1/16/23

"Who I am?" by Gary Rose

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kln_bIndDJg

The Logical Song


Note: Click on the audio above to hear “The Logical Song” or paste the above link into your browser to watch the video on YouTube.


The Logical Song” is really a misnomer. The Singer-Songwriter questions his life of mankind’s wisdom and longs for true identity for as he puts it “Who I am”? In a world ruled by the status of money, power and educational level, the thinking man considers the value of such a world and his part in it. Is what this world of man’s wisdom considers valuable really worthwhile? Is it true that he who has all the marbles wins? I think NOT, for ultimately all human beings who live will die and then what? All the things they have acquired will be given to others. After time has passed, even the very memory of their life will be forgotten, so what’s the point of life? Is it really wealth, power or intellectual attainment? Again, I think NOT!


Consider the intangible things of this life. What is true wisdom, love, knowledge and genuine life? Those who desire to understand such things will only find worthwhile answers when they humbly acknowledge their inability to comprehend and turn to God for answers.


The Bible says...


1 Corinthians 1 ( World English Bible )

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;

27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:

29 that no flesh should boast before God.

30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

31 that, according as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”


Isaiah 55 ( WEB )

6 Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is near:

7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says Yahweh.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11 so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.


Ecclesiastes 11 ( WEB )

11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.



We live in a world where all society has steadily begun to reject God and all that HE stands for. The result of this is that society has begun to crumble. Man’s wisdom is indeed foolishness and that foolishness ultimately leads to destruction.


The only true answer to “Who I am?” is found in God. The verses of Isaiah 55:6-9 and Ecclesiastes 12:13f are true. Seek God and live, for the end of the matter is that God is truly in control and eventually everyone who has ever lived will answer to HIM for their actions.

Who I am?” is a question that defines us all. If we belong to Christ and continually acknowledge him as savior then at the judgment we will be rewarded, if not, then our “wise” choices will lead to destruction.


I choose Christ, what do you choose?



 

3 Great Reasons To Read Your Bible by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

 

https://thepreachersword.com/2017/04/20/3-great-reasons-to-read-your-bible/#more-10556

3 Great Reasons To Read Your Bible

 Last week while returning home alone from Lafayette, Louisiana (Yes, I left Norma Jean to enjoy our new granddaughter), I was listening to music, reading road signs and generally anything to stay mentally alert.

Somewhere along I-20, I noticed this billboard with a great message.

People read the Bible for many different reasons. Some read out of a rote habit of daily Bible reading. Some to reinforce what they already believe. Others for devotion and inspiration. And some may simply read out of obligation because that’s what good Christians do.

This road side message succinctly offers three really good reasons for regular Bible reading.

(1) Read Your Bible to Learn the Truth.

While many today deny there is anything called absolute Truth, Jesus Christ prayed to the Father for future believers, “Sanctify them by your Word. Your Word is Truth (Jn 17:17).

Truth originates and emanates from Jehovah God. The Psalmist acknowledged this when he wrote, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day” (Ps 25:5).

However, you cannot read scriptures in isolation from one another and expect to learn the truth. The sum of God’s Word is Truth (Ps 119:160). To understand the truth requires diligent study. Thorough examination. And honest evaluation.

Truth is further illuminated in the person of Jesus. He affirmed, “I am the Truth.” His message, ministry and model for living provides us reliable access to the Father. In fact, He’s the only way to the Father (Jn 14:6).

To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, if you’re reading the Bible to learn the truth, you will find truth and comfort. But if you’re just reading for comfort, you may miss both truth and comfort.

(2) Read Your Bible to receive Divine Wisdom.

There are two kinds of wisdom. Worldly wisdom and Divine wisdom. The wisdom of the world is carnal. It’s steeped in the erudition of human experience. It’s often arrogant. Godless. And self serving. Like those in ancient Greece who dismissed the gospel as simplistic and foolish (1 Cor 1:18-31).

Divine wisdom is rooted in the character of God, demonstrated in the life of Christ and revealed in the Bible. Jesus’ brother, James, describes it this way. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (Jas 3:17).

It’s the wisdom of the Word that practices purity. Elevates morality. Respects life. Honors the Creator. Loves without hypocrisy. Hates wickedness. And treats others with kindness and geniality.

Reading the Bible and practicing its percepts will provide insight, understanding and wisdom to live and enjoy life in all its fullness.

(3) Read Your Bible to Fortify Your Hope.

G. K.Chesterton wrote that “hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” Our world is often a dark and dismal place. Wickedness abounds. Perversion is pervasive. And disrespect for Christian values seems to be increasing.

Yet, the Bible offers us hope. Hope in God’s promises. Hope in a brighter tomorrow. Hope for the soul. Hope for a “new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).

Indeed our hope is “an anchor of the soul” that provides safety and security during the storms of life. Without the Bible, we would be adrift on the sea of life without hope.

Read the Bible. It’s God’s Word. It will provide all that you need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3-4).

