Truth Magazine

By Edward O. Bragwell

“Behold, the Lamb of God!” (Jn. 1:36)

“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . .” (Rev. 5:5).

Preachers and other teachers constantly urge us to be more Christ-like. “The spirit of Christ,” “the mind of Christ,” “Christ-like,” and “Christ-like spirit” are terms used to express the same idea.

We can find no fault with these expressions, but rather applaud them, when taken at face value. A Christian should be able to sing “more like Jesus would I be” and mean it.

However, when one hears these terms, he would do well to stay turned for the details. The speaker’s Jesus may not be the biblical Jesus. His Jesus may be of the modern imagination  a passive, ever-smiling, back-patting, soft-spoken, all-embracing Jesus who would never be critical of people much less become upset enough with them to raise his voice to them.

This is the Jesus that we are urged to become like by a few brethren who are specializing in freeing the church of the pharisaic spirit and restoring “the spirit of Christ.” This is a noble work, if this is what they are really doing. Again, one needs to stay turned for the details. If one listens carefully he may sense that these students of the pharisaic spirit have caught the disease through the back door. They thank God that they are not as other brethren are: proud, boastful, negative and condemning but are humble, sweet, positive and up-lifting as they represent their brand of the “spirit of Christ” in the world.

Their distorted portrayal of Jesus, not only weakens the gospel and the church, it undermines the efforts and undercuts the moral support of good brethren who are trying their best to obey the divine charge to “preach the word! … convince (reprove KJV), rebuke and exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). They despise those who “rebuke with all authority” (Tit. 2:15), especially those who “rebuke them sharply” (Tit. 1:13). They often suggest to audiences that such preaching may well be the main obstacle hindering our taking the world for Christ. Oh, yes, they can occasionally be stirred to break out of their version of the spirit of Jesus long enough to rebuke sharply those who rebuke sharply.

Jesus was both “the Lamb of God” and “the Lion . . . of Judah.” One can hardly reflect the spirit of the real Jesus without beholding him in both capacities. Emphasizing either at the expense of the other gives one a warped picture of the real image of Jesus.

Jesus could look at some people and be moved with compassion (Mk. 6:34) and look upon others with anger (Mk. 3:5).

He would weep at the prospects of the destruction of his beloved Jerusalem (Lk. 19:41; cf. Matt. 23:37) after calling its religious leaders “Serpents, brood of vipers!” and rhetorically asking them, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

He could be both tender and tough. He could lay his hands on little children and pray for them and then, just two chapters later, use the same hands to overturn the tables of the moneychangers and drive them from the temple (Matt. 21:12-13; cf. Jn. 2:15).

He could answer the cries of the blind men for mercy by compassionately touching their eyes (Matt. 20:29-34) and a little later, say to the Pharisees “Woe to you, blind guides, … Fools and blind” (Matt. 23:16,17).

He could even sometimes cry out as he taught some who opposed him (Jn. 7:28). Now, such crying out is a definite “no, no” to many who have restructured the “Christ-like spirit” for us.

Stephen is correctly held up as one who possessed the “spirit of Christ” as his dying words were, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60) just as Jesus’ had been, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). Such a forgiving spirit is indeed indicative of the true spirit of Jesus and is direly needed in the church today. What spirit was Stephen imitating when he, just moments before, concluded his speech to the Jews with, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it” (Acts 7:51-55)? Did not these words also reflect Stephen’s Christ-likeness? All of this was uttered by one “full of the Holy Spirit” (v. 55).

What a pity it would be if we could only see the toughness of Jesus without his tenderness, his boldness without his benevolence, or his strictness without his sensitivity. We would have a warped picture of what we ought to be like. Conversely, it would be tragic to see only his tenderness without his toughness, his benevolence without his boldness, or his sensitivity without his strictness.

Let us both behold the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah as we sing “more like Jesus would I be.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 8
May 5, 1994

By John Henry

The world cries out that one must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Christ said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Notice what Christ said! Not every one that says “Lord, Lord,” will be saved.

To find out what “calling upon the name of the Lord” means, we simply need to look to the scriptures. What saith the Lord about this “calling”?

