The Significance Of Being A Christian
Belonging To The Lord - Part One
In our previous lesson, we began this series by asking what is the significance of being a Christian. Starting with the idea that a Christian is "A Person Reborn" we noted that a Christian is a person reborn because in Christ; (1) they are a new creation - 2 Co 5:17; (2) They have been born again - 1 Pe 1:22-23; (3) they now have a new loyalty: to serve Jesus Christ - Ga 2:20. We begin this lesson by noting Paul’s comments to the Corinthians as recorded in 1 Co 6:19-20 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God."Paul challenged their thinking by asking "You surely know" The Christian needs to understand that he has been "bought at a price" and consequently is a person "Belonging To The Lord"
"Belonging to the Lord" has many connotations attached to it. One is that a Christian is God’s special person. Christians are now God’s own special people. Note how Peter describes them in 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, "Once you were nobody. Now you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness."
Note: "a chosen generation", "a royal priesthood", "a holy nation", "His own special people"
These are terms that were once reserved for the physical nation of Israel. The Lord had chosen them - Deu 10:15 "Yet the LORD loved your ancestors and wanted them to belong to him. So he chose them and their descendants rather than any other nation, and today you are still his people." He made them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation - Exo 19:5 "Now if you will faithfully obey me, you will be my very own people. The whole world is mine, but you will be my holy nation and serve me as priests." Thus they had become a special people above all other nations - Deu 7:6 "Israel, you are the chosen people of the LORD your God. There are many nations on this earth, but he chose only Israel to be his very own."
What had once been limited to physical Israel, is now possible to all people who are in Christ, as promised to Abraham - Ga 3:8-9 "Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That's why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him. This means that everyone who has faith will share in the blessings that were given to Abraham because of his faith.", 28-29 "Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised."
Christians are special people with responsibilities to proclaim the praises of God - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, "Once you were nobody. Now you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness."
Because He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Because He showed mercy, and made us the people of God. To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:8-11 "If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven. My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won't stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.". To make our calling and election (as God’s people) sure. To have an abundance entrance into the everlasting kingdom.
From the example of physical Israel, let us beware of becoming hardened and not lose faith, or we may not enter the heavenly rest that awaits us! - He 3:12-4:2 "My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called "today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end. The Scriptures say, "If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn like those who rebelled." Who were those people that heard God's voice and rebelled? Weren't they the same ones that came out of Egypt with Moses? Who were the people that made God angry for forty years? Weren't they the ones that sinned and died in the desert? And who did God say would never enter his place of rest? Weren't they the ones that disobeyed him? We see that those people did not enter the place of rest because they did not have faith. The promise to enter the place of rest is still good, and we must take care that none of you miss out. We have heard the message, just as they did. But they failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good.", 11 "We should do our best to enter that place of rest, so that none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did." A Christian is truly "a special person" because he belongs to the Lord. He can rejoice in knowing that he is one of God’s "beloved" (Ro 1:7).
God’s love for the Christian is made even more evident when we note that he is also God’s Child. Christians are blessed to be children of God. In one sense, all people are God’s children - Ac 17:26-29 "From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. "We are his children," just as some of your poets have said. Since we are God's children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn't like anything that humans have thought up and made." In another sense, many do not have God as their Father - Jn 8:42-44 "Jesus answered: If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and only from him. He sent me. I did not come on my own. Why can't you understand what I am talking about? Can't you stand to hear what I am saying? Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies." Yet Christians are the children of God in a very special way. Because of their faith, and having put on Christ in baptism - Ga 3:26-27 "All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes." Redeemed and adopted by God, they have received His Spirit into their hearts - Ga 4:4-6 "But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children. Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father." Because we do the Father’s will, Jesus considers us His family - Mt 12:48-50 "Jesus answered, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and my brothers! Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother."’
Christians should be touched by this expression of God’s love - 1 Jn 3:1-2 "Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don't know who we are. My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is."
In this lesson we have looked at the principal of "Belonging to the Lord"; which has many connotations attached to it. One is that a Christian is God’s special person. Christians are now God’s own special people. In Part Two we will turn our attention to the blessings and responsibilities we have in "Belonging to the Lord"
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
After Conversion, What Then? Part Two
After Conversion, What Then?
Part Two
In Part One of this lesson we looked at what one is to do after conversion that will ensure remaining faithful to the Lord? There are some additional things to remember. We now turn our attention to the things we are to do. One of those is to put God first. Love Him with all your being, in the words of Jesus - Mt 22:37 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Seek first His kingdom and righteousness - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- This will ensure that you do all that is necessary to remain faithful!
Study the word of God. Long for the Word, like an infant longs for milk - 1 Pe 2:2 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation”. Emulate the Bereans in their attitude - Ac 17:10-11 “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” -- Receive the Word with meekness, and it will save you! - Ja 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Be fervent in prayer. Jesus has made it possible to approach God’s throne - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Wonderful blessings come through prayer - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -- Be devoted to prayer, with an attitude of thanksgiving - Co 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Be diligent in assembling. We are not to forsake our assembling together - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” It is a time for fellowship, prayer, and on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Supper – Ac 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”; 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”; 1 Co 11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” -- Neglecting the assemblies is a symptom of spiritual stagnation!
Help save others. The Lord wants His disciples to make more disciples - Mt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."’ Those diligent in saving others are more likely to save themselves - 1 Co 9:19-27 -- Lose your enthusiasm for saving souls, and you may lose your own!
While not meant to be exhaustive, these are just a few things to remember and to do -- that may be helpful for someone recently converted. But not just for new Christians; but for any Christian who has left their “first love” - Re 2:4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” For they should “repent and do the first works” - Re 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” -- These are some of the “first works” that one needs to do.
Are you in need of doing the “first works”...? Perhaps you even need to obey the “first steps” of the gospel of Christ... - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
Part Two
In Part One of this lesson we looked at what one is to do after conversion that will ensure remaining faithful to the Lord? There are some additional things to remember. We now turn our attention to the things we are to do. One of those is to put God first. Love Him with all your being, in the words of Jesus - Mt 22:37 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Seek first His kingdom and righteousness - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- This will ensure that you do all that is necessary to remain faithful!
Study the word of God. Long for the Word, like an infant longs for milk - 1 Pe 2:2 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation”. Emulate the Bereans in their attitude - Ac 17:10-11 “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” -- Receive the Word with meekness, and it will save you! - Ja 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Be fervent in prayer. Jesus has made it possible to approach God’s throne - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Wonderful blessings come through prayer - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -- Be devoted to prayer, with an attitude of thanksgiving - Co 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Be diligent in assembling. We are not to forsake our assembling together - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” It is a time for fellowship, prayer, and on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Supper – Ac 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”; 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”; 1 Co 11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” -- Neglecting the assemblies is a symptom of spiritual stagnation!
Help save others. The Lord wants His disciples to make more disciples - Mt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."’ Those diligent in saving others are more likely to save themselves - 1 Co 9:19-27 -- Lose your enthusiasm for saving souls, and you may lose your own!
While not meant to be exhaustive, these are just a few things to remember and to do -- that may be helpful for someone recently converted. But not just for new Christians; but for any Christian who has left their “first love” - Re 2:4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” For they should “repent and do the first works” - Re 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” -- These are some of the “first works” that one needs to do.
Are you in need of doing the “first works”...? Perhaps you even need to obey the “first steps” of the gospel of Christ... - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
Sunday, December 17, 2006
A Person Reborn - Part Two
The Significance Of Being A Christian
A Person Reborn - Part Two
In Part One of this lesson we introduced the reader to the significance of being a Christian as a person reborn. A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. What makes such a new creation and a new life a reality? It is more than a mere obedience to some new doctrine. It is possible only when such obedience is the result of a new loyalty. A Christian is a "converted person." As exemplified by the Thessalonians - 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God." Conversion inherently involves change, particularly a change of loyalties. From serving sin to serving God - Ro 6:16-18 "Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you obeyed the teaching you received from me. Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God." From serving idols to serving God, 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God."
A Christian is converted to Jesus Christ. He or she acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross."; 1 Pe 3:15 "Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." Above family, life, and self, the Christian chooses to follow Jesus - Mt 10:37-39 "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it." When one makes that choice, Christ will become the focus of that person’s life - Ga 2:20 "I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me."
Such a loyalty to Christ results in a new life. In which God blesses the individual through Jesus Christ, Ph 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." In which one finds strength to live the new life, Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."
A significant thing about a Christian, then, is that he or she experiences a new creation, enjoys a new life and entertains a new loyalty. Such an individual is truly "A Person Reborn". But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth...why is that? They may have not yet truly experienced the new creation. Obedience not rendered in faith will not produce the new birth - Mk 16:16 "Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." For God’s power to be at work, we must submit in faith - Co 2:12-13 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins." Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin. Hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, they have departed from God - He 3:12-13 "My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called "today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn." Entangled once again by the pollutions of the world - 2 Pe 2:20 "When they learned about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they escaped from the filthy things of this world. But they are again caught up and controlled by these filthy things, and now they are in worse shape than they were at first." In either case, their loyalty is certainly not where it ought to be!
May the promise of a new creation and a new life in Christ remind us of "The Significance Of Being A Christian", and challenge us to examine our loyalties if we do not see in our lives the evidence of "A Person Reborn" Have you taken advantage of this wonderful gift, by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Would you like to be reborn in Christ to be a new creature with a new life? If you have not responded to the gospel message and would like to do so, by all means please contact me directly at jimnewy@classicnet.net or jimnewy@gmail.com
A Person Reborn - Part Two
In Part One of this lesson we introduced the reader to the significance of being a Christian as a person reborn. A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. What makes such a new creation and a new life a reality? It is more than a mere obedience to some new doctrine. It is possible only when such obedience is the result of a new loyalty. A Christian is a "converted person." As exemplified by the Thessalonians - 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God." Conversion inherently involves change, particularly a change of loyalties. From serving sin to serving God - Ro 6:16-18 "Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you obeyed the teaching you received from me. Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God." From serving idols to serving God, 1 Th 1:9 "Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God."
A Christian is converted to Jesus Christ. He or she acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross."; 1 Pe 3:15 "Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." Above family, life, and self, the Christian chooses to follow Jesus - Mt 10:37-39 "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it." When one makes that choice, Christ will become the focus of that person’s life - Ga 2:20 "I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me."
Such a loyalty to Christ results in a new life. In which God blesses the individual through Jesus Christ, Ph 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." In which one finds strength to live the new life, Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."
A significant thing about a Christian, then, is that he or she experiences a new creation, enjoys a new life and entertains a new loyalty. Such an individual is truly "A Person Reborn". But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth...why is that? They may have not yet truly experienced the new creation. Obedience not rendered in faith will not produce the new birth - Mk 16:16 "Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." For God’s power to be at work, we must submit in faith - Co 2:12-13 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins." Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin. Hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, they have departed from God - He 3:12-13 "My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called "today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn." Entangled once again by the pollutions of the world - 2 Pe 2:20 "When they learned about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they escaped from the filthy things of this world. But they are again caught up and controlled by these filthy things, and now they are in worse shape than they were at first." In either case, their loyalty is certainly not where it ought to be!
May the promise of a new creation and a new life in Christ remind us of "The Significance Of Being A Christian", and challenge us to examine our loyalties if we do not see in our lives the evidence of "A Person Reborn" Have you taken advantage of this wonderful gift, by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Would you like to be reborn in Christ to be a new creature with a new life? If you have not responded to the gospel message and would like to do so, by all means please contact me directly at jimnewy@classicnet.net or jimnewy@gmail.com
Sunday, December 10, 2006
After Conversion, What Then? Part One
After Conversion, What Then?
Part One
Wonderful blessings come to those who respond to the gospel of Christ. They receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38-39 “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."’ They experience a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit - Ti 3:4-7 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Indeed, by God’s grace they are “saved”... Saved from their past sins - Mk 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” With their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus - Ac 22:16 “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'”; Ep 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Becoming heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Ti 3:7 “so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Yet in another sense, they are still to be “saved”.... They must make their call and election sure - 2 Pe 1:10 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” They must be careful to save themselves - 1 Ti 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” They must remain faithful to receive the crown of life - Re 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
What is one to do after conversion that will ensure remaining faithful to the Lord? There are some things to remember. You are a new creature by virtue of being in Christ - 2 Co 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Having been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life - Ro 6:3-4 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” -- God has given you new potential for living!
