issues and opinions

Is There Really One God?

By Carl O. Cooper

            Is there really one God? Now that’s a strange question to ask, wouldn’t you think? After all, doesn’t the Bible declare that there is one God in many places? Sure it does. In Isaiah 45:5-6 God, Himself declares it to be true. I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; 

            Now this is just one of many places in the Scriptures where God declares that there is no other God besides Him. A quick search of the Scriptures shows at least 28 passages of Scripture where the Bible teaches explicitly that there is only one God. There could very well be more places and they are scattered all through the Bible which includes both the Old Testament and the New Testament as well.

            Then why ask the question, you might ask.

            Well, the Bible also teaches something else that is just not quite so easy to explain. Can you explain the “Trinity”, and how it works? How can it be that God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are all separate persons and entities, with separate personalities, if there is only one God?  And not only that, each is considered as God. How can that be? Look at these Scriptures;

John 1:1-3 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  

            Now how can you explain that statement? Jesus “The Word” was in the beginning with God, and He was God. If there is one God, how can Jesus be “with God”, and at the same time “be God”?

            And also what about this;

Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV)

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  

            Here you see that Jesus is listed and the Holy Spirit is in the form of a dove. But we also see that God’s voice comes from heaven and speaks and declares Jesus to be His Son. Now these passages are used many times to show that the Bible teaches that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are 3 separate persons with 3 separate roles in the Godhead.

            Now, once again, how is this possible if there is only one God?

            Now let me caution you here. Don’t allow yourself to jump to conclusions just because something in the Bible seems to be too hard for you to understand.

            There are many things in the Bible like that. And there are things that we may never understand because God is just way too highly advanced for us to ever think we could reason and understand all the things He can do. No matter how hard you try, you will never understand how God created this universe. There are some things we must accept because God said it and it exists. The Trinity is one of those things.

            However, God sometimes gives us clues and pieces of information that in some cases leads us to a better understanding of some mysterious things. But don’t be discouraged if you don’t always see these clues and never, never speculate about things that could lead you to mistakes and false doctrines of things which the Bible just does not clearly reveal. False Gods and false churches have been invented because men chose to speculate and define things that they really did not understand. Don’t be ashamed to admit that you do not understand something you read in the Bible. And at the same just never stop searching for the answers to your questions.

            After considerable study and many years I feel like I have a possible answer and explanation to the question, “Is there really one God”? Of course, you understand this explanation is not recorded in the Bible and so this makes my explanation “my opinion”. But to me it does make logical sense.

            Look at this Scripture. John 17:20-21 (NKJV)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

            Now this Scripture is used to show that division in churches is against the will of God. It tells us very clearly that denominational division is just not authorized and not approved by God and therefore it is a sin. But there is also something else revealed. God and Jesus are totally united as one and it is clear that He wants the church to united as one just like They are.

            Now look at the church. The church is referred to as one body. Members of the church of Christ understand this. The Bible is so very clear that the church is referred to as “the body of Christ”. Look at these Scriptures; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV)

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—

            And just what is this body that He is referring too? It is the church. Look at this Scripture.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV)

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.  

            The church is one body. This is clear. But wait, there are many congregations of the church of Christ and each one has its own individual name. They are engaged in different works and missions and some even speak different languages. And if you address any one of these congregations you can refer to them as “the church”. When you use the term “church” you can refer correctly to an individual congregation or you could be referring to the entire church which includes all congregations.

            Now how is this possible? Well, it is made possible because we are united as one. Just like Jesus prayed in the Garden before He was crucified, we are united as one, as He and God are one. We have the same doctrines, the same goals and missions, and we share the same beliefs. And in spite of our different works and members, we are one.

            Sound familiar? It should. Doesn’t this describe the oneness we find in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? Three different persons and yet one God. Could this be an intentional design by God? I think it is. But, once again, let me make this clear. I have no Bible chapter and verse to back this up. It is just an opinion, but to me is seems to help clear up a mystery. I hope some of you who read this article will study what I have written and use your own logical reasoning and expound on what I have said.

Carl O. Cooper

Habakkuk 2: 14-16

Hab 2:14:

            For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.  “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!  You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory. 

            This passage sets up a dilemma for Jesus if he made alcoholic wine at the wedding of Cana. If the wine Jesus produced was alcoholic, then Jesus would have been guilty of giving “drink to His neighbor”. This would have pronounced this woe described here on Jesus. This would have been true regardless of the alcoholic content in any alcoholic wine Jesus could have produced.