Truth.

Wisdom.

Hope.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

“Not Under Law, But Grace” by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

 

https://apologeticspress.org/not-under-law-but-grace/

“Not Under Law, But Grace”

Concomitant with the culture-wide propensity to celebrate subjectivity, diversity, and antinomianism is the inclination within Christendom to juxtapose law and grace, denigrating the former and extoling the latter. Inherent within this tendency is the distorted definitions that accompany each term. “Law” is depicted as any restrictive, dictatorial restraint placed on human beings. “Grace” is consequently represented as the opposite of law, i.e., the freedom to be unrestrained by strictures, requirements, or commandments. This sinister ideology has permeated Western civilization, resulting in a dramatic upsurge in lawlessness in society and disrespect for law enforcement. This cultural inclination has cut a wide swath across Christendom, opening an avenue by which skeptics can charge the Bible with contradiction since the same God Who authored the biblical law they vilify also authored the “grace” to which they cling. It has dramatically influenced many Christians to sever themselves from a sense of obligation to conform to the external forms of worship characterized in the New Testament in exchange for an endless variety of manmade innovations and inventions that are deemed sincere human expressions that arise from the heart unfettered by a sense of moral obligation.

This mentality insists that, while the central components of the Christian religion (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) are to remain intact, beyond those few “essentials,” worshippers are free to express themselves in accordance with their own heartfelt motions. Indeed, the worshipper is completely free in this regard, as long as no Scripture expressly forbids the motion. One of, if not the primary, justification for this antinomian spirit are those Bible passages that seem on the surface to denigrate law, speaking of it in negative terms as if it is to be treated suspiciously, if not brushed aside altogether. For example, Paul declared to Christians in Rome: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (6:14). This statement is interpreted by “grace only” advocates as: “Since God’s grace covers you, you must not worry about law-keeping!” But, in context, Paul was saying that since Christians have (1) renounced living a lifestyle of sinning without compunction, and (2) have obeyed the Gospel, they have placed themselves under a grace system (that provides forgiveness), rather than a strictly legal system that, by its very purpose, can only condemn. Verses 15-16 explains that just because we are under a grace system that provides forgiveness, we should not continue to live a life of sin like we did before we obeyed. To continue to live a life of sin, like we did before we obeyed the Gospel, would be to return to slavery—when we were slaves to sin.

A similar verse that is used to bolster the “no law” viewpoint is found among Paul’s remarks to the Galatian churches: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18). Keep in mind that Paul’s letters to the Romans and Galatians address some of the same subject matter. In both letters, he makes the point that laws from God—whether those given to the Jews through Moses or those given by God to non-Jews from the Garden forward—result in condemnation when they are violated. God’s laws are intended to provide spiritual life (Romans 7:10; 10:5; Leviticus 18:5; Ezekiel 20:11,13). But once God’s law is violated, the law does not contain within itself the means by which the lawbreaker may be exonerated. All law can do is condemn you and state the punishment due for breaking law. But that does not mean that God’s laws are bad or negative! All of God’s laws are positive and good since they usher forth from God’s perfect nature. It took God stepping in to provide something in addition to law in order for the sinner to be rescued. So when Paul says we are not under law, he means we are not under law alone. Embracing the Gospel and the grace/forgiveness available via Christ enables us to be rescued—not from law—but from “the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). That is, He took our sins on Himself. He absorbed and made provision for satisfying the penalty of the law by dying in our behalf: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Another misapplied passage is the statement that John set forth in his gospel account: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). This verse is often misinterpreted to mean we are not under law, since grace and truth exclude or eliminate law. This view is incorrect on three counts: (1) the law of Moses did not exclude truth. The psalmist declared concerning the law of Moses: “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth…. The entirety of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:142,160); (2) God’s grace was available throughout the Old Testament: “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). Moses found grace in God’s sight (Exodus 33:17). Ezra explained to the returning exiles that “now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God” (Ezra 9:8). And the psalmist insisted that the LORD gives grace to those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). (3) Christianity does not exclude law. Paul referred to the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) and the “law towards Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21). James alluded to the “law of liberty” (James 1:25) and “the royal law” (James 6:2). Hence, the meaning of John 1:17 lies in the fact that, though God’s law through Moses was intended for the good of its recipients (Deuteronomy 6:24; 10:13), nevertheless, that law was never intended to be the solution to sin. From eternity, God intended for the forgiveness of sin, i.e., “grace,” to be available only via the atoning sacrifice of Christ, i.e., the Gospel.