You are a babe in Christ. We begin our new life as “babes in Christ” - 1 Co 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” We start with spiritual “milk” - 1 Co 3:2 “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,” -- God allows you time to grow! - He 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
You are in a critical period. As a babe, you can be easily “tossed about” - Ep 4:14 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Satan often strikes hardest at the beginning of our service – for example see, Mt 4:1-11 -- Satan would love to see you fail! - 1 Pe 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
You face the possibility of falling from grace if you allow yourself to hardened by the deceit of sin - He 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Especially when you think you are strong - 1 Co 10:12 “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” -- God can be trusted to help us through temptations - 1 Co 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”; 1 Jn 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
You are to be a Good example. An example of those who believe - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” An example in both deed and word - Ti 2:7-8 “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” -- Others should be able to look to you as to how to live for Christ - Ph 3:17 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
Remembering such things will certainly help keep one strong in the faith. Also helpful are the things we are to do. These will be covered in Part Two of this lesson.
Part One
Wonderful blessings come to those who respond to the gospel of Christ. They receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38-39 “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."’ They experience a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit - Ti 3:4-7 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Indeed, by God’s grace they are “saved”... Saved from their past sins - Mk 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” With their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus - Ac 22:16 “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'”; Ep 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Becoming heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Ti 3:7 “so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Yet in another sense, they are still to be “saved”.... They must make their call and election sure - 2 Pe 1:10 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” They must be careful to save themselves - 1 Ti 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” They must remain faithful to receive the crown of life - Re 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
What is one to do after conversion that will ensure remaining faithful to the Lord? There are some things to remember. You are a new creature by virtue of being in Christ - 2 Co 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Having been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life - Ro 6:3-4 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” -- God has given you new potential for living!
You are a babe in Christ. We begin our new life as “babes in Christ” - 1 Co 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” We start with spiritual “milk” - 1 Co 3:2 “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,” -- God allows you time to grow! - He 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
You are in a critical period. As a babe, you can be easily “tossed about” - Ep 4:14 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Satan often strikes hardest at the beginning of our service – for example see, Mt 4:1-11 -- Satan would love to see you fail! - 1 Pe 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
You face the possibility of falling from grace if you allow yourself to hardened by the deceit of sin - He 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Especially when you think you are strong - 1 Co 10:12 “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” -- God can be trusted to help us through temptations - 1 Co 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”; 1 Jn 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
You are to be a Good example. An example of those who believe - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” An example in both deed and word - Ti 2:7-8 “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” -- Others should be able to look to you as to how to live for Christ - Ph 3:17 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
Remembering such things will certainly help keep one strong in the faith. Also helpful are the things we are to do. These will be covered in Part Two of this lesson.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
A Person Reborn - Part One
The Significance Of Being A Christian
A Person Reborn - Part One
It is always exciting to see someone become a Christian. Even when an observer doesn’t understand all that is involved, they often sense something meaningful is going on. Especially as time goes on, and changes begin to occur in the person’s life. But often the significance of becoming a Christian appears to be lost. Sometimes even Christians fail to appreciate the significance of being a Christian. When this happens, Christians often fail to grow as they should. It never hurts for a Christian to reflect, and ask such questions as:
What did I do?
What have I received?
What are the implications and consequences of what I’ve done?
What has happened to me?
What have I become?
What is different about me?
To summarize these questions, what is the meaning, importance, and value of becoming a Christian? What am I now to do? Such are the questions we hope to answer in this series, "The Significance Of Being A Christian"
In this first lesson, we note that a Christian is "A Person Reborn". That is because in Christ one has become a new creation. A Christian rises out of the watery grave of baptism to newness of life - Ro 6:4-5 "When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him." Old things have passed away, and new things have come - 2 Co 5:17 "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. A new birth produced by responding to the Word of God - Ja 1:18 "He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth."; 1 Pe 1:22-23 "You obeyed the truth, and your souls were made pure. Now you sincerely love each other. But you must keep on loving with all your heart. Do this because God has given you new birth by his message that lives on forever." A new birth produced by the working of the Spirit of God - Jn 3:3-5 "Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!" Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?" Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit."; Ti 3:5-7 "He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life."
In this new creation we embark on a life of renewal. The inner man is to be renewed daily - 2 Co 4:16 "We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day." This renewal is ongoing, involving the renewal of one’s mind - Ro 12:2 "Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him."
Because of the new creation which has occurred, and the renewing which continues to take place, the Christian can be said to have a new life, having passed from death to life. As Jesus promised to those who hear His words - Jn 5:24-25 "I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. I tell you for certain that the time will come, and it is already here, when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen to it will live!" Once dead in sin, we are now made alive to God - Ep 2:1-5 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else. But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you."; Co 2:12-13 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins." We now have the promise and prospect of life eternal, given through God’s Son - 1 Jn 5:11-13 "God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have God's Son, we have this life. But if we don't have the Son, we don't have this life. All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life."
Because of the new creation which has occurred we pass from darkness into the light. Such is the objective of gospel preaching: to turn people from darkness to light. So Jesus told Paul - Ac 26:18 "I want you to open their eyes, so that they will turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins will be forgiven, and by faith in me they will become part of God's holy people."’ So Peter wrote to Christians - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, "Once you were nobody. Now you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness." Though we once walked in darkness, we can now walk in the light. As children of light - Ep 5:8 "You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light"; 1 Th 5:5 "You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark." ain The metaphor of light representing goodness, righteousness, and truth - Ep 5:9 "So act like people of the light and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful"
For which we should ever be thankful - Co 1:12-13 "I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son,"
We will continue this lesson in a second part looking at what makes such a new creation and a new life a reality.
A Person Reborn - Part One
It is always exciting to see someone become a Christian. Even when an observer doesn’t understand all that is involved, they often sense something meaningful is going on. Especially as time goes on, and changes begin to occur in the person’s life. But often the significance of becoming a Christian appears to be lost. Sometimes even Christians fail to appreciate the significance of being a Christian. When this happens, Christians often fail to grow as they should. It never hurts for a Christian to reflect, and ask such questions as:
What did I do?
What have I received?
What are the implications and consequences of what I’ve done?
What has happened to me?
What have I become?
What is different about me?
To summarize these questions, what is the meaning, importance, and value of becoming a Christian? What am I now to do? Such are the questions we hope to answer in this series, "The Significance Of Being A Christian"
In this first lesson, we note that a Christian is "A Person Reborn". That is because in Christ one has become a new creation. A Christian rises out of the watery grave of baptism to newness of life - Ro 6:4-5 "When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him." Old things have passed away, and new things have come - 2 Co 5:17 "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. A new birth produced by responding to the Word of God - Ja 1:18 "He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth."; 1 Pe 1:22-23 "You obeyed the truth, and your souls were made pure. Now you sincerely love each other. But you must keep on loving with all your heart. Do this because God has given you new birth by his message that lives on forever." A new birth produced by the working of the Spirit of God - Jn 3:3-5 "Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!" Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?" Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit."; Ti 3:5-7 "He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life."
In this new creation we embark on a life of renewal. The inner man is to be renewed daily - 2 Co 4:16 "We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day." This renewal is ongoing, involving the renewal of one’s mind - Ro 12:2 "Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him."
Because of the new creation which has occurred, and the renewing which continues to take place, the Christian can be said to have a new life, having passed from death to life. As Jesus promised to those who hear His words - Jn 5:24-25 "I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. I tell you for certain that the time will come, and it is already here, when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen to it will live!" Once dead in sin, we are now made alive to God - Ep 2:1-5 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else. But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you."; Co 2:12-13 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins." We now have the promise and prospect of life eternal, given through God’s Son - 1 Jn 5:11-13 "God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. And so, if we have God's Son, we have this life. But if we don't have the Son, we don't have this life. All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life."
Because of the new creation which has occurred we pass from darkness into the light. Such is the objective of gospel preaching: to turn people from darkness to light. So Jesus told Paul - Ac 26:18 "I want you to open their eyes, so that they will turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins will be forgiven, and by faith in me they will become part of God's holy people."’ So Peter wrote to Christians - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, "Once you were nobody. Now you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness." Though we once walked in darkness, we can now walk in the light. As children of light - Ep 5:8 "You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light"; 1 Th 5:5 "You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark." ain The metaphor of light representing goodness, righteousness, and truth - Ep 5:9 "So act like people of the light and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful"
For which we should ever be thankful - Co 1:12-13 "I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son,"
We will continue this lesson in a second part looking at what makes such a new creation and a new life a reality.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
How To Find A New Testament Church
In this series of lessons I have sought to propose that "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" is possible today when we:
Appreciate why denominationalism is wrong, and therefore disdain sectarianism.
Imitate the example of Jesus by maintaining a nonsectarian relationship with God.
Properly respond to the call of the gospel, for that is how Christ is adding people to His church.
Allow "the apostles' doctrine" to be our standard of authority in religion, recognizing that is how Christ is directing His church today.
Develop those qualities of Christ-like character enjoined in the apostolic epistles, so that we can "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".
What I have proposed is really nothing new, and has been a plea expressed by many others. I am personally convinced that throughout church history there have always been groups of Christians seeking to follow Jesus in this way. Even today, there are thousands of congregations composed of those who are "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" -- Indeed, I believe there are many churches true to the example and pattern of the Lord's church as found in the New Testament. But suppose one wanted to find "a New Testament church" today? Where would they begin? What would they look for?
In this lesson, the final one in this series, I wish to offer some thoughts on "How To Find A New Testament Church". Not an exhaustive study, of course, but some simple suggestions that might help one get started. These are the sort of suggestions that I myself would follow if I were seeking to find such a congregation. First, I would. begin with the "name". The" name" of the congregation reveals much. It can quickly tell whether the church is concerned with "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism". For if the name is a denominational name, religious division must not be a major concern of those in the congregation.
The name should be a scriptural name. There is really no one scriptural name for the Lord's church in the New Testament. The expression "church of God" (1 Co 1:2), "churches of God" (1 Th 2:14), and "churches of Christ" (Ro 16:16) are commonly used. Other terms are used also, and they all reflect an association with God and Christ (body of Christ, kingdom of God, bride of Christ, temple of God, etc.). But the use of scriptural names instead of a humanly-conceived name reflects a desire to follow the Scriptures, and not human tradition. It certainly conveys a desire to honor God and Christ, and not some man, creed or particular doctrine.
Unfortunately, the "name" alone is not a sure guide, but just a good indicator, Just as the name "Mrs. Newsted" alone is not a sure guide if you were seeking to find my wife. For there are a lot of women who go by the name, "Mrs. Newsted". But only one who bears the name is properly my wife! So there may be many congregations that bear the name of Christ or God that may not be truly honoring them! For example, there are over 200 separate denominations that use the expression "Church of God". Likewise, there may be "Churches of Christ" that are no less denominational than any church with a denominational name!. Yet I would still recommend beginning with the name, and in particular those congregations that use the expression "church of Christ". Because so many denominations have chosen to use the expression "church of God", the likelihood of simply finding a denomination is much greater. Whereas most "churches of Christ" I have known are seeking to follow Jesus without denominationalism, therefore the possibilities of finding a church true to the New Testament are greater. But even when one has found a church that is nondenominational, that does not automatically mean the people are truly members of the Lord's body.
That is why I suggest the next step is to examine the "Gospel" being preached. Remember how Christ is building His church. Through the gospel, Christ calls us - 2 Th 2:14 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." As we heed the gospel call, the Lord adds us to His body, the church - Ac 2:41 "On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized.", 47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved." That is why it is so important that the gospel not be perverted in any way - Ga 1:6-9 "I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed."
