Worship That is Acceptable to God

2010-02-03T21:10:00.001-08:00

Worship of the New Testament church

2010-02-03T21:09:00.006-08:00

By Jimmie C Smith
According to the book of Acts (which is the book of conversions), worship followed conversion as surely as salvation followed obedience. Whenever men obeyed the Gospel (Acts 2:38, 41) they recognized their responsibility to exalt God before the world through worship; v. 42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” v. 47 “PRAISING GOD, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

From the very beginning then we are introduced to the corporate (i.e. united, or combined) worship of the church (body). The church clearly understood their purpose of worshipping and praising God, for they worshipped God in Jerusalem when the Church came into existence and they continued so to worship God everywhere they went regardless of the time, place or circumstances. The attitude “I don’t think God expects me to worship except on Sunday morning” was NONEXISTENT! The church of Christ was a worshipping fellowship and the great book of Acts portrays this truth with crystal clarity.

The early church was a worshipping church before it was an evangelistic church, the book of Acts demonstrates this with great force. “Worship” is more than a “thought.” It implies an expression of worthiness, honor, praise or exaltation. In brief, let it be said that “worship” means ACTS OF REVERENCE PAID TO DEITY. Worship is MORE than a mere attitude of heart or feeling. It is an action prescribed by the Lord which comes from the sincere heart of the worshipper. If not, then there could not have been “vain worship -- Matthew 15:8-9;” “will worship --Colossians 2:20-23;” “worship in ignorance -- Acts 17:23,” or even “true worship -- John 4:23-24.”

The Lord’s Standard: John 4:21-24. The Savior said: “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, worship the Father.” v. 21. Vs. 23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.”

There are three necessary elements specified here in order to meet God’s approval:

(1)

Must woship‘Him

right object

(2)

in spirit

right motive

(3)

in Truth

according to the pattern in God’s Word, which is the truth,

John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth

Thus you have the right OBJECT; right MOTIVE; and right WAY.

There is no escape: If you leave out the object (God) no matter how conscientious you may be, it is vain. Then you may offer what God demands to the proper object, yet if your motive is wrong the worship will be also. Your Object on the other hand may be right, and the Motive correct, yet if the Way is incorrect, so is the worship because you’ve left out an essential element.

There can be no act of worship acceptable unto God almighty unless the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded that specific act to be done.

This is the reason “patriotic songs” such as “God bless the USA” were so out of character when sung in denominational services during the recent gulf war. They lacked the element “in truth -- i.e. the WAY” in that they were not Spiritual Songs (Ephesians 5:19) and were not thus authorized (Colossians 3:17). In themselves, no more harmless than “hand washing” (which we all do numerous times per day) but which “innocent” act would render our worship “vain” (Matthew 15:9)

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor. .--Rt. 6, Box 199-A, Harrison, Ark.

Cut and Paste Religion

2010-02-03T21:09:00.005-08:00

God Spoke to MeGod spoke to the boy Samuel saying, “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle” (1 Samuel 3:11). Should we expect God to speak to us in the same manner today?

God has spoken to many people in the past, but for our age He has spoken through His Son. “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). We should not expect God to speak to us today in the same manner as He spoke to Samuel. It would be a mistake to “cut” an event from the past and “paste” it into the present.

Incense in WorshipThe Israelites were instructed to burn incense in their worship (Leviticus 16:12). Why not do the same today? Because Christ did not authorize incense in Christian worship. Have you considered the subject of public worship with concern for the things Jesus authorized for the worship of Christians? Beware of “cut and paste” religion!

PriesthoodAll followers of Christ now make up a spiritual priesthood. Peter wrote to believers calling them a “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). The Israelites were instructed to have a special class of priests from the tribe of Levi. We would not be following Christ’s instructions for His disciples if we were to have a special class of priests. We should not attempt to “cut and paste” God’s instructions from the Old Testament Law of Moses into the New Testament teachings of Christ.

Law of Moses The Law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments, was given to the Israelites (Dueteronomy 5:3). Followers of Christ are not under the Law of Moses. See Galatians 3:24-25. To “cut” even a small part of the of the Law and “paste” it onto the teachings of Jesus would be “Cut and paste” religion. The Ten Commandments were an integral part of the Law of Moses. Although they contain standards of conduct, we have no authority (from Christ) to cut them out of the Law and paste them into God’s instructions for today.

The Commandments required Sabbath keeping. See Exodus 20:8-10. The Sabbath is the seventh day. Christians, under the guidance of the Apostles, met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) to partake of the Lord’s Supper (To remember Christ each week on the day of His resurrection). God’s instructions are not contradictory, but a “cut and paste” treatment of God’s instructions often results deviation from God’s will.

Instrumental MusicMechanical instruments of music are mentioned in the Old Testament many times. But Christians were instructed to sing. See Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. Organs were first used in worship during the seventh century A.D. From the first to the seventh century there were no mechanical instruments of music in worship. The term “a cappella” derives its meaning from this era. It means “as sung in the chapel” without accompaniment of mechanical instruments. History reveals that instruments were not a part of the worship of Christians for six hundred years. The early Christians did not “cut and paste” in the matter of instrumental music. If we follow Jesus as Lord, we will follow His instructions without addition or subtraction. Jesus said, “But why do you call me ‘Lord, lord’ and do not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Speaking in TonguesThe apostles were understood by people from various nations. The “tongues” they spoke were understandable languages (Acts 2:8). The tongues served as evidence for the validity of the message (Hebrews 2:4). Jesus promised that some would speak in tongues (Mark 16:17). These signs were to confirm the Word. They ceased when the Word was completely revealed (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

Saved Like the ThiefA thief on a cross beside Jesus said, “Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Assuming the thief was saved, we should not attempt to “cut and paste” this event from the past to the present with the expectation of being saved like the thief.

Following His death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved...” (Mark 16:16). Jesus instructs us to be baptized. Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-5 shows this is the point at which our sins are forgiven and we are “in Christ” --- added to His body, the church. “Cut and paste” activities may be highly creative and educational for children, but if we are attempting to obey God we will not “cut and paste” the Scriptures.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement. Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruths@hotmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.

The Church of Our Choice?

2010-02-03T21:09:00.003-08:00

There are myriad's of people in the world who have never stopped to examine their religious position. No person can be honest in their religion and not know what they are trying to be in faith and practice. Neither can any one be honest in their religion and seek to maintain a religious connection with which they are not in harmony. The first position is a feigned one, the latter is just plainly hypocritical.

It would be surprising to hear the answers that many people would in all honesty have to assign for their religious connection. Some are members of a certain religious fellowship because it is the most popular in their town, and the elite society of the community go there. Some go to a particular church because of a large membership, or a large structure and a fine building used as a place of assembly. Some go for business, political, as well as social reasons.

Then there are those who would tell you that they are identified with a certain church because they do some good, or because they teach some good things. These reasons are true of all religious bodies in the land. None, perhaps, could be found that does not have some good people, as well as some bad ones, in it's fellowship. Perhaps, there are none that do not teach some good from a mortal point of view and that do not teach some of the truth. If these reasons are to be the basis of church membership, then everyone should join every church in the community!

If such can serve as the basis for membership in one, it would be a good reason for becoming a member of all. All the churches teach contradictory doctrines and by belonging to more than one a man would put himself in a position of obvious dishonesty and insincerity. This means but one thing: there is but one basis for religion that is honorable, and that basis is conviction.

The only reason for being anything is because of what you believe! No one can honestly be a Baptist unless they actually know what Baptist doctrine is, and believe it in their heart. For the same reason one cannot honestly be a Methodist without knowing what Methodism teaches and believing it in their heart. The same is true of any other religious connection.

Another common practice is for someone to transfer membership from one denomination to another on account of their husband or wife, or family, in order to have peace in the home. This prostitutes religion and causes it to serve a purely social, rather than a spiritual purpose. God frowns upon such manifest insincerity in religion.

For instance, suppose a man transfers from the Baptist to Methodist Church because of his wife, and not on grounds of conviction at all. Is he honest? Baptists teach that baptism is by immersion alone; Methodists teach that it is not, but can be performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the conviction or preference of the candidate. Baptists teach that when a person is once saved and becomes a child of God, he cannot fall from grace or so sin as to be finally lost in hell; Methodists teach that a child of God can fall from Grace and be finally lost. You can really see that because their doctrine are contradictory one cannot transfer membership from one to the other at will, and that there is no honest basis upon which it can be done, except a change of conviction. Conviction Is The Only Honest Basis For Any Religious Connection!

Just as conviction is the only acceptable basis for any religious affiliations, so there Is Only One Acceptable Basis For Conviction, that Is Because It Is Taught In The Word Of God. Why do you believe it? Where has God ever said it? The only reason for believing anything is because God said it. That is reason enough for believing anything and it is the only acceptable basis for anything that is believed!

Religion simply cannot be put on the basis of personal judgment or what we may think. Nor can it exist upon the basis of human teaching whether it comes from mother or father, some prominent preacher, or some human creed. When we believe for such reasons it means that we have ignored the Word of God entirely.