Definition

What, precisely, is the meaning of the word “grace”? The underlying Greek term charis has as its essential meaning “favor.” Danker identifies the following shades of meaning for the word—keeping in mind that the italicized words in the following delineations are intended to be the actual definitions (sample verses are included for each shade):

  1. “a winning quality or attractiveness that invites a favorable reaction, graciousness, attractiveness, charm, winsomeness.” Luke 4:22—“gracious words”; Colossians 4:6—“Let your speech always be with grace.”
  2. “a beneficent disposition toward someone, favor, grace, gracious care/help, goodwill.” Luke 2:40—“the grace of God was upon Him”; Acts 11:26—“they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.”
  3. “practical application of goodwill, (a sign of) favor, gracious deed/gift, benefaction.” (a) by humans (Acts 24:27; 25:9—“wanting to do the Jews a favor”; 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 8:4—“gift”; (b) by God (James 4:6b/1 Peter 5:5—“gives grace to the humble”).
  4. “exceptional effect produced by generosity, favor.” 2 Corinthians 8:1—“the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia”; 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My grace is sufficient for you.”
  5. “response to generosity or beneficence, thanks, gratitude.” Luke 17:9—“Does he thank that servant?”; 2 Timothy 1:3—“I thank God”; Hebrews 12:28—“let us have grace.”

To repeat, the essential meaning of charis as reflected in all five of these shades of meaning is “favor.”

Critical Clarification

God has given all human beings His law. All human beings are under divine obligation to obey that law. However, all human beings have broken that law. Hence, they are all rightly condemned. They have no means within themselves to achieve their own forgiveness. But God in His infinite goodness predetermined before He ever even created human beings to devise a plan for them to be forgiven. That plan consisted of sending Himself in the person of His Son to die and atone for sin. This redemptive scheme is, in fact, the grace of the New Testament and it has been presented to the world via the Gospel. This incredible provision in no way minimizes or eliminates the necessity of human beings devoting themselves to strict obedience to the laws of God. We are under divine obligation to (1) obey the Gospel (through faith, repentance, oral confession, and water immersion—Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Galatians 3:27) and (2) live a life of devoted conformity/obedience to the directives God has given for faithful living.

The “grace not law” mentality has misconstrued these concepts by advocating the notion that grace eliminates law, and that those who “live by grace” do not consider themselves under compulsion to give close attention to legal detail or to be concerned about law. They have been self-deluded into thinking that if they were to be concerned about law/legal restrictions, they would be guilty of “legalism” and failing to appreciate and live by “grace.” This sinister ideology is, in fact, dangerous and ultimately deadly to spiritual life. For example, a person may violate God’s laws governing marriage, divorce, and remarriage (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:1-2; et al.) and entangle himself in an unscriptural, i.e., adulterous, marriage. The person who has embraced the “grace not law” theology will soothe and comfort himself by believing that “grace” enables him to remain in the marriage and God will simply forgive and brush aside his adultery. Never mind the fact that the law states plainly: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which [include] adultery…which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-22) and the “sexually immoral…shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8). Grace does not excuse or accommodate a person in his violations of law; it merely enables him to be forgiven of his violations of law—if he repents. The “grace not law” viewpoint insists that one may continue to ignore law since we are under grace and law is no longer a relevant issue.

If “grace” is defined as “freedom from law,” it naturally follows that attention to legal detail becomes at the very least inappropriate and at most superfluous. Solomon well described the inevitable outcome of such thinking: “Where there is no revelation (i.e., law from God), the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18). The “grace not law” mindset would reword Solomon’s words: “Where there is no law, the people are freed from oppressive restriction to do what feels good, enjoying grace and relief from legalism.”

The hostility toward law that the “grace only” viewpoint engenders robs a person of the tremendous blessings afforded to those who respect and strive to conform to law: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8). Psalm 119 extols the grandeur and indispensability of law, standing as a marvelous reminder of the abundant blessings and positive contributions to human life available only via God’s laws, commandments, statutes, testimonies, and precepts. Indeed, the law was specifically intended by God to provide life (Deuteronomy 30:15-16; Leviticus 18:5; Psalm 119:50; Romans 7:10).

Grace in Romans

The book of Romans provides the New Testament canon with a clear thesis statement of God’s scheme of redemption: the Gospel is God’s powerful means for saving people (1:16). The term for “grace” (charis) occurs 25 times in the book. Twice it is used by Paul to refer to his apostleship that was bestowed upon him by God—“the grace given to me” (12:3;15:15). Four times the word is used in its generic sense of “favor” with Paul expressing his desire that the grace of Jesus and God would be with the Romans (1:7; 16:20,24; cf. Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7-8) and God extending His “favor” by bestowing spiritual gifts on the Roman Christians (12:6). The other 19 occurrences of the word in Romans—the vast majority—refer specifically to the Gospel. Consider the following chart that catalogs the meanings of charis in the book of Romans:

As Greek lexicographer Joseph Thayer explained: “the N.T. writers use xa/ri$ pre-eminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offences, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ.”1

To repeat: the grace of the Bible is God making it possible for people to be forgiven of their sin. But they must meet the pre-conditions of that forgiveness by conforming to the instructions/prescriptions God has given to receive that forgiveness. And people must maintain a sincere, attentive desire to comply with God’s laws, and to regularly repent and seek forgiveness when they make mistakes along the way. Herein lies the definition of what it means to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).