            But we know that Jesus did not produce “wine” at the wedding of Cana, as we know the definition of the word today. Our modern definition of the word “wine” is describing an alcoholic drink. To some people it is “religious and romantic” but, alcoholic none the less. Jesus produced “oinos”, which is the word translated wine in the Bible, and only the context of the scriptures can tell you if oinos is alcoholic or not. The Bible translators chose to translate this word “oinos” to “wine” in John, Chapter 2 and not to attempt to make a distinction as to whether it is sweet, pure grape juice or alcoholic wine. We are left to decide that part on our own. And many people choose to call it alcoholic wine and never consider the consequences of what that does to Jesus. Some do this because they do not understand that the New Testament was written in Greek and translated into English and Greek words can carry many meanings just like some English words do. Others see the word “drunk” in verse 10 and think that means that the wedding guests were drunk on this wine Jesus produced.

John 2:10

             And saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

If you were not careful here, you might conclude without thinking this through, that Jesus produced wine that was capable of making men “drunk”. This conclusion would be disastrous for Jesus because it would have Jesus participating in a drinking party where people are expected to get drunk. This would be sinful and just cannot be. But a study of the text will show us once more that these words are poor choices by the translators and they have translated the Greek word “methyo” into the English words “well drunk” when a better translation would have been “filled” or “satisfied”. If you substitute the word “filled” for “well drunk” look at what this does for the perception of the context.

John 2:10

               And saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men are filled, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

            No, Jesus did not produce alcoholic wine at the wedding of Cana in John 2. He produced good, pure, grape juice of a very good quality. Not watered down, not weak or soured, not some type of “low alcoholic content”, but good, sweet, juice of the grape. He produced this from water and it was a miracle of great significance that had the desired effect on the people around Him.

Carl O. Cooper

Baptism in 1 Peter 3:21

 There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),

            The one thing that is perfectly clear here is the phrase “Baptism now saves us”.

            No matter how you interpret any part of this verse, we cannot ignore this simple statement, “baptism now saves us”.

            Now I know that there are many religious people who do not want baptism to save us and so they quickly pick up on the second part of the verse which says “not the removal of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God”. They use this part of the verse to say that the filth of the flesh is sin and if baptism does not remove sin then it cannot “save us”.

            But this verse has to be understood as one thought with all parts of the verse interconnected. There is no doubt that baptism now saves us, the Bible declares it right here. However, it also tells us that “baptism alone” does not save us. The second part of this verse clearly tells us that there are 2 parts to this salvation process. There is a physical part which is the submersion in water called “baptism”, and there is the Spiritual part which is a heart (or conscience) that is repentant and submissive and ready to be obedient to God’s will.

            If we stopped with the first part of this verse and said baptism “alone” now saves us, then we could go out into the world and capture people and drag them to a swimming pool and “baptize” them and we could “save” the world.

            But, of course, that won’t work. We know that. The “conscious” (heart) has to be involved in the salvation process to make it valid. The water we are dipped in during baptism is not magic water. The water “alone” will not remove the “filth of the flesh”. There is more to it than that. In order for baptism to “save” it has to be accompanied with Faith, repentance, and confession that Jesus is God’s Son. In other words, the “conscience” (heart) has to be involved in the salvation process.

            So, to paraphrase and explain this verse, 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (but it will not remove sin alone, it is accompanied with a good conscience toward God),

Carl O. Cooper

America, The Land of Opportunity

By Carl O. Cooper

For 30 years I did my job,

I worked as best I could.

I put a little in the bank,

Just like I knew I should.

I started up an IRA.

I bought some mutual funds.

And while I worked the market rose;

The stocks had several runs.

I seldom checked my bank account.

I went to work each day.

Sometimes I took an extra job

To help increase my pay.

And now I’m ready to retire.

I’ve worked hard all my life.

I find I’m rich with money

With family and with wife.

I took the gift of freedom

My country gave to me.

It’s there for you and everyone,

This opportunity.

But there are those who will not try.

There’s envy and there’s greed.

They think you made your money

On the backs of those in need.

But the answer’s very simple

There’s no cheating and no schemes.

It just takes hard work and effort;

Anyone can share these dreams.

Don’t be ashamed of your success.

That’s why we’re in this land.

You worked and saved and made your life

A guide for every man.

Don’t envy what your neighbor has

Don’t blame your fellow man.

Learn a lesson from his good success

And grow with this great land.

By Carl O. Cooper

Advice To a Married Man.