We must remember that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Paul said, "According to that which is written, I have believed and therefore did speak" (2 Corinthians 4:12). Believing a lie condemns (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Here is the order as God requires it: Religion must be founded upon conviction or faith; FAITH MUST BE FOUNDED ON THE WORD OF GOD! Faith must embrace what the Word of God has said, all that God has said, and only what God has said in order to be founded upon His Word. Why do you believe what you believe? Where has God said it?

These considerations bring us to the announcement of our text for this study. "But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). With Christ established in our hearts this passage of scripture teaches that we should be always ready to give reasons for what we are and for the hope we have. Yet those reasons should not be personal reasons based upon our own judgment and conceit, or prejudices; they should be given with "meekness and fear" and that means they must be based upon the Word of God. They must be Bible reasons or else our confidence is not in God, our trust is not in Him but in ourselves. Can you give Bible reasons for your faith, practice, worship, and all of your other religious connections? We need to re-examine our positions religiously and once again test and try them in the light of God's Word to see if they are based upon truth.

When thousands of early Christians met the persecutions sent against them by pagan Rome, and gladly died in the arena rather than recant, they went so calmly to their death until the pagans who witnessed their death were prompted to ask, "What is the basis of their hope that they can die thus?" Surely a strong hope does have a foundation. No hope can be stronger than the assurance upon which it is based, and what better basis could one hope for than the promises of God? Hope based upon the promises of God can sustain us in any trial. We must be certain, however, that our hopes are not idle and baseless because we are not standing on the promises of God.

Why should anyone be willing to be a member of the church of Christ? What are the scriptural grounds for such a relationship? Why does such a relationship entitle one to the promises of God? In the discussion to follow we assign reasons for being a member of the church of Christ that are altogether scriptural and we offer these reasons for the careful investigation of every reader. They will stand the test of truth!

1) The Church Of Christ Is Built Upon The Foundation Of Eternal Truth That Jesus Is The Son Of God.
The foundation of any building determines it's strength. In this respect the church of Christ is singular. It is founded upon no individual.

Lutheranism is built upon Luther; Adventism upon Mrs. Ellen G White; Christian Science is founded upon Mar Baker Eddy; and in a similar manner every denomination has been built upon some individual or some particular theory or doctrine.

The church of Christ came into existence because it was part of God's eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10-11). Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18). The rock spoken of was the truth confessed by Peter, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." This being the foundation of the Church, it is divine. Paul, on this same theme, wrote the Corinthians, "For other foundations can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Your position religiously is no better than the foundation upon which you stand. If all you believe, practice, and teach comes from Christ and by His authority, then you are standing upon the proper foundation.

If anything you have accepted in the name of religion comes from any other sources, then you are standing upon the wrong foundation. When the reason you believe what you believe is that you have believed first that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, then your position is safe. But if you believe that Wesley, Luther, Calvin, or some other religious leader has taught and are a part of the religious movement founded by them, you have deserted Christ as your foundation. Why not just be a member of the church which recognizes as the only reason for it's existence that fact that Jesus Christ is God's Son? Why not belong to the proposed in God's plan from eternity and built by Jesus Christ Himself? Such a position is bound to be absolutely safe.

2) The Church Of Christ Recognizes Jesus Christ As It's Only Head And Only Source Of Authority.

Members of the church of Christ accept the authority of Christ as complete, and believe that it excludes all other source of authority.

Christians are subject to the will of Christ and it alone. Jesus taught, "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Paul declared that God gave Christ "to head over all things unto the church, which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22-23). That means that no one else has any authority over the church at all. If this be the truth, and the Word of God teaches it, then the claim Catholicism makes for the Pope as the head of the church on earth is not true. Every act of his and the edicts issued are all without divine recognition and the authority claimed is merely usurped.

The same fact applies to all counsels, conventions, synods, and every other form of organization that undertakes to exercise any authority in religious matters. None of them has any in fact. All authority in religious matters belongs to Christ. His authority excludes all else. To be a Christian demands that we recognize only the authority of Christ, and refuse to be bound by any other in any matter. Jesus drew a distinction between human and divine authority that should be carefully noted. When the Pharisees came to Him and questioned Him as to His authority, He replied by asking them a question, "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men?" (Matthew 21:25). This is the issue.

Is this thing you believe, practice, and teach from heaven, or from men? Did Christ authorize it? Have His inspired apostles taught it? If not, then it must be from men and to believe it or practice it will condemn rather than save. In Matthew 15:6-9, Jesus declared, "And you made void the Word of God because of your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, 'This people honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men." Hence to recognize human authority in religion is to make your religion vain in the sight of God. No preacher, elder, or member of the church of Christ has any authority to legislate or bind one single rule upon anyone. Every member of the church of Christ is free under God to take Christ as his only lawgiver and to bow to His authority alone.

Furthermore, the church of Christ does not attempt to justify any practice by Old Testament authority. Much of the religion in this age is a combination or mixture of Old and New Testament authority. Many religious practices in which people today engage cannot be found in the teachings of the New Testament scriptures, accordingly, if those who practice them offer the Bible as authority, they must go to the Old Testament to find it. Many times, these practices have no authority even in the Old Testament scriptures.

The religious world needs to learn that even if a practice is authorized in the Old Testament, yet such authority does not justify its use in Christianity. In fact, the New Testament forbids the effort to justify ourselves by the authority of Moses and the prophets. Paul said, "You are severed from Christ, yet who would be justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). Again he declared. "God having in old times spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, has at the end of these days, spoken unto us in His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). On the same point, John tells us, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). We are under the system of grace and truth, and we are subject of the authority of Christ alone. Jesus said, "All authority is given unto Me, both in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). John tells us that we go ahead and abide not in the teachings of Christ, we have not God (2 John 9).

The important principle is that Christianity is a religion established by the authority and teachings of Christ, and is found in the New Testament scriptures. What Christ and the apostles in the New Testament have not taught is no part of the religion of Christ. You can learn how the Jews worshipped in the Old Testament and see what God's will was concerning the patriarchs, but if you want to be a Christian you must come to the revelation of the will of God through Christ in New Testament scriptures in order to learn that. Hence, if the infant church membership advocates, those who use mechanical instruments in worship, burn incense, and all the rest of such innovations could be established by the authority of Moses and the prophets, which they can't, they still could not practice as a part of Christianity until they can be found in the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

It is position of the church of Christ, and has always been, that nothing belongs to Christianity that Christ has not authorized. Upon such a principle it is safe to stand.

3) The Church Of Christ Gives Preeminence To Christ In All Things.

This is the will of God according to Paul, "And He is the head of the body. the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). Men exalt doctrines, methods of procedure, and many other things and give them preeminence in many ways, but those who are simple servants of Christ according to His will must exalt only Christ.

The church of Christ does not exalt one doctrine above another. We believe with James, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he became guilty of all" (James 2:10). Men do not have the right to sit in judgment upon the Word of God and distinguish between God's commandments. It is just as disrespectful of divine authority to set God's Word aside at one point as at another. Yet in many ways men make distinctions that God has not made.

For instance, why would men name themselves religiously after some ordinance --- such as the Baptists have done? They have put so much stress upon the proper action of baptism that they have actually adopted the name of the ordinance as their religious name and thus have given it the preeminence over Christ. Methodists are guilty of the same thing for they have exalted the "method" above Christ by the very name they wear. Presbyterians are likewise guilty of giving the doctrine of the presbyters precedence over Christ. Catholics have exalted the idea of the universal nature of Christianity above Christ. Christians have exalted one doctrine of Christianity above another, but have always exalted Christ above every other consideration and undertaken to honor all that Christ has taught by striving to keep it and teach the world to do so.

4) The Church Of Christ Is Built After The Divine Pattern In Its Organization.

The churches of Christ have always believed and taught that the Church in this world is the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10). We believe God designed the Church, that He is the Divine Architect who planned it in all of its details. God planned the Church exactly as He planned the tabernacle in the wilderness. When He took Moses into the mountain and gave him the pattern of the tabernacle, He set forth even the details concerning it. Its length, height, breath, its different divisions, the material out of which it was to be built, and in all of its peculiarities, God designed in and gave to Moses the plan. He even told Moses what pieces of furniture were to go with it. Not one single part of the tabernacle was left up to Moses or the congregation of Israel. When the plan had been given, God said to Moses, "See that you build all things according to the pattern given thee in the mount," Paul refers to this vary charge and applies it to the Church today (Hebrews 8:1-5).

The church of God then must be built according to the divine pattern. If a single part of that pattern is changed, God's will has not been done. We are not left to guess about the organization of the church of Christ. Not one single detail of its organization has been left up to us. Every particular part of the Church has been planned, and in order for the God of heaven to recognize it as His own, it must be built after the divine pattern. The New Testament scriptures give us the divine pattern of the Church.

Christ is the only head of the Church. He exercises universal authority over it. No member in the Church anywhere has any right or privilege beyond that which Christ has given. The only authority any member has is to do the will of Christ. This is the picture of the Church universal with Christ, as the Chief Shepherd of our souls.

The Church, however, has a local organization, subject to the authority of Christ, and in existence only because Christ has authorized it. In every community, Christians are brought together in a local body. That body is a congregation of Christians. They assemble to worship in accordance with the divine authority. They carry on the work of preaching the Gospel, ministering to the poor, and edifying one another under the direction of the Word of the Lord. To the Church in this capacity Paul wrote, "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with al that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place." Thus we see the Church in the local sense.

