Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The church which Jesus built was unique in the first century; it was different from the various Jewish seas and pagan religions. The things which made it unique in the first century also make it unique today. The church of the New Testament is different from the sectarian denominations, the cults, and the pagan religions. Let us consider some of its identifying marks.

The Early Church Followed Apostolic Doctrine

When the early church began, Luke recorded that “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). The early church recognized that Jesus had selected the apostles to be special men through whom He revealed His will to mankind (Mt. 16:18; 18:18). He gave to them the Holy Spirit who, He said, “will guide you into a truth” (Jn. 16:8). The Holy Spirit brought to the apostles’ remembrance what Jesus did (Jn. 14:26). Hence, the early church recognized this special role of the apostles as the agents through whom Jesus revealed His will and abided in apostolic doctrine.

This made them unique in the first century. The various Jewish sects confined themselves to the study of the Old Testament; they rejected the revelation which was given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit. The various heathen religions also rejected apostolic doctrine, claiming to have received revelations of their own.

Today the Lord’s church is unique in that it abides in apostolic doctrine. The Catholic Church recognizes the authority of the ex cathedra statements of the pope, the decisions of the various Catholic councils, and the apocrypha (additional books of the Old Testament). Most Protestant churches appoint synods and councils which have legislative authority over their various groups. Hence, they meet to determine whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to serve as ministers, as if the word of God had not already determined the issue. Even among those religious groups which have no synod or council, many churches feel at liberty to do anything which the Bible does not condemn. Hence, they have introduced choirs and mechanical instruments of music into the worship of the church, church supported institutions (hospitals, orphan homes, old folks homes, colleges, etc.) into the work of the church, and perverted the mission of the church from the divinely-revealed mission of saving souls to recreational activities.

Hence, one of the identifying characteristics of the church of the New Testament is that it abides in apostolic doctrine. It does not go beyond the word of God (2 Jn. 9:11) or recognize any other authority than the revealed word of God.

The Day Of Worship Was Unique To The Early Church

The early church assembled on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). This day of worship became known as the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1: 10). Several important events pertaining to the Lord and His church occurred on this day, including the following: (a) the Lord was raised from the dead on this day (Matt. 28:1); (b) He appeared to the disciples in His resurrected body on this day (Jn. 20:19,26); (c) the church was established on this day (Acts 2:1,47); (d) the first gospel sermon was preached on this day (Acts 2: 1). Hence, the first day of the week was the authorized day of worship for the New Testament church.

This distinguished the first century church from Judaism which “remembered the Sabbath” (Ex. 20:8). The pagans had no distinctive day of worship. As Christianity spread, the influence of the church caused Sunday to become known as the Lord’s day, the day of worship for Christians. The congregational assembly upon the first day of the week is still one of the distinctive marks of the New Testament church.

The Worship Of The Early Church Was Unique

The worship of the early church also set it apart as unique. The early church’s worship consisted of the following items:

1. Apostolic preaching. The early church worship assembly featured someone addressing the assembly from the revelation of God’s word (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14).

2. The Lord’s supper. The early church assembled upon the first day of every week (cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20; 16:12) to remember the death of Jesus. They partook of unleavened bread in remembrance of Jesus’ body and fruit of the vine in remembrance of His blood.

3. Prayer. Prayer was a part of the worship of the church (1 Cor. 14:15). Their prayers were unique in that mankind approached God through the mediatorship of Jesus Christ (Jn. 16:23-24).

4. Congregational Singing. The early church sang psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their worship (1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). They sang to one another; hence, they did not have specially trained choirs to do their singing for them. Although mechanical instruments of music were available for use (they were used in the Old Testament worship), there is no evidence that they were used in New Testament worship.

5. Contribution. When the early church came together, the Lord commanded that a collection be taken (1 Cor. 16:1-3). This contribution was used for benevolent purposes (1 Cor. 16:1-3) and evangelism (2 Cor. 11:8).

This worship was distinctive. The Jewish people assembled in their worship around an altar where animal sacrifices were offered to God. They studied the law of Moses. They had a separate priesthood. Sometimes their devotional meals became drunken orgies in which every kind of immorality was commonplace. Their worship differed from that of the New Testament church.

The worship of the New Testament church still differs from that of denominationalism and makes the New Testament church unique’. Most denominations have forsaken apostolic doctrine to hear a preacher tell some heartwarming stories; they have rejected the weekly observance of the Lord’s supper for a yearly, quarterly, or monthly observance (some have even changed the items to be used). They have rejected prayer through Jesus’ name for prayer though the name of “the holy blessed virgin Mary” or without recognition of any need for mediatorship. They have rejected congregational singing for singing by choirs or other special singing groups; they have supplemented singing with mechanical instruments of music. They have replaced freewill offerings with tithes.

