Dear family, brethren, and friends around the world,

Monday morning we flew from Manila to Puerto Princesa City on the island of Palawan.  Dario Belviz and a large delegation of saints met us at the airport and brought us to the hotel where we will stay and conduct this week’s classes.  Many have come from great distances at their own expense, even from other islands, to attend.  I have been doing this type work long enough to learn to pity the host because a heavy load falls on him in making all the arrangements for an adequate place to conduct such studies and also to accommodate the brethren who gather.  Dario is faithfully fulfilling these duties with the help of several brethren without complain.

Normally, Steven and Jim prefer to have three full days for the singing classes, but today we started at 1:30 P.M. after traveling from Manila.  This first day I did not preach in order to let them maximize their time and relieve some of the pressure of losing half a day.  Actually, this was a blessing for me because the time spent in my room studying and resting allowed me to apply medication to my toes and to stay off my feet.  Perhaps the infection has slowed the healing process, but the wounds are closing up little by little (thank you for your prayers!).

Fifty one men were present for this first day.  Jim and Steven felt they got off to a good start in teaching some basic rudiments.

All the men and several women were in their places Tuesday morning to begin at 8:30.  The day began with exercises to warm up the participants’ vocal cords, and then Steven and Jim returned to rudiments of music and song leading.  This group is well disciplined and are catching on fast.

My first lesson at mid-morning was entitled “I Will Sing Unto the Lord,” based on Exodus 15 when Moses led Israel in their victory song.  Visitors were present who had been studying with our brethren and Dario asked me to prepare a strong invitation in the hope they would obey the gospel without delay.  And so it was, by the mercies of God, two men came forward to confess their faith in Christ and to submit to him in baptism for the forgiveness of their sins.  The singing class resumed as the brethren took these two precious souls to the water for baptism.

After lunch the singing class resumed with good attention and participation.  I taught a two part lesson in the afternoon entitled “Is Instrumental Music Authorized in Worship Today?”  The first part of the study reviewed how the Bible communicates God’s will to us (which is the same way all human communication occurs): direct statement, approved example, and necessary implication.  All three means of communication are utilized in the New Testament to teach us to sing in worship, but no passage authorized the use of mechanical instruments of music.

The second part of the study addresses and refutes various arguments made in defense of instrumental music in worship such as, “It was used in Old Testament worship,” and, “Where does the Bible say ‘not to use it?’” The book of Hebrews shows that Jesus Christ offered the perfect sacrifice for sin, removed the Old Testament system of worship in its entirety, and established his own new covenant for our salvation.

The person who affirms and defends instrumental music in worship is obligated to produce Book, Chapter, and Verse authorizing it rather than to assume it is authorized unless someone produces “thou shalt not.”  By the same token, when we teach baptism is immersion, we produce passages which teach it rather than affirming the negative, “You cannot find a verse forbidding immersion.”   If someone wants to affirm sprinkling water is baptism, he must produce passages which teach it rather trying to slide by on a negative, “Where does the Bible forbid sprinkling?”  No one can produce a verse which authorizes sprinkling for baptism or instrumental music in New Testament worship.

Jim and Steven started the Wednesday session with warm-up exercises for the voice, a review, some new material, and then began having the preachers lead songs.  They stood with them at times to let them explain whether they understood the right key and to help them beat time.  The best way to learn to swim is to jump into the water.  This format continued for the rest of the day and the men thoroughly enjoyed it!  Their progress was evident.

In the middle of the morning I introduced part 1 of the topic “Judgment by Christ: Jerusalem, and All Men (Matt. 23:34-25:46).”  We read the prophecies and signs given by Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:34-24:35, and then part 2 in the afternoon considered his prophecy of the final judgment day in 24:36-25:46.  “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (24:36).  “Watch,” and, “be ready,” are repeated several times.  The sermon also exposes the carnal-minded errors of premillennialism (theory of Jesus coming back to reign on earth 1,000 years) and realized eschatology (Jerusalem’s fall in A.D. 70 was the final coming of Christ, the end of the world, the resurrection day, the judgment, and our entrance into heaven or hell).

An hour was given to an open forum and a flood of good questions arose.  Someone asked for a definition of “the last days.”  The entire gospel age is the last days (Heb. 1:1-2).  Another asked if Jesus will sit on an earthly throne for 1,000 years.  No, he was seated on his heavenly throne on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 where he will continue to reign until the end of time.  The 1,000 year reign in Revelation 20 is the reign of the martyred saints in perfect victory over the Roman Empire which attempted to eradicate the church of Christ.  1,000 years does not refer to days and years on a calendar but is a figurative expression for a perfect and complete victory.

The question was posed whether we may sing “Joy to the World” during December since it is associated with the Catholic mass for the birthday of Jesus.  Yes, if we make it clear we are not signing it to participate in the errors of Catholicism and denominationalism but purely for the biblical message the song imparts.

Was Lazarus baptized before he died and went to Abraham’s bosom in hades in Luke 16:19-31?  If so, it would have been under the baptism of John who prepared the Jews for the ministry of Jesus, but the baptism commanded in the Great Commission was not practiced until the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  Lazarus lived and died under the Law of Moses not the gospel of Christ.

Is it necessary for both persons to go into the water for baptism, both the person who will do the baptism and the person who will be baptized?  No, immersion is essential to God’s command of baptism, but the location of the baptizer is incidental.

This is a sample of the many questions posed.  I was thoroughly exhausted after teaching for most of the afternoon, but it is exhilarating to study with people who are hungry to learn God’s Word!

This fruitful work is made possible by the love and providence of God expressed through His saints who enable us to make these trips.  Thank you and God bless each one of you!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com