Truth Magazine

By Marc W. Gibson

It is said that fact is stranger than fiction. History has proven this to be true numerous times. In the Bible we encounter some very interesting and strange people. Most people have heard of Herod the Great, but few realize how many people that impacted New Testament history came from his family. Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, wrote a great deal about Herod and his family and their twisted story puts modern-day soap operas to shame. It can be helpful to take a closer look at the individual members of the Herod family tree in order to appreciate the background of some of the events of Jesus’ life and the early church.

Herod the Great was born a Roman, Edomite, Idumaean Jew. The dynasty of his ruling house would impact history from 63 B.C. to A.D. 70. He was the son of Antipater II and Cypros. Antipater II was a friend of Julius Caesar and was procurator of Idumaea and Judea. Herod befriended Mark Antony and Octavius (Augus- tus), and was given the rule of Palestine where he was crowned king of the Jews in 37 B.C. The secret to the success of Herod and his ruling family was their favor with the men who were the emperors in their day, and the loyalty of a majority of their subjects. They were master politicians and ruthless to those who threatened their power. Herod the Great established these principles from the beginning.

Herod built the town of Caesarea with its great harbor on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. He built numerous fortresses but is best known for beginning the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem in 20 B.C. Herod is mentioned in the New Testament as murdering the innocent children of Bethlehem in his vain attempt to kill Jesus (Matt. 2:1-20). His immediate family consisted of ten wives and numerous children. He died in 4 B.C.

Of Herod the Great’s children, four are mentioned in the New Testament: (1) Philip — tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis (Luke 3:1), (2) Archelaus — ruler of Judea upon the death of his father (Matt. 2:22), (3) Herod Philip (Mark 6:17), and (4) Herod Antipas — tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (Luke 3:1).

Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39, was the ruler who had John the Baptist beheaded. John had told him that it was unlawful for him to be married to Herodias, his brother Herod Philip’s wife. Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great through his son Aristobulus. She married her uncle (her father’s half-brother) Herod Philip, and had a daughter, Salome, by this marriage. Herodias then fell in love with another uncle, Herod Antipas. She left Herod Philip and married Antipas. Herod Antipas had earlier married a Nabatean princess, the daughter of king Aretas IV (2 Cor. 11:32). When he and Herodias fell in love, the princess escaped to her father who started a war with Antipas and won. Herodias hated John for his denunciation of her unlawful marriage with Antipas, so when her daughter Salome danced before Antipas causing him to make a rash oath to give her whatever she asked, Herodias had her ask for the head of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29). Salome later married her great uncle, Philip the tetrarch, making her both aunt and sister-in-law to her own mother. This was a complex and tangled mess of marriages, intermarriages, and adulterous relationships.

Jesus called Herod Antipas a “fox” (Luke 13:32), and Antipas thought Jesus might be John the Baptist risen from the dead (Matt. 14:1-2). Jesus stood on trial before Antipas who hoped to see a miracle, which did not happen (Luke 23:6-12). He was later banished to Gaul by the emperor Caligula in A.D. 39 where he lived out his last days with Herodias.

Herodias’ father was Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great, who had married his cousin, Bernice, the daughter of Herod the Great’s sister, Salome. Along with Herodias, they also had a son Herod Agrippa I. He was a friend of emperor Caligula and made ruler in A.D. 37, he became a persecutor of the early church, killing the apostle James, and imprisoning Peter (Acts 12:1-19). He died in A.D. 44, struck fatally by an angel of the Lord and eaten of worms (Acts 12:20-23).

Three children of Herod Agrippa I are mentioned in the New Testament: Herod Agrippa II, Bernice, and Drusilla. Drusilla married the king of Emesa, but left him to marry Felix, governor of Judea. The apostle Paul spoke before Felix in Caesarea (Acts 24:24-26). Bernice was married to her uncle and second husband, Herod king of Chalcis, when she left him to live with her brother, Herod Agrippa II. When rumors of incest arose, she married Polemo of Cilicia, but soon returned to live with her brother again. The incestuous relationship became the chatter in Rome. Paul spoke before Herod Agrippa II and Bernice in Caesarea (Acts 25:13-26:32). Herod admitted that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian (v. 28). Bernice later became a mistress of the emperor Titus. Herod Agrippa II lived until about A.D. 100.

