ignorance. It is right for us
to be learners. We should always be seeking after knowledge.
He who is content to be ignorant in this world, where the
stores of knowledge are so accessible, fails to grasp the
meaning of life. We are to read God’s thoughts wherever we
can find them written. Intelligence makes one’s life broader
and deeper and adds to our usefulness. We are not to under-
stand Paul as casting contempt upon knowledge. He himself
had mastered the best knowledge of his day.

The context shows that he is speaking of a certain kind of

knowledge. The eating of meats, which had been offered to
idols, is the subject. Those to whom he was writing had been
declaring that there was nothing wrong in eating such things.
They knew that and were not disposed to show any leniency
of judgment to those who could not see the subject just as
they saw it, nor to modify their own conduct in the slightest to
suit the weak consciences of other Christians. Their
knowledge settled the matter.

We all have seen people of this kind. They have no pa-

tience with other people’s opinions unless they agree with
their own. They allow no discussion; for there can be no other
‘right’ thought about a matter when they have made up their
mind to it. They quickly resent any expression from any that
differs with their own. When they have spoken on a subject,
there is to be no tolerance of any new light. There are people
of this kind in every community. Their knowledge is dogmatic,
tyrannical, and intolerant. When it has rendered its decision
concerning any course of conduct or any question of duty,
there is no appeal. Knowledge settles it.

The Apostle intimates, however, that knowledge does not

always have the final word in settling questions of duty. There
is another element, which may have an important influence in
15
deciding what is right; love must have its voice. It is in such
cases as he is addressing, that “knowledge puffs up.” It makes
a man vain, arrogant, cold, and selfish. But, love builds up.

The two figures in Paul’s sentence suggest a “puffball” and

a “temple.” The first is showy, but light, empty, without solid-
ness. A breath can blow it away. A child’s hand can crush it.
The other is strong, substantial, beautiful, enduring. The work
that knowledge alone does in a life is not good work. It lacks
cohesion, being flimsy, and insecure. Knowledge is good
when love dominates it, vitalizes it, and uses it; but love must
always be the real builder.

Life is full of illustrations of this truth. Without love, there is

no true work on character. Knowledge alone does not give us
the skill we need in order to bless others. We may know that a
person is undeserving. We have helped him before, and noth-
ing came of it. We know that nothing will come of any further
help we may give. He deserves only to be thrust out and left to
drift. That is what knowledge says. But, love comes in and
says, “Give him another chance!” It overlooks his past falls
and failures, and again extends a helping hand. No matter
how often help has been given, to no purpose, it must be giv-
en again. Love says the man is a brother, and never should
we give up on him. Perhaps he may yet repent and turn to
God. There may be a spark remaining in the smoking lamp,
and a breath may fan it into a flame. So love toils on untiring,
never despairing, in obedience to the admonition not to “grow
weary in well-doing.” It has its reward at last in a life saved for
God…thus love builds up, where mere knowledge leaves a life
to perish.

Knowledge alone is contemptuous, arrogant, stern, often

cold and cruel. It has no patience with others’ faults, being in-
tolerant of human infirmity, and treats mistakes of weakness
or ignorance as crimes. It is relentless and unforgiving toward
wrong. It sees the smallest mote in a brother’s eye, even while
it carries a huge beam in its own. Its spirit is pharisaical and
critical, without a trace of forbearance or Godly love, passing
16
by on the other side of the sorest human needs, leaving no
benediction as it marches through life. It tramples gentle
hearts under its heavy tread. Its breath is like a winter’s blast
as it blows over the tender things of life.

In stark contrast with knowledge, love walks along life’s

ways with gentle step. Fragrant flowers grow in its path, and
the air is always sweeter when it has passed by. It is kindly,
thoughtful, pitiful, and compassionate. It has patience with
human faults, and looks with an eye of tender love on those
who have fallen. It is tolerant of others who, through weak-
ness, err or turn aside. It is forbearing and long-suffering and
meekly endures injury and wrong…seeing eagerly the good
things in others with a wide cloak of charity for their sins. It is
merciful, forgiving not 7 times only, but 70 times 7. Conscious
of its own fault and evil, it is lenient toward the blemishes it
sees in others. Let love and knowledge be knit together in this
fashion.
from Things to Live For by J. R. Miller

1Co 8:1-9 NASB Now concerning things sacrificed to idols,

we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes
arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows
anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if
anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning
the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is
no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God
but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in
heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many
lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom
are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being
accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were
sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is
defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither
the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take
care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a
stumbling block to the weak.
17
 Major Evolutionary Premise
Fails In Real-life Test
The behavior of species as diverse as crickets, peacocks and
red deer among others, reveals flaws in Darwinian evolution.