Keeping a Marriage Healthy

By Carl O. Cooper

            I’ve been married 60 years. I’m now an old man. But I was young once and I remember full well what I was like as a young married man. I didn’t do everything right, I admit that. And looking back on my own life and watching how things have turned out for other men, have taught me a thing or two which I would like to pass on to you. Wisdom comes from experience. There is so much to be learned by watching how things begin and watching as they progress through the years and then seeing how they turn out in the end. This is a genuine learning experience that teaches life by living it. I have seen many marriages start out and watched as they progressed through time, including my own. I have seen things that caused marriages to fail and things that could have been corrected if there had only been an effort to keep the marriage healthy.

            Young married men are tugged at from every side. Everyone and everything wants part of your time. From my own experience I can tell you that there is always something that seems to demand your time. There is your family and church, but there is also your job. The job seems to make big demands on your time and attention and it never seems to be satisfied with a small part. It requires constant attention if you expect to be a success and get ahead in your career. Most of the time, no one else seems to realize and understand what this job means, except you. Not only are you constantly measured and judged by your co-workers and managers, but you also measure yourself. You judge your own value and worth by how you measure up in your work. Most all men measure themselves in two ways; how do you measure up in your work and how do women think you look. If a man fails to measure up with at least one of these areas, he will do many things to try to compensate for this. Some of the things will cause a man to self destruct.

            Another thing that pulls and tugs at a young man’s attention and time is personal recreation. A huge mistake that a young married man makes, that many times causes a marriage to fail, is personal recreation “with the guys”. This is almost a sure way to destroy your marriage. Stop and think for just a minute. A young wife has needs that cannot be overlooked and ignored. A young woman has a need for fun and recreation just as much as a young man does. However, the activities that are required are much different than a man in both type and motive. Her recreation needs to include some attention to her that lets her know that her husband loves her and wants to be with her. She needs your attention and your appreciation so that there is no doubt that she is the most important thing in your life. You may be controlled by your job in ways that cannot be avoided, but you can avoid leaving your wife alone to go out with the guys. Never, never, and I say never, choose the “guys” over your wife when you plan your recreation activities.

            Another thing that causes marriages to fail is a man who will place his mother on a higher pedestal of importance than his wife. I am not saying that you should not love your mother. But you must never love her more than your wife. Remember what the Bible tells you to do about your parents when you get married.

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall    become one flesh.

            There is a Godly separation that takes place with a man and his mother, and the wife is now the most important person in his life.

            Never choose your mother’s opinions about how you raise your children, how you run your house, and never side with your mother in a disagreement with her and your wife.

            Now I know mothers can sometimes be wise and sometimes they can have good advice, but if a disagreement arises between your mother and your wife, support your wife. Of course, you know that I am not talking about anything immoral or against Bible principals. The rule is this; never give any cause for your wife to think that you hold your mother’s love to a higher degree than you do hers. Do not go to your mother to seek advice, without taking your wife with you and only then if your wife thinks it is a good idea.

            As a general rule, a woman is motivated by emotion more than a man. She needs attention, she needs romance, and she needs you to show how much you care by the way you treat her. This need is exceptionally strong in a woman. It was placed into her by God himself. A woman needs this emotion, this tenderness, and this loving nature to fulfill the role of a woman in taking care of babies and children and in being a loving wife to a man. Look what the Bible says about these emotions and desires.

Genesis 3:16 (NKJV)

16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain     you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall             rule over you.”

            A woman has a strong desire for the attention of a man. If you neglect these emotions in your wife then one of two things will happen. Either you will be the cause of a miserable existence for her, or you are looking at a failed marriage for you when she finds this attention from someone else.

            There is another thing that you need to know to help you to have a happy and successful marriage. Never take your wife or allow her to go where alcoholic drinks are being served. Without a doubt, alcohol can ruin your marriage. The Bible declares it and tells you what to expect if either of you involve yourself with social drinking. The Bible tells us, flat out, that social drinking can cause flirtation and improper sexual thoughts between your wife and another man. Surely, you don’t want to take this chance. Look at what the Bible tells you that wine causes in people’s lives.

Proverbs 23:29-33 (KJV)

29 Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath     wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it             moveth itself aright.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

            Keep your wife away from any place where drinking is going on and stay away from there yourself. The Bible does not lie. When it says your wife will be tempted to look on other men in an improper way, you know it is true and you would be a foolish person to allow your wife to be tempted in such a way. Do not, ever, be involved in drinking alcohol with your wife. This is a sure way to ruin your marriage.

