The Purity of the Gospel of Christ

I have been inspired of the Lord lately, thinking of the power of the purity of the gospel of Christ. Webster's Dictionary defines the gospel as: "the body of doctrine taught by Christ and the apostles." The dictionary goes on to say that the gospel is something that is "infallibly true."

The apostle Paul defines the gospel in Romans 1:16-17 thus: "... the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." He goes on to say, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed."

Here is something to remember: the power of God is found in the purity of the gospel. The power of God isn't found in ideas, opinions or traditions. It isn't found in the world or in the flesh. It isn't found in education, ability or talents of men. It is found in the purity of the gospel of Christ. The definition of purity is freedom from all extraneous matter. Something that is pure is something that is genuine. It's spotless. It is free from anything that defiles or contaminates. It is innocent, spotless, chaste and clean. Only when we get into that state with the Lord can we expect to preach the purity of the fulness of the gospel, and have the power of the Holy Ghost to come upon us.

When the gospel of Christ is preached in the fulness of truth and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God, in its absolutely pure state, there you will find liberating power, there you will find the fire of Pentecost, there you will see the works following them that believe, there you will find unity of the faith and unity of the Spirit. There, too, you will find the judgments of God against all "ungodliness and unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18.)

If we look at Christ Himself as the gospel, the Word of God, the power of God, and observe His ministry, we will find only purity-only holiness. We will find His ministry unmixed with the world and with pride. We will even find it unmixed with opinion. Paul said in one or two places: "I speak this by permission," or "I speak as a man,"-but Jesus said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." The words that the Son of God spoke were spoken with power and authority and they ministered life and grace to the hearers. He didn't speak as a man; He spoke as God, and His words brought with them the power of the gospel, the saving grace of the gospel, the sanctifying power of the gospel, the humility of the gospel-the faith and unity and Spirit of Christ.

When we look at Christ, when we read His Word, we are looking at the very power of God. The gospel of Christ is pure, undefiled, undiluted and absolute. It is in its most refined state. It is "infallibly true." It is not just religion. It is not just ceremony. It is not just words, teachings or rituals. It is not even limited to a list of rules and regulations, of do's and don'ts. No, the Scripture defines the gospel of Christ as the very power of God to every one that believes.

If we accept the definition, then, let us realize that the gospel of Christ cannot be improved upon. It is "forever settled in heaven." It is eternal and complete. Any change, no matter how good the intent, no matter how sincere the desire, will damage the effectiveness of the unhindered power of the gospel. If we add to that gospel, or if we take away from it, we limit the power of God working in our lives to just that extent. Opinions of men do not bring with them the power of God. Only the purity of the gospel of Christ brings that. The Church of God is founded on Christ Himself. He is the Chief Cornerstone. The Church of God is not founded on opinions or vain traditions of men to which Paul referred. She is clean and pure, spotless and holy. She is the only one of her mother and judgment begins at her house. She leaves no room for the flesh to excuse itself or carnality and vainglory that hinder the power of God working in her midst and in her pulpits. She swerves not to the left nor to the right through human reasoning, nor is she tainted in any way by the doctrines and spirit of Babylon. She is endued with the power that comes from on high and accompanies only the purity of the gospel of Christ.

The very foundational belief of the Church of God as defined by the New Testament is the preaching of the purity of the gospel. I say again, the gospel of Christ cannot be improved upon. The glory of the early morning Church was indicative of the purity of the gospel. That is where we find the miracles. That is where we see the unity. That is where we hear the preaching of self-denial. That is where strong, death-defying Christianity triumphed. That is where you find the outreach. That is where you see those who love the Lord obeying His commandments. That is where you see "doers of the word, and not hearers only." Where the purity of the gospel is preached and written in the hearts and minds of the people, you will find the power and fire of Pentecost.

This is the rallying cry of the Church of God: the purity of the gospel of Christ. The body of doctrine taught by Christ and His apostles defines the tenets of belief we hold today. Man does not define them. Churches do not define them. Preachers do not define them. Bro. D. S. Warner did not define them. The Church of God, even, does not define them. They were defined hundreds of years ago by Christ Himself, the Chief Cornerstone of the foundation of the Church of God.

