IS THE CHURCH A PART OF THE WHOLE? Part 3 (Continu

Both of these Bible scholars agreed that the only way that the Holy Spirit communicates to mankind is through the Holy Scriptures.

Another observation that must be made and that is, the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself! So, whatever man might claim that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him it must be in harmony with the Word of God that was inspired by the Holy Spirit!

For example, where in the New Testament does the Holy Spirit teach that “…God’s kingdom is made up of all who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s son Jesus Christ and accept him as Lord and King”? That is contradictory to what Jesus Christ taught in John 3:5: “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (baptism, re) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”   The    Holy Spirit, speaking through the apostle Peter on Pentecost, commanded the believers to “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37, 38) The souls who responded to the commands of Peter were added to the church (Acts 2:47). The “saints and faithful brethren in Christ” in Colosse were delivered “from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” They were also “called in one body” which is “the church” (Colossians 1:2; 13; 3:15; 1:18). Therefore to be in the kingdom is to be in the body which is the church of Jesus Christ because they are the same here on earth in this present age.

 And how do we enter the body/church/kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” The saints and brethren” in Colosse who were  members of the kingdom/church had been “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).

My personal desire is best expressed by Paul in 1 Timothy 2:3, 4: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” A preacher is like a clerk in a ‘Men’s Store’ where the owner of the business has set the price for each item of clothing. As a clerk, he cannot sell to anyone a suit or a pair of pants cheaper than the price set by the proprietor.  God in His infinite grace, love and mercy, has set the terms of pardon as found in the Holy Spirit inspired New Testament; and, no one has the authority to change those terms.

THE BIBLE

“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”

IS THE CHURCH A PART OF THE WHOLE? PART 2

In the previous article I dealt with the subject of whether or not the church of our Lord was only ‘a part of the whole’; or, if the church was the kingdom of God here in this life. The following paragraph is contained in the same material given to the members of the “Newcomers Class’ in an area congregation that is conducted on Sunday mornings.

“Humbly entering the waters of baptism reminds us that we are saved only by grace through faith, and not by anything we can do on our own. Our belief is baptism by immersion, and is our way of participating in the death, burial , and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:1-5) and symbolizes the burial of the old self and emerging of a “new creation” in our own lives (2 Corinthians 5:17). To be baptized is a way of publicly proclaiming that your life is being caught up in a bigger story, and furthering your commitment to be a daily disciple of Christ.”

For the most part, I find no fault in the preceding statement; however, what is not mentioned is of great concern. But before I deal with that which is absent from the statement, I want to examine more closely some of the ‘beliefs’ contained therein.

 First of all, the New Testament does indeed teach that we are “saved by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). And it is “through whom (Christ, RE) also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…” (NKJV, Romans 5:1, 2). We are not saved by the works of the Law of Moses or any law/works devised by the wisdom of man (Ephesians 2:9).  However, any directive from the Lord that is required of men in order to receive the forgiveness of sins would not be counted as being “anything we can do on own.”

Biblical and saving faith is one that obeys. Hebrews 5:8, 9: “Though He was a Son, yet He learn obedience by the things which He suffered, And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” A vibrant, active faith is one that is submissive to the will of Jesus Christ who said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16). It is worthy to note in the preceding paragraph found in the ‘handout’ in their Newcomers Class, baptism is not mentioned as a command in order to receive forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). And that absence arouses my curiosity as to why these brethren baptize an individual.

Do these brethren teach that baptism is essential for the forgiveness of sins? If they do, how is it that they believe a person is a part of the kingdom of God by only believing in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and accepting Jesus as being their Lord without being scripturally baptized? Is there not an inconsistency in what they practice and in what they teach? Could it be they believe that while baptism is important but is not essential for salvation? Saul of Tarsus certainly was a penitent believer in the risen Lord but he lacked something in order to be forgiven of his sins and that was why Ananias instructed him to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). ( Continued