A brother has written us and requested that we write on receiving the Word. He says a preacher told him that receiving the Word was a condition on the one receiving it. We are sure that preacher has sometimes received word of something, or concerning something, which he did not want to receive. Why did he not refuse to receive it, and not do so, according to his free will doctrine? A man receiving the word of a thing is absolutely passive in receiving the word, or news, of the thing. If one is passive in receiving a thing, then it ceases to be a condition on the part of the one receiving it. Performing a condition, or complying with a condition, requires activity on the part of the one performing or complying with the condition. If the preacher knows anything about grammar, as he claimed to know, he knows this is a fact; and if he is an honest man, he will admit it.

How can the unregenerate sinner receive the word, or receive the gospel, since Paul has said, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned?" (I Corinthians 2:14) How can he receive them, since he cannot know them? If this is a condition, which he must perform in order to receive eternal life, and he cannot perform the condition, how could he ever receive eternal life? This would forever close heaven's doors to the last one of all the race of Adam - unless they do that which they cannot do; or unless they perform that which they cannot perform. Poor preacher! He is trying to get people to do what God's book says they cannot do, thinking they will get to heaven by doing that which inspiration says they cannot do! Poor preacher ! He sure has a hard job on hand - trying to get people to do the impossible thing. C. H. C.