Salvation is defined by Christ. Sanctification and holiness, modesty and faith and unity, these are all defined by the purity of the gospel of Christ. When they are preached in their fulness, unmixed with the world, untainted by the limitations of men, there you will find the power of Christ. There you will find true Holy Spirit leadership. Let us keep it right there. Hew to the line and cut every cord. Keep to the gospel of Christ and His Word. Don't add to it and don't water it down.

These things are foundational. These are the ancient landmarks that should never be removed. They are defined by Christ Himself and His apostles. They are complete. We cannot add to those definitions and expect the power of the Lord to accompany it.

Oh, dear reader, if you would have this power of God working in your life, remove everything that would stand in the way of the purity of the gospel. I thought of the parable of the pearl of great price and that to obtain it, the man had to sell everything he had. Just so is the requirement for the purity of the gospel. We must sell everything that is unlike Christ. We must give away everything that would hinder the gospel's powerful working in the Church of God. We must give away man's preconceptions and ideas and sell all that we have to obtain that pearl of great price.

Babylon has no part or lot within the Church of God. Pride has no part there. Competition, striving and vainglory will not bring with them the power of the Holy Ghost. Rules and regulations won't get the job done. Approval of men will never avail in the day of judgment. Holiness is not an option we can choose or discard. The truth of God's Word is unchanged through the generations. I don't define these truths; the Bible does that, through the purity of the gospel.

These foundational Bible truths are not subject to human approval nor can they be changed by the creeds of men. "The truth," Martin Luther said, "is not open to negotiation." I cannot put my definitions in those places and expect the power of the Lord to adjust Himself to my ideas. I can't put my opinions and my traditions in place of the completeness of the power of God and expect the Holy Ghost to anoint those places. The power of the gospel is found in Christ's sayings, not mine. Christ's definitions are what we will be judged by, not mine. Christ's judgments show forth righteousness and godliness, not mine. Oh, brethren, it is Christ's abilities and power working in and through His vessels that show forth the glory of God, not ours.

Man's wisdom is prone to failure. Man's judgments are limited. Man rule is fallible and erroneous and has no power of God within itself. Opinions differ. Traditions are replaced after a few years. But the purity of the gospel of Christ is truth. "I am the way, the truth and the life," Christ said. This is something we can build upon. It's something that will stand the judgment shock. Why? Because it is the very power of God.

Galatians 1:9-12 says these words: "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Herein is found the secret of the power of the pure gospel. This gospel is not patterned after man. It wasn't received from man. It has nothing to do with man's conceptions or understanding or wisdom. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Anything we do, then, to hinder or change or alter or hold back or add to that gospel, is to alter the very presentation of Christ to the world. And the curse, then, as a result of that, is self-evident: no power of God. I desire with all my heart to see the power of God working in my own life. I hunger and thirst after it as a man in a desert. I long for the anointing power of the Holy Ghost in my daily life. I don't want to be a hearer only of the Word. When He says to forgive, I want to forgive. I don't want to make excuses and give reasons of how that would be impossible in my particular set of circumstances; no, by the power of God, I want to follow every commandment He gives. When the Scriptures tell me to live a holy life, and I see the definitions of those principles in the Bible, then I want to give no room for the flesh, but follow diligently the scripture that says it is indeed possible to live, "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:12.)

The good news is that Jesus told me (so it must be true!) that there is a special blessing for those who "do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17.

The word gospel means glad tidings, or good news. The truth about Jesus Christ and what He accomplished during His visit to this world is good news for us. In Luke 4:16-19 it says, "And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Jesus was reading the prophecy recorded in Isaiah 61:1-3. Included also in this prophecy are some other wonderful blessings to be made available to mankind: "To comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

In Romans 10:9-13 the apostle Paul declares what the word of faith of the good news in Christ says: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved." Paul declares again in II Timothy 1:10 that our Lord Jesus Christ "hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

The apostle Peter declared from the Scriptures that "all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." I Peter 1:24-25.