Without a doubt these facts are stranger than fiction, for who could have ever dreamed up this jumbled and confused family of ungodly people? They obviously had no regard for the law of God or standards of righteousness. Selfish and paranoid in protecting his human power, Herod the Great tried to kill the Savior of the world. Herod Antipas was a coward who had the blood of the murder of John the Baptist on his hands. Herodias was a vindictive adulteress who allowed her daughter to dance seductively for the lustful eyes of leering men. Her brother, Herod Agrippa I, was a persecutor of the church and had the blood of the apostle James on his hands. Herod Agrippa II cavorted with his own sister in ways that caused chatter and rumors of incest. Yet, many today would find all this acceptable and humorous. But not God. He struck Herod Agrippa I dead and will judge each member of this sordid family in the last day. They were all close to someone who would have taught, or did teach, them the way of righteousness, but to no avail. Only one almost became a Christian. We must learn from their sad examples and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Tit. 2:11-12).

From Leader, Lakeland Hills Church of Christ, Lakeland, Florida

By David Halbrook

Any Christian who has seen a movie in the last 25 years, likely has thought to himself on some occasion, “What was the point of all the filthy language?” Well, David Greene, director of the National Campaign For Freedom Of Expression, has given us an answer. Commenting on the possible uses of a new device that filters foul language out of movies, “He said he hopes schools stay away from the box. It’s like using abridged books. The language is part of the art form” (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/DailyNews/tvg0312.html; emphasis mine, dh). This is the attitude of the leading minds of today’s entertainment industry, that using profane and offensive language is “part of the art form.” This is the same line of thinking that the National Endowment for the Arts used to prevent censoring of pornographic “art.” “Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22).

Paul vs. The “Art” of Foul Language

“Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks” (Eph. 5:1-4).

This passage urges us to be followers, or imitators, of God. Not having seen God, we are to follow the example of Christ, and by imitating Christ, we imitate God (John 14:7). Verse 3 begins a sharp contrast between the life Christians are to walk and the sinful lusts of the world. Fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness are to have no part in the life of a Christian, but it goes further than that. Verse 4 shows that, not only are we to guard our lives from practicing these sins, but also we are not to not to take them lightly. 

When filthy language and ungodly jokes are spoken, they trivialize the darkness of sin. The Bible describes this type of humor as things “which are not fitting” (v. 4). When Christians constantly expose themselves to this most base type of humor, they are weakening their defenses to hate every false way (Ps. 119:104). No one would go into battle and purposely leave a few pieces of armor behind, yet Christians often lay aside the breastplate of righteousness (moral uprightness) for a few laughs, and in doing so they have unwittingly exposed their minds as a target that Satan will not overlook. By exposing our hearts to the shameful deeds of darkness, we defile our hearts from which comes our thoughts and words (Matt.15:18-19).

So What Can We Do?

1. Let no one deceive you. Let us not be fooled by the “empty words” of political correctness that make adultery and all kinds of fornication “an affair,” which make homosexuality “an alternative lifestyle,” and the condemnation of it, “homophobia” (Eph. 5:6). For a Christian trying to live a godly life, it is becoming increasingly difficult to participate in various activities without being bombarded by immodesty, filthy and suggestive language, and suggestive and explicitly sexual scenes. It is difficult to renew our minds and transform our hearts, if we are allowing our minds to be filled with the garbage of this world (Rom. 12:2). The media uses humor to get us to laugh at these and other “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). This is Satan taking aim as we have let our guard down. Instead of accepting these things and saying, “Oh, that doesn’t bother me,” God would have us rather expose them, reprove them (Eph. 5:11).

2. Do not be partakers. Watching movies and similar activities can provide for wholesome entertainment, but when the content becomes such that it can defile our minds, we need to “lay aside every weight” and turn the TV off, leave the theater, or do whatever we have to do to guard our hearts (Heb. 12:1; Prov. 4:23). Parents, help your children to recognize immodesty and moral impurity in the “teen idols” of the day. Young people, help your friends who may be inclined to watch TV shows and movies which are not fitting by changing the channel or making a comment to cue them into the fact that what is being watched ought to be reproved. By doing these things, “you are light in the Lord” by “proving what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph. 5:8, 10).