Indeed, the church which worships in keeping with the divine pattern revealed in God’s word is still distinctive and unique. Such worship does not attract the worldly who expect to be entertained by the worship assembly; only the spiritually minded are attracted to services which are confined to the five acts of worship listed above. This should not be understood to imply that worship services should be gloomy and sad. Rather, they should be spiritual and biblical.

Conclusion

As men have departed from apostolic doctrine in various areas, those who confine themselves to the Bible become distinctive in those areas. Areas in which God’s people are distinctive include such things as the names by which they are known (both in their congregational and individual relationships), the organization of the local church and its autonomy, terms of membership, etc. The church which abides by the doctrine of Christ will always be distinctive.

Unfortunately, preaching sermons on the identifying marks of the New Testament church is going out of style. Some preachers no longer want to call names from the pulpit to contrast the departures from the word by modem denominations with the word of God and practice of His church. They are afraid that this will offend people. Rather, they want to emphasize the positive without mentioning such negative things which might turn people away. While none of us will accept abusive speech and conduct, we should know that every generation must learn what makes the Lord’s church unique. This must be so clearly learned and understood that men can distinguish it from the denominations around them. Unless our preaching accomplishes this, it is worthless and contributes to the denominationalizing of the church.

Elders, deacons, and members need to insist that the pulpit be used for this kind of preaching. Those men who do not preach distinctive sermons will produce a membership which views the Lord’s church as just another denomination. Where such views become predominant, the Lord’s church loses its identity and quickly moves into the mainstream of Protestant denominationalism. Our existence as the Lord’s church depends upon distinctive preaching which emphasizes the distinctive identifying marks of the New Testament church.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, pp. 130, 152
March 7, 1985

By Mike Willis

I suppose that every age has a group which professes to be “free thinkers’.’ or “enlightened” because they have reached the conclusion that there is no God. Our age is no different from those which preceded us. Our “free thinkers” (as if to imply that no others are “free thinkers” or “enlightened”) have organized themselves under the name of “humanism” and have published several documents detailing their beliefs. They confidently affirm that there is no God. They assert:

We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural; it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race (Humanist Manifesto H, p. 16).

Whereas the percentage of Americans who consider themselves humanists is relatively small, many Americans have accepted the main tenets of the humanist movement. Some consider themselves to be atheists or agnostics; many live as atheists and agnostics-wholly disregarding the claims of God upon their lives.

Those leaders in the anti-God movement are working to establish state supported atheism or secularism. Their concept of the ideal relationship of religion and the schools is a school system in which state supported teachers can attack the Bible, deny the existence of God, belittle Christians and Christianity, and actively work to re-shape the moral values of our children so that Christian ethics are replaced with humanist ethics. The same school system must not permit voluntary prayer, the public display of the Ten Commandments, any reference to God and the Bible, and any instruction regarding biblical morals. While they say that they want the state separated from religion, what they desire is state supported atheism, agnosticism, and secularism. If we create a system in which God is systematically eliminated from our schools, our public events, our courts, our Congress, and everything else related to the government, we will effectively have produced an atheistic state! Those who believe in state supported atheism are hiding under the guise of “separation of church and state”!

In view of what is happening in our society, we need to be reminded that God exists and, as our Creator and Sustainer, has the right to govern us.

Evidence of God

The Bible nowhere makes an argument to prove the existence of God. The Bible assumes that God exists. However, there are a number of evidences for the existence of God.

1. There is no logical explanation of the creation without the existence of God. Our creation is a cosmos, not a chaos. Whether we consider the most intricate workings of the eye or the movements of the heavenly bodies, there is order manifested everywhere. The design that exists points us toward a designer. There is no explanation of the orderly arrangement of the universe without the belief that God designed it.

The existence of life itself points to the existence of God. No man has been able to show that life can come from the random collision of nonliving elements. Science has shown many times that all life comes from previously living things. A rock cannot produce a worm; helium gas does not produce an amoeba. All living things come from previously living things. If there was ever a time when there was no life, there would always be no life because something (life) cannot come from nothing (non-life). The existence of a living God is the most logical explanation of the creation which exists.

The conscience of man and moral values point to the existence of God. All men have a conscience. From whence did it originate? Did man’s conscience originate from a rock, a turkey, or even a monkey? Man is the only part of God’s creation which has aconscience. Where did it come from? The most logical explanation of the conscience of man is the belief in a living God.

Hence, the creation which exists points toward the existence of God. There is no logical explanation of the universe without the belief in the existence of God.

2. The Bible points toward the existence of God. The Bible exists. No one can deny this. The Bible contains things beyond the capability of unguided men.