Charles Darwin’s theory of “sexual selection—that females

of a species choose to mate with males having the best
genes—has been held up as a fundamental pillar of evolution
in classrooms and science texts for well over a century. Many
generations of students have been taught that this is the way
evolution works.

After all, from an evolutionary standpoint, it makes perfect

sense—females should mate with the highest-quality males of
their species to best ensure the survival of their offspring, and
this leads to ever-stronger, ever-smarter, ever-improving
members of the species, driving the process of evolution ever
onward.

There’s just one problem: It’s not true. Researchers have

proved that while the theory may sound good, things don’t
work that way in real life.

The Wall Street Journal, in an article titled “Darwin Revisit-

ed: Females Don’t Always Go for Hottest Mate,” summarizes
findings from some research projects designed to test Dar-
win’s hypothesis.

In a 24-year study spanning multiple generations of col-

lared flycatchers (a bird species), Swedish researchers found
that females who mated with prime-quality males ended up
with fewer and less-attractive offspring. The reason? “The
studs were so busy mating they had no time to raise offspring,
causing their health and fecundity to suffer. Homelier birds
were better dads, raising sons who had more mating suc-
cess.” In other words, the results were the opposite of what
evolutionary theory would have predicted.

18
 Crickets are another notable exception to Darwin’s theory.
Female crickets mate with nearly any male, making no attempt
to choose the “best” available. In so doing, “they increase the
genetic diversify of their offspring, improving the chances that
some will survive no matter what pathogens and enemies the
kids encounter.”

The Wall Street Journal article also points out that “other
females are not as enamored of sexy traits as (the) theory
claims. While big-antlered red deer are busy fighting each
other to show a female who has the best rack, the doe sneaks
off to mate with less well-endowed stags. Female red-winged
blackbirds are not easily impressed, either. Having the most
macho plumage has no detectable effect on how many off-
spring a male sires.”

The article cites Stanford University biologist Joan Rough-

garden as saying: “In a number of species, reproductive be-
havior does not conform to Darwin’s theory of sexual selec-
tion. The idea that females choose the genetically best males
is wrong. Instead of choosing mates who will increase the ge-
netic quality of their offspring, females make choices that will
increase their number of offspring.”

The article also highlights a significant problem with Dar-

win’s ideas about sexual selection—namely, “it fails to explain
the persistence of, shall we say, homely males.” In other
words, if females do indeed choose to mate with males who
have the most genetically desirable attributes, “then after
enough generations every peacock should have a tail to die
for. But, they do not. Every flock has studs and duds.”
from the Good News Magazine

Evolution vs. Creation: Origins

In the Evolution vs. Creation conflict, Evolutionists do quite
well in terms of theoretical science, but fail to find empirical
evidence. Evolutionists theorize that the universe, with all that
it contains (space, time, matter and energy), exploded from
nothing. This is contrary to the First Law of Thermodynamics.
19
Where did space, time, matter and energy come from in the
first place? Thus, for Evolutionists, the ultimate question of Or-
igins remains unsolved. To complicate the Evolutionary posi-
tion, this original explosion of everything from nothing is una-
ble to explain all of the complexity and fine-tuning in the uni-
verse, including cosmic "voids" and "clumps", retrograde mo-
tion of the galaxies, etc. Despite numerous problems, this ex-
plosion from nothing has been dubbed the "Big Bang" and is
the accepted theory among the majority of Evolutionists. Evo-
lution is a very unique "science." Typically, scientists observe
evidentiary data and then formulate their conclusions. Evolu-
tionists have formulated their conclusion, and now look for the
missing data.
http://www.allaboutcreation.org/evolution-vs-creation.htm

There is a God
There is a God—all Nature speaks,
Thro’ earth, and air, and seas, and skies:
See! from the clouds his glory breaks,
When the first beams of morning rise.