Concluding Observation

Perhaps the worst feature of the “grace only” doctrine is its blatant, inherent manifestation of disrespect for God Himself. After all, who gives us spiritual law? Who authored the Law of Moses? Who provides us with the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)? Any denigration of law—any negative representation of biblical law—is an aspersion directed against God. No wonder Paul declared in no uncertain terms that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). Indeed, we would not even know what offends God—what sin is—if He had not given us law (Romans 3:20). Law is never depicted in Scripture as somehow “bad,” or negative, or undesirable, or oppressive. God’s commands are not “burdensome” (1 John 5:3)—they are not too hard for us. Indeed, they are like sweet honey to our mouths and far more precious than pure gold (Psalm 19:10). May we join wholeheartedly and genuinely with the psalmist in his exclamation: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Endnote

1 Joseph Thayer (1901), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1977 reprint), p. 666.


Published

Christians pray for God's will to be done by Roy Davison

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/039-Godswill-prayer.html

Christians pray for God's will to be done

Jesus taught, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9, 10).

We need to pray this because God's will is not done on earth as it is in heaven. Earth is a hotbed of rebellion. Satan is making his last futile stand against God.

In the Revelation, John writes: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time'” (Revelation 12:7- 12).

Jesus came to enforce the will of God and vanquish Satan by first saving those who believe and then, when He comes again, by “taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

Christians participate in this battle to overcome evil. When the seventy returned from preaching, Jesus said: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

Paul wrote to the saints at Rome: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).

God wants us to pray: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We pray that Christians might stand firm in the will of God: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

When we pray that God's will be done on earth, we must of course begin with ourselves. Like David, we pray, “Teach me to do Your will” (Psalm 143:10).


Man's will conflicts with the will of God.

This is obviously true of those who outright reject the will of God. But it is also a problem for those who want to do God's will! Paul warns: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16, 17).

Although Jesus foretold His crucifixion, He did not want to die! “He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will'” (Matthew 26:37-39).

It is not wrong to be sorrowful and distressed when we face suffering and death, even though we know it is, or may be, the will of God. Nor is it wrong to pray for deliverance. Yet, we must qualify our prayer, as Jesus did: “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).

Jesus warned: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus told Peter: “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (John 21:18). Peter was willing to die for Christ, but he did not wish to die.

Later Peter wrote: “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:17, 18).

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1, 2). “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).


Time and chance happen to them all.

The Scriptures do not teach that everything is a direct result of God's will. Many things happen by chance. Solomon wrote: “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, 12).

Although God intervenes to ensure that His ultimate purposes prevail, He often allows things to run their course, but with the promise that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). God will take care of his children, no matter what happens to them. Jesus said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:28-31).

One man whom Jesus healed, showed great insight in this: “And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:12, 13). This man knew Jesus could heal him. Yet he also understood that it might not be according to His will. In this case it was, but in many cases it is not. As Jesus told the Jews: “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).

Paul recounts his own experience: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).


How do we pray according to the will of God?

We must have the attitude of Jesus: “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

To the extent that God has revealed His will in Scripture, we can pray with full assurance that we will receive what He has promised: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

In everyday matters, however, we often do not know God's will. We pray according to our best insight with the humble realization that we do not know what to ask, but also with confidence in this promise: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).


What have we learned from the Scriptures about prayer and the will of God?

We are to pray that God's will might be done and that Christians might stand firm in the will of God. Realizing that man's will conflicts with the will of God, we pray that God's will be done rather than our own. It is not wrong to pray for deliverance but we must understand that it can be God's will that we suffer, even if we do not understand why. God is not directly responsible for all that happens. Time and chance happen to them all. Just because God can heal someone, does not mean that it is according to His will. For those who love God, all things work together for good. We can pray with full assurance that we will receive what God has promised in Scripture. In everyday affairs, however, we depend on the Holy Spirit to intercede for us according to the will of God. Let us pray for God's will to be done. Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

“Understand what the will of the Lord is” Ephesians 5:17 by Roy Davison

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/038-willoftheLord.html

“Understand what the will of the Lord is”
Ephesians 5:17

The universe exists by the will of God: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

The will of God is sovereign. After God removed the Babylonian potentate Nebuchadnezzar from power for seven years and then reinstated him, he acknowledged the preponderant will of God: “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:35).

Yet, amazingly, people can reject the will of God: “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Luke 7:30). John the Baptist was a prophet of God. When these religious leaders rejected John’s message, they rejected the will of God for themselves.

Although ultimately, the will of God prevails, God grants man a limited field of operation in which he has freedom to make personal choices.

An example of this is Paul’s journey to Rome. For some time he had wanted to go to Rome. In his letter he explains: “Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now)” (Romans 1:13). He writes: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you” (Romans 1:9, 10).

