Category Archives: doctrine

Noah, Saved by Grace!

The Bible teaches us that Noah was saved by grace. “And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:7,8). Those who deny this surely must be counted as those who deny the scriptures.

Yet, equally undeniable is the fact that if Noah had not built the ark as God had commanded he would have drowned in the waters of the flood just as surely as the rest of sinful humanity did (Heb. 11:7). Could Noah have conceived by himself and built of his own volition an ark that could have saved himself and his family if God had not authorized it? No. But neither could he be saved if he had not obeyed God’s commands and followed His instructions implicitly. The Lord is telling us in this account that being saved by grace of necessity involves works of obedience.

What many do not want to acknowledge, or at least fail to understand, is that all works are not works of merit. Did Noah earn his salvation? Certainly not. But did Noah have to work in order to be saved? Absolutely! Noah’s works were not works of merit but works of obedience.

There are different kinds of works mentioned in the Bible. First, there are works of disobedience. Jesus will tell those who profess to do “many wonderful works” but who do not follow the Lord’s will that they “work iniquity” (Matt. 7:23). Others do works that “deny Him” (Tit. 1:16). These are all works, but they are works of disobedience. They will not save anyone but will cause one to be lost.

Second, there are the works of the law of Moses. These are the works that are generally referred to in the Bible when it is said that we are not saved by works. For instance, Paul wrote “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). The works of the law of Moses will not save because they are dead works (Heb. 6:1).

Third, there are also works of merit mentioned in the Bible. These are very closely related to the works of the law of Moses. Paul states we are not saved by works of boasting (Eph. 2:9). Such would, in effect, be to make our own gods and rejoice in the works of our own hands (Acts 7:41). We can never do enough to earn or merit our own salvation (Luke 17:10; Is. 64:6).

Finally, there are works of obedience. These are good works that glorify the Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). When Jesus was asked “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28), Jesus responded by saying “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29). Jesus states here that belief, itself, is a work. A work of God that we may work. Who would have the audacity to say that working the works of God could cause one to be lost?

That is why the Bible is filled with references related to the importance of our works. For instance, Jesus commanded that we do good works that people may see them for the purpose of glorifying God (Matt. 5:16). Jesus said I have showed you many good works (John 10:32). Jesus said that he that believes on me will do greater works than I do (John 14:12). Paul preached that we should do works meet for repentance (Acts 26:20). We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Eph. 2:10). We shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ to be judged according to our works (Matt. 16:26; Rev. 20:12).

Noah was indeed saved by grace. He found grace in the eyes of the Lord. But Noah was not saved by grace alone. Noah was a just man and was perfect in his generations (Gen. 6:9). His works of obedient faith and God’s grace worked together to bring about his salvation. It was the masses of people who did nothing, and were lost for it. Noah built the ark, obeying God’s commands, and was saved.

Eric L. Padgett

To Please God Must You Sin?

The denominational view of grace is, no doubt, sincere but, all too often, misguided. Often, even those in the Lord’s own church are mistaken about the nature of God’s grace. Grace is generally defined as “unmerited favor.” “Unmerited” means that it is not earned. There is nothing a person can do to merit or earn salvation. You can not be so good or so righteous that you could raise your fist to God and say “I deserve to be saved after what I have done.” Even when we have done all that we are commanded to do, we are still unprofitable servants (Luke17:10).

Because of this, those in the denominational world have concluded that, in obtaining salvation, works are excluded. Since we can’t do enough to earn salvation, they have concluded that works are not involved at all, that salvation comes solely through grace. Calvinists, in particular, because they want to emphasize God’s sovereignty in the universe, argue that we are so totally depraved that there is nothing anyone can do to “contribute one whit to his own salvation.” Some of our own brethren have made this claim. Consider the following heretical quotes:

  • “It is a scandalous and outrageous lie to teach that salvation arises from human activity. We do not contribute one whit to our salvation.” – Rubel Shelly, Lovelines, “Arbeit Macht Frei” Oct. 31, 1990.
  • “I believe deeply that the New Testament teaches that salvation is a free gift of God period. You are saved by grace alone.” – Randy Mayeux, 1989 Youth Minister’s Seminar.
    “Nobody has any right to preach anything other than the Gospel of pure grace. We are saved by grace plus nothing. You are saved by faith period. There is nothing you can do to be saved. There are no rules; there are no regulations in serving Jesus Christ.” – Glen Owen, 1982, Midtown church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX.
  • “Man’s salvation is based on God’s grace. Period. Man’s salvation is not a work of man in any way, shape, or form. We may extend our hand to receive salvation by believing in Christ and turning from our lives of sin to live lives for God and then being immersed, but this, in no way, puts God in our debt. Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.” – Paul Woodhouse, What is Grace-Centeredness?, Rubel Shelley.com.
  • “I, too, had believed that it was only when one’s faith led her to the point of being baptized for the remission of sins that she was saved. I no longer do…I would have been wrong. Heretically wrong. Without realizing it, in those days I had taken the salvation God by grace offers through faith and twisted it into the gift He offers through faithful obedience. Why is that so wrong? Because it violates the very principle of salvation by grace through faith.” – unnamed author, 2002, Grace Centered Magazine.

What these men are saying is nothing less than what those in the denominational world have been saying for generations. They are teaching “grace only” and “faith only” (although the logical mind is hard pressed to conceive how both of those views can be true in the same way). And what they have done is to confuse “human activity” with works of merit. But, again, the logical mind recognizes that all “works of merit” are “human activities” but not all “human activities” are “works of merit.” The conflation of these two concepts is irrational. There are many human activities that are not “works of merit.” It is a scandalous and outrageous lie to teach otherwise.

As noted above, Glen Owen says first that “We are saved by grace plus nothing.” Then, with his irrationality fully and ingloriously displayed, he says, “You are saved by faith period.” “Grace plus nothing” excludes faith. “Faith period” excludes grace. It cannot be both of these hell-conceived, humanly contrived schemes. In truth, it is neither. Neither are Biblical concepts but have been conceived in the bosom of our adversary. They have been devised so as to cloud the truth that God demands obedience to become His children (I Pet. 1:22,23). God’s grace does not remove the obligation for obedience. Rather it increases the obligation (Tit. 2:11-15).

To illustrate, consider this example. Some parents require their children to do chores around the house (unfortunately, this was much more common in days of old than it is in our present culture). Now suppose these parents who required their children to do some chores decided, at some point in time, to give their children a weekly allowance. Would this not be an act of unmerited favor? An act of grace? The giving of the allowance was not based on the children meriting or earning the allowance, for they had been doing the chores all along without it, but it was entirely based upon the good graces of the parents. Now suppose that, if, when the parents notice the children are spending this allowance foolishly, they decide to withhold from the children the allowance, so as to teach them the value of money and personal responsibility, does this mean the allowance is no longer an act of grace? Can the child then justifiably lift up his fist into the face of the parents and say “You owe me!” The children, in fact, owed their parents obedience to begin with, whether or not they received the allowance. The parents can justifiably set doing the chores as a condition of receiving the allowance without the chores becoming works of merit.

Furthermore, if it is the case that obedience “violates the very principle of salvation by grace through faith,” then, according to this “logic,” in order to be pleasing to God one would have to be disobedient. The more disobedience, the more grace. The righteous recoil at the very thought! But Paul had already anticipated this line of “reasoning” when he wrote “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!” (Rom. 6:1). According to this way of thinking, in order for the children to continue to receive the allowance, they would have to refuse to take out the trash or clean their rooms or do any chores required of them by their parents for that would constitute works because, according to Mayeux, there are no rules or regulations. Such thoughts do not find their origin in God’s word!

Consider the following contrasts. Shelley says, “We do not contribute one whit to our salvation.” But Paul says “work out your own salvation” (Phil. 2:12). Owen said “You are saved by faith period.” James says “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Mayeux says there are no rules or regulations but Mark said one must believe and repent in order to have salvation (Mark 16:15,16). Whoever wrote the article in Grace Centered Magazine says baptism for the remission of sins violates the principle of salvation by grace through faith, but Peter said “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Paul Woodhouse may believe that “Man’s salvation is not a work of man in any way, shape, or form” but John recorded Jesus’ response to those who asked “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” as “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28-29). Now who do you believe?