The rising sun, serenely bright,

O’er the wide world’s extended frame
Inscribes, in characters of light,
His mighty Maker’s glorious name.

Ye curious minds, who roam abroad,

And trace creation’s wonders o’er,
Confess the footsteps of your God,
And bow before him, and adore.
Hymns of Dawn

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God,"

Psa 53:1NASB

20
 The Life and Light of Men (Part 2)
"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men."
John 1:4
"In Him Was Life"
Weighted, indeed, with meaning are the words, "In Him was
life!" Inherent in Him there is a fountain of life ever overflowing
and accessible to us. Through Him, we pass out of death into
life. Our sonship is real and wonderful. "Beloved, now are we
the sons of God." What we shall be when privileged to see
Him as He is belongs to the realm of things yet unrevealed,
but not so the matter of our sonship and newness of life
through Christ. True is the word verifying this fact: "The Spirit
itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of
God" (Rom. 8:16). If children, we are partakers of His life.
This life of Christ we are called upon to exhibit before others,
as say the Scriptures, "Always bearing about in the body the
dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:10). This being
true, we are to go on believing that life's meridian in spiritual
experience is not a thing of the past, but still before us. We are
to understand that what we have attained to is still far short of
that which can be. Christian life ever follows the divinely or-
dained way, "First the blade, then the ear, after that the full
corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28).
"In Him was life" ~ Life in its perfect expression! Life pulsating
with undiminished devotion to the will of God, and ceaseless
in its flow toward those He came to redeem. Life indeed!
Something so much a part of His own joy that as He wit-
nessed the deadness of those about Him, and to whom He
came as unto His own, He must utter His deep lament, "You
will not come to Me that you might have life." (John 5:40.)
Spurning this great opportunity, they grieved the heart of the
Lord of life, just as it continues to grieve Him when such as
are now His own fail to receive Him in all the fullness He longs
to be to all His true people. He continues to say even as in
those days of long ago, "I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
21
What, then, in concise language, does this mean to us who
rejoice in having passed from the universal condition of death
in Adam to newness of life in Christ? To have received of His
life means "Christ who is our life" will be continually working
out in us the fulfillment of His promise, "He that abides in Me,
and I in Him, the same brings forth much fruit" (John 15:5).
The object is fruit, more fruit, much fruit. Progression is every-
where presented in the Word of God. The days of creation
represent this law. Creative activity began at the lowest point,
and then worked up to the climax in the creation of man in
God's own image. The ministry of Jesus began with filling
earthen water-pots with sparkling wine to gladden the hearts
of men. He finished that ministry in pouring out His blood to
save the souls of men. So, it is with us in the matter of our
spiritual growth.
The knowledge of His grace first dissipates the darkness,
bringing us into His marvelous light. Then by "the might of His
power to us who believe," we, "beholding as in a glass the glo-
ry of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Thus, with Christ as our life, we
are indeed "God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus." We
are made for Him, through a love surpassing knowledge, and
made like Him by a power infinitely able to complete so great
a work in us. Possessing the life of Christ means having “the
mind of Christ,” eventually bringing to us the fullness of His
character. The fruit of righteousness will then have developed
from blossom to bud, from the immature in growth to the final
lusciousness in flavor, and sweetness in perfume.
Complementary to the Bible as a means of teaching us God's
wonder-working ways, we have the great book of nature add-
ing thereto with many remarkable manifestations. How strong
should be our faith in the power of God to bring to completion
the design He has in His plan for each one of us! We look,
again and again, at what man can accomplish by way of work-
ing out the seemingly impossible in the cultivation of fruits and
flowers.