If the Gospel message is different by changing either the facts or commands of the gospel, then people are not being saved, and the Lord is not adding them to His church! A church with a perverted Gospel may have the nicest people, but they are still unregenerate people! They may wear the name of Christ, both as individuals and as a church, but are not truly the people of God! So while a group of people may identify themselves as a "church of God" or "church of Christ", it is only Christ who truly makes them such when they properly respond to the call of the gospel. That is why it is imperative a church teaches the pure and simple gospel of Christ!
A final suggestion, but one that might require very careful examination over a period of time, is to compare the "practice" with the New Testament pattern. In the New testament, we find a pattern. The N.T. describes the early church during its first 60 years. A careful study of Acts and the epistles reveal a picture of the church. From this picture, a pattern emerges in reference to:
The worship of the church; The work of the church; The organization of the church.
This pattern emerges as we see the early Christians continuing steadfastly in "the apostles' doctrine".
A church abiding in the "apostles’ doctrine" will reflect this pattern. Their worship will be like that described in the New Testament involving such elements as singing, prayer, Bible study, preaching, and the Lord's Supper - Co 3:16; 4:2; 2 Ti 2:2,15; 4:2; Ac 20:7; 1 Co 10:16-17; 11:23-29. Their assemblies Will be seeking to provoke one another to love and good works - He 10:24-25. Their work as a congregation will be similar to that found in the New Testament. They will be equipping the saints for ministry (edification) - Ep 4:11-16. They will be furthering the spread of the gospel by sending out evangelists (evangelism) - Ph 4:15-16; 3 Jn 5-8. They will be meeting the physical needs of the saints as problems arise (benevolence) - Ro 15:25-26; 1 Co 16:1-4; 2 Co 8:1-9:15. Their organization as a congregation will seek to be like that found in the New Testament - Ph 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:" With elders (also known as bishops, pastors, presbyters, shepherds) qualified to oversee and tend to the local congregation - Ac 14:23; 20:28; 1 Ti 3:1-7; Ti 1:5-9; 1 Pe 5:1-4. They will also have deacons qualified to serve as they minister to the local congregation - 1 Ti 3:8-13. [The only exception to their organization will be a congregation of small size where there are men that are not qualified nor desire to be elders or deacons. Under these circumstances the male members will oversee the work and worship of the local congregation]. They will have saints (members) who sojourn in this world with conduct that is honorable and which gives glory to God - 1 Pe 2:9-12.
By carefully studying the "pattern" of the Lord's church as revealed in the New Testament, we can know when a congregation is faithfully observing "the apostles' doctrine". This places upon each of us the responsibility of carefully studying the Scriptures. For only then can we be able to distinguish between the "authentic" and a "counterfeit". I am confident that there are many "authentic" congregations all over the world. It is likely that one exists in your community already! Please feel free to contact me if you think I might be able to help you find one. But even if we live in an area where there is no church that "continues steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine", we can start one in our own home! - Ro 16:5; Phe 1-2. This can be done by proclaiming the simple gospel of Christ, and abiding in "the apostles' doctrine" as revealed in the New Testament. This will not be some new denomination, but simply a church of the Lord, a congregation of disciples that meet together to worship God and edify one another in their service to the Lord.
Are you "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"? Don't you wish to? Remember the prayer of our Lord:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;"
"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."
"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:"
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
-- Jn 17:20-23
May all those who believe in Jesus strive to be one!
These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. They are included in The Executable Outlines Series, a collection my sermon outlines and Bible study materials. Visit the EO web site (exeout.com) to browse or download more material. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
How To Find A New Testament Church
In this series of lessons I have sought to propose that "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" is possible today when we:
Appreciate why denominationalism is wrong, and therefore disdain sectarianism.
Imitate the example of Jesus by maintaining a nonsectarian relationship with God.
Properly respond to the call of the gospel, for that is how Christ is adding people to His church.
Allow "the apostles' doctrine" to be our standard of authority in religion, recognizing that is how Christ is directing His church today.
Develop those qualities of Christ-like character enjoined in the apostolic epistles, so that we can "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".
What I have proposed is really nothing new, and has been a plea expressed by many others. I am personally convinced that throughout church history there have always been groups of Christians seeking to follow Jesus in this way. Even today, there are thousands of congregations composed of those who are "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" -- Indeed, I believe there are many churches true to the example and pattern of the Lord's church as found in the New Testament. But suppose one wanted to find "a New Testament church" today? Where would they begin? What would they look for?
In this lesson, the final one in this series, I wish to offer some thoughts on "How To Find A New Testament Church". Not an exhaustive study, of course, but some simple suggestions that might help one get started. These are the sort of suggestions that I myself would follow if I were seeking to find such a congregation. First, I would. begin with the "name". The" name" of the congregation reveals much. It can quickly tell whether the church is concerned with "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism". For if the name is a denominational name, religious division must not be a major concern of those in the congregation.
The name should be a scriptural name. There is really no one scriptural name for the Lord's church in the New Testament. The expression "church of God" (1 Co 1:2), "churches of God" (1 Th 2:14), and "churches of Christ" (Ro 16:16) are commonly used. Other terms are used also, and they all reflect an association with God and Christ (body of Christ, kingdom of God, bride of Christ, temple of God, etc.). But the use of scriptural names instead of a humanly-conceived name reflects a desire to follow the Scriptures, and not human tradition. It certainly conveys a desire to honor God and Christ, and not some man, creed or particular doctrine.
Unfortunately, the "name" alone is not a sure guide, but just a good indicator, Just as the name "Mrs. Newsted" alone is not a sure guide if you were seeking to find my wife. For there are a lot of women who go by the name, "Mrs. Newsted". But only one who bears the name is properly my wife! So there may be many congregations that bear the name of Christ or God that may not be truly honoring them! For example, there are over 200 separate denominations that use the expression "Church of God". Likewise, there may be "Churches of Christ" that are no less denominational than any church with a denominational name!. Yet I would still recommend beginning with the name, and in particular those congregations that use the expression "church of Christ". Because so many denominations have chosen to use the expression "church of God", the likelihood of simply finding a denomination is much greater. Whereas most "churches of Christ" I have known are seeking to follow Jesus without denominationalism, therefore the possibilities of finding a church true to the New Testament are greater. But even when one has found a church that is nondenominational, that does not automatically mean the people are truly members of the Lord's body.
That is why I suggest the next step is to examine the "Gospel" being preached. Remember how Christ is building His church. Through the gospel, Christ calls us - 2 Th 2:14 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." As we heed the gospel call, the Lord adds us to His body, the church - Ac 2:41 "On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized.", 47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved." That is why it is so important that the gospel not be perverted in any way - Ga 1:6-9 "I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed."
If the Gospel message is different by changing either the facts or commands of the gospel, then people are not being saved, and the Lord is not adding them to His church! A church with a perverted Gospel may have the nicest people, but they are still unregenerate people! They may wear the name of Christ, both as individuals and as a church, but are not truly the people of God! So while a group of people may identify themselves as a "church of God" or "church of Christ", it is only Christ who truly makes them such when they properly respond to the call of the gospel. That is why it is imperative a church teaches the pure and simple gospel of Christ!
A final suggestion, but one that might require very careful examination over a period of time, is to compare the "practice" with the New Testament pattern. In the New testament, we find a pattern. The N.T. describes the early church during its first 60 years. A careful study of Acts and the epistles reveal a picture of the church. From this picture, a pattern emerges in reference to:
The worship of the church; The work of the church; The organization of the church.
This pattern emerges as we see the early Christians continuing steadfastly in "the apostles' doctrine".
A church abiding in the "apostles’ doctrine" will reflect this pattern. Their worship will be like that described in the New Testament involving such elements as singing, prayer, Bible study, preaching, and the Lord's Supper - Co 3:16; 4:2; 2 Ti 2:2,15; 4:2; Ac 20:7; 1 Co 10:16-17; 11:23-29. Their assemblies Will be seeking to provoke one another to love and good works - He 10:24-25. Their work as a congregation will be similar to that found in the New Testament. They will be equipping the saints for ministry (edification) - Ep 4:11-16. They will be furthering the spread of the gospel by sending out evangelists (evangelism) - Ph 4:15-16; 3 Jn 5-8. They will be meeting the physical needs of the saints as problems arise (benevolence) - Ro 15:25-26; 1 Co 16:1-4; 2 Co 8:1-9:15. Their organization as a congregation will seek to be like that found in the New Testament - Ph 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:" With elders (also known as bishops, pastors, presbyters, shepherds) qualified to oversee and tend to the local congregation - Ac 14:23; 20:28; 1 Ti 3:1-7; Ti 1:5-9; 1 Pe 5:1-4. They will also have deacons qualified to serve as they minister to the local congregation - 1 Ti 3:8-13. [The only exception to their organization will be a congregation of small size where there are men that are not qualified nor desire to be elders or deacons. Under these circumstances the male members will oversee the work and worship of the local congregation]. They will have saints (members) who sojourn in this world with conduct that is honorable and which gives glory to God - 1 Pe 2:9-12.
By carefully studying the "pattern" of the Lord's church as revealed in the New Testament, we can know when a congregation is faithfully observing "the apostles' doctrine". This places upon each of us the responsibility of carefully studying the Scriptures. For only then can we be able to distinguish between the "authentic" and a "counterfeit". I am confident that there are many "authentic" congregations all over the world. It is likely that one exists in your community already! Please feel free to contact me if you think I might be able to help you find one. But even if we live in an area where there is no church that "continues steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine", we can start one in our own home! - Ro 16:5; Phe 1-2. This can be done by proclaiming the simple gospel of Christ, and abiding in "the apostles' doctrine" as revealed in the New Testament. This will not be some new denomination, but simply a church of the Lord, a congregation of disciples that meet together to worship God and edify one another in their service to the Lord.
Are you "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"? Don't you wish to? Remember the prayer of our Lord:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;"
"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."
"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:"
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
-- Jn 17:20-23
May all those who believe in Jesus strive to be one!
These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. They are included in The Executable Outlines Series, a collection my sermon outlines and Bible study materials. Visit the EO web site (exeout.com) to browse or download more material. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Maintaining Unity In The Local Congregation
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
Maintaining Unity In The Local Congregation
The challenge of "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" to a great extent revolves around the problem of religious division that begins in the local church. Every denomination today began as a result of religious division. And religious division normally finds it origin with brethren in a local congregation unable to resolve their differences. While having the same standard of authority is essential to unity in religious matters, I also stated that it alone is insufficient, as suggested in this quote by Barton W. Stone:
"But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56).
It is essential that those who seek to allow the Bible, and in particular the New Testament, to be their standard of authority possess the proper Christian attitudes and to apply those attitudes when handling the Word of God -- Otherwise, the "sword of the Spirit" (Ep 6:17) will be abused to the detriment of all parties involved. To appreciate what I mean, in this lesson we shall examine how Paul dealt with the problem of division in the early church, and the solution he offered that we might "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." We begin by first noticing what Paul described as a major cause of division by looking at the situation at Corinth.
Paul found it necessary to write "that there be no divisions among you" - 1 Co 1:10. There were contentions among them, manifested by breaking up into parties and calling themselves after different men - 1 Co 1:11-12 "Several people from Chloe's family have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter or Christ." -- Sounds a lot like religious division today, doesn't it?
Let’s look at Paul’s evaluation of the problem. As Paul wrote to them, he realized he was dealing with "babes in Christ", who instead of being "spiritual" were "carnal" - 1 Co 3:1-3a "My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual." Indeed, the root of their envy, strife, and divisions was their carnality - 1 Co 3:3b "You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world." -- Conditions today are not really all that much different; where division exists, carnality (or spiritual immaturity) is often a major cause of the problem! This is not to say that there are never any substantive issues at stake when division occurs. But any hope for resolving differences over such issues is stifled when the parties involved are filled with envy and strife. This may help us appreciate why Paul so frequently focused his attention on the development of attitudes which increase the likelihood of overcoming differences so that unity might prevail.
Let's take a look at these attitudes for maintaining unity. To the church at Ephesus, Paul taught the virtue of "Lowliness" - Ep 4:2 "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other." This word means:
The having a humble opinion of one's self.
A deep sense of one's (moral) littleness.
Modesty, humility, lowliness of mind.