Call

Some believe they must call out the Lord’s name to be saved. I ask who’s calling whom? The Bible teaches it is God who calls man through the gospel to obedience of his will. “Whereunto he called you by our gospel” (2 Thess. 2:14). The gospel is God’s power to save man. Paul points out that he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). We see then that God calls men through the gospel and that this call is not something mysterious, as some would have us to believe. In other words, you don’t have to get something, or say “Lord, Lord, save me.” First you must hear God’s Word, and that is the drawing power.

In Romans 10:16 Paul said, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel.” There were some who had not obeyed the gospel and if they had not obeyed the gospel, then they had not yet called upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Obeying the gospel and calling upon the name of the Lord are equal. If not, why not? The Hebrew writer said that Christ is “the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). Men must obey the gospel to be saved.

The word “call” here comes from a Greek word which means “to make an appeal to.” This same Greek word is found in Acts 25:11 when Paul said, “I appeal unto Caesar,” which means to appeal to an authority. Paul called upon Caesar. This did not mean he called out his name. Rather he made an appeal to a higher court. In court, one might appeal a case, which means to call upon a higher court. One does not stand there and say, “higher court, higher court,” does he? Neither does one cry out, “Lord, Lord,” to be saved. Our appeal must be made to the scriptures, which has the power to save man.

To Call Involves a Process

Most folks turn to Romans 10:13 and say all one has to do is call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. I ask, has one ever bothered to read on and see what all is involved in this calling process? Notice the questions asked in Romans 10:14: (1) “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” (2) “And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” (3) “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” These questions suggest one must hear the gospel and then believe the gospel in calling upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

Part of the process of calling involves a preacher preaching the gospel of Christ so that men might hear, believe and obey. Christ in the great commission said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:16). Paul said, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Rom. 10:15) Christ sent the apostles forth on a great mission, to preach the gospel, so that men might hear, believe and obey it. Preaching is an important part of the process enabling men to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.

Before one can “call” upon the name of the Lord he must first have faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Preaching the gospel produces faith in the hearer. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). One must have faith which comes from hearing God’s Word. After one hears, he must obey to be saved. That’s what it means to call upon the name of the Lord. It doesn’t matter how many times someone says, “Lord, Lord, save me,” without the scriptural process, one is lost!

Name

W.E. Vine defines the word name as follows: “For all that a `name’ implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc., of everything that the `name’ covers.” We must call upon Christ to save us. We do that through obedience to the gospel. Christ has the power and authority to release us from the bondage of sin. That’s why we call upon the name of Christ and no other name upon this earth, for he and he alone has the power to save man. “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). You cannot find salvation in any other name, but Christ’s.

The Day of Pentecost

Before Peter began to preach he quoted the prophet Joel as saying, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Peter was telling men that this prophecy was being fulfilled that very hour, and that the time had come when men could “call on the name of the Lord” and be saved. Peter went on to preach Christ and him crucified unto the people. Peter closed by saying “that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Thus, we call upon the name of Christ to be saved because he is our Lord, and has all authority and power. This is what Paul told the Romans: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Christ is our Lord!

When the people heard the gospel on the day of Pentecost they were pricked in their hearts; they wanted to know what to do to be saved (Acts 2:38). Peter answered their question. The answer Peter gave is what people do when they call upon the name of the Lord. Before we look at Peter’s answer, let’s back up and look at the process involved that leads up to them calling upon the name of the Lord.

Peter began his sermon by saying, “Ye men of Israel hear these words” (Acts 2:22). So we see, that one must hear gospel preaching. After they heard the Word of God they were “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37). The gospel they heard, produced faith in their hearts. They believed. These people heard the gospel, believed the gospel and said, “Lord, Lord, save me.” Right? Wrong! They heard, believed and then were told what to do to be saved. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). What did these people do when they “called upon the name of the Lord”? First they heard the gospel, believed the gospel, repented of their past sins, confessed Christ as the Son of God and were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Being baptized “in the name of” means by the authority of Jesus Christ. We are rendering obedience to the “Lord of Lords.” Christ said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). It’s just that simple, obey the Lord and be saved.

The Apostle Paul

A good example of what it means to “call upon the name of the Lord” can be seen in the conversion of Paul.