It was characterized as "the church of God which is at Corinth" because it existed by God's authority and through His grace, and was constituted of those who had been called out of the world in obedience of the Gospel of Christ, and having been saved and sanctified are added together to constitute God's Church in that community. Thus the Church came into existence at Jerusalem (Acts 2:41). The same thing happened when people in any community heard the Gospel preached, believed and obeyed it (Acts 18:8).

In these congregations of the church of Christ located in different communities God ordained that elder should have the rule and oversight. The order was :Elder in every church" (Acts 14:23). "And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord." Contrary to the order of government in many churches today, New Testament churches did not have one elder over a church, or one elder over several churches, but they had a plurality of "elders" in "every church." This is God's will and plan. It cannot be improved upon and cannot even be changed with God being disregarded and disobeyed.

Here is the blueprint; we must follow it or depart from the divine plan. Paul wrote Titus and said, "For this cause I left thee in Crete, that you should set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave you charge." The inference here is that there was one congregation to the city, and therefore elders in every city. There were not city officials, but officials in the church of the Lord. These elders were the "bishops" and "pastors" of the churches where they had the rule. The only diocese that the Bible bishop ever had was the local church. In Acts 20:17, the record tells us, "and from Milerus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church." Then when Paul addressed these Ephesians elders we hear him saying, "Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you "bishops, to feed (pastor) the church of the Lord which He purchased with His own blood."

Here we learn that the elders are the bishops and do the pastoring. The same word which occurs in Ephesians 4:11 and is rendered "pastor" in that verse occurs here and is rendered "feed" The elders are to do this work in the church of the Lord. In God's plan the preachers are not the pastors at all unless they are elders also. The modern "pastor" idea comes from the Catholic priesthood and is not a Bible idea at all. There was not one pastor in the New Testament congregation, but several of them over each congregation.

In addition to these men who serve as elders in the churches of the New Testament period, we have the pattern for having deacons in the church locally. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, and addressed his letter, "To all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." So here is a church of the New Testament period that had "bishops" and "deacons". These deacons were "special servants". That is what the word means.

They were assistants to the elders in the local work to be ready to do whatever they might be called upon to do. With preachers to preach, members to work, deacons to serve, and elders or bishops to supervise the work of the Lord, the church locally carried on its program under the authority of Christ. None of the members in any capacity in which he served had any authority except to do the will of the Lord. Even the elders could not rule arbitrarily, but must do so by themselves being obedient to the will of Christ in carrying out their work.

With this local arrangement the church of Christ was able to carry out the greatest program of missions in the New Testament age that has ever been executed in the history of religious movements. Christianity grew faster during the first thirty years after its establishment in this world than any religious movement has ever grown since, and this great success was achieved without the aid of any human organization like a "missionary society," or anything akin to it.

If we would see how the church of the Lord carried out its missionary work, then let us look at Paul and the church at Antioch. The church there "sent them away" (Acts 13:3) and when they returned from the first missionary journey, "and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them." Here a preacher of Christ being sent out only by the local church, and making his report to the local church when he returned. Such a divine pattern cannot be improved upon.

The same principle holds true in the divine pattern for doing benevolent work. In Acts 11:29, we read, "And the disciples every man according to his ability, determined to sent relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea; which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul." Their work of benevolence was done through the church of the Lord. Their contributions were placed in the hands of the elders of the local church for distribution. Could an example be any plainer than that? What more do we want in the way of a precedent?

Should not we be satisfied with God's arrangement, and be willing to do God's work in God's own way without demonstrating unbelief by trying to improve upon God's plan? If a man is not satisfied with God's church just as God designed it and Christ built it, them he is not pleased to do the will of God and does not respect the Word of God. What is the difference between trying to improve upon God's ways and God's Words?

It would be just as well to try to write an improvement of the Bible as to try to build an improvement of God's Church. All of these human organizations, federations, societies of every sort and kind that fasten themselves upon the Church are evidence of someone's dissatisfaction with God's plan for the Church in the world.

These local churches were not banded together in some kind of federation, council, convention, or synod. They were independent, self-governing units of the Body of Christ, and each one free to carry on its own work under the authority of Christ. They could cooperate, and did so in carrying out their objectives, but always without surrendering their independent sovereignty by becoming amalgamated into some organization larger than the local church.

The church of Christ is universal with Christ as its head, and local with elders to oversee its work in accordance with the will of Christ. This is the sum total on the question of church organization. No Christians, satisfied with the Lord's plan, should be a member of anything else. The least departure from the divine arrangement of the church government is no more warranted than the Pope of Rome and his College of Cardinals. We should not be beguiled from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Denominational organizations belong in the same category with the doctrines and commandments of men. They corrupt the religion of Jesus Christ. They are divisive and therefore destructive to the unity of God's people. None of them is as good as the Church which Christ built.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruths@hotmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.

What Do Nadab, Abihu and Uzza Have to Do With My Worship of God?

2010-02-03T21:09:00.001-08:00

Who Are These Guys?Nadab and Abihu were priests in the Jewish temple. They were killed by God --- by being burned alive in fire straight from God, because they did something in worship that God had not given them permission to do. To us it might seem to be just a small thing: --- they took fire from a different place than God had told them to get the fire to light incense with. Not a very significant thing, right? In numbers it is called “profane” fire, which means: irreverent, blasphemous, sacrilegious, worldly, heathen, vulgar, disrespectful, and contemptuous, among many synonyms. Notice what God said about their disobedience,

“By those who come near to Me I must be regarded as holy; And before my people I must be glorified.”

Let's read the entire context:
"Aaron's son Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them, and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke of when He said: 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy, in the sight of my people I will be glorified.' " Leviticus 10:1-3; Numbers 3:4

By their act of disregarding what God had told them to do, they had disrespected God --- they had not regarded Him as holy; they did not glorify God!

Another Old Testament example is Uzza, who was a servant of King David in the Old Testament. He was ordered by King David to go bring back the beloved Ark of the Covenant from where it had been left after being captured by the their enemies and returned [because of all of the plagues that came from God upon them because of it] (see Chronicles. 13:1-14; 15:1-15; 1 Samuel 4:11; 7:1-2) .

King David in his zeal for God and in all honesty and uprightness wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem so they could worship God properly once again. King David had a brand new cart built to carry the Ark of the Covenant on. But the cart was on the verge of overturning going over some rough terrain, and Uzza made the mistake of trying to steady it by pushing on the Ark. Something any one of us might do if was our job to get the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem in one piece, right? Wrong! God killed him on the spot! Why? Because no one was allowed to touch the Ark --- in fact the Levite priests were the only ones allow to carry the arc ON POLES suspended from rings on the sides of the ark. (Numbers 4:15; Exodus 25:14-15). Now Uzza was ignorant of this fact, as was King David at the time. How a chest of religious articles are carried, may be a small thing to us --- but in this case very important to God!

So What Does This Have to Do With Me?The reason that both of these things were written in God's Word, which “are for our example.” (1 Corinthians. 10:11-13), is because God’s Word was not followed TO THE LETTER! Dueteronomy 12:32 says, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it: you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” This is a reference to Dueteronomy 4:2, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

What happened in both of these cases is God’s Word was not being respected or honored as holy. It was either being “added to” (by taking fire from an place God had not said to). When men try to worship God in ways which He has not given them permission to do in His Word --- are they not doing the same thing as Nadab and Abihu were burned alive for doing? Or “taken away from” by ignorantly carrying the Ark in a way different than the pattern God had prescribed. Are not men today doing the same thing when they ignorantly (through lack of diligent study) omit things that God has set forth to be done in aq certain way in His Word? Again it shows our reverence to Him as God the creator of all to “study to show yourself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11) on any matter that involves our worship of God!

There are other examples of disobedience to God’s word being severely punished: Moses not getting to go into the promised land because of disobedience (Numbers 20:7-12); Saul losing the kingdom because of disobedience (1 Samuel 13:1-14);

But you might say, “That was for the Old Testament period, not for now.” Unfortunately for that view point there are many other verses that say basically the same thing (see Revelation ). Why would God allow us to change the way He had set up things for us in His Word, anyway? That would make for mass confusion, and we know that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) --- just like we see in the denominational world. How can one (sanely) harmonize all the contradictions that exist between them all? You can’t, and they are there because of adding or taking away from the pattern of what God’s Word the Bible says to do.

“... If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:19-20.

Our lesson to be learned from this: Before making any “religious” or moral decisions, especially in the manner of how we worship God, we need to get the necessary knowledge from God's Word about how God wants us to behave in that situation! Let's not repeat the lessons of history: if we learn what God's word is saying we won't likely make the same mistakes as shown us in the Bible. The Bible say that we must “study to show ourselves approved, a workman worthy, rightly dividing the Word...” (2 Timothy 2:15).