Without this virtue, members in the body begin trying to be the "head" of the body, a role reserved only for Christ.
"Gentleness" - Ep 4:2 (see above). This word can be translated as gentleness, mildness, meekness. It is not a quality of weakness, but of power under control. Moses was a meek man (Num 12:3), but capable of great strength and boldness. Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart" (Mt 11:29), but we see where He drove the money changers out of the temple. Thus it is being gentle, even when there is the potential for being harsh, but gentleness is more conducive for maintaining unity.
"Long-suffering" - Ep 4:2 (see above "Patiently"). The idea here is one of patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs. When the body consists of members who are not perfect, and often sin against each other, maintaining unity is not possible unless they are willing to endure each other's imperfections.
"Put up with one another in love" - Ep 4:2 (see above). Similar to longsuffering, "bearing" means to sustain, to bear, to endure. What makes such "longsuffering" and "forbearance" possible is another virtue: "love". As Paul wrote in his chapter on love: "love suffers long...is not provoked" - 1 Co 13:4-5 "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.". Indeed, the virtue of love is the "tie" that binds all these virtues together - Co 3:12-14 "Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together."
"Endeavor" - Ep 4:3 "Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace." Displaying these virtues does not come naturally nor easy, nor does maintaining unity. Thus the need for much effort, as Paul uses a word which means "to exert one's self, endeavor, give diligence" -- Only by giving diligence to display ALL these virtues, can we hope to "keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" - Ep 4:3
To the church at Philippi, Paul directed them to "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit" - Ph 2:3. It is necessary to point out those attitudes we should NOT have! For possessing these attitudes will destroy unity. Both involve a "self-centered" attitude rather than a "Christ-centered" attitude. Therefore, it is required that we rid ourselves of:
The desire for exalting self ("selfish ambition")
The improper estimation of self ("conceit")
In place of these, we should substitute "in lowliness of mind" - Ph 2:3. In other words, humility as in Ep 4:2. This will effectively replace the problem of "conceit". Humility should be easy to maintain if we remember our own faults and "let each esteem others better than himself" - Ph 2:3. This should be easy for us to do for we are aware of our own defects, but we do not have the same clear view of the defects of others. We can only see their outward conduct; in our own case, we can look within. We see our own hearts, with all its faults; we cannot so look into the hearts of others. In writing to the brethren at Rome, Paul exhorted them to outdo one another in this regard - "in honor giving preference to one another" - Ro 12:10b. "look out...for the interest of others" - Ph 2:4. This attitude eliminates the problem of "selfish ambition". It is the attitude of maturity, and was the attitude of Christ! - Ro 15:1-3 "If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ So it should be the attitude of every Christian! As strongly suggested by Ph 2:1-2, these qualities in verses 3-4 contribute to the unity that produces fullness of joy!
To the churches of Galatia, Paul cautioned against the improper use of our liberty in Christ. While it is true that we must stand fast in our liberty and not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage... - Ga 5:1 "Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again." ...we should use our liberty as an opportunity to serve one another in love - Ga 5:13-14 "My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All that the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself." Otherwise, abuse of our liberty gives the flesh opportunity to destroy one another! - Ga 5:15 "But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves."
To the church at Rome, Paul wrote that we should pursue things that lead to peace and edification - Ro 14:19 "We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith." That the strong should be willing to bear with the scruples of the weak - Ro 14:1 "Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.", 13 "We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith."; 15:1-3 "If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ That the weak in faith must be careful not to judge (condemn) those whom God has received! - Ro 14:3-4 "But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right." -- Such attitudes are necessary, or we will not be able "with one mind and one mouth [to] glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" - Ro 15:5-7.
Finally, to the church at Corinth Paul made it clear that knowledge can puff one up, but it is love that edifies ("builds up", in contrast to knowledge which "puffs up") - 1 Co 8:1 "In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others." That we who have liberty in Christ should be careful that we don't use it to the destruction of our brethren who are weak - 1 Co 8:9-12 "Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ." That we should therefore be willing to forego our liberties if it can help keep a brother from stumbling - 1 Co 8:13 "So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live."; 10:31-11:1 "When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved. You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
From personal experience, I can attest that where members display these attitudes in addition to their devotion to "the apostles' doctrine"......there will be a congregation of Christians in which love and unity will prevail. That's not to say there will always be perfect understanding and agreement on every subject. When people from every conceivable background come to Christ, we should expect some differences. When there will always be brethren at various levels of spiritual growth, we can expect some challenges. But if we can agree that the teaching of Christ as expounded in "the apostles' doctrine" is our standard of authority in religious matters and inculcate the Christian attitudes described in this lesson into the heart of every member then we shall be able to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ep 4:3) as we all continue to "grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2 Pe 3:18), to the glory of God!
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maintaining Unity In The Local Congregation
The challenge of "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism" to a great extent revolves around the problem of religious division that begins in the local church. Every denomination today began as a result of religious division. And religious division normally finds it origin with brethren in a local congregation unable to resolve their differences. While having the same standard of authority is essential to unity in religious matters, I also stated that it alone is insufficient, as suggested in this quote by Barton W. Stone:
"But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56).
It is essential that those who seek to allow the Bible, and in particular the New Testament, to be their standard of authority possess the proper Christian attitudes and to apply those attitudes when handling the Word of God -- Otherwise, the "sword of the Spirit" (Ep 6:17) will be abused to the detriment of all parties involved. To appreciate what I mean, in this lesson we shall examine how Paul dealt with the problem of division in the early church, and the solution he offered that we might "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." We begin by first noticing what Paul described as a major cause of division by looking at the situation at Corinth.
Paul found it necessary to write "that there be no divisions among you" - 1 Co 1:10. There were contentions among them, manifested by breaking up into parties and calling themselves after different men - 1 Co 1:11-12 "Several people from Chloe's family have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter or Christ." -- Sounds a lot like religious division today, doesn't it?
Let’s look at Paul’s evaluation of the problem. As Paul wrote to them, he realized he was dealing with "babes in Christ", who instead of being "spiritual" were "carnal" - 1 Co 3:1-3a "My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual." Indeed, the root of their envy, strife, and divisions was their carnality - 1 Co 3:3b "You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world." -- Conditions today are not really all that much different; where division exists, carnality (or spiritual immaturity) is often a major cause of the problem! This is not to say that there are never any substantive issues at stake when division occurs. But any hope for resolving differences over such issues is stifled when the parties involved are filled with envy and strife. This may help us appreciate why Paul so frequently focused his attention on the development of attitudes which increase the likelihood of overcoming differences so that unity might prevail.
Let's take a look at these attitudes for maintaining unity. To the church at Ephesus, Paul taught the virtue of "Lowliness" - Ep 4:2 "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other." This word means:
The having a humble opinion of one's self.
A deep sense of one's (moral) littleness.
Modesty, humility, lowliness of mind.
Without this virtue, members in the body begin trying to be the "head" of the body, a role reserved only for Christ.
"Gentleness" - Ep 4:2 (see above). This word can be translated as gentleness, mildness, meekness. It is not a quality of weakness, but of power under control. Moses was a meek man (Num 12:3), but capable of great strength and boldness. Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart" (Mt 11:29), but we see where He drove the money changers out of the temple. Thus it is being gentle, even when there is the potential for being harsh, but gentleness is more conducive for maintaining unity.
"Long-suffering" - Ep 4:2 (see above "Patiently"). The idea here is one of patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs. When the body consists of members who are not perfect, and often sin against each other, maintaining unity is not possible unless they are willing to endure each other's imperfections.
"Put up with one another in love" - Ep 4:2 (see above). Similar to longsuffering, "bearing" means to sustain, to bear, to endure. What makes such "longsuffering" and "forbearance" possible is another virtue: "love". As Paul wrote in his chapter on love: "love suffers long...is not provoked" - 1 Co 13:4-5 "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.". Indeed, the virtue of love is the "tie" that binds all these virtues together - Co 3:12-14 "Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together."
"Endeavor" - Ep 4:3 "Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace." Displaying these virtues does not come naturally nor easy, nor does maintaining unity. Thus the need for much effort, as Paul uses a word which means "to exert one's self, endeavor, give diligence" -- Only by giving diligence to display ALL these virtues, can we hope to "keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" - Ep 4:3
To the church at Philippi, Paul directed them to "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit" - Ph 2:3. It is necessary to point out those attitudes we should NOT have! For possessing these attitudes will destroy unity. Both involve a "self-centered" attitude rather than a "Christ-centered" attitude. Therefore, it is required that we rid ourselves of:
The desire for exalting self ("selfish ambition")
The improper estimation of self ("conceit")
In place of these, we should substitute "in lowliness of mind" - Ph 2:3. In other words, humility as in Ep 4:2. This will effectively replace the problem of "conceit". Humility should be easy to maintain if we remember our own faults and "let each esteem others better than himself" - Ph 2:3. This should be easy for us to do for we are aware of our own defects, but we do not have the same clear view of the defects of others. We can only see their outward conduct; in our own case, we can look within. We see our own hearts, with all its faults; we cannot so look into the hearts of others. In writing to the brethren at Rome, Paul exhorted them to outdo one another in this regard - "in honor giving preference to one another" - Ro 12:10b. "look out...for the interest of others" - Ph 2:4. This attitude eliminates the problem of "selfish ambition". It is the attitude of maturity, and was the attitude of Christ! - Ro 15:1-3 "If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ So it should be the attitude of every Christian! As strongly suggested by Ph 2:1-2, these qualities in verses 3-4 contribute to the unity that produces fullness of joy!
To the churches of Galatia, Paul cautioned against the improper use of our liberty in Christ. While it is true that we must stand fast in our liberty and not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage... - Ga 5:1 "Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again." ...we should use our liberty as an opportunity to serve one another in love - Ga 5:13-14 "My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All that the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself." Otherwise, abuse of our liberty gives the flesh opportunity to destroy one another! - Ga 5:15 "But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves."
To the church at Rome, Paul wrote that we should pursue things that lead to peace and edification - Ro 14:19 "We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith." That the strong should be willing to bear with the scruples of the weak - Ro 14:1 "Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.", 13 "We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith."; 15:1-3 "If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ That the weak in faith must be careful not to judge (condemn) those whom God has received! - Ro 14:3-4 "But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right." -- Such attitudes are necessary, or we will not be able "with one mind and one mouth [to] glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" - Ro 15:5-7.
Finally, to the church at Corinth Paul made it clear that knowledge can puff one up, but it is love that edifies ("builds up", in contrast to knowledge which "puffs up") - 1 Co 8:1 "In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others." That we who have liberty in Christ should be careful that we don't use it to the destruction of our brethren who are weak - 1 Co 8:9-12 "Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ." That we should therefore be willing to forego our liberties if it can help keep a brother from stumbling - 1 Co 8:13 "So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live."; 10:31-11:1 "When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved. You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
From personal experience, I can attest that where members display these attitudes in addition to their devotion to "the apostles' doctrine"......there will be a congregation of Christians in which love and unity will prevail. That's not to say there will always be perfect understanding and agreement on every subject. When people from every conceivable background come to Christ, we should expect some differences. When there will always be brethren at various levels of spiritual growth, we can expect some challenges. But if we can agree that the teaching of Christ as expounded in "the apostles' doctrine" is our standard of authority in religious matters and inculcate the Christian attitudes described in this lesson into the heart of every member then we shall be able to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ep 4:3) as we all continue to "grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2 Pe 3:18), to the glory of God!
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part Two
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part Two
Another question that often arises when the subject of authority in religion is being discussed: "Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go?" I.e., must we have authority for all that we do in religious matters? To help answer such questions, consider these warnings found in the New Testament. We must not change it’s message! This is especially true in regards to the gospel of Christ! - Ga 1:8-9 "I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed." Even if we claimed a change was authorized by an angelic messenger, we would be accursed! Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be preserved in every respect!