In Acts 9:1-6, Saul believed that Christ was Lord. “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5). “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) The Lord said, “Saul call out my name and you will be saved.” Right? No indeed. And the Lord said unto him, “Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Ananias was sent to Saul by the Lord to tell him what he needed to do to be saved. Acts 9:18 says Saul was baptized. Some years later, Paul, gave an account of what happened. He said Ananias came to him and said, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). When Paul was baptized what was he doing? “Calling on the name of the Lord.”

Are there any examples of conversion in the Bible where someone said, “Lord, Lord, save me” to be saved? If so, where is the passage? When we look for what saith the scripture about “calling upon the name of the Lord,” it becomes very simple and clear to understand what this means. Don’t be fooled by men who say all you have to do to be saved is just say “Lord, Lord, save me.” This is a false doctrine! God said, “There is a way which seemeth unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). Man may think it’s right, but it’s God’s way or no way! “Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:5). When one hears the gospel, believes it, and is baptized for the remission of sins, he is then “calling upon the name of the Lord.”

Whosoever

Once one understands what it means to “call upon the name of the Lord,” then he needs to obey the gospel. God wants all men to be saved and is “longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). “For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). All need salvation, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

The Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons. Peter said, “Of a truth I shall perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). Peter also points out that all who work righteousness shall be accepted with God. Righteousness is what’s right with God, doing what God wants us to do; whatever or whoever submits to the revealed will of God. It doesn’t matter the color of one’s skin, how rich, how poor, or how famous he might be. The invitation is for all, “Whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17).

God has given us a choice, to accept or reject the invitation in order to have eternal life. “And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). This verse has been compared to the ringing of the bells of Heaven. The invitation has been given from God to man to come and take of the water of life freely that he might have the hope of eternal life. Salvation is offered to “whosoever will.” Do you want to have eternal life? What are you waiting on? “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 8, p. 17-19
April 21, 1994

By Steven J. Wallace

The Bible argues the importance of interlocking faith with works. To the contrary, much of the religious world argues for keeping only half of this “Biblical Marriage”  Faith. The Bible enforces that man most not sever what God has joined together (Matt. 19:6). If God has united two principles, then we had better keep them together, or else our relationship to him will be put asunder.

God, through the pen of his servant James, has joined faith and works together (Jas. 2:17). If someone has works and has no faith, the end result would be futile, because “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6). The same scripture also stresses that, “he who comes to God must believe (have faith) and He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek (form of works) Him.” The same outcome is true to the one who has faith, but has no works. A marriage is successful when the bride and groom work together. The marriage would be incomplete if only one part was working; likewise, “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect” (Jas. 2:22). When the religious world teaches “faith only,” it is divorcing the two elements that God has joined together. Consequently, it is a total rejection of divine knowledge, and a total rejection of divine law by which the Holy Spirit wrote in James 2:24, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not faith only.”

It is the purpose of this article to show the consequences of tampering with God’s law (specifically his law about faith and works) which is really rejecting God’s knowledge which is truth. Brethren, let us never reject the knowledge of God for fear of the consequences (Hos. 4:6). To illustrate how faithless this “faith only” doctrine is, let us look at some real Bible “faith heroes.” Can the imagination conceive what the Bible would say about these heroes if they had no works?

Abel

Abel, for example, had faith (Heb. 11:4). His faith was made perfect when he offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. If Abel’s works were extracted, then he wouldn’t have offered anything; consequently, the Lord would neither respect Abel’s lack of offering (Gen. 4:4), nor witness him as being righteous (Heb. 11:4). It seems ironic that faith without works is dead, yet Abel, a man who possessed both faith and works, was murdered (Gen. 4:8). Even though he was murdered for righteousness’ sake, because he demonstrated faith and works, “he being dead still speaks” (Heb. 11:4). Christians should understand the irony because there was a man who was greater than Abel and without sin (1 Pet. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:22), who was crucified, whose “blood of sprinkling . . . speaks better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:24). Jesus Christ gave the supreme example of demonstrating faith and works.