The gospel of the Son of God declares that God, the Creator of the earth and heavens, sent His Son down to this wicked world to bring deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. This is what we, as lost and dying mortals, were in need of. We needed to be saved from the power of Satan that caused us to be disobedient and rebellious against our gracious heavenly Father. We were as lost sheep gone astray, every one of us turning to our own sinful ways, but the Lord laid on Christ the iniquity of us all and made it possible for us to have our sins forgiven freely and to have our hearts and lives completely cleansed from the very nature and root of sin. We can quit the sin business, praise the Lord! We do not have to curse and swear and lose our self-control in anger and carnal wrath. We do not have to be proud and worldly and vain in conversation or dress. We can be set free from sin to be able to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly and righteously and godly right here in this present evil world. Jesus paid the price for our atonement and deliverance from sin. This is the gospel, the good news of salvation and hope for all the human race.

In the plan of salvation sin has been conquered, death has been abolished, and life and immortality have been brought to light, or made available through the preaching of the gospel. We are given a hope of eternal resurrection with Christ from the grave. Oh, the blessed hope of the gospel! No other religion offers this anchor for the soul. We who are living under the sentence of death and the grave because of sin are given a strong consolation of a blessed hope of overcoming in eternal triumph to be risen with Christ in that last great day. This is a refuge to which we flee that we might lay hold upon this hope which the gospel has set before us! Praise God forever!

Oh, it is good news to know that our sins can be washed away through the precious blood of the Lamb, and that by that same blood we can be sanctified wholly and cleansed from all the power and dominion of sin. We can be delivered and set free from the devil to serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life. We can be holy in all manner of conversation. We are given the power and right to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God! (II Corinthians 7:1.) We must give up the spirit of this world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. (I John 2:16.) We must become obedient children and not fashion ourselves according to the former lusts that we were bound up in when we were in darkness and ignorance. What a great privilege to be modest and saintly in all ways of life, to be pure and humble and meek in our dealings with others! We can be free from strife, jealousy and hatred. We do not have to partake of the evils of this present sinful world. We can follow Jesus, the meek and lowly Lamb of God, and walk in His steps who did no sin.

This and much more can be said concerning what is offered to us in the gospel. When Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15. It means so much to really and truly repent of our sinful ways and practices of life and believe the Word of God and obey it fully. Paul said in Romans 10:16, "But they have not all obeyed the gospel." He said again in II Thessalonians 1:7-8 that "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven (in the last great day) with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." The gospel must not only be believed, but it must also be obeyed.

II Corinthians 4:4 declares that 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." The god of this world is Satan, the devil, the archenemy of God. He succeeds in blinding the minds of people through worldliness, unbelief, pride, stiffness and hardness of heart. The gospel is preached but the attitude and disposition of the hearts and minds of so many block out its holy rays of light and knowledge. This is a warning to us.

I heard of a rich man who offered and announced to his neighbors and townspeople that he would pay off their debts if they would come to his house by a certain time with their bills and proof of debt. When an old couple came to see about taking advantage of his offer they found a crowd of people standing around. Upon inquiring what they were doing, the people expressed their doubts about the rich man's offer, although they were interested. But the old couple went right on in and found, to their joy, the release from their debt. They wanted to rush out and tell everyone outside what they had obtained. But they were forbidden by the rich man to do so. He said, "They have my word and I want them to act upon my word."

OK-Dear family of God, and all readers: I can truly say God is good, for He has been so good to me. He has granted the desires of my heart in many ways lately.

More and more I value having rest in my soul and a clear conscience, which we need in order to get our prayers through to God. I am endeavoring to be more sensitive and careful to maintain this in my life.

A large percent of our population is seeking momentary pleasures by doing and partaking of a lot of things for a short duration of excitement, gratification and a good feeling. If only they realized where true rest and contentment comes from.

The Print Shop anniversary gathering and the special Faith and Victory issues were so nicely prepared. Thanks to all who made it possible. It is great being one of the former workers and a privilege I will ever be indebted to.

May this publication be guided and blessed of God, we pray. -Sis. Evodna Marler

OK-Dear Saints: We want to share with you the blessings of our Lord and Saviour. As many of you may remember, our second son had extremely bad eczema as a baby and toddler. We called on the saints for prayer and felt that the Lord helped us to know that he was allergic to some of the ingredients in certain foods. We endeavored to eliminate those foods with MSG and sodium nitrates in them, and he improved greatly. Someone said that we needed to pray for the Lord to heal him so that he could eat anything, but since I knew that much of the food with those ingredients was unhealthy for us anyway, I did not have the faith to pray that prayer.