We must not add or take away from it. We find such a warning at the conclusion of the last book of the Bible - Re 22:18-19 "Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add anything to them, God will make you suffer all the terrible troubles written in this book. If you take anything away from these prophecies, God will not let you have part in the life-giving tree and in the holy city described in this book." Though primarily applicable to the book of Revelation, this warning is consistent with others pertaining to the revelation of God's will to man - Deu 4:2 "and now he is your God. I am telling you everything he has commanded, so don't add anything or take anything away."; Pro 30:5-6 "Everything God says is true-- and it's a shield for all who come to him for safety. Don't change what God has said! He will correct you and show that you are a liar."
We must abide in the doctrine of Christ. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the Father and the Son - 2 Jn 9 "Don't keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you." Is this passage referring to the doctrine "about" Christ, or the doctrine "taught by" Christ (along with His apostles)? As pointed out in the Expositor's Bible Commentary, the question is of little importance for John holds equally to both positions. It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper views about Christ - 2 Jn 7 "Many liars have gone out into the world. These deceitful liars are saying that Jesus Christ did not have a truly human body. But they are liars and the enemies of Christ." It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments of Christ - 1 Jn 3:24 "If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit that he has given us is proof that we are one with him." Thus what John says here applies in either case.
We must not allow "traditions of men" to make the "commands of God" of no effect. Jesus charged the Pharisees with "vain" worship for doing this - Mk 7:5-13 "The Pharisees and teachers asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do? Why do they eat without washing their hands?" Jesus replied: You are nothing but show-offs! The prophet Isaiah was right when he wrote that God had said, "All of you praise me with your words, but you never really think about me. It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans." You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught. You are good at rejecting God's commands so that you can follow your own teachings! Didn't Moses command you to respect your father and mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents? But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they own has been offered to God. You won't let those people help their parents. And you ignore God's commands in order to follow your own teaching. You do a lot of other things that are just as bad." In view of this warning, we should evaluate our religious practices: Are they based upon "traditions of men", or the "commandments of God"? If "traditions of men", does our keeping them render the "commands of God" of no effect? For example, by keeping the man-made tradition of sprinkling for baptism, the command of God for immersion (Grk. "baptizo") is rendered of no effect.
We must not abuse our liberty in Christ. In Christ we enjoy wonderful freedom, but we must be careful in our use of it - Ga 5:1 "Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again.", 13 "My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love." We must be considerate of our brothers' consciences - Ro 14:14-15:3 "The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit. If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin. If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ We should be willing to forego our liberty rather than let it destroy a brother - 1 Co 8:9-13 "Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live." We should not only ask "Is it lawful?", but also "Does it edify?" - 1 Co 10:23-24 "Some of you say, "We can do whatever we want to!" But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful. We should think about others and not about ourselves.", 31-33 "When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved." With such "warnings" weighing upon our hearts, we are more likely to approach the Word of God with the humility it deserves as we seek to establish the authority for our service to God.
But one last question related to having the same standard of authority: Will it "guarantee" unity among the followers of Christ? No, because agreeing upon the same will not guarantee unity. There are still other challenges to face. Which commands are binding today? Some commands must be understood to be limited in application. Effort must be made to determine whether a command was intended to be limited or universal in application. Which approved examples are to be considered normative for the church today?. Much of what we learn about the church pertaining to its work and organization is by example, not precept. Effort must be made to determine whether an example should be understood as teaching a binding principle for the church to observe universally. When are necessary implications really necessary implications? People often infer things from the Bible and call their conclusion a "necessary" implication. But it may only be a "possible" implication, not one "necessarily" inferred -- These are some of the questions or challenges faced by every congregation of Christians.
As Christians seek unity, we need more than just the same standard of authority. Barton W. Stone, an effective promoter of Christian unity in the early 1800's, had these insightful words in an article entitled "Christian Union" published in The Christian Messenger (1828): "On no other foundation can the parties ever meet, than on the Bible alone, without note or comment; and in no other name will they ever unite, but in that given to the disciples at Antioch--CHRISTIAN. But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56). In addition to agreeing on the same standard of authority (i.e., the Word of God), we need the proper spirit to "rightly divide the word of truth" - 2 Ti 2:14-16 "Don't let anyone forget these things. And with God as your witness, you must warn them not to argue about words. These arguments don't help anyone. In fact, they ruin everyone who listens to them. Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message. Keep away from worthless and useless talk. It only leads people farther away from God." As Paul told Timothy, the servant of the Lord must carefully apply the Word when seeking to teach others - 2 Ti 2:23-25 "Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth."
The apostle Paul has more to say on the attitudes necessary to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", but we will consider those in our next lesson. My purpose in this lesson has been to share some thoughts that I pray will help steer us in the right direction as we "Follow Jesus Without Denominationalism": The Bible teaches us, not only by way of direct commands, but through approved examples and necessary implications. It is helpful to understand the principles of general and specific authority, and when something may be expedient to fulfill things that are authorized. Warnings throughout the scriptures should serve to keep us on the "straight and narrow". But as valuable and needful the same standard of authority may be, simple agreement on what the standard is will not guarantee unity - we need to apply the proper spirit of love, patience and humility as we grow together towards unity in Christ. What is your attitude toward the authority of God's Word? Are you willing to accept the authority of Jesus Christ, as delegated to His apostles? - Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."
Ac 2:36-38 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross. When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?" Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part Two
Another question that often arises when the subject of authority in religion is being discussed: "Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go?" I.e., must we have authority for all that we do in religious matters? To help answer such questions, consider these warnings found in the New Testament. We must not change it’s message! This is especially true in regards to the gospel of Christ! - Ga 1:8-9 "I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed." Even if we claimed a change was authorized by an angelic messenger, we would be accursed! Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be preserved in every respect!
We must not add or take away from it. We find such a warning at the conclusion of the last book of the Bible - Re 22:18-19 "Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add anything to them, God will make you suffer all the terrible troubles written in this book. If you take anything away from these prophecies, God will not let you have part in the life-giving tree and in the holy city described in this book." Though primarily applicable to the book of Revelation, this warning is consistent with others pertaining to the revelation of God's will to man - Deu 4:2 "and now he is your God. I am telling you everything he has commanded, so don't add anything or take anything away."; Pro 30:5-6 "Everything God says is true-- and it's a shield for all who come to him for safety. Don't change what God has said! He will correct you and show that you are a liar."
We must abide in the doctrine of Christ. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the Father and the Son - 2 Jn 9 "Don't keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you." Is this passage referring to the doctrine "about" Christ, or the doctrine "taught by" Christ (along with His apostles)? As pointed out in the Expositor's Bible Commentary, the question is of little importance for John holds equally to both positions. It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper views about Christ - 2 Jn 7 "Many liars have gone out into the world. These deceitful liars are saying that Jesus Christ did not have a truly human body. But they are liars and the enemies of Christ." It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments of Christ - 1 Jn 3:24 "If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit that he has given us is proof that we are one with him." Thus what John says here applies in either case.
We must not allow "traditions of men" to make the "commands of God" of no effect. Jesus charged the Pharisees with "vain" worship for doing this - Mk 7:5-13 "The Pharisees and teachers asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do? Why do they eat without washing their hands?" Jesus replied: You are nothing but show-offs! The prophet Isaiah was right when he wrote that God had said, "All of you praise me with your words, but you never really think about me. It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans." You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught. You are good at rejecting God's commands so that you can follow your own teachings! Didn't Moses command you to respect your father and mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents? But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they own has been offered to God. You won't let those people help their parents. And you ignore God's commands in order to follow your own teaching. You do a lot of other things that are just as bad." In view of this warning, we should evaluate our religious practices: Are they based upon "traditions of men", or the "commandments of God"? If "traditions of men", does our keeping them render the "commands of God" of no effect? For example, by keeping the man-made tradition of sprinkling for baptism, the command of God for immersion (Grk. "baptizo") is rendered of no effect.
We must not abuse our liberty in Christ. In Christ we enjoy wonderful freedom, but we must be careful in our use of it - Ga 5:1 "Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again.", 13 "My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love." We must be considerate of our brothers' consciences - Ro 14:14-15:3 "The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit. If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin. If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me."’ We should be willing to forego our liberty rather than let it destroy a brother - 1 Co 8:9-13 "Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live." We should not only ask "Is it lawful?", but also "Does it edify?" - 1 Co 10:23-24 "Some of you say, "We can do whatever we want to!" But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful. We should think about others and not about ourselves.", 31-33 "When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved." With such "warnings" weighing upon our hearts, we are more likely to approach the Word of God with the humility it deserves as we seek to establish the authority for our service to God.
But one last question related to having the same standard of authority: Will it "guarantee" unity among the followers of Christ? No, because agreeing upon the same will not guarantee unity. There are still other challenges to face. Which commands are binding today? Some commands must be understood to be limited in application. Effort must be made to determine whether a command was intended to be limited or universal in application. Which approved examples are to be considered normative for the church today?. Much of what we learn about the church pertaining to its work and organization is by example, not precept. Effort must be made to determine whether an example should be understood as teaching a binding principle for the church to observe universally. When are necessary implications really necessary implications? People often infer things from the Bible and call their conclusion a "necessary" implication. But it may only be a "possible" implication, not one "necessarily" inferred -- These are some of the questions or challenges faced by every congregation of Christians.
As Christians seek unity, we need more than just the same standard of authority. Barton W. Stone, an effective promoter of Christian unity in the early 1800's, had these insightful words in an article entitled "Christian Union" published in The Christian Messenger (1828): "On no other foundation can the parties ever meet, than on the Bible alone, without note or comment; and in no other name will they ever unite, but in that given to the disciples at Antioch--CHRISTIAN. But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56). In addition to agreeing on the same standard of authority (i.e., the Word of God), we need the proper spirit to "rightly divide the word of truth" - 2 Ti 2:14-16 "Don't let anyone forget these things. And with God as your witness, you must warn them not to argue about words. These arguments don't help anyone. In fact, they ruin everyone who listens to them. Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message. Keep away from worthless and useless talk. It only leads people farther away from God." As Paul told Timothy, the servant of the Lord must carefully apply the Word when seeking to teach others - 2 Ti 2:23-25 "Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth."
The apostle Paul has more to say on the attitudes necessary to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", but we will consider those in our next lesson. My purpose in this lesson has been to share some thoughts that I pray will help steer us in the right direction as we "Follow Jesus Without Denominationalism": The Bible teaches us, not only by way of direct commands, but through approved examples and necessary implications. It is helpful to understand the principles of general and specific authority, and when something may be expedient to fulfill things that are authorized. Warnings throughout the scriptures should serve to keep us on the "straight and narrow". But as valuable and needful the same standard of authority may be, simple agreement on what the standard is will not guarantee unity - we need to apply the proper spirit of love, patience and humility as we grow together towards unity in Christ. What is your attitude toward the authority of God's Word? Are you willing to accept the authority of Jesus Christ, as delegated to His apostles? - Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."
Ac 2:36-38 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross. When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?" Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 30, 2006
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part One
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part One
In the past two lessons in this series, I have stressed that to be free of religious division we must have the same "standard of authority". That standard is the Will of Christ as revealed in the "apostles' doctrine", that is, the teaching of Christ's apostles, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and preserved for us in the pages of the New Testament. Other standards, both objective and subjective, are not suitable guides to lead us in the way of salvation. Not the Old Testament, majority rule, parents, preachers, creeds and traditions of men, nor conscience, human wisdom, or feelings.
Before we leave the subject of authority, there are some questions I believe worthy of our consideration. Exactly how does one use the New Testament to establish authority? Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go in matters of religion? Will having the same standard of authority "guarantee" unity among followers of Christ? -- In this lesson I wish to share some thoughts along these lines. Beginning with how authority is established.