Noah

Who would argue that Noah wasn’t a man of faith (Heb. 11:7)? Noah was justified by works and not faith only. If Noah had refused to perform God-given works that he was commanded, he would not be regarded as a “faith hero” today. Hebrews 11:7 would read like this, “Because of faith only, Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, neglected to move with godly fear, did not prepare an ark for the saving of his household; consequently, he stood condemned with the rest of the world and all mankind perished in the flood.” How absurd! We know that this is not the biblical Noah. Noah’s faith was made perfect through works, and his works were done correctly because of his faith. Because of Noah’s faith the scripture speaks of his works, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Gen. 6:22). In other words, Noah built an ark from gopher wood and covered it with pitch (Gen. 6:14). He didn’t build a yacht from cedar and cover it with paint. Noah made the ark according to the measurements given (Gen. 6:15), not measurements that he devised himself. Noah made the ark with a door in its side (Gen. 6:16), not with a door in its side and one in the ceiling. Noah’s faith was proved by his works. “Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:9), but if he possessed faith only, he would not have walked at all. People, who desire to divorce works from faith, must not have enough faith to keep the Lord’s commandments as Noah did. The apostle John stressed, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burden-some” (1 Jn. 5:3). Like Noah, when we obey God, God is working in us and we are working out our salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).

Abraham

Abraham was a man of great faith because he had works. Abraham was also justified by works and not faith only (Jas. 2:24). His faith was working together with works because, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out” (Heb. 11:8). Without works Abraham would not have left his country or his father’s house (Gen. 12:1). Without works, the Lord would not have shown him the promised land, because Abraham would not have left his father’s house (12:1). Consequently, the Lord would not make him a great nation, or make his name great, or bless him, and all the families of the earth would not be blessed in him (Gen. 12:2-3). Without works, Abraham would have failed to offer up Isaac when he was tested (Jas. 2:21). Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac up from the dead because in a figurative sense he received Isaac in a similar fashion (Heb. 11:11-12,17-19). Abraham was old and Sarah was past the page of conception, but by the power of God, Isaac was born. We need to possess this type of faith that Abraham had so we will do the works that God would have us to do. Jesus is going to reward everyone according to his works (Rev. 22:12). Salvation will only come by doing the work which is according to God’s purpose and not our own (1 Tim. 1:9).

Rahab

Rahab was not an eyewitness of God’s working at the Red Sea. She only heard about it (Josh. 2:10). She confessed her faith in Joshua 2:11  “… for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” It was by her faith that she produced works to God, such as receiving the spies with peace (Heb. 11:31). In the end she was justified by works (Jas. 2:25). Without faith, Rahab would not have believed that God dried up the Red Sea for his people, or believe the Lord’s destruction of Sihon and Og, two Amorite kings (Josh. 2:10-11). Without works, Rahab would not have hidden the spies on the roof (Josh. 2:6). Also, she would not have bound the scarlet cord in the window (Josh. 2:18), or brought her family into her house where they would be safe (Josh. 2:18; 6:22-23). Rahab was consistent with all the other biblical heroes. She had to hear about God. She had to believe in God. She had to obey what was commanded. We can enter into the house of God, which is the church (1 Tim. 3:15), by these same principles, but not if we divorce faith from works.

As works that we devise ourselves cannot save us (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 1:9), neither can faith in any other deity. Only in God can faith with works save us. Those that are wise do works in meekness and wisdom (Jas. 3:13). Those who believe in “faith only” must not be wise. That is why the Lord said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will like him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). Let us not forget what the Holy Spirit wrote in Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 8, p. 13-14
April 21, 1994

By John Isaac Edwards

The church is the greatest institution under heaven. Yet, it is widely misunderstood. The church is not what most people think. It is not a political organization (Jn. 18:36), a social club (Rom. 14:17), or a material building (Acts 5:11). The church is, however; a body of people who have been called out of darkness (1 Pet. 2:9), to be saints (Rom. 1:7), in one body (Col. 3:15), by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14).

When studying about the church, or any other topic, one must make his appeal to “For What Saith The Scripture?” Therefore, “For What Saith The Scripture” about the New Testament church?

According to the Eternal Purpose

The Scriptures say that the church is according to the eternal purpose of God. Paul wrote, “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. 3:10-11). The apostle Paul declared that the church was a part of that plan “which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:9). The book of Ephesians displays the place that God, “according to his eternal purpose,” ascribed to Christ and the church (Eph. 3:11).Before the creation of the world, God purposed for Christ to found the church. This does away with the idea of the church just being a mere afterthought. The New Testament church is made known by God’s wisdom!