            The next thing I would advise you to do is to develop common interests. Your wife needs to be your best friend. Take her places often, where she finds enjoyment. To some women it is a place where she is expected to dress up. In fact, most women like this. Almost all women love to go out places where they are expected to dress up to the 9’s and dazzle their husbands and have the feeling of being something special in your eyes. If you are smart you will find ways to set up “dates” with your wife. And there are other things as well. Find things you both can enjoy together. Sometimes women like the outdoors. Many women like hiking, fishing, boating, golf, and sports events. Just make sure whatever you do is centered on your wife and includes her in such a way as to never let her have a doubt that she is the most important thing in your life. After all, she is. Can you imagine what your life would be like without her?

            One last thing you need to know. As a man, you are the head of your house, as Christ is the head of the church.”

            The Bible explains it like this; your wife is expected to run your household. She has the authority to take care of the children as she sees fit. She has the authority to make the purchases for the house as she sees fit. And in general, she is the manager of the house.

             If there were to come a time when there is a decision that needs to be made  and the two of you cannot agree on a decision, then as the head of the house you become the tie breaker. But remember, you are to love your wife as Christ loves the church. Christ would never hurt the church. And you should never hurt or be unfair with your wife.

            However, the organization of the church is not a democracy for members to vote on how it is set up. Christ is the head. But he loves the church and he only does what is best and good for the church. We look to His word to settle disputes and make discussions. This is how it is with a husband and a wife.

            The two of you need to settle this in a calm and loving way before a problem comes up.

            You cannot expect your wife to understand this principal unless she understands and respects what the Bible has to say about these matters. As head of your house, you need to lead your family into a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Do not delay in this. Start that process now before it is too late for your marriage relationship. Unless you and your wife understand and become committed to a Godly way of life found in the Bible, there is no absolute standard to govern your life and your marriage. You need this standard and if you and your wife are both committed to it you will never argue and question what “is the right thing to do.”

            So, be a “man”. Stand up and lead your family into a relationship with Jesus, and be the leader of your wife and family as Christ is the head of the church. Most women respect a husband who leads.

            Unfortunately, by the time you are reading these words your marriage may already have fell on hard times. If you want to save it and if your wife is willing to be included, it is not too late to start practicing these things I have told you to do. You fell in love once and you can do it again. Love can be rekindled between two people if they behave in such a way as to let it happen. Give these suggestions a try. There are not many women that would not respond if you treat them the way I have advised you to conduct yourself in this book.

Carl O. Cooper

A Christian Woman’s Role In Life

The Myth of Total Equality With Man

            The older I get, the more I see this word “equality” abused between men and women on this earth. It is totally misunderstood by women of the world in general, and as time goes on it is more and more misunderstood by women within the church of Christ. And not without good reason. The culture of this world has, for some time now, been influenced by the powers of Satan. And has evolved in the direction of less and less regard for any authority at all, and even less regard for the authority of the Word of God, the Bible.

            Now you would expect this by the world in general. But as time goes on, the desire to incorporate this mindset into the women of the church of Christ has become more and more overpowering and almost impossible for women to ignore. As women assume more and more authority in the secular world, they are expecting the same authority in the church. This boldness also comes with changes in attitude and in the types of clothes women of the church are beginning to accept as well. Some are accepting the styles found on women at the mall and on TV, and little is left to the imagination. Some pants are so tight that they reveal a woman’s figure almost to the same degree as if her body was just covered with a coat of paint.

            Now the subject of modesty and nakedness is another subject and will require another article to address that. This article is about “equality” between a man and a woman in everyday life. And the first thing I would like to point out is the Bible’s explanation of the role of women that dates all the way back to the first man and woman, found in the book of Genesis.

            I know that almost everyone has some basic knowledge of the creation of man and woman in the Bible. God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and there were 2 trees there planted by God. There was the tree of life and Adam and Eve could have eaten from this tree and lived forever. But there was another tree there as well and it was the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil”. Look at what the Bible says happened.  

Genesis 3:9-13

^9. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

¹¹ And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you       not to eat from?”

¹² The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

¹³ Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

            The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

            As you can see, this part of the story takes place after Satan convinced the woman to eat from the forbidden tree of “The Knowledge of Good and Evil”. You might notice here that the first evil thing Adam noticed after he ate from the tree; the very first sin recorded by man and woman after they ate from the tree, was the evil of “public nakedness”. This “story” needs to be written as well and perhaps it will evolve as another article at a later date.