22
As we look at the creations man has wrought, well may we
exclaim, "Can this man, and can God not?" The Irish rose is a
thing of beauty, and fragrant with perfume as from the hand of
God. A gardener desires to multiply the number of his Irish
rose bushes. He may go out into the untitled woodlands and
dig up a wild brier rose with all its coarseness in stem and
branch. This he transplants in the soil of his own garden that it
may take root there, but this garden is for sweet Irish roses,
not for briers. So the wild brier is cut off close to the soil, and a
slit made in the remaining stub. Into this a bud of the Irish
rose is grafted, and ere long the stem and branches
grow upward bearing buds which blossom into roses, filling
the air with a sweet fragrance the wild brier could never know.
Even as our Master Gardener has said to us, so might the
gardener of our illustration have said as he went to the brier in
the wilds, “I have come that you might have life, and that you
might have it more abundantly." Will we not be as submissive
in Christ's hands as was the brier in the gardener's and let
Him be life indeed to us?
"And the Life Was the Light of Men"
"That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes
into the world" (John 1:9). Jesus, as that true Light, came into
the world to reveal God to men. He was truly Emmanuel --
"God with us" -- God with us in the person of His Son, whom
having seen and heard it was as if the person and voice of the
Father had been seen and heard. In the radiance of His life
among men, God was revealed as holy, beyond the approach
of fallen men, yet brought near in the supreme gift of His love,
His only begotten Son. He was manifest as love in its fullness
of sympathy for His fallen creatures, and yearning to translate
them out of the kingdom of sin and darkness into the realms of
true life, light, and holiness. As the Light of men, Jesus came
to reveal that where sin had abounded, grace much more
abounded. "Never man spoke like this Man," and never man
lived so radiant a life as He of whom the Apostle wrote, "We
beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Fa-
ther, full of grace and truth."

23
True, men have mostly loved darkness rather than light, there-
fore the Light of the world, the great revelation of grace and
truth, has lightened but a few in the measure now made pos-
sible to those willing to walk in the light as He is in the light.
Nevertheless, He will yet "lighten every man that cometh into
the world." He will yet arise over the world as the “Sun of
Righteousness, with healing in His beams,” and then it shall
no more be true, "Darkness shall cover the earth and gross
darkness the people," for then, "the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 60:2;
11:9).
We come again to our own place of privilege in the will of God.
He who said, "I am the Light of the world," also said, "You are
the light of the world." What a privilege this represents! Jesus
was a fountain of light; we can be but reflectors of the light re-
ceived from Him. In Rotherham's translation of 2 Cor. 3:18, we
have this thought very beautifully presented: "And we all with
unveiled face receiving and reflecting the glory of the Lord…."
Again, in chapter 4, verse 6 of this same Epistle, we have an-
other such beautiful and suggestive expression: “Because He
who said, Out of darkness light shall shine! [Is He] who has
shone in our hearts, in proportion to the radiance of the glori-
ous knowledge of God, in the face of Christ. Howbeit we have
this treasure in earthen vessels that the surpassing greatness
of the power may be of God and not from ourselves" (Rother-
ham).
He who is our light not only lights up the way we take in follow-
ing Him, but lights us up as we follow Him in that way. It is
much to be guided by light; it is greater to be glorified by light.
It is much to see the way by the light that shines from Him; it is
greater when the light kindles in our own eyes until they, too,
shine with the light that is in His. He who follows the light of
the world becomes a light of the world. The pillar of light that
lights up the way for the follower lights up also the follower in
the way. What is likeness to Christ? It is when the light from
the moving pillar falls on the life, following close behind it, until
the follower of life becomes also in its way a moving pillar of
light.
24
To keep in the presence of the risen Lord; to follow Him as the
moving pillar; to lay aside every weight and sin which does so
easily beset us, 'looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith,' that is the restoration of the attribute of light. The
glory of pureness, the glory of patience, the glory of grand en-
deavor, the glory of fellowship with God, are the light that is in
Him -- which, if we follow, will fall on us, and as He is, so shall
we be in this world.
J. J. Blackburn

“The light Jesus brings is the light which puts chaos to flight. In
the creation story, God moved upon the dark, formless chaos,
which was before the world began and said, “Let there be light”
(Gen. 1:3). The newly-created light of God routed the empty cha-
os into which it came. So Jesus is the light that shines in the
darkness. He is the one person who can save life from becoming
a chaos. Left to ourselves, we are at the mercy of our passions
and our fears.
The light that Jesus brings is a revealing light. It is the con-
demnation of men that they loved the darkness rather than the
light, and did so because their deeds were evil; they hated the
light lest their deeds should be exposed. The light that Jesus
brings is something which shows things as they are. It strips
away the disguises and concealments; it shows things in all their
nakedness; it shows them in their true character and their true
values.
We never see ourselves until we see through the eyes of Je-
sus. We never see what our lives are like until we see them in
the light of Jesus. Jesus often drives us to God by revealing us to
ourselves.
The light that Jesus brings is a guiding light. If a man does not
possess that light, he walks in darkness and does not know
where he is going. When a man receives that light and believes
in it, he walks no more in darkness. The path becomes light; the
decision that was wrapped in a night of uncertainty is illumined.
Without Jesus, we are like men groping on an unknown road in a
blackout. With Him, the way is clear.
William Barclay