This shows great insight and a commendable attitude: “If I may find a way in the will of God.” Paul understands that his plans and actions are subject to the will of God, that he can operate only within the limits God has set. As it turns out, he does indeed travel to Rome - all expenses paid - as a prisoner of the Romans!

Man’s prescribed area of choice might be compared to a fence within which a small child is allowed to play. Without the fence it would be unsafe. Inside the fence he can go where he pleases and do what he wants. Even so, his mother keeps an eye on him in case he comes up with something that exceeds the wishes of his parents!

Jesus says: “It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14). Why then do people perish? Not because it is the will of God, but because man’s inherent freedom enables him to make wrong choices with bad consequences for himself and for others.

Leading up to this, Jesus had said: “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:6, 7).

One person’s wrong choices can tempt someone else to sin and be lost. But ‘offenses must come’. Why? Because this is inherent in man’s power to choose.

Paul deals with the objection: “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” (Romans 9:19). Some try to blame God for their own bad choices! Although the will of God prevails in the end, people are responsible for the choices God allows them to make and for the consequences.

Any parent of teenagers understands this. There comes a time when parents must allow their children to make choices on their own. As they assume greater freedom of choice, they also assume responsibility for their choices and the consequences. Just because the parents allowed a choice to be made, does not make them responsible for the choice or its consequences.

One teenager protested: “Why didn’t God make man so he could only choose what is right?” This is a dishonest cop-out. What teenager wants to have his God-given freedom of choice curtailed in any way? He likes this gift that God has given him!
God created people with the ability to choose to love Him or to reject Him. The love of those who freely choose to love Him more than offsets the grief caused by those who choose to reject His will.
As Paul explains: “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory?” (Romans 9:19-23).

People are lost because they choose to reject the will of God. Even so, God still enables them to be saved if they repent and accept the gift of grace He offers through the sacrifice of His Son: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

To allow man freedom of choice, God cannot prevent people from being lost. But He has done everything possible to enable the lost to be saved by sending His Son: “the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11).


Jesus came to do the will of the Father.

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (John 4:34). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30).

It was the will of the Father that Jesus should offer His body as a sacrifice for sin: “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come - In the volume of the book it is written of Me - to do Your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:7).

The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were not sufficient as atonement for sin: “‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:8, 9).


By the will of God, Christ came to be a sacrifice for sin.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia: “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever” (Galatians 1:3-5).

It is the will of God that they who believe in Christ might receive mercy, salvation and eternal life.

Jesus explained: “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39, 40).


God wants us to be sanctified.

When charging the Thessalonians to abstain from sexual immorality, Paul states: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). God wants us to be holy.

To realize this sanctification we must be born again by the will of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13). “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).

Our inclusion in the family of God is also called an adoption by the will of God: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6).

In Christ, God has “made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth” (Ephesians 1:9, 10).

As adopted sons we have an inheritance: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).


We must do God’s will to be in the family of God.
Jesus said: “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50 // Mark 3:35).

Jesus warned: “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” (Matthew 7:21).

Have you ever wanted to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men? God wants us to do this and tells us how: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15).

Until the end we must continue to do the will of God: “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36).

“The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

The letter to the Hebrews closes with this beautiful benediction: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever” (Hebrews 13:20, 21).


To do God’s will, we must know God’s will.

The Scriptures reveal the will of God. David wrote: “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

The will of God must be learned. David prayed: “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10).

Jesus states a prerequisite for knowing the will of God: “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). One must first want to do God’s will to recognize which doctrine is from God.
One must then conform to the will of God to really experience the will of God: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Having heard of the faith and love of the Christians at Colosse, Paul writes: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).


What have we learned from the Scriptures about the will of God?

The universe exists by the sovereign will of God. Although ultimately, the will of God prevails, God grants man a limited field of operation in which he has freedom to make choices. People can reject the will of God and are responsible for the consequences.

People perish, not because it is the will of God, but because man’s inherent freedom enables him to make wrong choices with bad consequences for himself and for others.

Jesus came to do the will of the Father by being a sacrifice for sin.

It is the will of God that they who believe in Christ receive mercy, salvation and eternal life, that they be sanctified through a spiritual rebirth and become sons of God by adoption.

In the family of God we must continue to do the will of God until the end to receive the promise of eternal life.

To do the will of God, we must know the will of God from the Scriptures. We must want to do the will of God to recognize His will and we must actually do His will to experience His will.

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)


Why do so few become Christians and live as Christians? by Roy Davison

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/041-whysofew.html

Why do so few become Christians
and live as Christians?

Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28, 29).

Living as a Christian means to have rest, peace with God. Do we have rest and peace? If not maybe we have not really gone to Jesus to learn how to live.

One must first become a Christian in order to live as a Christian.

One is not a Christian by birth. Personal commitment is required. Our parents cannot decide for us. Everyone must decide for himself to follow Christ.

What does this involve?

Becoming a Christian means being saved by God's grace on the basis of faith in Jesus. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned: but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:16-19).

Jesus did not come to condemn the world. The world was already condemned because of sin.