            But let’s continue with the conditions God placed on woman because she sinned and ate from the forbidden tree and tempted her husband to eat as well.

Genesis 3:16

To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Carefully read what God said to the woman. This is highly significant.  

            God first mentions her motherhood and tells her that from that day forward women would experience severe pain in childbearing. God does not lie and God always speaks the truth. God also has the authority to see that His will carries the weight of the final word on a subject. No one questions that this statement from God came true.

            But this next part; Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.

            It’s almost like this was just forgotten and ignored. It’s almost completely forgotten by women of the world and beginning to be watered down and forgotten by women in the church of Christ. And why not, when they are getting their instructions from the customs of the land, and unfortunately, from many of the men in congregations of the church.

            There are two reasons why women in the church are being confused about their role as a woman. Many men in teaching positions are just ignorant of the Bible teaching on this subject and others want to please the women in their lives by building them up and placing them on a high pedestal that is just not supported by the Bible. They take verses out of context such as this one and apply them with a broad brush to a woman’s life.

Galatians 3:26-28

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

            Many people read this verse and because the bias and desire to blend in with the customs of our land is so great, they conclude that this means that men and women are equal in all things. Now it is true that there is no distinction between men and women or anyone else in our promise of salvation and eternal life. However, we do not all have the same talents, jobs, and roles in life. Look at this verse.

Ephesians 4:11-12

¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the ^[e]edifying of the body of Christ,

            The Bible is very clear about this, we do not all have the same jobs and there are differences in our roles that give us differences. But no matter what the role we have in life, we all have the same value to God and we all have the same and equal chance for salvation and eternal life.

            But this does not give us all equal authority in our different roles in life. Do you have the same authority as the elders in your congregation? No, you do not. But does this make you inferior as a Christian? No matter what our role in life is, we are all equal in God’s plan for salvation and eternal life. We cannot deny that God made male and female and He created the roles in life that we occupy.

            It is true that God created a woman to have a strong desire for a man. God gave her these emotions and they are useful in her role as a mother and a wife. These emotions and desires are so strong in a woman that God placed her under subjection to a man all her life to keep these desires in check. The first man in her life is her father and eventually it becomes her husband. If you doubt these desires, look around you at the females you see. Are they doing anything to attract the attention of a man? You can see that they are by the way they are dressed. Does it not make good sense that God created a way for these desires to be kept under control? These desires are kept under control by a woman being in subjection to a man.

            But the world is changing and in my lifetime I have seen a lack of respect for Bible authority. This is happening even in the church. Teachers and preachers and men in general have lost their courage to admit that women are in subjection to men and they are finding ways to soften the Bible phrases to allow women to think there is no subjection at all.

            Now this attitude is more prevalent in younger women who have more association with schools and work places among the younger females around them. Many of the older women are more secure with their roles and understand the Bible’s authority. Men who are married to these women do not always understand that their wives are exceptions and they build them up in Bible classes and have no understanding that their wives are exceptions. God bless these women who honor God in their role as a female.

            To be a woman and honor the role of a woman as God designed it does not mean that a woman is inferior to a man. Here is a good example to illustrate that point exactly.

            Which is greater, an eagle or a lion?

            Would you say that one is greater than the other? Which one?

            The lion can’t fly and the eagle can’t run down prey. They have different roles. But both are magnificent in their own roles and one is not greater than the other. It is the same with a man and a woman. Both are magnificent in their own respected role.

            There is no reason for a woman to be ashamed of her role as a woman. To be in subjection to a man is God’s design for women and to disrespect this is to disrespect God’s design. I guarantee you and I promise you and I assure you, to follow God’s design will give you a happier life. Of course, choosing a faithful Christian man for a husband will have a lot to do with how your life turns out. The husband has his role too. Look at this verse.

Ephesians 5:22-25

            Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 

            Now there is more to the role of women than just this part about being in submission. Don’t think that this is all there is to it. There is the matter of teaching men and also about usurping authority over a man. There is also the matter of a woman taking leading roles in our assemblies when the church comes together. And please, let’s never forget “modest dress and behavior”.

            Men have roles too. I have not addressed them in this article but God designed a role for them as well. In fact, when a man abrogates his role, it can cause a woman to be deceived and lost. May God help you to learn what your roles are.