Darren started first grade this year, and it was the first year for him to eat lunch at school. I thought I would send replacement foods on those days that they were serving food he could not eat, but he felt it made the other students stare and it really bothered him. One night as he was discussing it with us, Danny told him that the only other thing he knew to do was to get down and ask God to let him eat what was served at school and it not affect his skin. Darren said that is what he wanted to do. So they got down and prayed. I say they because, while I bowed my head in prayer, my faith really did not take it in, since hot dogs and lunchmeat are not healthy, anyway.

Saints, I want you to know that Darren has eaten whatever they served at school since that night and his skin is better now than it has been since he first broke out with eczema. His hands are dry and a little rough, but the rest of his body is smooth. How we praise the holy name of our God! What was it the father in the New Testament said? "Lord, I do believe. Help thou mine unbelief." May God ever increase our faith.

Christian love, -Sis. Anita Adams

KS-Dear Bro. Wayne and staff: Praise the Lord forever and praise Him without end. I am still saved by the grace of God and the prayers of the saints.

I want to thank the Lord for healing my body and keeping my soul. I owe the Lord my all. Pray that I will always do the will of God.

Yours In Christ, -Sis. Blinda Simon

LA-Faith Publishing House: Greetings of love to my precious sisters and brothers in the Lord! I so much appreciate God's love to all mankind. The Lord loves us more than we know how to love, and He would that all be saved. This ought to inspire our faith to pray on for all souls everywhere. Realizing we still have some precious time, let us make the most of it. Please, precious souls, do not neglect your soul, do not let anything crowd out your Saviour.

As I recently read the list of standing requests in the March Faith and Victory, I realized I am personally acquainted with more than half of the twenty-one listed, and I am praying for you along with those I haven't been blessed to know personally. Be faithful, dear ones, our God will never fail us. Oh! how I want to meet you in heaven some day. May we all hear that "Welcome home," along with those most valuable from our Lord! "Well done, my Child."

With love and prayers, -Sis. Gladys S. Cashio

LA-Dear Saints: We send greetings once again from Louisiana with much thanksgiving for all of God's blessings to us. It is so wonderful to know God and to be able to take all of our burdens and problems to Him, realizing that He knows what is best for us.

I would like to thank the Lord for a personal healing. The last Sunday of September, 1998, I fell and hurt my left foot very badly. I also pulled some muscles in my right leg, so I could not stand on either one. I was in a wheel chair for a week, then on crutches for quite some time, but God was faithful to help me out each step of the way.

Saturday, March 27th, will be 6 months since my fall, and my foot is almost back to normal. Praise the Lord! I have a slight limp because of soreness inside my foot, but am expecting complete healing for that. God is so good to us and I do love Him and desire to make heaven my home. Please pray for us.

In Christian love, -Sis. Cynthia LaCroix

FL-Thanks Bro. Murphey for the encouraging letters sent to me from time to time. I praise God for the Faith & Victory paper. I love to read it all.

God has been so good to me. I am going on 89 years of age. I cannot write like I used to but I do the best I can.

With love and prayers, -Sis. Judith Klokner

WV-Dear friends: Thanks so much for the love and the beautiful card. I really needed that. This is my last week of sick leave. I have not worked since March 11.

I have had lung and chest problems since 1975, but for some reason this one was harder to get over. I have so many blessings. I just can't thank God enough.

Please keep me on your prayer list. -Sis. Melba Powell

MO-Dear saints: I want to share with you what the Lord has done for me.

On December 19, 1998, I believe I had a heart attack. I suffered severely. The children wanted me to be checked by a doctor so they took me to the emergency room. The doctor said he saw no heart damage and gave me the name of a heart specialist. He said he could not explain the hurting down my arm.

As I sat up in bed one day crying and calling on God to speak to me, He said "Nelva, I can help you." That encouraged me. I knew that was all I needed, His help.

During this sickness my life flashed before me. I saw I wasn't measured up to all of God's standards. I called on God for soul and body. He healed both.

I am back working at my same job.

I want to thank all the saints who called and sent cards and offerings. I am so thankful I am serving a mighty God.

My desire is to serve that mighty God and to stay prayed up so when I call on Him I can expect the help I need.

In Christian Love, -Sis. Nelva Stanley

LA-Dear Saints: I want to thank the Lord for the way He has been blessing me in my soul and in my body. I am enjoying salvation and all the wonderful benefits that go with it.