The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews made the matter as clear as a bell when he penned these words: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Eric L. Padgett

What Does the Future Hold?

SeeingTheFuture
The future holds for us great promise and great possibilities. It also holds out the possibility of great sadness and calamity. Nevertheless, we treasure it highly. We value it, especially when it concerns our own fortune or welfare. Some are afraid of the future because it does hold the possibility of misfortune and so they live one day at a time, not giving any thought whatsoever to what might be. There are many others who want to know just exactly what the future holds for them. There is, in fact, a great deal of money made in the industries of fortune telling, horoscopes, Psychic Friends Network, and things of that sort. Of course, none of those things accurately provide a real glimpse of the future.

In the past, however, there were some who were given the opportunity to correctly foresee the future. Adam and Eve were told by God in the garden that the woman’s seed would one day gain ultimate victory over the serpent (Gen. 3:15).

Noah was forewarned that the world would be destroyed by a great deluge and saved his family alive by building an ark after the pattern and fashion God prescribed (Gen. 6-9).

Abraham was told by God that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). On a very personal note, he was told that he would be blessed with a son and that his seed would be as many as the stars in the heavens in multitude and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable (Gen. 15:4,5; 17:16; Heb. 11:11,12).

The prophets throughout the history of Israel foretold them of their future.

In the New Testament, Peter was told by the Lord, Himself, what kind of death he would die (John 21:18,19).

In Matthew twenty-four, when Jesus had told his disciples that the buildings of the temple would be cast down and that there would not be one stone left upon another, they asked the Lord, “When shall these things be and what shall be the sign of Thy coming?” (Matt. 24:3). They wanted to know what was going to happen in their future.

Many times we, ourselves, will make plans about things we want to do in the weeks ahead, even in the years ahead. We may plan many things years in advance. But the writer of Proverbs tells us that this is really all in vain. He writes, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). We do not know what will happen tomorrow or even one hour from now. It may be that tomorrow will be just like every other day we have ever experienced or it may be that another day will bring something totally different. James tells us in James 4:13, 14, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.” We simply can’t tell the future. It may be that we will live another day. Maybe not. Only God knows the future.

You and I can never know with absolute certainty what lies in our future except for that which God has revealed. We know the Lord is coming again, though we know not the time (John 14:1-4). We know that the dead will rise from their earthly tombs (John 5:28,29). We know that the majority of mankind will be lost (Matt. 7:13,14). We know there will be a judgement (Acts 17:30,31). We know that unless the Lord returns, we will all face death (Heb.9:27). We know the lost will spend eternity in unrelenting torment and the righteous in everlasting life (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 20:15; 21:1-8).

We know with absolute certainty that these things will happen. But we do not know when. Mark 13 gives us a parallel passage to the Matthew 24 passage we noted earlier. While Jesus gives His disciples signs for the destruction of Jerusalem, which would enable first century Christians in Jerusalem to prepare themselves for its impending destruction by fleeing, in verse 32 He states, “But of that day and that hour [i.e., the end of time-ELP] knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). Knowing that they will happen, knowing that God has appointed a day (Acts 17:31), ought we not to be prepared? Shouldn’t we do our absolute best to be found faithful to the Lord when He does return?

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (II Peter 3:10-14).

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt. 24:42, 44).

Eric L. Padgett

The Great Physician

The Great Physician

The Great Physician

Since the dawn of time a deadly disease has plagued mankind. It is a devastating disease that most do not even know they have, nor will they, until it is much too late. It is a disease so destructive that it literally penetrates to the very soul of man. Even so, man has learned to live with it and, yes, even to enjoy it. We will even be so bold as to declare that man has learned to love it. What is the name of this devastating and destructive disease that man loves to contract and cultivate in his very bosom? Man seems to have forgotten it but it has not forgotten man. Its name: sin!