Authority can be established in one of three ways. Direct command or precept - a direct statement of something that can or cannot be done. Example one, "repent and be baptized" - Ac 2:38. Example two, "love one another" - Jn 13:34. Example three, "abstain from sexual immorality" - 1 Th 4:3. Approved example - an illustration that shows a practice was done with the approval of the Lord's apostles. As an apostle, Paul taught by both precept and example. He encouraged others to imitate him, and sent Timothy to remind people of "his ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church" - 1 Co 4:16-17. The God of peace will be with those who do the sort of things both heard (precept) and seen (example) in an apostle like Paul - Ph 4:9. So when we have an example that meets with apostolic approval, we know there is authority for the practice. Such as, having a plurality of elders in one church - Ac 14:23; 20:28; Ph 1:1. Or, meeting on the first day of the week for the purpose of breaking bread (such as, the Lord's supper, 1 Co 10:16-17) - Ac 20:7. Necessary implication, or "forced conclusion" - something neither expressly stated nor specifically exemplified, yet it is necessarily implied by the clear import and meaning of the language used so that one can only draw a particular conclusion. Jesus appealed to necessary implication when He reasoned that there must be a resurrection of the dead based upon the implication of God's statement to Moses - Mt 22:29-33. Peter and the brethren in Judea understood the necessary implication of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, that it meant Gentiles were permitted to be baptized and enjoy the repentance that leads to life - Ac 10:44-48; 11:15-18. Therefore, if the evidence of the Scriptures warrant it, we may draw certain conclusions because of the necessary implication, for example, the issue of baptizing infants. The prerequisites for baptism include faith and repentance - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 8:37. Infants are incapable of faith and repentance. Therefore the necessary implication (or forced conclusion) is that baptism is not required of infants. Another example is the matter of using unleavened bread in partaking the Lord's Supper. There is nothing expressly stated nor specifically exemplified in reference to using unleavened bread as we observe the Lord's Supper. But when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at the Last Passover, we know that He was using unleavened bread - Lk 22:7-19. Therefore the necessary implication is that we should use unleavened bread as we keep His command to observe the Lord's Supper.
There is both "general" and "specific" authority. Using a "direct command" as an example, sometimes it is "general" in its authority. That is, "not limited in scope, area, or application" (American Heritage Dictionary) For example, the command to "go" in Mt 28:19 is generic enough to authorize all methods of transportation. Sometimes a "direct command" is "specific" in its authority. That is, "explicitly set forth; definite" (American Heritage Dictionary). The example would be, when God commanded Noah to build the ark with "gopher" wood (Gen 6:14), the specific nature of the command ruled out using any other kind of wood. A "specific" command may itself have a degree of "general" authority. As an example, the command to "sing" specifically authorizes acapella music. It is not generic enough to authorize instrumental music which is totally different class (or kind) of music, but it is generic enough to authorize different aids or "expedients" (see below), such as song books, to carry out the command to sing.
"Expedients" may be used to carry out authorized practices, such as singing. "Expedient" means "appropriate to a purpose" (American Heritage Dictionary). Thus an "expedient" is an aid that is suitable for carrying out that which is authorized. Sample "expedients" based upon what is authorized in the Scriptures:
Assembling is authorized, so the meeting house is an expedient to carry out the command to assemble.
Teaching is authorized, so arrangement in classes is an expedient to carry out the command to instruct.
Giving is authorized, so collection baskets are an expedient for gathering the contribution.
Baptism is authorized, so the baptistery is an expedient to provide a place for immersion.
Singing is authorized, so hymn books are expedient to helping us sing.
These principles on how to establish authority from the Scriptures may seem prosaic, but they can be very useful in applying the "apostles' doctrine" (i.e., the Word of God) to our lives. When properly understood and applied correctly, they can be useful "tools" to maintain the unity and peace of a local congregation.
Another question that often arises when the subject of authority in religion is being discussed: "Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go?" I.e., must we have authority for all that we do in religious matters? We will look into the answers to this question in our continuation of this lesson in Part Two.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Further Thoughts Related To Authority In Religion - Part One
In the past two lessons in this series, I have stressed that to be free of religious division we must have the same "standard of authority". That standard is the Will of Christ as revealed in the "apostles' doctrine", that is, the teaching of Christ's apostles, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and preserved for us in the pages of the New Testament. Other standards, both objective and subjective, are not suitable guides to lead us in the way of salvation. Not the Old Testament, majority rule, parents, preachers, creeds and traditions of men, nor conscience, human wisdom, or feelings.
Before we leave the subject of authority, there are some questions I believe worthy of our consideration. Exactly how does one use the New Testament to establish authority? Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go in matters of religion? Will having the same standard of authority "guarantee" unity among followers of Christ? -- In this lesson I wish to share some thoughts along these lines. Beginning with how authority is established.
Authority can be established in one of three ways. Direct command or precept - a direct statement of something that can or cannot be done. Example one, "repent and be baptized" - Ac 2:38. Example two, "love one another" - Jn 13:34. Example three, "abstain from sexual immorality" - 1 Th 4:3. Approved example - an illustration that shows a practice was done with the approval of the Lord's apostles. As an apostle, Paul taught by both precept and example. He encouraged others to imitate him, and sent Timothy to remind people of "his ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church" - 1 Co 4:16-17. The God of peace will be with those who do the sort of things both heard (precept) and seen (example) in an apostle like Paul - Ph 4:9. So when we have an example that meets with apostolic approval, we know there is authority for the practice. Such as, having a plurality of elders in one church - Ac 14:23; 20:28; Ph 1:1. Or, meeting on the first day of the week for the purpose of breaking bread (such as, the Lord's supper, 1 Co 10:16-17) - Ac 20:7. Necessary implication, or "forced conclusion" - something neither expressly stated nor specifically exemplified, yet it is necessarily implied by the clear import and meaning of the language used so that one can only draw a particular conclusion. Jesus appealed to necessary implication when He reasoned that there must be a resurrection of the dead based upon the implication of God's statement to Moses - Mt 22:29-33. Peter and the brethren in Judea understood the necessary implication of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, that it meant Gentiles were permitted to be baptized and enjoy the repentance that leads to life - Ac 10:44-48; 11:15-18. Therefore, if the evidence of the Scriptures warrant it, we may draw certain conclusions because of the necessary implication, for example, the issue of baptizing infants. The prerequisites for baptism include faith and repentance - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 8:37. Infants are incapable of faith and repentance. Therefore the necessary implication (or forced conclusion) is that baptism is not required of infants. Another example is the matter of using unleavened bread in partaking the Lord's Supper. There is nothing expressly stated nor specifically exemplified in reference to using unleavened bread as we observe the Lord's Supper. But when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at the Last Passover, we know that He was using unleavened bread - Lk 22:7-19. Therefore the necessary implication is that we should use unleavened bread as we keep His command to observe the Lord's Supper.
There is both "general" and "specific" authority. Using a "direct command" as an example, sometimes it is "general" in its authority. That is, "not limited in scope, area, or application" (American Heritage Dictionary) For example, the command to "go" in Mt 28:19 is generic enough to authorize all methods of transportation. Sometimes a "direct command" is "specific" in its authority. That is, "explicitly set forth; definite" (American Heritage Dictionary). The example would be, when God commanded Noah to build the ark with "gopher" wood (Gen 6:14), the specific nature of the command ruled out using any other kind of wood. A "specific" command may itself have a degree of "general" authority. As an example, the command to "sing" specifically authorizes acapella music. It is not generic enough to authorize instrumental music which is totally different class (or kind) of music, but it is generic enough to authorize different aids or "expedients" (see below), such as song books, to carry out the command to sing.
"Expedients" may be used to carry out authorized practices, such as singing. "Expedient" means "appropriate to a purpose" (American Heritage Dictionary). Thus an "expedient" is an aid that is suitable for carrying out that which is authorized. Sample "expedients" based upon what is authorized in the Scriptures:
Assembling is authorized, so the meeting house is an expedient to carry out the command to assemble.
Teaching is authorized, so arrangement in classes is an expedient to carry out the command to instruct.
Giving is authorized, so collection baskets are an expedient for gathering the contribution.
Baptism is authorized, so the baptistery is an expedient to provide a place for immersion.
Singing is authorized, so hymn books are expedient to helping us sing.
These principles on how to establish authority from the Scriptures may seem prosaic, but they can be very useful in applying the "apostles' doctrine" (i.e., the Word of God) to our lives. When properly understood and applied correctly, they can be useful "tools" to maintain the unity and peace of a local congregation.
Another question that often arises when the subject of authority in religion is being discussed: "Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go?" I.e., must we have authority for all that we do in religious matters? We will look into the answers to this question in our continuation of this lesson in Part Two.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, October 22, 2006
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part Two
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part Two
We left off our lesson by looking at just one objective standard used for authority in religion. We will look at some more of these objectives as we continue this study.
Another objective standard used for authority comes from parents. Some think "If it was good enough for Mom and Dad, it is good enough for me.". Yet as much as we may love and respect our parents, Christ must come first - Mt 10:37 "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples." If every generation had simply followed their parents, then we who are Gentiles would likely still be idol-worshippers and polytheistic!
Yet another objective standard people follow is preachers. It is common for people to place their trust in their "preacher," "priest," or "pastor". They reason in their hearts that surely these "men of God" could not be wrong or lead them astray. Yet Paul warned of how we can easily be misled - 2 Co 11:13-15 "Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. And it is no wonder. Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. So why does it seem strange for Satan's servants to pretend to do what is right? Someday they will get exactly what they deserve." And Jesus warned about the "blind leading the blind" - Mt 15:12-14 "Then his disciples came over to him and asked, "Do you know that you insulted the Pharisees by what you said?" Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch."’ Our attitude needs to be like that of the Bereans, who carefully examined Paul's teachings in light of the Scriptures - Ac 17:11 "The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true." Yet many accept blindly what they are taught.
The final objective standard people follow are creeds and traditions. This is where the denominations really get most of their authority. Indeed, adherence to the creeds of men is what produces denominations. Accept the Bible only, and you become a Christian only. Accept the Bible along with some Creed, and you become something else! Accept the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and you become a Mormon. Accept the Bible and papal authority, and you become a Roman Catholic. Accept the Bible and the Lutheran Catechism, and you become a Lutheran. Creeds are really not even necessary. If they say more than what the Bible says, they say too much. If they say less than what the Bible says, they say too little. If they say exactly what the Bible says, then why not let the Bible be our creed book? The fact is, creeds are filled with the traditions and commands of men, many of which conflict with and displace the commands of God! - Mk 7:6-9 "Jesus replied: You are nothing but show-offs! The prophet Isaiah was right when he wrote that God had said, "All of you praise me with your words, but you never really think about me. It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans." You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught. You are good at rejecting God's commands so that you can follow your own teachings!"
Creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rule, even the Old Testament itself, are some of the objective standards that people turn to rather than the authority of the Lord's apostles. But there are also "Subjective" standards of authority people look to or follow. One of those is "Let your conscience be your guide" is the motto of many. But our conscience cannot always be reliable. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life - Ac 23:1 "Paul looked straight at the council members and said, "My friends, to this day I have served God with a clear conscience!". Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! - Ac 26:9-11 "I once thought that I should do everything I could to oppose Jesus from Nazareth. I did this first in Jerusalem, and with the authority of the chief priests I put many of God's people in jail. I even voted for them to be killed. I often had them punished in our meeting places, and I tried to make them give up their faith. In fact, I was so angry with them, that I went looking for them in foreign cities." Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set properly. Once our conscience has been "set" by "the apostles' doctrine", then it can be a good guide.
Another "Subjective" standard many feel is that through their own wisdom they can determine right and wrong. But God's thoughts and ways are not always our own - Isa 55:8-9 "The LORD says: "My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours." In fact, God has chosen to save man in a manner specifically designed to confound those who depend solely upon human wisdom - 1 Co 1:18-29 "The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. As God says in the Scriptures, "I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise. I will confuse those who think they know so much." What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else. My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him." For us to know God's will, it was necessary for Him to reveal it to us - 1 Co 2:9-12 "But it is just as the Scriptures say, "What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!" God's Spirit has shown you everything. His Spirit finds out everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God's Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God's mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think. That's also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us." This He has done through His Spirit-inspired apostles. Who in turn shared it with us through their writings - Ep 3:1-5 "Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets."