I want to thank God for the healing He has given me in my body. Some of the afflictions I have been healed of are rheumatoid arthritis, mitral valve prolapse, which is a heart condition, a slipped vertebra and other afflictions. I am thankful I have learned how to trust the Lord for the healing of my body.

I love the Lord with all my heart. My desire above all things is to please Him and make heaven my home.

"Mother-in-law" they say, and yet-

Somehow I simply can't forget

'Twas you who watched his baby ways,

Who taught him his first hymn of praise,

Who smiled on him with loving pride

When first he toddled by your side;

And as I think of this today,

I think that I'd much rather say-Just Mother.

"Mother-in-law," but oh, 'twas you

Who taught him to be kind and true;

When he was tired, almost asleep,

'Twas in your arms he used to creep;

And when he hurt his tiny knee

'Twas you who kissed it tenderly,

When he was sad you cheered him, too,

And so I'd rather speak of you-As Mother.

"Mother-in-law," they say, and yet

Somehow I never shall forget

How very much I'll always owe

To you who taught him how to grow.

You trained your son to look above,

You made of him the man I love,

And so I think of that today,

And then with thankful heart I say-Dear Mother.

"And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." Ruth 2:15-16.

When Ruth went to glean barley in the field of Boaz, she found entire handfuls left behind. How surprised and happy she must have been. It was not due to carelessness that such quantity was left. It was the design of Boaz that Ruth be able to provide a living for herself and her mother-in-law.

The Psalmist David rejoiced, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psa. 23:5. He knew the experience of having God bless him so abundantly that it seemed his heart could not contain all the joy.

Many people in the world today find little about which to be happy. There is confusion and sin on every side. But those with their eyes upon God do not have to feel this despair. With Him there is fulness of joy. (Psa. 16:11.)

It is God's will and design that we find in life that which will bring us contentment. There is not a need which He cannot satisfy, and the good things He sends our way are not just luck. He purposes to bring us joy.

Notice the settings for the blessings sent to both Ruth and David. Ruth found them in the hot fields of labor. David found them in the presence of his enemies. It is in the times and places which seem hard that often we will find the rich blessings which God has purposely left in our pathway.

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness." Psa. 65:11.

With thankfulness to God we report a profitable, safe and enjoyable trip to the Philippines. It was heartening to see again Bro. Tangunan, his family and the saints there.

My brother, Willie, his wife, Neta, Bro. Galen Kelly, and I, left the states on April 5, and after 38 hours of travel by plane and jeep we arrived safely in San Jose. Although it was hot and humid, work was soon begun on a tabernacle measuring 30' x 60'.

With the assistance of the Philippine brethren, metal poles were erected and wood rafters put in place. The Philippine workers who helped us planned to attach the galvanized metal to the roof after our departure. Many plans have been made by the saints for the use of this structure in conducting worship services.

While in the Philippines we enjoyed attending services at Sibut, Caridad and Palestina. The ordinance of baptism was observed on the last Saturday of our stay. The saints welcomed us with open hearts, and we pray God to reward every effort which was made for our care and enjoyment.

Continual progress is being made on the new Print Shop building. The wood trim which Bro. Arlan Campbell recently installed has made quite an improvement in the appearance of the front offices.

As of this writing, we have purchased and arranged for the installation of carpet. Also, electricians have been contracted to finish the work which will be required for us to qualify for an occupancy permit from the Guthrie city code inspector.

From India...

March 16, 1999-Dear Bro. Wayne Murphey and dear saints everywhere in the U.S.A and other parts of the world: Greetings to all you dear ones again in the precious name of Jesus. Thank you very much for your letters in February and March. May God bless the hands of each donor for the work here.

Each congregation is going on fine here. The convention at Kothamangalam was a real blessed one. The convention at Kooltarvila will be held during the second week of April. We have decided to conduct a five-days VBS for children during the second week of April and expect about 200 children. Please pray for the blessings of each ministry.

Our prayers are for the good health of the saints everywhere. May God bless the camp meetings this year.

Yours in Him, -Bro. John Varghese

Editor's note: A fund in India has been established with which to purchase a vehicle for the work. The total cost is expected to be $10,500. If you would like to support this need, you may send your offering, designated for that purpose, to this office, and it will be forwarded to Bro. John.