3. Think ahead. We often get ourselves into difficult situations by going to the movie theater or video rental, not knowing what we are going to see or what we are planning to rent. Though technology and the Internet have provided Satan with new avenues to promote old temptations, they have also provided means by which we can get around some of the perversions of wholesome entertainment, which Mr. Greene calls “art form.” The device which Mr. Greene was referring to is called “TV Guardian.”  It is a small box which is connected to the TV/VCR to filter out the foul language of any movie that is closed captioned (most, if not all movies since 1976 are closed captioned), and it works on most TV shows (with the exception of live TV). 

More information regarding purchasing and other details, can be found at the website http://www.tvguardian. com or call 1-888-799-4884. It is available to purchase through the website or at WalMart, RadioShack catalog, and other retailers listed on the website.

The web has also produced sites such as www.screenit.com which reviews practically every new and recent movie. The site was created as a tool for parents to be able to keep up with what their children are seeing, but it is an excellent source for people to use before seeing a movie so that a wise choice can be made as to whether or not a movie is worth seeing. The site reviews the movie by giving the plot of the movie and then identifying potentially offensive content in such areas as nudity, blood/gore/violence, language (it lists practically every potentially offensive word in the movie), and several others. It is a very practical and useful site. The website also provides information on receiving a free newsletter “that details the current week’s new movie releases and the upcoming video releases coming out the following Tuesday” (http://www.screenit.com/newsletter.html).
    
“Nothing Wicked Before My Eyes”

We all need to use wisdom in what we allow ourselves and our children to see and hear because Satan can desensitize us to sin if we allow ourselves to be bombarded with ungodly pictures and words. Whether or not the world regards them as art, let us have the attitude of David, when he said, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me” (Ps.101:3). 

By Glendol McClure

In a previous issue, the article entitled, “What We Need Is Less Love,” was presented for your consideration. In that article we discussed areas where less love is needed. The areas discussed were, we need less love for self, for the pleasures of this world, for material wealth, for the wages of unrighteousness and finally, for the praises of men! In conclusion, it was stated, “But what we need more of is love for God’s truths found in the Bible. Dear reader, where is your love focused, on things we need less love for or on the truths of God’s word that all need more love of? Which?”

Since we last discussed the need for less love in the above mentioned areas, in this article we will discuss areas whereby we need more love. Please consider the following.

More Love for Bold Preachers and Preaching! 

It has become the norm of some preachers to avoid controversy and speak in such a way as to prevent upsetting anyone in the audience. “Paul and Barnabas waxed bold” in their declaration of the word of the Lord even though many were stirred to anger and eventually ran Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:46-51). Many brethren in the first century waxed bold in their teaching (Phil 1:14). Paul taught the Gospel boldly, even though he was persecuted (1 Thess. 2:2).

We need preaching that is scriptural, specific and to the point, with proper applications made. Bold preaching is needed on moral issues such as immodesty, social drinking, gambling, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, dancing, attending the prom, materialism, filthy movies and TV shows, etc. When these issues are ignored, then you have soft preaching. Paul commands sharp rebuke of sinners, not soft, meaningless “preaching” where application is not made (1 Tim. 5:20; Tit. 1:13).

We need preaching that clearly marks and identifies error and false teachers of error. Error must be marked according to Paul’s divine admonition — “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). Paul practiced what he preached and commanded to the Roman brethren concerning marking and avoiding (2 Tim. 2:16-18; 4:10, 14; Gal. 2:11-14). This manner of preaching was commanded of Timothy by Paul (2 Tim. 4:1-5). Therefore, if it was needful and profitable to engage in such preaching in the first century, it is especially needful in the twenty-first century, because “evil men and seducers shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).

It is a sad day when brethren shun and avoid preachers who preach the gospel with boldness, clarity, and love. It is not uncommon to see preachers who follow the apostolic pattern of first century preaching avoided, criticized, vilified, falsely accused, and even fired. We shouldn’t think these actions on the part of some to be unusual, though they are shameful and sad! 