But, as if sin is not devastating enough by itself, the calamity has been compounded. Many today are loosing their souls to false remedies for the spiritual sickness of sin. Just as a medical doctor who unwittingly orders an injection of medicine that costs a person their life, preachers today are peddling false doctrines that are costing men their souls. This is the tragedy that is happening every day, a tragedy which can and must be stopped.

When the publicans and sinners gathered to hear the Lord speak those wonderful words of life, the Pharisees saw and asked the Lord’s disciples, “How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:15,16). With those words the Lord made it very clear that He was the physician who could heal the spiritually sick. He is the Great Physician with the greatest of all remedies.

But the world is still sick with sin; the disease seems to be spreading. Like the person receiving a fatal dose of medicine, mankind’s spiritual health is swiftly and steadily declining. If man could only recognize what is not the proper treatment for sin, if he could only recognize that which would cost him his soul, he would never let himself be indoctrinated by counterfeit cures for sin; he would never accept a false remedial system.

We must expose and refute the many false systems of salvation that now plague the religious world. While we desire to make perfectly plain our enmity for all religious error we likewise want it known that we harbor no ill feelings toward anyone. Our motive is pure. Our motive is love for the truth and for the souls of men (Eph. 4:15). If we speak the truth without tempering it with love, we err. If we speak out of love but do not speak the truth, we err. We do not wish to be in error where the souls of men are concerned nor do we want others to be.

Sometimes, though, the remedy of truth hurts. But is it not better to be hurt for only a short time instead of all eternity? Is it not better to pull a sleeping man out of a burning house, taking the risk of physically hurting him or offending him, than to let him burn? Let us, then, likewise reject all false remedies for sin which possess no healing power at all, but rather assure spiritual death. Let us faithfully follow the remedy of the Great Physician!

Eric L. Padgett

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Did Lord God make coats of Skins…”

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. [8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. [9] In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. [15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (I Tim. 2:5-15).

It is that time of year again when, as the temperature rises, people’s clothes begin to grow shorter, tighter and thinner. Thoughtful and sincere Christians, however, will always seek to glorify God even when the culture in which they live manifests very little concern for decency and modesty much less godliness.

Some try to justify and argue for immodest clothing by appealing to Adam and Eve’s nakedness in the garden (Gen. 2:25). However, Adam and Eve were man and wife. The Husband and wife have a right to one another’s bodies (I Cor. 7:3-5). It was appropriate for them to share each other’s bodies for it is within the holy bonds of matrimony that the bed is undefiled (Heb. 13:4). But those who dress immodestly are giving away a gift to those outside the marriage compact that was designed especially to fulfill a purpose only for a husband or wife in marriage.

Genesis 3:21 makes a very simple and matter of fact statement regarding man’s nakedness: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” However, this statement is very profound. It is made in the context of Adam and Eve’s sin and God’s judgement upon them because of their disobedience (Gen. 3:1-19). When they had sinned, they knew that they were open and naked before the eyes of Him with whom they had to do and tried to hide themselves from Him in shame (Gen. 3:7-10; Heb. 4:13). But sin cannot be covered by hiding from God. Both in order to remind them always of their transgression and to make a covering for their sin, God made them “coats of skins.” But to secure these “coats of skins,” animals had to die. Life had to end. Blood had to be shed.

The penalty for their sin was death for God had said in the day that the forbidden fruit was eaten they would surely die (Gen. 2:17). But God, in His great love and mercy, substituted the animal’s death for man’s. This is the beginning of the sacrificial system pointing toward the final, ultimate substitutionary sacrifice of God’s Only Begotten (Heb. 9:11-14). These coats of skins the Lord made for them were a constant reminder of their need for redemption, a need for a complete covering of their sin. The death of these animals was the result of their sin, Their blood was upon them. Now, as Christians, we put on Christ (Gal. 3:26,27) who was slain as a lamb from the foundation of the world (I Pet. 1:19,20; Rev. 13:8) Whose sacrifice does, indeed, cover our sin when we put Him on. His death is a direct result of our sin.