One of the things one must understand to “rightly divide” the Word of God, is that the Old Testament was to bring us to Christ and is for our learning (Romans 15:4; Galatians 3:24-25; 4:21-5:6; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews Chapter 7; 8:6-7; 9:15-17; 10:1 & 9), but not for use as our law for today. That is the purpose of the New Testament “Law of Liberty” or “Law of Christ” (James 1:25; 2:12 and Galatians 6:2);

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” Matthew 28:18-20.
So How Do I Know Who’s Right?“Rightly Dividing” the Word of God
There are so many claims of “The Bible teaches this”, or “The Bible teaches that,” --- teachings that are completely contradictory to one another. For someone to say that all these claims are correct would be insane! How can a person know for sure who is correct? The answer is in the Bible: “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who rightly divides the Word of truth.,” 2 Timothy 2:15. The first step is to STUDY the Scriptures that come from God, “rightly dividing” them to determine what God is really saying! Part of “rightly dividing” the Scriptures is understanding that the Old Testament Law (The Law of Moses and all the regulations in the Old Testament) was done away with upon Christ death on the cross (Colossians 2:14) and that Christians are now under the New Testament Law of Christ. But to understand the New Testament Law, we must first understand the Old Testament -- because without that understanding it is impossible to understand the “harder” doctrine of the New Testament. The Old Testament is not for our law, but “for our learning,” Romans 15:4. .

The Bible says that only those who diligently seek God’s truth will go to heaven:Matthew 7:13-15; “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” NKJV

Matthew 7:21-23; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” NKJV

Matthew 15:13; “But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.’”

Luke 6:46, “And why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Hebrews 5:9, “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey Him.”

Hebrews 11:1, 6; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ... But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Romans 10:17; “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

· IGNORANCE OF HIS WORD IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE With God!(Acts 17:30)

· The Bible Says that THERE IS ONLY ONE INTERPRETATION of His Word --- The Means God Intended the Same Requirements for all of us! (2 Peter 1:20) “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,”

· GOD IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS--- therefore He expects each of us to meet the same requirements for salvation and for acceptable worship to Him. (Acts 10:34),
“... God is no RESPECTOR of persons; But in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted by Him.:” Acts 10:34-35,

· GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION (1 Corinthians 14:33)“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints”

There are three necessary elements specified here in order to meet God’s approval:

(1) It must be directed unto God. “Must worship Him”’ .. right object!
(2) It must be done “in spirit.” i.e. we must have the right motive expressing the true sentiment of our actions.
(3) That act must be “in Truth,” or according to the pattern in God’s Word, which is the truth, for Christ said (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” i.e. the right WAY.

Thus you have the right OBJECT; right MOTIVE; and right WAY. There is no escape: If you leave out the object (God) no matter how conscientious you may be, it is vain. Then you may offer what God demands to the proper object, yet if your motive is wrong the worship will be also. Your Object on the other hand may be right, and the Motive correct, yet if the Way is incorrect, so is the worship because you’ve left out an essential element.

There can be no act of worship acceptable unto God almighty unless the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded that specific act to be done in His Word!

Therefore what God has written in His Word is there for us to learn so that we can be obedient to His Will. There is but ONE FAITH and one will for all people for this present age, we must consequently take the time to study His entire Word to discern what that will is on any particular subject!

See the link: STRUCTURED BIBLE STUDY METHODS for a complete bible Study Method using the pattern given in the Bible

WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruths@hotmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.

Acceptable Worship

2010-02-03T21:08:00.005-08:00

"Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, 'This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

"Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.".

True WorshipJesus said, “... true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). The term “True worshippers” suggests that we could be false worshippers (read what Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:5-24, esp. vs. 19-22 indicates the Samaritans were worshipping unacceptably to God, not because of their lack of sincerity --- but because of their lack of Biblical authority for what they did --- wrong mountain for temple; wrong priests). Jesus rebuked some who worshipped falsely, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophecy of you saying, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men’" ” (Matthew 15:7-9).

Their worship was unacceptable because it was insincere, and because they had substituted man-made traditions for God’s pattern of worship. We need to beware of human traditions.

Three ElementsThe statement of Jesus in John 4:23 reveals that acceptable worship has three elements:

1) Right object - God;
2) Right manner - in spirit;
3) Right way - in truth.

Right Object --- God
God wants us to worship Him. We must be careful to keep God as the focal point of worship. Worship can become entertainment, but entertainment does not satisfy the soul. We must worship God.

"Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us
and not we ourselves;
We are His people
and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name."
Psalm 100:2-4

Right Manner --- In Spirit
The early Christians were urged to assemble in order to stimulate one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the greatest love (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs sung in praise to God, stimulate us to good works (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16). In prayer we draw closer to God, ask for forgiveness, remember the needs of others, and thank God for His blessings. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is beneficial (James 5:16). Giving of our means is an expression of gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:7). Gratitude is a key ingredient of acceptable worship. The Scriptures should be read and explained in the assembly: “... give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). Through this knowledge our faith grows stronger (Romans 10:17).

Right Way --- In Truth
The early Christians, following the instructions of Christ’s apostles observed the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week. The disciples at Troas were gathered together for the Lord’s Supper when Paul preached to them (Acts 20:7). History indicates the practice of weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. John Mason, church historian. wrote “weekly communions did not die with the apostles and their contemporaries. There is a cloud of witnesses to testify that they were kept up by succeeding Christians with great care and tenderness for above two centuries” (Letters on Frequent Communion, pp. 34-38).

Can we obey Jesus as Lord and ignore His instructions? We must be careful not to add, or subtract from, the instructions of Jesus.

Sincerity
A young girl was sitting next to an older woman during the Lord’s Supper. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the young girl as she thought of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. The older woman looked down on her and calmly said, “Don’t take it so seriously my dear.” But, worship should be taken seriously! We must center our minds upon our Creator. We should try to make our worship, both individually and collectively, pleasing and acceptable to God.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile our differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

For the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you, or for questions or comments please e-mail Dennis at bibletruths@hotmail.com.

The Lord's Day

2010-02-03T21:08:00.003-08:00

by Irvin Barnes
Introduction

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10)
The term "Lord’s" is translated from the Greek word Kuriakos. Vine defines the word as “pertaining to a lord or master” Thayer says, “of or belonging to the Lord.” Thayer also states that in Revelation 1:10, the Lord’s day, is “the day devoted to the Lord, sacred to the memory of Christ’s resurrection.”

The same term is used in 1st Corinthians 11:20, regarding the Lord’s supper or communion. The church at Corinth had defiled the Lord’s supper to the point that Paul in so many words says, “You should be coming together to eat the Lord’s supper, but because you have defiled it, what you are doing when you come together can not even be called the Lord’s supper.”

Most Christians have a clear understanding of the relationship between Christ and the Lord’s supper. To separate Christ from the supper would render the supper void and useless. The connection or attachment between Christ and the communion cannot be overstated.

According to the statement made by the apostle John, (Revelation 1:10) there is also and inseparable union between Christ and one of the days of the week for it is called the Lord’s day. Lord’s day, Lord’s supper --- they are equal as far as relationship to Christ is concerned. Just as the supper pertains and belongs to the Lord so does the Lord’s day pertain to and belong to the Lord.

The Sabbath Is GoneWhen John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day could it be that he was in the Spirit on the 7th day of the week which was the Jewish Sabbath? The answer is no! The Sabbath is gone according to the scriptures. There is no Sabbath. There is no 7th day Sabbath, no 1st day Sabbath, no Sabbath at all!

When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn?
and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat ...

Amos 8:5

At the time of this writing by Amos the prophet, Israel had a mind for rebellion and disobedience. They desired to “buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes" (Amos 8:6). They wanted to cheat in the weights and measures for selling grain and other produce.

They hoped for a time when they would not be restricted against selling or doing business on the monthly feast days and on the Sabbath. So, they asked, “When will the Sabbath and the new moon be gone.” Amos tells them that the land shall tremble for this evil. He warns that great destruction will come upon the people as a penalty for their sins. However, he also answers the question, “When will the Sabbath be gone?”

“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day,” (Amos 8:9).

When will the Sabbath be gone? When the sun goes down at noon and the earth is darkened on a clear day. Did this ever happen and if so when? The words of the prophet were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour...” (Matthew 27:45).

The sixth hour, Jewish time, corresponds with our 12 o’clock noon. The ninth hour corresponds with our 3 p.m. Therefore, when Jesus was on the cross the sun went down at noon and the earth was darkened on a clear day. From that moment forward the Sabbath was no longer binding on God’s people, for Jesus took it out of the way and nailed it, along with the rest of the law of Moses, to his cross.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross” (Colossians 2:14).

The Sabbath Will CeaseThe prophet Hosea also foretold the end of the Sabbath:

“I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts,” (Hosea 2:11).

Feast days, refers to yearly festivals such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of atonement, feast of tabernacles and of the trumpets (Leveticus 23). New moons refers to the monthly observances and Sabbaths refers to the weekly Sabbaths. All these the writer
says, will “cease.”

After Paul, in Colossians 2:14, explains how that Christ took the ordinances of the law of Moses out of the way and nailed them to His cross, he went on to say:

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days,” (Colossians 2:16).

Meat and drink refers to the daily sacrifices, holiday refers to the yearly feasts, new moon the monthly feasts, and the Sabbath days to the 7th day observance.

Hosea said all these observances would cease. Paul says since Christ died on the cross, they have ceased. Since Christ nailed these ordinances to his cross no man has a right to judge a Christian because he no longer observes these old Jewish holidays.