"For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law" (Romans 2:12).

Jesus brought salvation. He came "to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). "For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life: but he who disobeys1 the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God rests upon him" (John 3:36).

An obedient faith is required to escape the wrath of God. One's faith must be confessed, "For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).

One must repent and be baptized: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

People are faced with a choice. "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision" (Joel 3:14).

To live as a Christian we must make a personal decision. We must become a Christian by faith and obedience.

Why do so few live as Christians?

After Jesus has done so much to make salvation possible, why are so many lost anyway? Why do so few live as Christians? This has several causes.

Many do not live as Christians because of selfishness, self-centeredness.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit" (John 12:24, 25).

"He who finds his life shall lose it: and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:39).

"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it: and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. For what does it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:25, 26).

"Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it" (Luke 17:33).

Since Jesus gave His life for us, He asks us to forfeit our lives to serve Him. Many do not want to do this.

Many do not live as Christians because of impenitence.

Most people refuse to repent. Referring to such people, Paul said: "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart you are storing up for yourself wrath on the day of wrath when the righteous judgment of God shall be revealed" (Romans 2:5).

Jesus made repentance a condition for salvation: "There were some present at that time who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered, saying to them, Do you suppose these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No: but, unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-3).

"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wanting that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as other Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts: who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, greedy to practice all kinds of uncleanness" (Ephesians 4:17-19).

"Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

"Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:7-10).

Many do not live as Christians because they set their minds on earthly things.

Earthly-minded people scorn the sacrifice of Christ. "For many, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even with weeping, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things" (Philippians 3:18, 19).

When people make this world their god, they are struck with spiritual blindness: "But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. For the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest they should see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4).

In their blindness they think God's word is foolishness: "For the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness; but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

They do not think very highly of Christians either. Even worse, to them we stink. If we want to live as Christians, we must be willing to endure the ridicule and persecution of people of the world.

"Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and makes manifest through us the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are an aroma of Christ to God, among those who are being saved, and among those who are perishing: To the one we are the aroma of death to death; and to the other the aroma of life to life" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

Someone who loves money cannot live as a Christian: "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil" (1 Timothy 6:8-10).

The waging of war is also an expression of earthly-mindedness because of which many are lost, as Jesus warned Peter: "Put your sword back in its place: for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52).

Earthly-mindedness leads to spiritual infertility: "And these are the ones who are like seed sown among thorns; they hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for other things enter in, and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:18, 19).

Many do not live as Christians because of false doctrine.

Jesus warned: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:11-13).

Peter warned that ignorant and unstable people twist the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1).

People accept false doctrine because they lack love for the truth: "And then shall the lawless one be revealed, whom the Lord shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and shall destroy by the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is through the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that all those might be condemned who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Tessalonicenzen 2:8-12).

Why are there so few who live as Christians even though Jesus died for them? Because they are self-centered and earthly-minded they refuse to repent. Because they reject love for truth they believe a lie by which they are lost.

Let us live as Christians.

Let us walk the narrow road: "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there are who enter in by it: but small is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there are who find it" (Matthew 7:13, 14).

Although it is not an easy road, Jesus will help us. As Paul said, "Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:9).

The salvation of Christ extends beyond death: "And some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And you shall be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish. By your perseverance you shall win your souls" (Luke 21:16-19).

Jesus takes good care of His sheep: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:27, 28).

"Therefore be imitators of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice, a sweet smelling aroma to God" (Ephesians 5:1, 2).

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Galatians 1:3-5).

Footnote:
1 Some translators have interpreted απειθων in this verse as 'those not believing' but the word means 'those not obeying'.

Roy Davison

New Testament quotations are from the Revised King James New Testament
(RKJNT) and Old Testament quotations are from the translation of the Jewish Publication Society.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

"ISSUES OF DISTINCTION" The Nature Of The Lord's Church by Mark Copeland

 









https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/issues-of-distinction/is_07.html

"ISSUES OF DISTINCTION"

The Nature Of The Lord's Church

INTRODUCTION
  1. In this series we have surveyed the following "Issues Of Distinction":
    1. The Existence Of God - which differentiates between...
      1. Atheists and agnostics, who deny or question God's existence
      2. Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Moslems, Christians, etc., who believe in a Supreme Being
    2. The Identity Of God - which distinguishes between...
      1. Buddhists, Hindus, etc., who hold to many gods
      2. Jews, Moslems, Christians, etc., who believe in the God of Abraham
    3. The Identity Of Jesus Of Nazareth - over which there is a difference between...
      1. Jews, Moslems, etc., who may accept Jesus as a good man, perhaps a prophet
      2. Christians, who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
    4. The All-Sufficiency Of The Scriptures - where again there is a difference between...
      1. Catholics, Mormons, JWs, etc., who deny the Scriptures are all-sufficient
      2. Mainstream Protestants, Christians, etc., who profess the principle of "scriptura sola" (the Scriptures alone)
    5. The Purpose Of Baptism - where there is a difference between...
      1. Those who proclaim that baptism has nothing to do with salvation
      2. Those who teach that baptism is an integral part of the gospel and God's plan for saving man in Christ
  2. A final "issue of distinction" I would like to examine in this series is "The Nature Of The Lord's Church"
    1. This is not to say there are not other "issues of distinction"
    2. For example, the Lord's Supper is certainly an issue that distinguishes those who have differing views concerning it
    3. But for this particular series, this will be our last lesson
  3. In this study, we shall examine...
    1. The nature of the Lord's church as revealed in the Scriptures
    2. The trend toward denominationalism, even among those who claim to be nondenominational churches of Christ
    3. What is wrong with denominationalism and current trends leading toward it