There are numerous accounts in the Scriptures where messengers carrying forth God’s word were ostracized and even put to death for declaring “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20 27; cf. 26:19-21). A few cases in point that most Bible students are familiar with: (1) John lost his head because he opposed the unlawful marriage of Herod and Herodias (Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-28). (2) Stephen was stoned to death because of the bold preaching wherein the present day Jews and their forefathers were accused and convicted of rejecting the prophets, the law and the eventual murder of Jesus Christ (Acts 6:9-7:60). (3) And, Jesus the Master preacher and teacher was crucified and slain because of the message he preached, which is recorded for our learning in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and frequently referenced in the epistles.

Yes, we need to have more love for the truth and those who boldly preach it. Encouragement should be given to those willing to take a firm stand on God’s word. Compromise with sin and error must be avoided and is not an option! The proclamation of sound doctrine with boldness and love must be demanded and supported by brethren for spiritual survival to occur in the sinful world we live in. Please encourage gospel preachers you know to “speak boldly as (they) ought to speak” (Eph. 6:20; Col. 4:4).

More Love for Divine Authority! 

To act without authority and to disrespect proper authority, is a serious matter. In every avenue of life, authority must be respected. When authority is disrespected and ignored, problems and troubles abound. The majority of problems in every society are the result of a disrespect or lack of authority — problems in the home, in schools, in the work place, in government, in business, and in the Lord’s church. 

Jesus laid claim to all authority in matters religious. He declared, “All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). He warned religious people of his day that works that were of the will of the Father would be accepted by him. He also declared that works that were of the will of men were iniquity or lawlessness! This divine warning should strike at the heart and thinking of  every religious person, yet, in the religious world today, there is gross disrespect for this warning! The Jews of Jesus’ day questioned Jesus about authority, but displayed disrespect for divine authority by their rejection of him (Matt. 21:23-27; John 1:10, 11). Clearly, the authority of Jesus was from heaven and not of men!

When one engages in worship of the true and living God, it must be based on heavenly authority for it to be “in spirit and in truth” worship (John 4:21-24). Paul wrote of the zeal of Israel, but, their zeal was misplaced zeal because they went about to establish their own righteousness and did not submit to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:1-3). They did not respect the authority of God.

When congregations of the Lord add unauthorized practices to the work and worship of the church, are they acting by the authority of heaven or of men? When congregations engage in and sponsor recreational and social activities such as summer camps, ball teams, meals in the “fellowship hall,” Christmas plays, skits, and parties, etc., where is their Bible authority? From heaven or of men? When worship involves the use of mechanical instruments of music, hand clapping, lifting up hands or humming in the worship, where is their Bible authority? From heaven or of men (cf. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)? When women are placed in leadership roles in the worship assembly, where is their Bible authority? From heaven or of men (cf. 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:15)? You see, when religious works are done without a clear apostolic example, divine implication, or direct statement, then the noble question must be asked, “by what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?” (Matt. 21:23). Let us heed the divine instructions of Paul regarding authority, where he said, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).

More Love for the Lord’s Church! 

To have lack of love for what Christ “purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28) shows utter disrespect and disregard for “the blood of the covenant,” counting it “an unholy thing” (Heb. 10:29). While lack of love is displayed among many by disrespecting the divine mission of the church (evangelism, edification, and benevolence), there are many other areas where love for the Lord’s body is neglected. Here are at least three areas where love is often lacking.

1. Faithful attendance is commanded of all members (Heb. 10:23-26). To willfully forsake the assembling of the saints, where God is worshiped and his word studied, shows lack of love. Selfishness, and disregard for other members and the Lord’s work is also displayed by those who forsake the assembly. Faithful attendance indicates love for the Lord’s church.

2. Holy living by members of the Lord’s body is commanded (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:16-26; Col. 3:1-7; 2 Tim. 2:19). Members who live hypocritical lives bring untold damage to the Lord’s body. The apostle Peter wrote, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15, 16). It is not difficult to see why holy and pure lives are commanded of God’s people. Purity in life demonstrates love for Christ and his church.