Feelings are often the "standard of authority" for many people who go by whatever "feels right". They place stock in a religion "better felt than told". Yet the Bible declares the danger of trusting in "feelings". "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." - Pr 14:12. "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool..." - Pr 28:26. "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." - Jer 10:23
Because the way we should live is "not in man" we need an "objective standard" for our authority in religion. We can't depend upon "subjective standards" like conscience, human wisdom, or feelings. But which "objective standard"? Not creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rule, or even the Old Testament. Only "the apostles' doctrine", i.e., the New Testament is the objective standard we should follow. For the apostles were personally selected to be Christ's ambassadors. For the apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit, to be guided into all the truth and they were inspired to write all that Christ would have us to know and do. When we are content to abide in "the apostles' doctrine", then we can be assured that we are "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"! Are you following Jesus by "continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine"? Or do you follow some other standard of authority in religion?
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part Two
We left off our lesson by looking at just one objective standard used for authority in religion. We will look at some more of these objectives as we continue this study.
Another objective standard used for authority comes from parents. Some think "If it was good enough for Mom and Dad, it is good enough for me.". Yet as much as we may love and respect our parents, Christ must come first - Mt 10:37 "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples." If every generation had simply followed their parents, then we who are Gentiles would likely still be idol-worshippers and polytheistic!
Yet another objective standard people follow is preachers. It is common for people to place their trust in their "preacher," "priest," or "pastor". They reason in their hearts that surely these "men of God" could not be wrong or lead them astray. Yet Paul warned of how we can easily be misled - 2 Co 11:13-15 "Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. And it is no wonder. Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. So why does it seem strange for Satan's servants to pretend to do what is right? Someday they will get exactly what they deserve." And Jesus warned about the "blind leading the blind" - Mt 15:12-14 "Then his disciples came over to him and asked, "Do you know that you insulted the Pharisees by what you said?" Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch."’ Our attitude needs to be like that of the Bereans, who carefully examined Paul's teachings in light of the Scriptures - Ac 17:11 "The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true." Yet many accept blindly what they are taught.
The final objective standard people follow are creeds and traditions. This is where the denominations really get most of their authority. Indeed, adherence to the creeds of men is what produces denominations. Accept the Bible only, and you become a Christian only. Accept the Bible along with some Creed, and you become something else! Accept the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and you become a Mormon. Accept the Bible and papal authority, and you become a Roman Catholic. Accept the Bible and the Lutheran Catechism, and you become a Lutheran. Creeds are really not even necessary. If they say more than what the Bible says, they say too much. If they say less than what the Bible says, they say too little. If they say exactly what the Bible says, then why not let the Bible be our creed book? The fact is, creeds are filled with the traditions and commands of men, many of which conflict with and displace the commands of God! - Mk 7:6-9 "Jesus replied: You are nothing but show-offs! The prophet Isaiah was right when he wrote that God had said, "All of you praise me with your words, but you never really think about me. It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans." You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught. You are good at rejecting God's commands so that you can follow your own teachings!"
Creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rule, even the Old Testament itself, are some of the objective standards that people turn to rather than the authority of the Lord's apostles. But there are also "Subjective" standards of authority people look to or follow. One of those is "Let your conscience be your guide" is the motto of many. But our conscience cannot always be reliable. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life - Ac 23:1 "Paul looked straight at the council members and said, "My friends, to this day I have served God with a clear conscience!". Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! - Ac 26:9-11 "I once thought that I should do everything I could to oppose Jesus from Nazareth. I did this first in Jerusalem, and with the authority of the chief priests I put many of God's people in jail. I even voted for them to be killed. I often had them punished in our meeting places, and I tried to make them give up their faith. In fact, I was so angry with them, that I went looking for them in foreign cities." Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set properly. Once our conscience has been "set" by "the apostles' doctrine", then it can be a good guide.
Another "Subjective" standard many feel is that through their own wisdom they can determine right and wrong. But God's thoughts and ways are not always our own - Isa 55:8-9 "The LORD says: "My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours." In fact, God has chosen to save man in a manner specifically designed to confound those who depend solely upon human wisdom - 1 Co 1:18-29 "The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. As God says in the Scriptures, "I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise. I will confuse those who think they know so much." What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else. My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him." For us to know God's will, it was necessary for Him to reveal it to us - 1 Co 2:9-12 "But it is just as the Scriptures say, "What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!" God's Spirit has shown you everything. His Spirit finds out everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God's Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God's mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think. That's also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us." This He has done through His Spirit-inspired apostles. Who in turn shared it with us through their writings - Ep 3:1-5 "Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets."
Feelings are often the "standard of authority" for many people who go by whatever "feels right". They place stock in a religion "better felt than told". Yet the Bible declares the danger of trusting in "feelings". "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." - Pr 14:12. "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool..." - Pr 28:26. "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." - Jer 10:23
Because the way we should live is "not in man" we need an "objective standard" for our authority in religion. We can't depend upon "subjective standards" like conscience, human wisdom, or feelings. But which "objective standard"? Not creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rule, or even the Old Testament. Only "the apostles' doctrine", i.e., the New Testament is the objective standard we should follow. For the apostles were personally selected to be Christ's ambassadors. For the apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit, to be guided into all the truth and they were inspired to write all that Christ would have us to know and do. When we are content to abide in "the apostles' doctrine", then we can be assured that we are "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"! Are you following Jesus by "continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine"? Or do you follow some other standard of authority in religion?
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, October 15, 2006
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part One
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part One
In our previous study, I endeavored to show that it is through the writing of the apostles, "the apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks to and directs His Church. That the New Testament is how Christ speaks to us today and leads us to life everlasting. That it is "the apostles' doctrine" which ought to be our standard of authority in matters of religion in which we must "continue steadfastly"! - Ac 2:42
Many people say that they accept "the apostles' doctrine" as their authority in religion. But when faced with an issue in which a cherished position or view is being challenged they often appeal to a source for their authority that is quite different. This is easy to do, and perhaps the best way to avoid this is to be aware of other sources of authority in religion. Some are objective standards of authority - sources outside of ourselves that we look to direct us. Others are subjective standards of authority - where we look within ourselves for the answers we want. In this study we shall briefly touch upon various standards that people commonly turn to when faced with questions about what they believe and why they practice the things they do in religion.
Let's start with the "Objective" standards of authority beginning with the Old Testament. It is common for people to resort to the O. T. to provide authority for some practice(s) when they can't find authority for it in the teachings of Christ and/or His apostles. For example, a clergy-laity system, burning of incense and use of instrumental music in worship, keeping the Sabbath, etc. But the O.T. was designed to be temporary, to fulfill a specific purpose and as a covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant (i.e., the New Testament). It was given because of transgressions, till Christ should come - Ga 3:19 "What is the use of the Law? It was given later to show that we sin. But it was only supposed to last until the coming of that descendant who was given the promise. In fact, angels gave the Law to Moses, and he gave it to the people." For those under the Law (Israel), it was a tutor. A tutor (teacher) designed to lead them to Christ - Ga 3:24 "In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God." A tutor that has been taken away - Ga 3:25 "But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher." When those who were under the Law came to Christ they became dead to the Law - Ro 7:4 "That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God." They were delivered from the Law - Ro 7:6 "But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law."
As prophesied by Jeremiah, God has made a "new covenant" to replace the "first covenant" which is now obsolete - He 8:7-13 "If the first agreement with God had been all right, there would not have been any need for another one. But the Lord found fault with it and said, "I tell you the time will come, when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It won't be like the agreement that I made with their ancestors, when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They broke their agreement with me, and I stopped caring about them! "But now I tell the people of Israel this is my new agreement: 'The time will come when I, the Lord, will write my laws on their minds and hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Not one of them will have to teach another to know me, their Lord.' "All of them will know me, no matter who they are. I will treat them with kindness, even though they are wicked. I will forget their sins." When the Lord talks about a new agreement, he means that the first one is out of date. And anything that is old and useless will soon disappear." In their handling of the issue of circumcision, the apostles demonstrated that one cannot use the O.T. to teach something which the apostles themselves did not command. Some sought to enforce circumcision and the Law upon Gentile believers - Ac 15:1 "Some people came from Judea and started teaching the Lord's followers that they could not be saved, unless they were circumcised as Moses had taught.", 6 "The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles." But the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were able to defuse the problem by simply stating they themselves "gave no such commandment" - Ac 15:22-29 "The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas, who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. They wrote a letter that said: We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing. The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well. We send our best wishes."
This is not to say the O.T. is not of value to Christians. It was written for our learning, to provide patience, comfort, and hope - Ro 15:4 "And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope." It was written for our admonition, that we not make similar mistakes - 1 Co 10:6 "What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things.", 11 "These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days." ...we just can't use it to enjoin religious practices upon others which the apostles' themselves did not teach!
Another objective standard is Majority Rule. Many people accept whatever the majority thinks about something. But consider the words of Jesus, in describing the end of the majority - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." If you had followed the majority in Noah's day, you would have perished in the flood. In Joshua's day, you would have perished in the wilderness. Rather than simply following the majority, let our attitude be like that of Joshua: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - cf. Jos 24:14-15
This is just one of several objectives that we want to look at. We will continue to look at more when we continue this lesson in Part Two.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Many Accept As Authority In Religion - Part One
In our previous study, I endeavored to show that it is through the writing of the apostles, "the apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks to and directs His Church. That the New Testament is how Christ speaks to us today and leads us to life everlasting. That it is "the apostles' doctrine" which ought to be our standard of authority in matters of religion in which we must "continue steadfastly"! - Ac 2:42
Many people say that they accept "the apostles' doctrine" as their authority in religion. But when faced with an issue in which a cherished position or view is being challenged they often appeal to a source for their authority that is quite different. This is easy to do, and perhaps the best way to avoid this is to be aware of other sources of authority in religion. Some are objective standards of authority - sources outside of ourselves that we look to direct us. Others are subjective standards of authority - where we look within ourselves for the answers we want. In this study we shall briefly touch upon various standards that people commonly turn to when faced with questions about what they believe and why they practice the things they do in religion.
Let's start with the "Objective" standards of authority beginning with the Old Testament. It is common for people to resort to the O. T. to provide authority for some practice(s) when they can't find authority for it in the teachings of Christ and/or His apostles. For example, a clergy-laity system, burning of incense and use of instrumental music in worship, keeping the Sabbath, etc. But the O.T. was designed to be temporary, to fulfill a specific purpose and as a covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant (i.e., the New Testament). It was given because of transgressions, till Christ should come - Ga 3:19 "What is the use of the Law? It was given later to show that we sin. But it was only supposed to last until the coming of that descendant who was given the promise. In fact, angels gave the Law to Moses, and he gave it to the people." For those under the Law (Israel), it was a tutor. A tutor (teacher) designed to lead them to Christ - Ga 3:24 "In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God." A tutor that has been taken away - Ga 3:25 "But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher." When those who were under the Law came to Christ they became dead to the Law - Ro 7:4 "That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God." They were delivered from the Law - Ro 7:6 "But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law."
As prophesied by Jeremiah, God has made a "new covenant" to replace the "first covenant" which is now obsolete - He 8:7-13 "If the first agreement with God had been all right, there would not have been any need for another one. But the Lord found fault with it and said, "I tell you the time will come, when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It won't be like the agreement that I made with their ancestors, when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They broke their agreement with me, and I stopped caring about them! "But now I tell the people of Israel this is my new agreement: 'The time will come when I, the Lord, will write my laws on their minds and hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Not one of them will have to teach another to know me, their Lord.' "All of them will know me, no matter who they are. I will treat them with kindness, even though they are wicked. I will forget their sins." When the Lord talks about a new agreement, he means that the first one is out of date. And anything that is old and useless will soon disappear." In their handling of the issue of circumcision, the apostles demonstrated that one cannot use the O.T. to teach something which the apostles themselves did not command. Some sought to enforce circumcision and the Law upon Gentile believers - Ac 15:1 "Some people came from Judea and started teaching the Lord's followers that they could not be saved, unless they were circumcised as Moses had taught.", 6 "The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles." But the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were able to defuse the problem by simply stating they themselves "gave no such commandment" - Ac 15:22-29 "The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas, who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. They wrote a letter that said: We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing. The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well. We send our best wishes."