25
 Baptized for the Dead
"Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if
the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the
dead?" [1 Corinthians 15:29]
"For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who
are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the
flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." [1 Peter 4:6]
These are probably the strangest, most-difficult, verses ever
penned by the apostles. They were each able to communicate
clearly and plainly in nearly all of their messages, but here,
one recoils from the weirdness of their statements. If only they
had written another few verses to clarify their thoughts!
The thought that vicarious or proxy-baptism for dead individu-
als was being discussed is something we simply cannot ac-
cept; it would be contrary to everything we know from the
Scriptures. There has arisen [around 1830 AD] a “quasi-
Christian” religion that does promote this doctrine, but we
need not give their ideas a second thought.
Is it possible that Paul may here refer to some practice or cus-
tom which existed in his time respecting baptism, the
knowledge of which is now lost? Tertullian, in the 3rd century,
mentions proxy-baptism for dead persons as existing in his
time. Though mentioned by him, it is likely to have been from
an erroneous interpretation of this passage by Paul. Almost
certainly, this practice did not exist in the time of Paul and Pe-
ter.
So, what are Paul and Peter talking about?
We must use our common sense, as illuminated by the holy
spirit.
First, our fundamental basis must be that those being dis-
cussed by the apostles were once alive but were now dead.
During their lifetime, then, they became Christians, were bap-
tized, entered into the “narrow way,” endured various trials,
and ultimately died. To encourage the readers of the apostle’s
26
letters, reference was made to such who had already died in
the faith, that though they had been persecuted and even put
to death, yet they still lived to God, were remembered by Him,
and one day would literally live again. They had fully believed
in the resurrection hope. Though they might be judged and
condemned by people in the usual manner of fallen humans,
yet in respect to their new creatures they lived to God. The
phrase “for the dead” might thus mean with reference to, or
concerning, the dead. "But concerning the dead, that they rise,
have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush
passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not
the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are there-
fore greatly mistaken.” [Mark 12:26-27]
In the trials that we endure on account of our Christian reli-
gion, we should remember the example of those who have
suffered for it [even unto death] and should remember why the
gospel was preached to them. We look to the worthy Ancients
[Hebrews 11] as encouragement for our faith; so also, we can
view with appreciation those faithful of our more recent fellow-
ship. "Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believ-
ers who are now dead, and yet even though they died [just as
all people must], they will still get in on the life that God has
given in Jesus." [1 Peter 4:6, The Message]
Second, we must consider the context. In 1 Corinthians 15,
Paul is discussing the resurrection. Some Corinthians were
denying that there was a resurrection; others, that it was al-
ready past. So, they needed some further clear teachings on
the subject. For Paul and other Christian teachers and disci-
ples, the trials and sufferings they endured in preaching Christ,
and living as Christians, would be utterly useless and mean-
ingless if there were no hope of a resurrection, both for them-
selves and for those who had already died. They had no other
object in facing such dangers than to make known the truth of
Christ and the hope of a future life, to be obtained by means of
a resurrection of the dead. If such were not true, it would be
wise to avoid these dangers. See Matthew 20:22-23; Mark

27
10:38-39; Luke 12:50. "….for you had compassion on me in
my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods,
knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession
for yourselves in heaven." [Hebrews 10:34]
The Thessalonians also were not clear on the subject of resur-
rection. Some thought that those Christians who had already
died [before Christ returned] were lost and would not have any
part in a future resurrection. "But I do not want you to be igno-
rant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest
you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him
those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word
of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming
of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be
with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words." [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]
What is the primary point of Paul and Peter? Not that some
were dead, not water baptism, not the real spiritual or inward
baptism, not sufferings for Christ. Resurrection is the main
point. Resurrection; resurrection; resurrection!
Some commentators have said, that to be "baptized for the
dead" means to be baptized as dead, that is, being baptized
into Christ, and buried with him in baptism, and that, by such
immersion, the individual [the “old man”] was regarded as
dead, but reckoned alive as a “new creature”. "Or do you not
know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with
Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united to-
gether in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be
in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old
28
man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."
[Romans 6:3-6]
There is truth in that idea, but it does not seem that is the main
point of Paul’s remarks in this passage. Resurrection is the
primary point; suffering in hope of the resurrection is a sec-
ondary point.
A similar idea is that Christians are baptized on behalf of the
dead, that is, the entire human race, so that the Christians,
and the entire race, may yet live again in the resurrection. A
reasonable idea, but seemingly not the focus of Paul’s re-
marks here.
So, we may conclude -- baptism does not save; baptism by
one person on behalf of another does not save the other. It is
resurrection. Only Jesus saves! "Because I live, you will live
also." [John 14:19]
L.Schneider

Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of

sins. `Acts 10:43
THERE is no other means of approach to God than through the re-
mission, the covering, of our sins; and there is no other means of
covering than through faith in the precious blood of Christ. All sug-
gestions, therefore, of salvation without a belief in Jesus, all sugges-
tions of salvation of the heathen in ignorance, all suggestions of
there being no necessity for a knowledge of the historic Christ, all
suggestions that a recognition of the Christ spirit of righteousness is
sufficient, all suggestions of harmony with God through any other
than the One appointed “Mediator of the New Covenant,” receive a
thorough condemnation in the words of this text. The entire plan of
God sets forth and honors not only divine justice, wisdom, love, and
power, but it likewise sets forth and honors the Lord Jesus as the
only way by which access may be had to the Father, and by which
everlasting life may be attained by any. In view of these limitations,
how comforting are the assurances of the Scriptures that for the
vast majority of our race the time of knowledge, and hence, the time
of probation for everlasting life is future, during the Millennium.
Songs in the Night
29
 That I May Know Him (poem)

(Philippians 3:8-11 NASB “…. I count all things to be loss in

view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them
but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in
Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the
Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”)

Lord, let me talk with Thee of all I do,

All that I care for, all I wish for, too.
Lord, let me prove Thy sympathy, Thy power,
Thy loving oversight from hour to hour!

When I need counsel, let me ask of Thee:

Whatever my perplexity may be,
It cannot be too trivial to bring,
To one who marks the sparrow's drooping wing.
Nor too terrestrial since Thou hast said
The very hairs are numbered on our head.
'Tis through such loop-holes that the foe takes aim,
And sparks unheeded, burst into a flame.

Do money troubles press? Thou canst resolve

The doubts and dangers such concerns involve.
Are those I love the cause of anxious care?
Thou canst unbind the burdens they may bear.

Before the mysteries of Thy Word or will,

Thy voice can gently bid my heart be still,
Since all that now is hard to understand
Shall be unraveled in yon heavenly land.

30
 Or do I mourn the oft-besetting sin,
The tempter's wiles, that mar the peace within?
Present Thyself, Lord, as the absolving priest,
To whom confessing, I go forth released.

Do weakness, weariness, disease, invade

This earthly house, which Thou, Thyself, hast made?
Thou, only, Lord, canst touch the hidden spring
Of mischief, and attune the jarring string.

Would I be taught what Thou wouldst have me give,

The needs of those less favored to relieve?
Thou canst so guide my hand that I shall be
A liberal 'cheerful giver,' Lord like Thee.

Of my life's mission do I stand in doubt?

Thou knowest and canst clearly point it out.
Whither I go, do Thou Thyself decide
And choose the friends and servants at my side.

The books I read, I would submit to Thee,

Let them refresh, instruct and solace me.
I would converse with Thee from day to day
With heart intent on what Thou hast to say;
And through my pilgrim walk, what e'er befall,
Consult with Thee, O Lord, about it all.

Since Thou art willing thus to condescend

To be my intimate, familiar friend,
Oh, let me to the great occasion rise,
And count Thy friendship life's most glorious prize!"
Author unknown

God formed us, sin deformed us, and only Jesus can transform us.

If you would lift others up, you must be on higher ground yourself.