3. Humbleness and submission one to another is commanded of members of the Lord’s body. Paul taught that members are to have “the mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:1-8). The lives of members are not to be driven by selfishness and pride, but as Paul directs in Ephesians 4:1-3. Numerous divisions have occurred because of members who had little regard for scriptural unity. Those who endeavor to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” show love for the Lord’s church.      

More Love for Knowledge of God’s Word! 

Hosea wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee” (Hos. 4:6). With reading comes knowledge. Without reading, one remains in ignorance. Consider some of the passages that teach the importance of reading God’s word (Exod. 24:7; Deut. 17:19; 31:11; Josh. 8:34, 35; 2 Kings 23:2, 3; Neh. 8:8, 18; 9:3; Isa. 34:16; Jer. 36:6-13; Acts 8:27-32; 1 Tim. 4:13; Eph. 3:4; Col. 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27). 

After reading these passages, can we not see that knowledge can come only when God’s word is read? Proper study of any subject demands reading. The only way to know God’s will is to read and study it. The Hebrew writer severely condemned ignorance (Heb. 5:12-14). Paul exhorted Timothy to “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13). Countless souls continue to be destroyed because of lack of reading which results in “lack of knowledge.”

More Love for Sacrificial Living! 

Inasmuch as God sent his son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice to God for all men, all men must sacrifice their lives unto God for the cause of Christ (Heb. 7:27; 9:26; 10:5-12; 11:4; 13:15). Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2).

We are to glorify God in this body (Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Cor. 6:20). Glorifying God is brought about by living a godly life and keeping ones self “unspotted from the world” (Jas 1:27); by doing good works that are ordained of God (Matt. 7:21-23); by remaining “faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10). Our life on earth must be spent in sacrificial service to God, preparing for the life to come (cf. Amos 4:12).    

Conclusion

We have mentioned and discussed several things whereby we need more love. The areas mentioned are by no means exhaustive. There are many other areas that could be mentioned where more love is needed, such as more love for the souls of the lost, for godly homes, for scriptural discipline of wayward members, for godly leadership, etc. The points we have discussed should be carefully examined and practiced by all who are striving for the heavenly reward.

By Mike Willis

Living in an age when many people who profess to be religious choose not to affiliate with any church, one might be inclined to accept the view that the church is unimportant. Indeed, many religious leaders teach that one can be saved without being a member of any church. Unsurprisingly, many are choosing to do just that — to have a salvation experience without ever being identified with any church. This makes the church a relatively unimportant and unessential organization.

The Church in Ephesians

In some respects, the book of Ephesians has the most extensive comments about the church that one can find in the Bible. Let us look at some of the statements made in this book:

1. The church is the fulness of God. As the book opens, Paul gives praise to God for the salvation he wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord. He concludes the chapter by describing Jesus’ glorified position:

. . . And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Eph. 1:23).

This statement emphasizes that the church is not an afterthought in God’s eternal scheme. Later in the letter, Paul ties the church to God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus: “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9-11).

In the phrase, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all” one sees the church  as the consummation of God’s work through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gospels of Christ confirm this understanding of the church. Using the figure of the church as the “kingdom” of God (see Matt. 16:18-19), the gospels open with an announcement that the time has come for the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom. John the Baptist preached, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). When Jesus began his public ministry, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). When the apostles were sent out on the limited commission, they were told to “preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:2). 

Recognizing that the church is a part of God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus and that it is the kingdom of  God on earth, one sees that the church is not an afterthought of God. The church was not established because the Jews rejected Jesus as their king. Quite the contrary, the church is the consummation of God’s eternal plan through Christ Jesus. That being the case, the church is not an unimportant spiritual institution one may or may not choose to join.

2. The church is the saved of God. The second thing one notices about the church is what it is. Sometimes men understand the church to be a building, an organization of local churches in a particular denomination, or a mystical institution composedof all of the churches in the world. It is none of these. The word church is used in two senses in the Scriptures: (a) To include all of the saved people in the world and (b) To describe those saved people in a given locality who choose to work together in a local fellowship. 

