2) How Should the Lord's Supper Be Observed?
3) When Should the Lord's Supper Be Observed?
4) Why Only One Cup?
5) What About Germs?
6) One Loaf and One Cup, Really?
7) History of the Communion
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Saturday, June 20, 2015
Lord's Supper Menu
2) How Should the Lord's Supper Be Observed?
3) When Should the Lord's Supper Be Observed?
4) Why Only One Cup?
5) What About Germs?
6) One Loaf and One Cup, Really?
7) History of the Communion
Return to Main Menu
Friday, March 6, 2015
Prayer
I think we have all heard that “communication is a 2-way street.”
Communication involves speaking and listening on the part of both those involved in the conversation. In the case of talking to God it is called “prayer.” On the part of our hearing God it is mostly involved in knowing what His Word says --- reading and studying the Holy Bible. Although, I believe, to know God's answers to our prayers also involves looking for “open and closed doors,” --- ie providence --- God working behind the scenes in our lives. More on this later.
I. God Does NOT Listen to the Prayers of: Sinners: John 9:31
This statement was made by a man that was healed by Jesus, who had been blind from birth. How could he know such a thing? Is it true. Let's examine the Scriptures, as we are shown to do by example in Acts 17:11.
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* Acts 10:30-31 [Gentile/non-Christian]
Backsliders/Covenant Breakers: Jeremiah 14:1–12;
Enemies of God's People: Psalm 18:37–41;
Evil Doers: Micah 3:1–4;
Hypocrites: Job 27:8–9; Matthew 7:1–11;
Prideful Person: Job 35:12;
Those Who Hate Knowledge of God's Will: Proverbs 1:20–28; 28:9;
Those Who Do Not Obey God's Word: Proverbs 28:9; Jeremiah 11:1–11;
Those Who Do Not Show Mercy and Compassion to Their Brethren: Zechariah 7:8–13;
Idol Worshppers: Ezekiel 8:5–18;
II. God Does Hear the Prayers of:
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Righteous: Acts 10:30-31; Proverbs 15:29; 1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16;
III. How to Pray?
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Believing God Can Accomplish It: Matthew 21:22;
In Jesus' Name: John 14:13; 16:26; 17:20-23;
Persistently: Luke 2:37; 18:1–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17;
Accompanied by Righteousness: Acts 10:4 [a Gentile];
Accompanied By Fasting*: Matthew 6:5-18; Acts 13:3; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 7:5
Accompanied by Godly fear/reverence: Hebrews 5:7;
Sitting: Matthew 14:19; 15:35-36; Luke 24:30
Standing: Mark 11:25;
Together With Other Christians: Acts 12:12;
Alone, in secret: Matthew 6:5-6
IV. Why and When To Pray?
That We May Do God's Will: Colossians 4:12;
For Forgiveness: Matthew 6:12-15; Mark 11:25; Acts 8:22; James 5:16-17; 1 John 5:16
For Those in Need: Acts 12:5; Ephesians 6:18; 2 Corinthians 13:7, 9;
For Our Needs: Matthew 7:7–11;
For Our Enemies: Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28
For Our Faith to Grow and Remain Strong: Luke 22:32; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; Jude 20
For God's Guidance: Acts 1:24
For Healing from Sickness: Acts 28:8; James 5:14
For Our Love To Grow: Philippians 1:9;
For Prosperity and Good Health: 3 John 2
For Knowledge/Understanding of God's Word: Colossians 1:9
For Laboreres For The Work Of Spreading the Gospel: Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2;
For Safety: Luke 21:36; Acts 21:5; 27:29
For Unity of Christians: John 17:20–23
Suffering: James 5:13
That the Word of God May be Effective: 2 Thessalonians 3:1
To Build Up The Brethren: 2 Thessalonians 1:11
To Have A Good Conscience/Live Holy Lives: 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 13:18
When We Face Trials and Temptations: 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:46
With Thanksgiving For the Things We Have [home, food, jobs, etc.]: Acts 27:35; Romans 14:6; Philippians 4:6;
A WARNING:If you have not fasted before --- or if you are not in good health, seek your physician's approval before attempting a fast. With some diseases such as diabetes it could cause severe problems. Take it slow the first time, perhaps just skip a meal and see how it goes. Slight light-headness and lack of energy is common. The perhaps you could try a full day with only drinking lots of water, and see how it goes. Fasting is one way we show God we are serious about our prayers --- that the matter we are praying about is really important to us!
V. Listening For God's Answer:
If we are truly wanting to please God, we will seek His will in everything that we do. We know His will by knowing what His word says on the matter-at-hand. If we are praying for something that we KNOW is against God's will --- then we already know the answer. Just as Jesus prayed to be relieved of “the cup” that He knew He must bear --- the death and suffering of the cross. God gave Him the strength to be able to bear “the cup” of suffering and death that He was to accomplish so that we could have forgivess of our sins, and the New Covenant be put into effect.
In the same way if we KNOW that God's Word tells us something --- for instance “not to forsake the asssembly” [Hebrews 10:24-25] --- if we have the option of taking a job that would cause us to miss the assembly --- then we know that it is God's will that we DO NOT take such a job --- no matter how good a job it may appear to be!
By the way the “assembly” is not only on the first day of the week --- it needs also be with brethren in your area who are assembling in order to “stir up love and good works” during the week through Bible Studies and doing other “good works.”
If we know that something is within God's will --- then we need to look for God's providence in our lives. Are doors being “closed” or “opened” in the area of our prayers? When Gideon was seeking confirmation from God in Judges 6:36-40, He asked God to do specific verifiable things that he could see to verify --- not one time but twice. God does not mind us asking for verification of His will in matters of liberality.
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 contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell). Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor. .
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Acceptable Worship Menu
B) Cut and Past Religion
C) The Church of Our Choice ?
D) What Do Nadab, Abihu and Uzza Have to Do With My Worship of God?
E) Acceptable Worship
F) The Lord's Day
G) The Offering, Contribution,or Giving
H) Teaching The Word
I) The The Lord's Supper Menu
J) Singing and Making Melody in Your Heart to the Lord
K) Prayer
L) The Assembly of the Church
M) Return to Home - Main Menu
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Worship of the New
Testament Church
Testament Church
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 worshiping and praising God, for they worshiped 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 worshiping 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 worshiper. 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 WORSHIPERS 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) 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>.
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)
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 contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell). Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.
What Do Nadab, Abihu and Uzza Have to Do With My Worship of God?
Let's read the entire context:
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 [due to 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!
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.
- Rightly Dividing
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. .
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.
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!
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 contact me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell) for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.
The Church
of Our Choice?
of Our Choice?
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 Mary 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.
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 contact me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or call or text 253-396-0290 for more Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.
Cut and Paste Religion
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.
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.
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.
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 BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.
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