This is not to say the O.T. is not of value to Christians. It was written for our learning, to provide patience, comfort, and hope - Ro 15:4 "And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope." It was written for our admonition, that we not make similar mistakes - 1 Co 10:6 "What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things.", 11 "These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days." ...we just can't use it to enjoin religious practices upon others which the apostles' themselves did not teach!
Another objective standard is Majority Rule. Many people accept whatever the majority thinks about something. But consider the words of Jesus, in describing the end of the majority - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." If you had followed the majority in Noah's day, you would have perished in the flood. In Joshua's day, you would have perished in the wilderness. Rather than simply following the majority, let our attitude be like that of Joshua: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - cf. Jos 24:14-15
This is just one of several objectives that we want to look at. We will continue to look at more when we continue this lesson in Part Two.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Determining Our Standard Of Authority
Following Jesus Without Denominationalism
Determining Our Standard Of Authority
As dealt with in previous lessons, following Jesus without denominationalism begins by heeding the call of the gospel. For the Lord "calls" us through His gospel - 2 Th 2:14. As we respond to the call, the Lord Himself adds us to His church (His "called-out" group of people), not a man-made denomination - Ac 2:41,47. But I also suggested that if we are to be simply Christians, members of the Lord's church as we read about in the New Testament, then we must follow the example of the early church who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." - Ac 2:42.
The importance of this relates very closely to the subject of authority in religion. It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can agree upon a "standard" of authority. This is true in all areas of life. Imagine the confusion if we did not have a standard of authority relating to weights and measures. We could not even agree on the length of a line, the volume of a tank of gasoline, etc. Confusion would reign supreme in the market place if we did not all agree on one standard of authority in regards to weights and measures. An essential key to having unity on any subject is this: We must accept and submit to the same standard of authority! This is especially true in matters of religion. If people can agree on the standard of authority in religious matters, unity is possible when we submit to that same standard. There are other elements necessary to have unity (which I will discuss in a later lesson), but without a standard of authority upon which we all agree, unity is impossible!
What should be the standard of authority for Christ's church? Let's begin with a point with which I am sure all those professing to be Christians can all be in agreement with. Jesus Christ has been given all authority. He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him - Mt 28:18 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!" He therefore expects us to observe all things He has commanded - Mt 28:19-20 "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." His Apostles taught that He is HEAD of the BODY (the church) - Ep 1:22-23 "God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. The church is Christ's body and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything." As such, we are to submit to Him in everything - Ep 5:23-24 "A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first." If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all religious questions by simply asking Him. But since He is not on earth, what then? This leads to our next point that Jesus has delegated some of His authority to His Apostles.
To receive Christ, we must receive His Apostles as Jesus taught in Jn 13:20 "I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." Please note that the word "apostle" means "one sent". So as Jesus speaks of "whomever I send", He has particular reference to His apostles. The apostles were sent as "ambassadors" for Christ - 2 Co 5:20 "We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God." Therefore the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - Ac 2:42
To ensure reliability, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would teach the apostles all things, reminding them of what Jesus spoke to them - Jn 14:26 "But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you." The Spirit would guide the apostles into ALL truth - Jn 16:12-13 "I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen." The Holy Spirit guided them into "all" the truth. Paul said he taught "the WHOLE counsel of God" - Ac 20:27. Peter wrote God "has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness" - 2 Pe 1:3. So the apostles were given ALL the truth God (and Christ) wanted us to know. If the apostles were on earth today, we could simply ask them to settle religious differences. But again, they are not on earth. What then?
In the New Testament (NT), the Apostles have written what Christ wants us to know! In the NT, we have what the Apostles were given by the Holy Spirit. As Paul explained in Ep 3:1-5 "Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets." He wrote, so that when we read his writings we can have his same understanding. Peter wrote his epistles that we might always be reminded - 2 Pe 1:12-15 "You are holding firmly to the truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things. In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body. And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will soon leave it behind. That is why I am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am gone."; 3:1-2 "My dear friends, this is the second letter I have written to encourage you to do some honest thinking. I don't want you to forget what God's prophets said would happen. You must never forget what the holy prophets taught in the past. And you must remember what the apostles told you our Lord and Savior has commanded us to do."
In the NT we have the commandments of the Lord himself. As Paul made clear in 1 Co 14:37 "If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded." As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's were considered Scripture - 2 Pe 3:15-16 "Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him. Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too." Therefore, when we have questions about what the Lord would have us to do we don't have to ascend to heaven for an answer. We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor His apostles. We simply need to turn to the apostles' writings (i.e., the New Testament)! In the New Testament, the repository of the "apostles' doctrine", is where we can turn to learn the will of Jesus, given through His selected and inspired ambassadors, the apostles. But this raises another question: Is the New Testament a complete guide for us today? Is it sufficient?
Let’s turn our attention to answering this question. It must be complete, for "the faith" has been revealed "once for all" - Ju 3 "My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God's saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people." "Once for all" literally means "one time for all time". We cannot expect further revelation in the future. The writings of the apostles as collected in the New Testament are all we have. Our task, is not to look for further revelation, but to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"!
According to the Apostles themselves, these writings (scriptures) are indeed sufficient! Sufficient to make one complete, furnished unto every good work - 2 Ti 3:16-17 "Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds." They provide all we need to enjoy life and godliness - 2 Pe 1:3 "We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness." By heeding the writings of the apostles we will have the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:8-9 "If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven." An abundant entrance will be supplied into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:10-11 "My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won't stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever."
We are left with God’s providence and His Word. As Paul prepared the elders of the church at Ephesus for his departure, he commended them to God and the word of His grace - Ac 20:32 "I now place you in God's care. Remember the message about his great kindness! This message can help you and give you what belongs to you as God's people." He did not instruct them to appoint apostles to take his place. He did not instruct them to seek further revelation (for Paul had already proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" to them - Ac 20:27 "I have told you everything God wants you to know.") He simply directed them to two things: To God Himself (i.e., His Divine Providence). The word of His grace (that word which had been revealed by Paul himself). These two blessings, Paul was confident, were able to do two things. Build them up and give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
"The New Testament", then, is how Christ speaks to us today. He leads us to life everlasting! It is through the writing of the apostles, "the apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks and directs His Church! It is "the apostles' doctrine" that is the standard of authority in matters of religion. It is "the apostles' doctrine" in which we must "continue steadfastly"! - Ac 2:42
There is more to be said about authority in religion, which we will cover in the next lesson. But I hope that our attitude is such that what was said about the Thessalonians can also be said of us:
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." - 1 Th 2:13
Is that your attitude toward "the apostles' doctrine"?
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Determining Our Standard Of Authority
As dealt with in previous lessons, following Jesus without denominationalism begins by heeding the call of the gospel. For the Lord "calls" us through His gospel - 2 Th 2:14. As we respond to the call, the Lord Himself adds us to His church (His "called-out" group of people), not a man-made denomination - Ac 2:41,47. But I also suggested that if we are to be simply Christians, members of the Lord's church as we read about in the New Testament, then we must follow the example of the early church who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." - Ac 2:42.
The importance of this relates very closely to the subject of authority in religion. It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can agree upon a "standard" of authority. This is true in all areas of life. Imagine the confusion if we did not have a standard of authority relating to weights and measures. We could not even agree on the length of a line, the volume of a tank of gasoline, etc. Confusion would reign supreme in the market place if we did not all agree on one standard of authority in regards to weights and measures. An essential key to having unity on any subject is this: We must accept and submit to the same standard of authority! This is especially true in matters of religion. If people can agree on the standard of authority in religious matters, unity is possible when we submit to that same standard. There are other elements necessary to have unity (which I will discuss in a later lesson), but without a standard of authority upon which we all agree, unity is impossible!
What should be the standard of authority for Christ's church? Let's begin with a point with which I am sure all those professing to be Christians can all be in agreement with. Jesus Christ has been given all authority. He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him - Mt 28:18 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!" He therefore expects us to observe all things He has commanded - Mt 28:19-20 "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." His Apostles taught that He is HEAD of the BODY (the church) - Ep 1:22-23 "God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. The church is Christ's body and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything." As such, we are to submit to Him in everything - Ep 5:23-24 "A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first." If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all religious questions by simply asking Him. But since He is not on earth, what then? This leads to our next point that Jesus has delegated some of His authority to His Apostles.
To receive Christ, we must receive His Apostles as Jesus taught in Jn 13:20 "I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." Please note that the word "apostle" means "one sent". So as Jesus speaks of "whomever I send", He has particular reference to His apostles. The apostles were sent as "ambassadors" for Christ - 2 Co 5:20 "We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God." Therefore the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - Ac 2:42
To ensure reliability, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would teach the apostles all things, reminding them of what Jesus spoke to them - Jn 14:26 "But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you." The Spirit would guide the apostles into ALL truth - Jn 16:12-13 "I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen." The Holy Spirit guided them into "all" the truth. Paul said he taught "the WHOLE counsel of God" - Ac 20:27. Peter wrote God "has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness" - 2 Pe 1:3. So the apostles were given ALL the truth God (and Christ) wanted us to know. If the apostles were on earth today, we could simply ask them to settle religious differences. But again, they are not on earth. What then?
In the New Testament (NT), the Apostles have written what Christ wants us to know! In the NT, we have what the Apostles were given by the Holy Spirit. As Paul explained in Ep 3:1-5 "Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets." He wrote, so that when we read his writings we can have his same understanding. Peter wrote his epistles that we might always be reminded - 2 Pe 1:12-15 "You are holding firmly to the truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things. In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body. And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will soon leave it behind. That is why I am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am gone."; 3:1-2 "My dear friends, this is the second letter I have written to encourage you to do some honest thinking. I don't want you to forget what God's prophets said would happen. You must never forget what the holy prophets taught in the past. And you must remember what the apostles told you our Lord and Savior has commanded us to do."
In the NT we have the commandments of the Lord himself. As Paul made clear in 1 Co 14:37 "If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded." As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's were considered Scripture - 2 Pe 3:15-16 "Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him. Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too." Therefore, when we have questions about what the Lord would have us to do we don't have to ascend to heaven for an answer. We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor His apostles. We simply need to turn to the apostles' writings (i.e., the New Testament)! In the New Testament, the repository of the "apostles' doctrine", is where we can turn to learn the will of Jesus, given through His selected and inspired ambassadors, the apostles. But this raises another question: Is the New Testament a complete guide for us today? Is it sufficient?
Let’s turn our attention to answering this question. It must be complete, for "the faith" has been revealed "once for all" - Ju 3 "My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God's saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people." "Once for all" literally means "one time for all time". We cannot expect further revelation in the future. The writings of the apostles as collected in the New Testament are all we have. Our task, is not to look for further revelation, but to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"!
According to the Apostles themselves, these writings (scriptures) are indeed sufficient! Sufficient to make one complete, furnished unto every good work - 2 Ti 3:16-17 "Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds." They provide all we need to enjoy life and godliness - 2 Pe 1:3 "We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness." By heeding the writings of the apostles we will have the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:8-9 "If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven." An abundant entrance will be supplied into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:10-11 "My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won't stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever."
We are left with God’s providence and His Word. As Paul prepared the elders of the church at Ephesus for his departure, he commended them to God and the word of His grace - Ac 20:32 "I now place you in God's care. Remember the message about his great kindness! This message can help you and give you what belongs to you as God's people." He did not instruct them to appoint apostles to take his place. He did not instruct them to seek further revelation (for Paul had already proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" to them - Ac 20:27 "I have told you everything God wants you to know.") He simply directed them to two things: To God Himself (i.e., His Divine Providence). The word of His grace (that word which had been revealed by Paul himself). These two blessings, Paul was confident, were able to do two things. Build them up and give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
"The New Testament", then, is how Christ speaks to us today. He leads us to life everlasting! It is through the writing of the apostles, "the apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks and directs His Church! It is "the apostles' doctrine" that is the standard of authority in matters of religion. It is "the apostles' doctrine" in which we must "continue steadfastly"! - Ac 2:42
There is more to be said about authority in religion, which we will cover in the next lesson. But I hope that our attitude is such that what was said about the Thessalonians can also be said of us:
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." - 1 Th 2:13
Is that your attitude toward "the apostles' doctrine"?
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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