Looking at the first use of the word, one sees that one cannot be saved without being a member of the Lord’s church. In Ephesians 2:16-17 Paul wrote, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” This passage emphasizes several important truths: (a) Reconciliation to God occurs in the body of Christ, a synonym for the church (see Eph. 1:22-23). Therefore, one cannot be reconciled to God without being a member of the church. (b) All men are reconciled to God in one body. The context of Ephesians 2 is that both Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God in the one body, the church. Paul found no room in the first century for two churches — one fitted for Gentiles and another fitted for Jews. Rather, all men are reconciled to God in one body. (c) Men are reconciled to God in one body by the cross. One’s salvation by the cross involves his being a member of the church.

Later in Ephesians, Paul describes what God has done for the church. Writing in Ephesians 5:23-31, Paul states the following about the church:

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body (Eph. 5:23).

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27).

Jesus is the “saviour of the body.” Hence, if one wishes to be saved, he must be a part of the body that Jesus saves, which is his church. Jesus “gave himself for” the church. If one is going to benefit from the shed blood of Christ, he must be a member of his church. Those who are in his church are washed clean by his blood; they are a “glorious church, not having spot of wrinkle,” not because they have never sinned, but because their sins have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb of God. Consequently, those in the church are “holy and without blemish.” The church is all of the saved people of the world. Those who are not in the church do not benefit from the blood of Christ.

Looking at the second use of the word church, to describe a fellowship of saints in a given locality who are working together to accomplish the revealed will of God, one notices that Christ expects his saints to be affiliated with a local church. Saints are taught not to forsake the assemblying of the local church (Heb. 10:25), to give money to support the work of the local church (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-9), and to assemble each Sunday to remember the Lord’s death in partaking of the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17-34). When first century saints moved from town to town, they sought to identify themselves with the local saints (Acts 9:26; Rom. 16:1-2). We do not read of saints being “members at large,” that is being a part of the “saved,” but not affiliated with a local church.

3. There is one church. A culture that accepts that there are literally thousands of different denominations is surprised to learn that, in the New Testament, there was but one church. There were many different religions in the first century. The pagans had temples that gave homage to many deities — Zeus, Hermes, Diana, and hundreds of others. The Jews worshiped in the Temple at Jerusalem but were divided into various sects, such as Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Herodians, and perhaps others. But one could not be saved in any of these religions. He had to believe in Christ Jesus for salvation, so says the Scriptures:

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24).

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

If one is not a member of Christ’s church, he cannot be saved. And, Christ has only one church. He promised to build his church (Matt. 16:18), not “churches.” Jews and Gentiles are both reconciled to God “in one body” (Eph. 2:16). After identifying Jesus’ body as his church, Paul said, “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). The numeral “one” means more than none and less than two!

What is expressly stated, that there is but one church, is confirmed by Paul’s illustration. Paul wrote of Jesus’ spiritual headship after his ascension saying, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:21-23). Jesus is the head of the body. No head is attached to more than more one body, as would be the case were Jesus head of hundreds of churches or denominations. Nor is there a body with more than one head, as would be case if both Jesus and the pope, a president, a synod, or council were heads of any given denomination. There is but one body or church and that body has but one head, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Inasmuch as the church is composed of those saved through the blood of Christ, one should understand that whatever are the conditions for salvation are the conditions for membership in the Lord’s church. When one is saved from his sins, he is added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). When one believes in Christ, repents of his sins, confesses his faith in Christ, and is baptized in water for the remission of his sins, he is cleansed of his sins by the blood of Christ and added to the Lord’s church — those people who have been saved by Jesus Christ. A person cannot join the church in this sense, for only the Lord can add him to the church. One who has obeyed the gospel unto salvation needs to affiliate himself with others in his area who have done the same thing. In this sense, he joins himself to a local church — a group of Christians who have been saved by the blood of Christ who and have agreed to pool their resources in order to work together under common oversight (cf. Acts 9:26). 

One who lives outside the fellowship of the church is seeking to do something other than God’s determinate will. The church exists, not because some men think it is a good thing, but because the Lord willed it to be established and  providentially oversees its continued existence. Are you a member of the Lord’s church? In our next lesson, we will study the identifying marks of the Lord’s church.

6567 Kings Ct., Avon, Indiana 46123 mikewillis1@compuserve.com