What Day Is the Lord’s Day?Since the Sabbath is gone, the Lord’s day spoken of by John in Revelation 1:10, cannot be the 7th day Sabbath. The only other day of the week upon which importance is placed in the scripture is the first day of the week. The first day of the week has a unique relationship to Christ as set forth in the following points of scripture.

Jesus Resurrected on the First Day of the WeekThe first day belongs to, and pertains to, the Lord because He was resurrected on the first day of the week. The importance of the resurrection of Christ cannot be overstated. The resurrection of Christ is called, “... the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe ...,” Ephesians 1:19.

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons,” (Mark 16:9--NIV).

This passage should settle the question as to what day Jesus was raised from the dead. However, since the KJV says, “Now when Jesus was risen,” some who desire to keep the 7th day claim that Jesus was already risen when the women came to the tomb and therefore, they say, He was raised from the dead on the 7th day of the week.

Luke 24 offers absolute proof that Jesus was raised on the first day. Jesus himself stated that He would be raised on the third day following His crucifixion (Luke 24:46). While walking on the road to Emmaus, Cleopas told Christ, “today is the third day,” since Jesus was delivered, condemned to death, and crucified (Luke 24:13-21). Verse 13 declares that the journey to Emmaus was on the same day the women went to the tomb. So Jesus was raised the day the women went to the tomb, the same day Cleopas went to Emmaus which was the 3rd day since Jesus had died. What day was it? Luke 24:1, says the women went to the tomb on the first day of the week. The women did not go to the tomb on the Sabbath day nor was the Sabbath the 3rd day following the death of Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is our Sunday.

The Church Started on the First Day of the WeekAccording to Acts 2:1-4, the baptism of the Holy Ghost came upon the 12 apostles. This was on the first Pentecost day after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus had promised that the Holy Ghost would come to the apostles Acts 1:2-9. The Holy Ghost could have been dispatched from heaven on any day. It is significant that Christ saw fit to send the Holy Ghost to the apostles on the first day of the week.

When the Jews heard the preaching of Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, 3000 responded in repentance and baptism and the Lord added to the church such as should be saved (Acts 2:36-47). This is the first time in the new testament that the word church is used in the existing sense. Previous to this time you will find the word church mentioned in the future tense, such as; “upon this rock I will build my church,” Matthew 16:18. Upon the obedience of the penitent Jews the church was thus started.

Pentecost was one of 5 Jewish celebrations commanded in Leviticus 23. Beginning, at a specific Sabbath, the Jews were to number 7 Sabbaths complete. Seven times 7 equal 49 days. The day following the 7th Sabbath was the “fiftieth” day which is the exact meaning of the word Pentecost. Since Pentecost or the 50th day followed a Sabbath or 7th day, the day of Pentecost always fell on the fist day of the week. The church, then had its beginning on the first day of the week.

First Day WorshipThe first day of the week is also distinguished from the other days of the week in as much as Christians are taught to assemble for the communion on the first day of the week (Hebrews 10:25 & Acts 20:7). It should be remembered that as the Lord’s supper pertains to the Lord, the Lord’s day also pertains to and belongs to the Lord.

Paul commanded a collection to be taken on the first day of the week (1st. Corinthians 16:1-3) Those who practice Sabbath keeping claim this was a special collection that would not be continued after Paul came to take it to Jerusalem. Please note the passage does not say, “that there be no more collection ever again, after I come,” but says simply that they were to take a collection each first day so the funds would be ready when Paul or others arrived. Nothing is said to prove that they would not continue the first day collection every first day of the week after Paul departed Corinth for Jerusalem. The first day is distinguished by this act of giving in the assembly on each first day of the week.

ConclusionIt is my sincere hope that this short publication will renew in those who read it a greater appreciation for the first day of the week. Let us as Christians put the Lord back into the Lord’s day. Let us use the first day of the week for worship, reflection, thanksgiving, Bible study and visiting. “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalms 118:24.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like to study the Bible on these or other topics --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.

TEACHING THE WORD

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By Paul 0 Nichols
People who accept the Bible as God’s infallible word agree that His ways are always right and cannot be improved upon. We do not always understand why the Lord commands something, but that does not lessen our responsibility to accept it as truth. Remember, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). And the apostle Paul said, “0 the depth and the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33). Reason as we may, there are some things in the scriptures that we, as human beings, cannot reason out or rationalize to our own satisfaction. Such things must be accepted by faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Some things in the Bible may seem foolish to the carnal mind, but even “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

I am sure the children of Israel could not see, by human reason, how that looking at a brazen serpent on a pole would cure snake bites, but those who wasted no precious time rationalizing, but quickly obeyed, were the ones who were cured and lived. And what about Naaman? While he reasoned that the rivers close to home were just as good and more desirable than the river of Jordan he almost made a fatal decision. If he had failed to obey the voice of the prophet of God, he would have died from the ravaging disease of leprosy. And, again, was there any reason why the blind man should think there was a cure for his congenital malady in the water of Siloam? His desire to see was greater than his desire to know why the command. His obedience to Jesus gave him sight. He obeyed even though it was not “reasonable.” And when we want to please the Lord more than we desire to know why, and try to rationalize his commandments by human reason before we will accept them, then we will respond in obedience. We will “walk by faith, not by sight.”

THE SUBJECT
Teaching the word is the subject under consideration. In order to understand any subject in the Bible, one of the first things necessary is to have the right attitude. Be honest. Have a sincere desire to know the truth. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Study the scriptures for the commandments and the examples God has given in His Word. Try to determine what is applicable to us today. Remember God’s ways are always best, regardless of what we think.

CHILDREN
The main responsibility for teaching children has always been that of the parents. Children are wards of the home, and those who bring them into the world are responsible to God to teach them. The Jews in the Old Testament were told, “And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...” (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7). “Therefore shall ye lay up these words in your heart and in your soul.. And ye shall teach them your children” (Deuteronomy 11:18,19). Where was this to be done and how often? “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou Iiest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:19). Solomon said, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

In the New Testament, as well, the parents are given the responsibility of teaching their children. Paul says, “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The church as an institution was never given the commandment to teach children. If so, where is it? The commandment of Jesus to the apostles was to preach the gospel to those who could obey it and become Christians (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20), and to further instruct them to keep the commandments of the Lord. After the converts were taught the will and the ways of the Lord, it became their responsibility to train their children in the way they should go.

THE DIVINE ARRANGEMENT
In the Old Testament children were allowed to be present when the scriptures were read and explained. We are told in Nehemiah 8:1-3, “All the people gathered themselves together as one man And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding ... And he read therein ... before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” In Joshua Chapter 8 we are told that Joshua “read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women and the little ones, and the strangers, that were conversant among them” (Joshua 8:34-35).

These are classic examples of all being taught and learning in one undivided assembly. And everyone present got the teaching needed and was able to comprehend -- men, women, and the children. In Nehemiah 8:7-8 we are told certain men explained the reading and “caused the people to understand the law” and “gave the sense.”

Here is another example in the Old Testament. Moses said, “When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your Cod, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in this land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it” (Deuteronomy 31:11-12).

The three preceding examples of God’s word being read and taught to men, women, and children in the same assembly proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not necessary to classify people in order to teach them the word of God. The Lord knew best and gave divine instructions how it was to be done.

In all those years preceding the coming of Christ this was the arrangement that was authorized; just one undivided assembly. And in such an arrangement all could learn.

THE PRACTICE OF CHRIST
AND THE APOSTLES
In the New Testament we are infonned that the same arrangement was used by Jesus and the apostles. In Luke chapter four we are told concerning Jesus, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.. And the eyes of all them were in the synagogue were fastened on Him .. . And all bare Him witness .. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath” (Luke 4:16, 20, 22, 28). All the people were together when Jesus read the scriptures and taught them “as His custom was.” Other scriptures could be cited to prove that this same arrangement was used to teach multitudes on other occasions.

This arrangement was used by the apostles when they taught the multitude on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and upon many occasions after that. In fact, this the only way they taught the crowds who came to hear. And not one time can we read where they divided up the people into classes to teach them.

HUMAN vs. THE DIVINE
Dividing into classes for teaching the scriptures is an invention of man. The arrangement has absolutely no Bible authority. It is true that it has been widely adopted, but so has instrumental music and other religious innovations and inventions of men. How popular a thing is makes it neither right nor wrong in itself. Something is right if it is authorized by God and can be found in His word.

There are several ways that people may be classified, but none of these can be found in the Bible. Students may be classified by physical age. Or they can be classified according to spiritual age. But, of course, they cannot be classified by both at the same time. It is either by one or the other. Also students could be tested and classified by I.Q. One other method could be used to classify, and that is by knowledge. Of course, this method would require a test to determine how much each one knows about the scriptures. Whichever method is used, it is to the neglect of the other three. When several obey the gospel at the same time they are all the same spiritual age, but they may not all be of the same physical age. Should they be classified by physical or spiritual age in order to have their needs met? And what about their knowledge of the scriptures? If they are classified by knowledge they surely cannot be classified by either physical or spiritual age. Also some of the same physical age or spiritual age are not of the same I.Q. And if a group is classified by I.Q. the would not be classified by knowledge or by age, either physical or spiritual. In fact, there is no way people can be classified by all of these methods at the same time.