The Bible was written by 40 different men from different, backgrounds and educational levels, on three continents, in three languages, and over a period of 1600 years. Yet there is a remarkable unity in this book. The thread which ties the Bible together is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to this earth to make atonement for sin. The first book of the Bible points to the coming of one who is the son of Abraham through whom all families of the earth will be blessed (Gen. 12:3). The rest of the Old Testament develops this messianic expectation of a deliverer. The New Testament announces that the Messiah has come; He was Jesus of Nazareth. The book tells of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. It closes with the promise that He will return to take those who have been faithful to Him to Heaven. Truly, the Bible manifests a remarkable unity-a unity which cannot be explained on a purely natural basis.

The Bible also contains prophecy. No man is able to foretell the future. Yet the Bible foretells the future. Copies of Isaiah exist which were written approximately 200 years before Jesus was born. The prophecies of the book of Isaiah announce that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (7:14), considered deity (9:6), made an atonement for sin (53:46), put to death (53:8), and raised from the dead (53:8). How did the author of this book know these things about the Messiah? He could know them only because God revealed them to him. Indeed, the Bible points to the existence of God.

3. Jesus points to the existence of God. No one can deny that Jesus lived. Historical evidence is too extensive for anyone who is honest with the evidence to deny that Jesus lived and died on a cross at the time in history recorded in the Bible. The New Testament documents are the eyewitness accounts of His contemporaries-men who testified that Jesus worked miracles and was raised from the dead. These documents and these men’s testimony cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

Can you imagine a situation in which a popular public figure was killed and three days later the report is out that he is raised from the dead? Documents are written within 20-30 years of his death which report his resurrection. To demonstrate how impossible these facts would be to believe, if Jesus were not raised from the dead, consider the death of John F. Kennedy in November 1963. Can you imagine me writing a document to our contemporaries reporting the resurrection of Kennedy? How many would believe it? How many disciples of Kennedy could we make in A short period of time?

Yet, in the case of Jesus, His resurrection was reported within three days of His death in the very city in which He was crucified and buried. Within fifty days of His death, 3000 were baptized in His name to receive the forgiveness of their sins. How can this be explained without admitting that Jesus was actually raised from the dead?

If Jesus were raised from the dead, then He is the Son of God. In that case, there is a God. Therefore, I argue that Jesus demonstrates the existence of God.

Conclusion

The psalmist wrote, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14: 1). The Hebrew word nabal (fool) refers to more than mental ignorance; it refers to a man who has “no perception of ethical and religious claims . . . ignoble,

disgraceful. ” The men who are denying the existence of God are still this kind of men-men who see nothing wrong with fornication, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, situation ethics, and other forms of immorality. Their denial of the existence of God is directly related to their unwillingness to submit themselves to God’s ethical standard. Yes, my brethren, there is a God!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 4, pp. 98, 116
February 21, 1985

By Don Willis

Cicero proclaimed hundreds of years ago: “Man is his own worst enemy.” Lying deep within our bosom is that deceivable self. By nature, all are selfish. Solomon affirmed, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32).

One must learn to “rule his own spirit,” the inner man. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Jesus said . out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Mt. 12:34). Further, “. . . those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Mt. 15:18-20). James even said that one should be consistent in speech, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same time sweet water and bitter?” (Jas. 3:10f).

The first word in the earthly “Repentance is preaching of Jesus is “Repent.” “From that time Jesus begin to mind that

preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17). John the Baptist had also preached, “repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2).

What did the Lord mean by “repent”? Jesus gave an illustration, “A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went” (Mt. 21:28-29). What is repentance? Apparently it means a change of mind that results in a change of life! One cannot be in the kingdom of heaven without this repentance.

John the Baptist told men, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance… And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?” (Lk. 3:8,10). John said, if you have two coats, impart to the person who has none. John told tax collectors, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” Soldiers were told, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” (see context in Luke 3).

The heart must be changed! That is what repentance accomplishes. Petrarch said, “Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us: viz., avarice, ambition, envy, anger and pride. If those enemies were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.” All of these lie within the heart.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jn., 3:3); a man must be born of the water and of the Spirit (v. 5). When a believer repents of his sins and is baptized into Jesus Christ, he becomes a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17); a new man is raised from the waters of baptism (Rom. 6:3-6). But, it begins within the heart when one determines that Jesus is the Son of God, and repents! Until one repents of sin, he cannot enter the kingdom, regardless of how many times he is baptized!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 4, p. 99
February 21, 1985

By Hoyt H. Houchen

Question: What is chastisement, what is the purpose of chastisement, and what should be our attitude toward chastisement?