31
 Be Responsible
An elderly Christian complained about his church. He felt
that church was boring, the Sunday services were predictable,
the congregation was indifferent, and it all seemed irrelevant
to every day living. Eventually he realized that in being so crit-
ical of his church, he was really describing his own spiritual
condition.
He began to see that he was "dull and dreary and dead."
He admitted he was not reading the Bible seriously, nor pray-
ing regularly, or involved in the congregation, but was waiting
for someone or something in church to awaken and motivate
him. When it did not happen, he was critical. But as he started
taking responsibility for his own spiritual well being, he testified
it affected his hearing and sight. The preacher sounded better.
The congregation looked different. Church suddenly was not
boring or predictable and best of all, he was no longer so criti-
cal.
What made the difference in his life? He had to have sur-
gery. The surgery took a lot out of him. His body was wound-
ed, weak, and desperate for rest. The doctors and nurses did
all they could. He saw a hospital video that ended with these
words: "Your healing is up to you.” He came to see it was true.
He had to get up and moving (even though he did not at all
feel like it). He had to exercise (sometimes painfully) his dam-
aged muscles. He had to eat regularly and in a healthful way.
He had to fight depression. If he did not do these things, it
would impede his healing. He made the connection to his spir-
itual life…No wonder he was in lousy spiritual shape and so
negative. He had to start helping himself and take responsibil-
ity for his own spiritual development. The church and his
brethren could provide an atmosphere for growth, but it was all
really up to him.
As he read a contemporary paraphrase of the Psalms,
Gospels, and Epistles, he began to notice how active verbs
stood out: encourage, support, speak, reach out, live, grow,
redeemed, restored, choose, and celebrate. Certain phrases
were just loaded with energy: work in faith, serve in joy, com-
mend one another, pray for one another, and be grateful for
32
others. As positive spiritual energy flooded him, he felt better
both physically and spiritually. He testified he felt hopeful and
positive and became affirming instead of critical.
It is so easy to be critical -- to blame others for our own
problems. It is so simple to see the problems and faults in our
church. It is much harder to recognize, admit, and take re-
sponsibility for ourselves. I sincerely appreciate our church. I
am grateful for all the support I receive from my brothers and
sisters. Ultimately, though, I am responsible for my spiritual
life, health, and growth. I pray that each of us may be respon-
sible.
L. Urbaniak

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand
so that we would walk in them.

A Wrecker or a Builder?
I watched them tear a building down,
A crew of men in a busy town;
With a ho and a heave and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam and down the wall fell.

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled?

The kind you would hire if you would build?”
The foreman replied, “Why, no, indeed!
Common laborers are all I need,
For they can wreck in a day or two
That which has taken years to do.”

So I asked myself as I went on my way,

“What part in the game of life do you play?
Are you shaping your life to a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best that you can?
Or are you a wrecker that walks the town,
Content with the pleasure of tearing down?”
Poems of Dawn

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A Portrait of Jesus: Bringing His
Father Glory
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son,
that your Son may glorify you.” John 17:1
Everything that Jesus did while He sojourned on
this earth, He did for one purpose, to bring glory to
His Father in heaven. His entire earthly life centered on doing His
Father’s will and fulfilling God’s plan. John 17 is such a rich chapter
of the Bible, it is filled with Jesus’ heart, especially for His disci-
ples…He even prays for us, those not yet born who would become
his disciples centuries later. His desire for ALL His believers is that
they would experience the same oneness of purpose and unity that
He had with His Father. How He cared about those He would leave
behind. His desire was that they should know His Father, as He
knew his Father: that they would be motivated by that which He was
motivated by. There is no question that the overall theme of Jesus
life on earth, is summed up in this very first verse of John 17, “Glori-
fy your Son, that your Son may glorify YOU!”
Jesus knew what the rest of that night would entail. He knew that it
would end with His death. Later that evening, He would struggle in
the Garden of Gethsemane with the weight of it all. We don’t know
how much He knew ahead of time, but we do know He knew He
would have to die as a criminal. Doing His Father’s will, no matter
the cost to Himself, was such a heavy burden that he would sweat
drops of blood in the garden. He knew that this was the only way to
accomplish what He had been sent to complete, the redemption of
mankind. While He longed to be back with His Father, He knew the
only way for that to happen was for Him to move forward through
the pain and suffering that lay ahead and to bring His Father glory
through the ignominy and shame that lay ahead for Him.
Oh, that we might learn through Jesus’ example that we too have
been called to live our lives to bring glory to our Father in heaven,
no matter the cost. This should be our goal each day, asking our-
selves, “How can I bring glory to God today?” Aiden Tozer put it this
way, “The glory of God always comes at the sacrifice of self.” We
saw this over and over again in the life of Jesus, bringing glory to
God cost him dearly. When we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and sacri-
fice our own will and desires for His, only then can we bring glory to
God! D. Mathewson

34
 Prayer List
“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by fail-
ing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23)

Let us be Prayer Warriors for our Brethren!