The Lord’s arrangement for teaching people the scriptures in an undivided unclassified assembly is the best in the world. It always has been an and always will be. God says, “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass” (Deuteronomy 32:2). This same type of figure is used by Isaiah the prophet. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

When an assembly of people is taught the Word of God, each person, young or old, babe in Christ or mature Christian, high I.Q. or low I.Q , knowledgeable or not, gets what he needs and can absorb, if the preacher or teacher does his job as he ought. This is God’s way, and no one can improve on it. The apostle Paul says, “Ye may all prophesy (teach) one by one that all may learn and all may all be comforted” (1 Corinthians 14:31).
--— 998 Terrace Drive, Oakdale, CA 95361

THE CONTRIBUTION OR GIVING

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by Richard DeGaugh
The Church of God is engaged in the greatest mission under heaven. Money is an absolute requisite in carrying on its great work and hence the proper use of money becomes an important theme in the New Testament and assures an important place in the Christian’s life. The first sin in the Jerusalem church that we are told of was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in the matter of giving money to the Lord. (Acts 5:1-2) So, Christians, in making money and giving, must “provide things honest in the sight of all men,” as well as glorifying God. Every Christian is a steward of God’s things and, therefore, must be faithful as a good steward for we shall one day give account of our stewardship. (I Peter 4:10, I Corinthians 4:1-2, Romans 14:12)

The Lord has presented a plan for financing the work of the Church in the New Testament scriptures. As in the case of every other plan God has given, it must be put into operation by faithfulness upon the part of Christians. The obligation is an individual one, and is sufficient when it is followed as the New Testament directs us.

The Bible says of the early church, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) This constituted their worship to God on the first day of the week, the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) When the apostolic church met for “breaking bread” on this day (Acts 20:7) it is reasonable to assume that, at that time, they also attended to the fellowship, or contribution, as one of the things the disciples continued in, with the apostles. To confirm the first day of the week being the time for attending to the contribution, we have the apostle Paul (when a certain contribution was to be made for the poor saints in Judea) directing the Corinthians to attend to it on the “first day of the week,” that being the day of their assembling to worship. (I Corinthians 6-14, Hebrews 10:25, Acts 20:7)

This was not a one time offering or contribution which ceased, for Paul exhorted them to “perform the doing” of what they had begun the year before. (2 Corinthians 8:10-11) In other words the collection for the saints was to be done on each first day of the week. MacKnight renders it, “On the first day of every week let each of you lay somewhat by itself, according as he may have prospered, putting it into the treasury....” (new translation, I Corinthians 16:2) Again, they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship...” (Acts 2:42)

THE MANNER OF GIVING
First, giving is personal. Paul said, “Let everyone of you lay by him in store...” This responsibility is given to every Christian. Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom...” Again, “. . .it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35) The question arises, How much should I give? Paul gave some guidelines to the Corinthians, saying, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give...” and, to give “...as God hath prospered him.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, I Corinthians 16:2) Unlike Israel of old, we are not under the law of tithing. This was determined by a percentage required of them to give to the Lord what is justly his. In Malachi 3:8-9 God accused Israel of robbing Him in “tithes and offerings.” May we consider that things written aforetime were for our learning. (Romans 15:4) Paul said, “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Again, “...he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (Galatians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6) Our giving is the free will offering of a willing heart and an open hand, “not grudgingly nor of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

MOTIVE FOR GIVING
First, the heart is the motivator in our giving. Paul said, “For if there first be a willing mind ...” Of the Macedonians Paul said, “...but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” This is impressive when we consider those Christians were in deep poverty and affliction that “abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” (2 Corinthians 8:2-5,12) But, the greatest motive for giving is the sacrifice that Jesus our Lord made for us, “. . .that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Surely this will stimulate us to give freely of our means, and of ourselves, as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)

THE PURPOSE FOR GIVING
First, Paul’s order to the churches of Galatia, Macedonia and Achaia concerning the collection for the poor saints in Judea, was to give relief to those Christians. While the church was in her infancy there were those in need. The faithful who had possessions sold them and met that need. (Acts 2:44-45, 4:34-35, I John 3:17-18) Another need arose because of a great dearth throughout the world, and that need of the brethren in Judea was met by the disciples. There is no indication that the contribution, the “laying by in store” ordered by Paul to the churches was ever used for the world. It was a collection of the saints for the saints. (I Corinthians16:1-2)

Second, the preaching of the gospel was supported by the church. The responsibility to preach the gospel is given to the church. (Ephesians 3:10, I Timothy 3:15) Paul said, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” (I Corinthians 9:14) When Paul was at Corinth preaching, other churches supported him. (2 Corinthians 11:7-9) While in Thessalonica the church at Phillipi met his needs. (Philippians 4:14-17) May every Christian give liberally, and ever be ready unto every good work. To “do good and to communicate,” remembering that with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).

THE LORD'S SUPPER

2010-02-03T21:07:00.005-08:00

SEE THIS LINK:
http://JesusLastSupper.blogspot.com

THE BENEFITS OF SINGING

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By Don French

I. What Is Singing.

Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

When God, in the New Testament, talks about singing, he does not talk about the requirement for sounding beautiful, but rather the emphasis is always on the heart, or thinking about the words that are being sung and meaning the words that you are singing. As we notice here in Ephesians, Paul, speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, does not even use the Greek word for singing, but rather he uses the Greek word, laleoo, which is translated in the King James Version as Speaking. According to Thayer, the word laleoo means to utter a sound. In Psalms the writer uses the phrase, “a joyful noise” stressing again the fact that God is not concerned about how the words sound to the ears as men do, but rather God is concerned about how the words proceed forth from the heart.

In Ephesians 5:19, all three Greek words that are used to describe the songs being commanded, refer to songs that are sung acappella, or only using the voice. The Greek word translated here Psalms when used in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament used in Jesus day and time, does include songs that are sung with the accompaniment of instruments, but by Jesus day and time, the word, psalloo, Strong’s number 5568, had changed in meaning and according to Greek Scholar’s meant songs that were not accompanied by instruments only. There were Greek words in general use at the time that meant songs that were accompanied by the use of instruments. God did not see fit to use them, rather he chose words that indicated songs that were not accompanied by instruments.

Therefore when I use the term, singing, in this book, I am always referring to songs that are sung without the use of mechanical instruments of any type. But it is not enough to sing only without instruments of music in order to be pleasing to God, but the song has to be sung also with the spirit and understanding also. Every song that is sung, must be sung with words that the user understands and they must come from the heart.

Matthew 15:18-20"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

The words that come forth from the lips come forth from the heart. Therefore, God is not pleased with a Christian just mouthing words that they have memorized. Do you want to please God or man? If we want a choir accompanied by instruments of music, we are concentrating on what is pleasing to men. Songs sung by trained singers with natural talent accompanied by various instruments of music are pleasing to men, but are they pleasing to God? No where does the Bible even hint that instruments of music are pleasing to God.

II. Why We Sing
When we understand how much we have received from God and we begin to appreciate the love that God has for us, then in natural response to that we begin to feel thankful which in turn leads to gratitude. A natural outcome of gratitude is a joy that is expressed through singing. Therefore any time we realize how great God is, how great a love He has shown for us, we will want to burst forth in songs which express our feeling.

Singing is one of the many ways that we as human beings have of showing our thanksgiving, our love, or feelings and emotions. If we want our singing to be pleasing to God, we need to know what is pleasing to God. So that is our purpose in this chapter, to see what the Bible, the word of God, says about singing, to please God.

Psalms 13:6 “I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”

A natural outgrowth of receiving blessings from God is that we should be thankful to him and a natural way of human expression of thanks is singing. When we recognize how much we have received from God, we sing and this pleases God. Singing is one way we show appreciation to God and God wants us to recognize what He has done for us and He wants us to appreciate the sacrifices that his son made for us and he is pleased when the human heart cannot be quiet, but must burst out in praise and thanksgiving to our heavenly Father.

I Chronicles 16:9 “Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.”

The realization of the many works the Lord has done for us, causes us to want to sing. The more we realize how much we depend upon God, the more we desire to sing praises about God and his spectacular works. This is a natural response if we appreciate all that God has done for us, but only if we truly appreciate the love that God manifested towards us.

Exodus 15:1-2 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.”

Here is a perfect example of how appreciation for what God has done causes people to sing. If you remember God has just delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, the children of Israel were trapped with the Egyptian behind them and the Red Sea before them and miraculously they were delivered. The Egyptian army, which was coming to take them back, had just been drowned in the Red Sea.

Moses and the Israelites make up a new song and go about camp singing and thanking God. “I will sing unto the Lord, the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, He is become my salvation.” Only when someone truly understands what God has saved them from, will they want to sing it out and tell others.

Romans 15:9-10 “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."

Another reason we sing is so that outsiders would know about God and sing praises unto His name also. We sing because we understand what God has done for us and so that others will know the mercy of God and will glorify God because of the greatness of His mercy.

Acts 16:23-25 “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

Here Paul and Silas, even after they have been beaten, are singing praises unto God. Singing praises to God, helps fill us with the Holy Spirit and helps see us through trying times. Singing praises to God also teaches outsiders about God and differentiates Christians from non-Christians.