Prophesied And Revealed

The New Testament church was prophesied in the Old Testament and is revealed in the New Testament. Isaiah, the Messianic prophet, looking down the stream of time through the prophetic eye, saw (1) that the Lord’s house would be established in Jerusalem; (2) that all nations would flow unto it; and (3) that it would come to pass in the last days (Isa. 2:2-3). What is the Lord’s house? In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul speaks of “the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” Thus, the house is the church and the church is the house. Daniel pictured the church as an indestructible kingdom which would be set up during the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2:36-44). Throughout the Scriptures, the words “kingdom” and “church” are used synonymously (Matt. 16:16-19). In Mark 9:1, Jesus said “that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” So whenever the “power” came, the church came. In Acts 1:8, Christ told the apostles that they would receive power “after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Whenever the Holy Ghost came upon the apostles, the power came, and the church was established. Acts 2:1-4 records that the apostles “were all filled with the Holy Ghost” on the day of Pentecost. Consequently, the power came and the church was established on the day of Pentecost. Further, we have the establishment of the New Testament church in the “last days” (Acts 2:16-17), in the lifetime of some disciples (Acts 1:15), while the Roman kings were in rule (Lk. 20:22-25), in the city of Jerusalem, and all nations flowed unto it (Acts 2:5). Hence, the Scripture says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

Built By Christ

The church of the Bible was built by a divine builder, Christ. In Matthew 16:16, Peter confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus said unto Peter, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). The church could not have been built by just anyone. The Psalmist proclaimed, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Ps. 127:1).

Built Upon A Sure Foundation

In construction, it is essential that one build upon the proper foundation. Otherwise, the structure would collapse (cf. Matt. 7:24- 27). The church is no exception! Its stability depends entirely upon its foundation. Isaiah revealed, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16).Notice that the foundation would be laid in Zion, or Jerusalem. Thus, any church which did not begin in Jerusalem cannot be built upon a sure foundation. The Psalmist announced, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (Ps. 118:22). Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself (Matt. 21:42), and Peter in Acts 4:11 applied this prophecy to Christ. The New Testament church is not built upon the weakness of human flesh, but upon the divinity and Son ship of Christ (Matt. 16:16-18). Paul said, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).

Purchased With The Blood Of Christ

The Scriptures affirm that the New Testament church was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. As Paul delivered his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, he commanded them, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). The blood of Jesus Christ has buying power. Paul went on to tell the Corinthians, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19). The New Testament church was purchased with the blood-redeeming price that Christ freely paid on the cross of Calvary. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19). The fact that the church was blood-purchased by Christ, emphasizes its surpassing value and importance.

Independently Organized

Sometimes the word “church,” in the Scriptures, is used to refer to a church at a certain locality (cf. 1 Cor. 1:2). Other times the word “church” is used collectively, so as to include a group of independent churches or all churches everywhere (Gal. 1:2; Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:16). In New Testament times, every church was independent, or autonomous, of every other church. Each independent church was scripturally organized with elders, deacons, and saints (Phil. 1:1). The elders and deacons consisted of men who met specific qualifications (cf. 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9). The church can exist while being scripturally unorganized, that is, when there are men who do not meet the requirements of Scripture. But when there are men who meet the qualifications, then they should be appointed (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5). The oversight of the elders begins and ends in the local church (1 Pet. 5:1-2). It would be unscriptural for the elders of one church to oversee any other flock than their own! The elders of the local church, as well as the deacons and saints, are subject to Christ, the head of the church (Col. 1:18). Therefore, elders do not, and cannot enact or enforce any other laws than the laws of Christ which are revealed in the Scriptures. Since Christ is in heaven (Acts 2:30-36), the church has no earthly headquarters. Its head-quarters are in heaven, where the head is located.

Will Be Delivered Up

In 1 Corinthians 15:24, Paul reveals the future of the New Testament church. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” Ultimately the kingdom, the church, will be delivered up to God. All of its faithful citizens will be delivered out of a hostile world unto God. The deliverance of the church will take place when the last enemy, which is death, is destroyed (1 Cor. 15:25-26). Then the redeemed of all ages will spend the ceaseless ages of eternity with God and with Christ in the beautiful city called heaven.

*John Isaac Edwards is sixteen years old.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 8, p. 19-20
April 21, 1994