[Let's begin, then, with...]

  1. THE NATURE OF THE LORD'S CHURCH AS REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES
    1. THE TERM "CHURCH" IS PRIMARILY USED IN TWO WAYS...
      1. In the UNIVERSAL sense
        1. Referring to all the saved throughout the world
        2. Used this way in Mt 16:18; Ep 5:23; Col 1:18
      2. In the LOCAL sense
        1. Referring to the saved in one particular geographical locality
        2. Used this way in 1Co 1:2; Re 1:11; Ro 16:16
    2. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN "THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL" AND "THE CHURCH LOCAL"...
      1. In the UNIVERSAL sense:
        1. There is only ONE church - Ep 4:4; compare with Ep 1:22-23
        2. Christ is the head; individual Christians are members of His body - 1Co 12:27
        3. There is NO EARTHLY ORGANIZATION; what organization there may be is spiritual in nature - Ep 2:19-20
        4. The universal church never meets as such; it has no "officers" except Jesus Christ and the original apostles and prophets
      2. In the LOCAL sense:
        1. There are MANY churches - cf. Ga 1:2
        2. There is to be EARTHLY ORGANIZATION within each local church
          1. Ideally, each church has elders (also known as bishops, pastors) and deacons - e.g., Php 1:1
          2. Although churches may exist temporarily until such men can be appointed - cf. Ac 14:21-23
        3. Local churches meet regularly; and Christians have responsibilities in connection with their brethren in the local church
    3. LOCAL CHURCHES WERE INDEPENDENT AND AUTONOMOUS...
      1. Each congregation was to submit to the oversight of its own elders - cf. He 13:17
        1. Certainly they were also subject to the authority of Christ and His apostles
        2. But no other church or human organization had any authority over them
      2. Elders had oversight only over the flock of God which was among them:
        1. "Shepherd the flock of God which is AMONG YOU..." - 1Pe 5:2
        2. "take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, AMONG WHICH the Holy Spirit has made you overseers..." - Ac 20:28
        -- No elder or group of elders was appointed to be over two or more churches!

      [Such was the nature and pattern of the Lord's church as found in the New Testament. With such simplicity the gospel spread and congregations were planted all over the Mediterranean world and beyond.

      But not long after the apostles died, the nature of the Lord's church began to change, brought about by...]

  2. THE TREND TOWARD DENOMINATIONALISM
    1. DEFINING "DENOMINATIONALISM"...
      1. Let's first define "denomination"
        1. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: "A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy."
        2. From Webster's: "A religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations."
        3. In simple terms, a denomination is a group of congregations that are joined together under some governing body...
          1. The number of congregations can be as few as two or more
          2. But by their tie to a governing body above the local congregation, by definition they are "denominated" from all congregations that do not submit to the same authority
        4. Some examples:
          1. The Roman Catholic Church is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the pope in Rome
          2. The Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) is made up of those churches that submit to the synod in Missouri
          3. The International Church of Christ is made up of those churches that submit to the Boston Church of Christ
          -- These are just a few of the thousands of different denominations that now exist!
      2. Now let's define "denominationalism"
        1. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, it is:
          1. "The tendency to separate into religious denominations"
          2. "Advocacy of separation into religious denominations"
          3. "Strict adherence to a denomination; sectarianism"
        2. Again, Webster's dictionary defines it as:
          1. "Devotion to denominational principles or interests"
          2. "Narrow emphasizing of denominational differences: SECTARIANISM"
        3. In this lesson, I am applying the term to any effort to create a collectivity of congregations in such a way as to denominate them from other churches
    2. HOW DENOMINATIONALISM BEGAN IN THE SECOND CENTURY...
      1. It did not happen overnight, but through small, subtle changes in the organization of the Lord's church
      2. The first step was a change from a two-tier system to a three-tier system
        1. I.e., the early churches had elders (also known as bishops, pastors) and deacons
        2. But then the title "bishop" came to be reserved for just one of the elders, creating a three-tier hierarchy of bishop-elders-deacons within a local congregation
      3. The next change involved one bishop over many congregations
        1. In the NT, there were a plurality of bishops over just one congregation
        2. But now, there was one bishop over a plurality of congregations
      4. Eventually this pattern of change led to the formation of various denominations
        1. E.g., Roman Catholic, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Coptic, etc.
        2. All depending upon which religious leader was recognized by a group of churches
    3. HOW IT CONTINUES TODAY...
      1. The Protestant Reformation did not really help matters that much
        1. While the reformers may have had the right idea, their followers often simply crystallized and formed denominations (in some cases, over the objections of the reformers themselves)
        2. As denominations were formed, many of them divided even further, creating more denominations
      2. Efforts to restore the New Testament pattern often went awry
        1. Some restoration movements started out by following the NT pattern
        2. But as time passed, they slowly drifted into forming denominational structures
          1. E.g., many churches became the Christian Church- Disciples Of Christ denomination
          2. E.g., other churches became the International Church of Christ denomination
      3. I see this trend even among churches of Christ claiming to be non-denominational...
        1. By changing the nature of cooperation among local churches, they create de facto denominations
        2. This is especially manifested when the "sponsoring church" concept is adopted
          1. For by its very definition and in actuality, one church takes oversight of a work done by a collectivity of churches
          2. This "collectivity" of churches, under the oversight of the sponsoring church, has formed a denomination in practice, if not in name!