III. How We Sing

Psalms 92:1-2 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”

Our songs should show forth thanksgiving to God for what he has done for us. Which means that we should be thinking about all that God has done for us, we should be remembering how Christ suffered and died in our place then we should have no trouble singing, knowing that our songs should be showing forth praise to God, telling others how we feel about God. Our songs should and do show unto others what we think about God, so we need to stop and think before we start singing and examine ourselves as to where our hearts are.

1 Corinthians 14:15 “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Our songs should spring forth from the heart and should express our feelings for God. We should also understand the words we sing and think about what the words mean as we sing. So to sing with the spirit and understanding basically is saying to sing words that we understand and they should be thought about, so that we mean what we are singing. While singing with the spirit does not mean just singing with emotion, one cannot sing with the spirit without having emotions involved.

Ephesians 5:18-19 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Here being filled with the Spirit of God is being contrasted with being drunk. A person who is drunk has their inhibitions lowered so that basically they react emotionally without control, where being filled with the Holy Spirit while our emotions are involved, does not take away our will at all. A person who is filled with the Spirit of God, will be willing to express that feeling, but they have control over their thoughts and emotions. Here in Ephesians, God does not just tell us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but he goes on and tells us how to do this, the first thing he says is “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” So we see that being filled with the Spirit of God is something that we as Christians have control over. Do you want to be filled with the Spirit of God? Then stop and start counting your blessing and as you realize how much God has done for you, just burst out singing praises to God, tell God in song how much he means to you, thinking about the words as you sing, make sure they are coming from your heart, make sure that you are “plucking the strings of your heart”, that you are putting your feelings into your heart. If we do our part, God will do his part, because he always keeps his promises. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Just remember that there is more involved in being filled with the Spirit than just singing, Paul, through the inspiration of God, goes onto say “ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” So we see that we always are in control of our spirits, as the Bible says, “The Spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

But if you want to be a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to be a person who first of all is in submission to God. Then secondly, you need to be a person who is in the habit of going about singing praises to God from the heart, understanding the words that you are singing, meditating on them. You need to be a person, who takes time to count their blessings and who takes the time to go to God in prayer, thanking him for the many blessings that you have received from him. You need also to be a servant to others, helping them to grow as Christians, and helping them in whatever things they have need of.

To sum it up, a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit is a baptized believer, who is a singing, appreciative servant to God and to his or her fellow Christians. We should be teaching each other and the visitors to our assembly how we feel about God, Jesus Christ, and one another through our songs.

IV. The Blessings We Receive From Singing Properly

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

When we sing in the proper way, we grow in spiritual wisdom. When we sing in the scriptural manner, we are taught about spiritual things. When we sing as God would have us, we are admonished and encouraged. But for all of this to happen, we must sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, or to put it simply, we need to be singing in such a way that our songs rise up before God as a sweet incense, as our gift back to God to show our appreciation for all that he has done for us.

Ephesians 5:18-21 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

We, as Christians, are told not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, rather, we are told to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible then goes on to tell us how to be filled with the Holy Spirit: by speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, by teaching each other by the way we sing and with our singing, by teaching visitors about the love we have for each other, by being a prayerful, appreciative people, and by being submissive first to God and then because we are in submission to God, we are submissive to each other. These things, if done properly, cause us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 2:11-12 “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

If we sing in the scriptural manner, we declare unto everyone that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. If we sing in the scriptural way, we declare the name of Christ to everyone in attendance, especial our fellow Christians and if exalt the name of Christ, He exalts us.

1 Chronicles 16:23 “Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day His salvation.”

When we sing unto God in the way that he has instructed, we show that we are saved. When we sing unto God in the way we are commanded, on a daily basis, His salvation grows in us and is shown through us.

Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.”

When we sing unto the Lord God in the scriptural manner, we are preparing our hearts as a habitation for God. When we sing in the way God has intended, we lift up the name of God and we exalt Him. When we sing in the proper way, we show forth the salvation of God and we declare him to be God.

Isaiah 35:10 “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

When the ransomed of the Lord return to the house of God and sing spiritual songs with joy in our hearts, we obtain joy and gladness, all sorrows and sadness will vanish away When you are sad and depressed, sing unto the Lord as if you were happy and you will become happy and joyful.

V. How The World Has Changed The Singing Service
The world has changed and corrupted the singing service of the worship service probably more than any other part of the worship service. From the year 666, when the Catholic Church introduced the organ into their services until now, the changes that have been made to the singing service has proven once again the wisdom and truthfulness of God when He revealed to us through the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15-16 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us to study in order that God will approve of the things that we do and so we can correctly understand the scriptures.

Paul continues in verse 26 and warns us to avoid profane and vain babblings for they are ungodly and once we start down that path, they will increase unto more ungodliness. Profane simply means anything not found in the Bible and vain babblings are talking about human wisdom or as the religious world loves to say, theology. Theology is simply trying to understand and comprehend about God and spiritual things from human reasoning which we know from many places in the Bible is impossible. In the Old Testament in Numbers 24:13 “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?”, the prophet Balaam lets us know how God looks at mankind’s additions. Even if I think that I have a good idea, I am not to be adding to what God commands.

The first major change was the addition of musical instruments under the guise of convenience and improvement. As if mankind can improve on anything that God has given. The next, as far as I can tell, is the addition of the choir. Both of these are supposedly justified by how they are an aid and not an addition, but I have visited at churches who have both and every time what I see tells me different. Every church that I have seen that has musical instruments has at times during their services played their instruments with no singing, but I have never seen them even for a moment have singing with no instruments playing, the same being true for a choir, I have never seen the congregation singing but always the congregation sits and listens while the choir sings. Which is more important to them? Clearly their instrumental music and choir has become their entertainment and is more important than the beauty and simplicity that the Bible pictures in the word of God. Otherwise if as they claim, these things are just conveniences, they would be having congregational singing by itself and the instruments of music and the choirs would be silent.

The religious world has gone so far astray that you can not in many cases tell the difference between the concerts that you can go to in the world and the abominations that the religious world refers to as their worship service. So far the only difference that I see is that I have not seen the insanity referred to as "The Mosh Pit” yet being justified as worshipping God, but I would not be surprised anymore by anything that people do and the extremes that they will go to in order to justify the things that they do. Anything that people do that works them up into a frenzy has become what the denominational world refers to as “worshipping God.”

VI. SUMMARY
1. Christians sing to show their appreciation and thankfulness for what God has done for us.
2. Christians sing to tell others about what God has done for us.
3. Christians sing to tell others about the Greatness of God.
4. Christians sing to tell God what they feel about him.
5. Christians sing to tell others about the Mercy of God.
6. Christians sing to tell others about the salvation enjoyed by Christians.
7. Christians sing to show our joy because of God's Grace.
8. Christians should sing from our hearts with feelings.
9. Christians should show forth the love of God when we sing.
10. Christians should understand the words they sing.
11. Christians should mean the words they sing.
12. Christians should sing and make melody in our hearts to God.
13. Christians should sing in such a way that we teach and admonish one another about:
13a. The love we have for God.
13b. The love we have for each other.
13c. The Greatness of God.
13d. The Mercy of God.
13e. The Glory of God.
13f. The Existence of God.
14. When we sing in the proper manner, for the right reasons, we receive:
14a. Spiritual Wisdom.
14b. We are filled with the Holy Spirit.
14c. We are taught and admonished by our fellow Christians.
14d. We are exalted by Christ.
14e. We grow in salvation.
14f. Our sorrows and sadness turns to Joy and Gladness.

“SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART" vs. PLAYING ON AN INSTRUMENT

2010-02-03T21:07:00.001-08:00

By Johnny Elmore

The religious leaders of Jesus' day were well aware that every religious practice must be authorized. They viewed it as a challenge to their authority when Jesus went into the temple and cast out the money changers, which it was. They said to Jesus: "By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23). Jesus promised to tell them where He got his authority if they would answer only one question: "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" (Matthew 21:25). Now the questioners were trapped in a dilemma. If they said John's baptism was from heaven, that is, authorized of God, they knew that Jesus would ask them why they had not received it. On the other hand, if they said that John's baptism was from men, they feared the people, so they said, “We cannot tell" (vs. 27). They knew there were only two sources of authority for religious practices— God or men. That is true with our religious practices. It is fatal to simply have the authority of men for religious practices, for Jesus said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13).

IS SINGING — FROM HEAVEN OR OF MEN?
Is "singing and making melody in your heart" from heaven or of men? The way to determine the correct answer to that question is to appeal to the scriptures. It is easy to establish authority for singing, because we can read commands and examples of singing in connection with worship under the New Testament economy. Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn at the close of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). Paul and Silas sang praises to God in prison (Acts 16:25). In connection with the worship of the church, Paul said, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (I Corinthians 14:15). The apostle Paul commanded: "But be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18,19). Also: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16). Other passages are James 5:13, Romans 15:9 and Hebrews 2:12.

PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT—FROM
HEAVEN OR OF MEN?
Is playing on an instrument in worship from heaven or of men? To ask that question is to answer it, because it must be obvious to all that there is no biblical authority for the use of instruments of music in worship under the New Testament economy. There is no command to play on an instrument, no example of anyone doing it in Christian worship, and no place where it may be necessarily inferred that instruments of music were used in worship. Yet the apostle Paul commanded, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colosians 3:17). “In the name of” means "by the authority of." When the sheriff bangs on a door, and says, "Open up in the name of the law," he means "by the authority of the law." Our worship to God, as well as other religious activity, must be authorized by God. It is not enough for people to say, "Oh, I like instrumental music!" What we like does not necessarily meet the approval of God. The question we should be asking about instrumental music is: "Has God authorized it?" If the question is answered affirmatively, I ask: "Where has God authorized it?" It is obvious that God has not authorized it in the New Testament.