Reply: The Hebrew verb form yasar is the principle word rendered “chasten, chastise” in the Old Testament. The New Testament Greek verb is paideuo and the Greek noun is paideid which according to Arndt and Gingrich, means “upbringing, instruction, discipline, correction” (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 608). The basic meaning of chastisement is “the learning or teaching of a lesson…. The lesson may be learned in three different ways: through the experience of suffering (Jer. 10:24), through the acceptance of verbal instruction (Psa. 16:7), and through observing a given situation (Jer. 2:30)” (Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, p. 113). In the New Testament chastisement is mostly that of God upon His own people. It is divine discipline (1 Cor. 11:32; 2 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 12:5-11). As human fathers chasten their sons (Heb. 12:7; 10a), the New Testament teaches that God chastens His people for their own spiritual good. He fulfills the role of a Father and the infliction is administered in love. It is a maturing process that results from instruction, training, and suffering.

We cannot say that all of our trials are inflicted upon us by God. Some of our suffering, sickness and sorrow are self-inflicted. They result from our disobedience of God’s laws, either in the realm. of the natural or the spiritual, or both. However, there are inflictions that come from God that we may be improved. We should not, though, be so concerned about the source of our suffering or chastisement as we should our attitude toward it. How we receive our chastisement should be the main point of our concern.

Having considered the definitions; and sources of chastisement, a brief textual study of Hebrews 12:5-13 will be helpful. It is the longest single passage in the New Testament dealing with chastisement. Apparently some of those whom the author of the Hebrew letter was addressing were not gladly bearing their persecutions. “My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of him” (v. 5). It is this writer’s belief that persecution is the context of this passage (see w. 2,3). The Hebrews had forgotten their former encouragement. They should have considered (as we should also consider) that any parent who will not chastise a child does not love the child as he should. A parent that is permissive or lax is not respected. A wise and loving parent will not hold correction from the child (Prov. 3:12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; 29:15-17; Eph. 6:4). “Spare the rod and spoil the child” is not a proverb of Scripture but the principle is there. When tribulation comes upon us and distress rills our hearts, it is quite easy for us to pity ourselves and even take sides against God. The Christian is cautioned against despising the Lord’s chastenings. We must remember that He loves us and it is for our good. We, as the Hebrew readers, are not to be discouraged and disheartened by what may seem to be a heavy burden.

Our question centers upon how God chastens His children. We focus upon verse six. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ” Chastisement in various forms is found in several other books of the Bible (Job. 5:17; Psa. 94:12; Prov. 3:12; Rev. 3:19).

We are admonished to endure when we are chastised (v. 7). “It is for chastening that ye endure.” The footnote (ASV) is “endure unto chastening.” To help us endure trials, we must have faith and look to the end result. It is said even of Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame…” (Heb. 12:2). One writer expressed it this way: “Faith not only looks beneath the surface of things and sees the sweet orange beneath the bitter rind, but it looks beyond the present and anticipates the blessed sequel” (Arthur W. Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews, p. 941).

The Hebrew author continues by saying, “But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then ye are bastards, and not sons” (v. 8). From the standpoint of human reasoning, we would ask, “If we are God’s children, why are we chastised?” But our readers are told that they could not be true sons without chastisement. They would be considered illegitimate, which is not what they wanted to be.

Surely our respect for God should be greater than that for our earthly parents who chasten their children. “Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live?” (v. 9). Verse ten states that God’s chastening is for profit-“that we may be partakers of his holiness. ” The end result is further seen in verse eleven. “All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.” Correction from the hand of God makes one righteous. It is unpleasant for the moment, but the result is our maturity. Christians should look to chastisement or discipline as a source of encouragement (v. 12).

Looking at chastisement from the aspect of teaching or instruction, two passages come to our attention. The first is Titus 2:11,12. Paul mentions that the grace of God instructs or teaches. “Teaching” in this passage is the same root word that is translated “chastise.” It is the Greek verb paideuo which literally means to discipline through the acceptance of verbal inspiration. As the father is to nurture his children (Eph. 6:4), so God’s chastening of His children nurtures them step by step toward fulfilling what He wants them to be. The second is 2 Timothy 3:16,17. The three words in this passage are correlated to chastening. The Scriptures teach and “reprove.” Also, they convict one of error, directing him on the right path. They “correct,” changing us to what God wants us to be. Without correction, we could easily go astray. They instruct – ” instruction which is in righteousness.” The word “instruction” here is the Greek noun paideia. So, chastening is instruction or discipline-it educates and trains us.

Chastisement when administered as punishment, may be so severe as to result in physical death (Acts 5:11) and the fear of God is impressed upon all the saints. Whether our chastisement is suffering (physical or emotional), or instruction and training, in either case or both, it results in our final reward if we faithfully trust, obey, and serve God.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 4, pp. 100-101
February 21, 1985