Adkisson, Grace – TX Howes, Paul & Carla - UK

Blenman Family – NJ (d) Karavas Family – CA (d)
Boswell, Arlene – IL Leavitt, Denise & Richard – ME
Buxton, Jean & Family - UK Lepitre Family - IL
Cannon, Melissa (Bews) – TX (d) Mazzotta, Eva – VA
Casell, Agnes & Family –VT (d) Miller, Alain – Canada
Cooper, Carmela – NJ Moore, Maryellen – CA (d)
Csutor, Judith – CT Ostwald, Dick - WI
Day, Ronald – PA Parker, Geraldine – CA
Dalesandro, Jim and family - IL (d) Parrinello, Sue MI (d)
Dickson, Roberta Jo – CA Penton, Jim – Canada
Dunn, Kim - IL Phillips, Stella – OK
Feliciano, Carmen - NY Rowe, Bryan - UK
Fischer, Mike & Liz – WI Schwartz, Ruth – TX
Foster, Jean – IL Seminoff, Brenda – CA
Graveen Family – WI (d) Spano Family – IL (d)
Hauslein, Karen – MD Tuscia, Priscilla – FL
Hawk, Barbara – PA White, Joan - NY (d)
Hildebrandt, Lois - FL Wolfenberger Family (d)
Hoffner, Steve – NH (d) = death in the family
Hogrebe, Joan – MO

Entered into rest: None to report.

Important: If you know anyone in the names listed above whom no longer needs
special prayers, please advise us so we may remove their names. Also, if any of
the information is incorrect, please let the editor know. Thank you.

People do not care what you think until you care what they feel.

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give

thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you.” 1Th 5:16-18 KJV

35
Bible Correspondence Course New
Graduates & Websites
Congratulations to the following students who
have completed their course and have been
awarded a Certificate.

None to acknowledge in this issue.

You are invited to view the following websites:

(copy and paste the address into your browser)
http://www.cdmi.org (Christian Discipling Ministries International)
(Current/past NC magazine issues are available on our website)

https://www.christianbelieversconference.com/

http://www.cbfchurch.com (Christian Believers Fellowship in NH)

http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk (Bible Fellowship in UK)

http://www.bbschurch.org (Lombard, IL)

https://sites.google.com/site/quietwatersdevotions

http://www.cartyorkshire.co.uk (CART)

http://www.campblessing.com (Camp Blessing)

http://www.newcovenantfellowship.org.au (New Covenant News,

Australia)

https://e-biblia.org/ (Os Estudantes da Bíblia, The Bible Students,

Brazil - Portuguese/Span) email: [email protected]

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 Conferences & Conventions
Christian Believers Conference
Gordon College, Wenham, Massachussetts
July 24-27, 2024
Visit http://ChristianBelieversConference.org/
Accommodations: Diane Allen & Julie Polychronis
cell: 540-908-6558 email: [email protected]
----------------------------
Bible Students Fellowship Conference
High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, England
14-18 August 2024 DV

Note: If you would like to have your Convention, Conference, Camp, or

Seminar published in The New Creation Magazine, send information or a
program at least three months in advance of the issue month of the maga-
zine to the editor, Bob Whittaker.

Notice: If you know of Christian friends who would benefit

from receiving the bimonthly New Creation Magazine via mail,
send their names and addresses to the CDMI main office,
care of Bruce Blake. The address is inside the front cover.
Donations
Many people around the world appreciate the New Creation maga-
zine. For many, it is their only source of Christian communication.
Also, for many, they only have it through the generous contributions
of others. If you feel moved to help them in continuing to get the
New Creation, please consider a donation to CDMI.
Article Contributions
Please send articles for possible publication to Dennis Gorham,
4 Alicia Street Somersworth, NH 03878
email: [email protected]
Any information published in this magazine that you know is incor-
rect should be brought to the attention of the editor at his email ad-
dress: [email protected]. We strive for accuracy but do
not have full knowledge.

37