THE OLD TESTAMENT
Sometimes people acknowledge that there is no New Testament authority for instrumental music, but cite various passages in the Old Testament in which instrumental music was used, apparently with God's approval. But surely we recognize that the Old Testament is not our authority. It was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14), and "we are delivered from the law," (Romans 7:6). Yes, Psalms is included in the law, for Jesus said, "Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ye are gods’?" (John 10:34). The only place you will find that quotation is in Psalms 82:6, so Jesus identified Psalms as part of the law. If the law is our authority, then it opens the door for many practices, including infant membership, burning of incense, animal sacrifices and polygamy.

But some argue, "Why did God change his mind?" We might ask, "Why did God change his mind about infant membership, incense, and polygamy?” I don't profess to know the answer to that question, but I do know that the Old Testament is not our authority for New Testament worship. I want a religious practice that IS approved, not one that USED TO BE approved.

OTHER ARGUMENTS
Recently, it has been argued that there is no authority for congregational singing and that all of the passages which mention singing in the New Testament involves individual singing. I submit that even if that were true, it would not authorize and justify instrumental music in worship. Those who make such an argument practice congregational singing, therefore, they are condemned by their own practice. A little consideration of Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19 will show that the command to sing involves reciprocal action. Ephesians 5:19 commands "speaking to yourselves"— reciprocal action. Colossians 3:16 commands "teaching and admonishing one another," so this is not solo singing or simply individual singing— it is something we are to do to each other. There is no validity to the contention that all the passages in the New Testament on singing refer to individual singing.

It is also argued that the Greek term for "make melody" in the original text means to sing to the accompaniment of a harp. Some who know only enough about lexicons to be dangerous have looked up the original word and noticed “harp” in its ancient etymology and have jumped to the conclusion that the etymology is the meaning. But the etymology of a word is not its meaning. James D. Bales gives an example showing that the word "lyric” once meant “adapted to the lyre or harp,” but that is not its meaning today. It now means: “A lyric composition or poem.” The 101 scholars of the ASV did not think it meant “sing to accompaniment,” because they rendered it “make melody,” as did the 47 scholars of the KJV.

There is no New Testament authority for playing on an instrument in worship. We can not “speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it is silent” and use instrumental music. We cannot “walk by the same rule” and “mind the same thing” if we refuse to be governed by the authority of the New Testament.

PRAYER

2010-02-03T21:06:00.004-08:00

SORRY UNDER CONSTRUCTION --- PLEASE COME AGAIN IN A FEW WEEKS.

And here is the rest of it.

Is The Silence of God Binding?

2010-02-03T21:06:00.003-08:00

by Irvin Barnes“

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch

Genesis 6:14,

One doctrine states that when the Bible gives specific instructions then all other actions are excluded. This position says that the silence of God is binding. For example, when God commanded that the ark be made of gopher wood all other types of wood were excluded. This position would argue that since God commanded gopher wood, had Noah used pine or oak or some other wood then the ark would not have floated and Noah and his family would have perished with the rest of humanity.

The other side of the issue would argue that the type of wood is unimportant, that one kind of wood would be as good as another. In the case of Noah and the ark the position more correctly stated would say Noah should have used gopher wood but might also use oak or pine in some parts of the ark along with the gopher wood. Gopher wood was not exclusive according to the position that the silence of God is not binding.

I am convinced that the silence of God is binding in the areas where God has legislated. There are some areas where God has not legislated one way or another In the areas where God has stated how He desires a thing to be done, this excludes all other like things that could be accomplished in the same vernacular or context.

Going back to the ark, it seems absurd to think that if God had wanted Noah to use only gopher wood that He would have had to say more than what is said In this case if the silence of God were not binding then in order for God to exclude all other types of wood, God would have had to say use gopher wood and gopher wood only.

That might seem a small thing with reference to the ark, however if the principle prevailed throughout the Bible then every time God gave a command, if to attach the word only to every command or state the exclusion such as: don’t use pine, don’t use oak, don’t use walnut, etc. Some have suggested that if the Bible were written this way, the Bible would be so large that it could be moved only by train car or on a trailer truck.

Please consider some other subjects to illustrate the point. The Bible commands baptism in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38 & Acts 10:48). In the conversion of the eunuch (Acts 8:29-40) the word water is used 4 times. Phillip and the eunuch went down into the water, Phillip baptized the eunuch and they came up out of the water. There is no doubt then as to the element in which one is to be immersed or submerged in the act of baptism. It has been said that one woman objected to immersion in water and claimed that rose petals would be much more appropriate. Some children were “playing church.” Their parents forbid them to emulate baptism in water. so they immersed one another in a huge pile of leaves.

Is it necessary for God to say, “do not baptize in leaves, do not baptize in rose petals,” before such would be excluded?

Baptism is a figure of the burial of Christ (Romans 6:3-4) Colossians 2:12 states. “Buried with Him in baptism.” This burial is also plainly implied in the conversion of the eunuch. Burial in water for baptism, excludes such things as pouring or sprinkling. It is impossible for pouring and sprinkling to fulfill the picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, pouring and sprinkling are excluded on the basis of silence. God specifies the burial, but nowhere states, “do not sprinkle, do not pour.”

Again, if the Bible were written to state what God wants and then specifically state all the things in each category of service that God does not want, the book would be cumbersome and next to impossible to study. The Bible student would have to search through so many combinations of “don’t do this and don’t do that” that he would be hard pressed to find the things actually prescribed as necessary to serve God.

Another example: when Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper the Bible says He took fruit of the vine, or grape juice. Suppose the silence of God is not binding; yet, God wanted us to use grape juice and grape juice only, it would he necessary for God to have said in His word, “use fruit of the vine, don’t use juice from anything except a grape vine.” Even then someone could reason, “But God did not say don’t use juice from fruit that grows on a tree, so we will use apple juice or perhaps any juice that does not grow on a vine.” So the prohibitions would be endless.

What Do the Scriptures Say?“For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-20)

The Bible has not always been bound together in a volume as we have it today. So, the above passage applies specifically uniquely and in context to the book of the Revelation. Some would say the principle of not adding to or taking from, applies only to the Revelation letter. I think not! Why would God bind the principle for this book only and allow the rest of the scriptures to be altered by adding to and taking from? Reason itself demands that if the rule applies to the Revelation letter it also applies to every other book of the New Testament.

Since we must not change the Word of God by adding to it or subtracting from it, then what is said is binding and what is not said is also binding. It is as important to observe the silence of the scriptures as it is to what the scriptures actually say.

Instruments of music in worship is another example of division that has occurred as a result of the doctrine that the silence of God is not binding. You read nothing in the new testament to indicate that the new testament Christians ever made melody in the church on an instrument. Since the Bible does not say, “do not use an instrument in the church”. early innovators decided an instrument of music would be permissible. Those whose conscience would not allow them to accept this new practice were forced to withdraw and a major division occurred. If all people had only continued in the belief that “singing and making melody in the heart” excludes playing on an instrument then the division would never have occurred.

ConclusionThose who hold that the silence of God is not binding must bear much of the blame for religious division. This doctrine has made a major contribution to denominational division as well as division in the Church of Christ.

Hundreds of practices have been brought into modern religions about which the Bible says nothing at all. People accept these practices without ever stopping to think if the practice is scriptural or not. Innovations are potentially divisive and eventually the end of those who accept them is condemnation.

Bible Study QuizPlease look up each scripture reference and fill in the blanks with the correct word. (NKJV)
Genesis 6:14., “Make yourself an ark of ________________; make rooms in the ______, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
”
Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be _____________ every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the ______________ of _______________, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 8:36-38, “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is ___________ what hinders me to be _________ ?’ And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the _________ of __________ .’ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the __________, both Philip and the eunuch; and he ____________ him.”

Acts 10:47-48, “Can anyone forbid __________, that these should not be _________________, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he ________________ them to be _________________ in the name of the Lord.”

Colossians 2:12>,“____________ with Him in _______________, in which you also were ___________ with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Matthew 26:26-29, “And as they were eating, Jesus took ________, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body. Then He took the _________, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this ______ of the ______ from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Revelation 22:18-19, “For I testify to everyone who _______ the _______ of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ________ to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone _______________ from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall ________________ his part from the ______________ , from the ___________________, and from the things which are written in this book.”

True or FalseT F God is pleased when man adds new things to His word.

T F God is pleased when man omits practices taught in the Bible.

T F God desires that man should leave His word as is, neither adding to it or taking from it.

T F In the context of any given subject or practice, what God does not say is as binding as what is revealed in the scriptures.

T F In the context of any given subject or practice, the silence of God is not binding.

Worship that is Acceptable to God --- a Bible-study

2010-02-03T21:06:00.001-08:00

SORRY, STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION --- PLEASE COME AGAIN IN A FEW WEEKS.

And here is the rest of it.