Carl O. Cooper

Marriage

By Carl O. Cooper

            Marriage was instituted by God. Of this there can be no doubt. The Bible confirms this in more than 1 place. Look at what Jesus had to say about marriage in Matthew 19:4-6 (KJV) 

            And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

            Jesus quoted Gen. 2:24 and showed those listening that marriage was instituted by God and it is God who joins a man and his wife together. And since this union was created by God, man does not have the authority to undo this union unless it is a case where God, Himself, allows it to be done.

            Jesus also gave His ruling on when this separation can be done and approved as a divorce by God. We find His words about that in Matthew 19:8-9 (NKJV)

            8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

            Jesus gives the final word on the subject of marriage and divorce. It is clear and to the point. Marriage is instituted by God. God is involved in every marriage in some way. In a proper marriage, God joins the couple together and they “become one flesh”.

            Jesus said that no man has the right to dissolve this union. That is, unless, and only unless, there is sexual infidelity involved. This is the only case where Jesus says divorce is approved by God.

            Yes, the Bible is clear about God’s requirements concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Understanding what the Bible says about it is easy. But following these requirements is another thing, altogether. Many people just don’t follow God’s commands and do not have proper divorces and their marriages are actually, in many cases, living in adultery. Even the disciples saw how hard it would be to follow God’s requirements. Look what they said in Matthew 19:10-12 (NKJV)

            10 His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  

            Notice He says that “some men made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake”? Do you want to be a faithful Christian? Then you must follow God’s requirements concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

Carl O. Cooper

Is It Possible For God To Sin?

By Carl O. Cooper  

            Is it possible for God to sin? Well, the Bible gives us the answer to that, doesn’t it? Let’s look at James 1:13 to refresh our memory on this.

James 1:12-13 (NKJV)

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  

So the answer is, NO! It is not possible for God to sin.

            Can we sin? You know we can. The bible is clear about that too.

            Recently we heard in the news about babies being beheaded and burned. If we killed babies would this be a sin? Yes, you better believe it would be a sin. But what would happen if God told us to kill babies? Would it be a sin if God told us to do it? Do you remember the story of Saul and the Amalekites? In 1 Samuel 15:3 God gives Saul his orders to kill all the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15:2-3 (NKJV)

2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”   

            “Now hold on here just a minute”, says the tender hearted.  “God would not kill babies! That just can’t be the God I know”. The Bible must be wrong here. This must be an error in the translation from the Hebrew and Greek to English. Or maybe it is some type of figurative language or a synecdoche or irony, because I just can’t believe that God would instruct a man sin and kill babies.

            And what if God Himself killed infants and babies? Would God be guilty of sin? You know that God did this many times in the Bible stories we read. A case in point would be Sodom and Gomorrah. God rained fire and brimstone on these cities and completely destroyed all the inhabitants. This included babies and young children as well. Was it sin when God killed these children?

            To answer these questions we need to remind ourselves just what the definition of sin really is. The Bible defines sin for us and we really don’t have to guess. Look at 1 John 3:4 for the answer.

1 John 3:4 (KJV)

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

          Another way to phrase this is to say that sin is a deliberate violation of the will of God.

            Now tell me this; when Saul killed all those babies in Amalek did he violate the will of God? If he did not, then it was not a sin.

            And how about this; when God killed all the babies in Sodom, did He violate His own will? The answer is No! It was not a sin.

            Is it possible for God to violate His own will? The answer to that is also NO! Therefore, it is impossible for God to sin.

            Would it be a sin if God hardened Pharaoh’s heart as He did in Exodus? No it would not be a sin. If it is God’s will to harden Pharaoh’s heart to carry out His own plan then it becomes God’s will and it is not a sin. Therefore, it is impossible for God to sin.

                        The next question would be, are you willing to judge God as a man? Are you willing to say that killing babies is evil, and if God killed babies then that makes God evil. If this was your mindset then (once again) you would have to find some way to make the Bible “not really say” that God told Saul to kill the Amalekite children. You might try to call these Bible verses some kind of poetic language or find some other name for the style of writing that would cause these verses to mean something else. Men do that, you know. We all have a “world view” of the God we think we understand.

            For many, God just could never do such a thing as kill babies. For these people, there must be, there has to be some other explanation that makes the Bible not say that God told Saul to kill infants. If we are free to judge God as a man, we cannot let the Bible say these things. Perhaps if we search hard enough we will find a fragment of ancient text where these verses are left out. My answer to this is, do not be afraid to say “I don’t understand”. There are things in the Bible that we just don’t understand and we do not have the wisdom and understanding great enough to “judge our God’s motives and reasons”.  God made us and the entire universe and we have no right to question what He says and what He does.

Carl O. Cooper