          [I can imagine that some may be wondering, "What is so bad about that?" In other words...]

  3. WHAT IS WRONG WITH DENOMINATIONALISM IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS?
    1. FIRST, DENOMINATIONALISM IS UN-SCRIPTURAL...
      1. That is, it is without Scriptural support
      2. We have seen that in the New Testament that...
        1. Local congregations were independent, self-governing
        2. Church organization was limited to within the local congregation, with elders (also known as pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters) appointed to oversee only the congregation of which they were members - cf. Ac 20:17,28; 1Pe 5:1-2
      3. The only authority above the local church was Christ and His apostles...
        1. Once the church began, apostles were not replaced after they died
        2. But through the Word of God, the authority of Christ and His apostles continues
      4. Individuals, synods, conferences, sponsoring churches, etc., that presume to have oversight over local congregations do so without Scriptural authority
    2. SECOND, DENOMINATIONALISM IS ANTI-SCRIPTURAL...
      1. I.e., not only is it without scriptural support, it is contrary to what the Bible teaches
      2. Denominationalism creates division, and division is:
        1. Contrary to the prayer of Jesus for unity among His believers - Jn 17:20-23
        2. Condemned by Paul in his epistle to the church at Corinth
          1. There are to be no divisions among believers - 1Co 1:10-13
          2. Sectarianism is a sign of carnality - 1Co 3:3-4
    3. THIRD, IT IS HARMFUL TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST...
      1. Jesus knew that unity among His disciples would be "the final apologetic"
        1. Cf. "that the world may believe" - Jn 17:21
        2. In view of Jesus' words, we should not be surprised when unbelievers are slow to accept the gospel coming from a divided church
      2. Many people point to the divided condition of those professing to follow Christ...
        1. Atheists and agnostics often use division as an excuse not to believe in God
        2. Adherents to non-Christian religions (such as Islam, Judaism, etc.) will often use denominationalism as a reason not to believe in Christ
      3. Denominationalism has also given support and encouragement to the cults
        1. Mormonism started in reaction to the denominationalism of Joseph Smith's day
        2. Those who call themselves "Jehovah's Witnesses" use the religious division to encourage people to follow their strictly-controlled organization
      4. It opposes the efforts of Christ on the cross! - Ep 2:14-16
        1. Jesus died to break down the wall of division
        2. Jesus died to reconcile man to God in ONE body
        -- Just as sinning works against the efforts of Christ on the cross (for He also died to put away sin), so it is with denominational division!
      5. It is harmful even in it's most subtle forms (e.g., the sponsoring church concept)
        1. Churches that refuse to join in with some a congregation's desire to sponsor some "great work" are often ostracized
        2. The change in church cooperation is a small one, but it is small steps away from the New Testament pattern that eventually lead to the creation of something totally different than what the Lord intended
          1. It happened in the second century A.D.
          2. It has happened time and again ever since, leading to the formation of more and more denominations!
CONCLUSION
  1. The nature of the Lord's church may not seem to be a significant issue...
    1. Many would consider church organization and cooperation to be a matter of indifference
    2. They would certainly not put it on the same level as "The Identity Of God" or "The Identity Of Jesus Of Nazareth"
  2. Whether or not it belongs on the same level, I do believe it is worthy of our prayerful consideration...
    1. History reveals that the departure from the New Testament pattern began with small changes in the organization of the church
    2. History continues to reveal that this is often the first step toward apostasy time and again
    -- For when one disregards the New Testament concerning the nature of the Lord's church, it is not long before they disregard what else the New Testament has to say!

It is my prayer, therefore, that we will always give careful heed to whatever the New Testament reveals concerning "The Nature Of The Lord's Church", for it is truly an "issue of distinction"!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2023