When we think about our clothing, it should be no less a reminder of our sinful condition and need for sin covering and redemption as it was to them. Adam and Eve attempted to hide their shame with an “apron.” But God made them coats. Christians today should remember this as they pick out the clothes they intend to wear. It is to these historical facts that Paul alludes when he writes to Timothy concerning modesty (I Tim. 2:4-15). He reminds them of the need for man’s salvation (v. 4) and the price paid by Christ’s sacrifice (v. 6). He requires men to be holy (v. 8) and women to adorn themselves with shamefacedness and modest apparel(v. 9).

Eric L. Padgett

Do Not Forget

This weekend in America we remember and honor those who have given their lives for our freedom.  I am personally grateful for the men who gave their lives in defense of this country, especially my uncle, whom I never met, who died in the Battle of the Bulge.  They are heroes and deserve to be remembered.  Officially we observe the final Monday of May as Memorial Day, but many of us also remember this weekend all those who have gone on before us.  It is both fitting and proper that we should remember them because they mean so much to us.

But our minds are really amazing machines.  We can remember obscure events from our childhood but can’t remember where we put the keys!  There are some things which we would like to forget but can’t, and there are other things which we try to remember but can’t.  As Christians, we sometimes forget some very important things which we really should remember.  Here are a few things God wants us to remember.

First, He wants us to remember Him.  “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccles. 12:1).  The world has purposely forgotten God, because they don’t want to retain Him in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28).  Forgetting God makes sin much easier.  As Christian we must always remember God and put Him first (Matt. 6:33; I Pet. 3:15).

Second, we should remember from where we came (Eph. 2:11-13).  Paul encouraged the brethren at Ephesus to remember that they were once Gentiles in the flesh, having no hope, without God and in the world.  It is important to remember just how far we have traveled down this sometimes lonely road.  Some people become rich, successful and famous in life and forget their roots, but God wants us to appreciate all that He has done for us and how much we have accomplished.  Once we were the servants of sin but now we are free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:16-18).

Third, we should remember the apostles (Heb. 13:7).  Just as many soldiers died to give us the freedoms we enjoy here in America (though many of these freedoms are being taken away from us day by day), the apostles gave their lives to deliver the gospel to the world.  We should never forget their devotion but should consider and follow the example of their faith.  These men were martyred for the Cause of Christ.  They loved the Lord and His word more than their own lives.  Remembering them encourages us to also stand as they stood.

Fourth, we should remember the Lord’s death till He comes again (I Cor. 11:23-30).  Jesus specifically instituted the Lord’s Supper to commemorate His death (Matt. 26:26-30).  This is the one thing which the Lord instituted which is to be done every first day of every week (Acts 20:7).  It should be a solemn period of worship in which we reflect upon the meaning of the death of Christ.  When it is turned into a feast or frivolous affair, we jeopardize our souls (I Cor. 11:27,28).

Finally, we should remember that the servant is not greater than his Lord (John 15:20).  Jesus said if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  Christians should count it a privilege to suffer for the Cause of Christ (Acts 5:41).  Most today do not want to make waves or to upset the delicate balance of “peace.”  But if we stand for the Truth, then we will make waves and we will suffer persecution.  “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12).

May we always remember God’s will in our lives.

Eric L. Padgett

No Middle Ground

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him” (Exodus 32:26).

TemptationofChrist

In the Cause of Christ, there is no middle ground (Luke 11:23; Matt. 6:24).  Christians cannot halt between two opinions and still maintain fidelity to God (I Kings 18:21).  It is either God or the world.

We know that the whole world lies in wickedness (I John 5:19).  The world is a kingdom wherein everything vile and putrid and corrupt finds a home and the powers of darkness reign (Col. 1:13; Eph. 5:10; I John 2:15-17).  The world is a place where lust breeds corruption (II Pet. 1:4) and the cares of this world choke the life out of righteousness (Mark 4:19).  The god of this world seeks to blind the mind of peoples unawares so that they cannot see any light at all (II Cor. 4:4).  That world is full of haters (I John 3:13), deceivers (II John 1:7), and filth (I Cor. 4:13) that stain the garments of the saints (James 1:27).  This present world is evil (Gal. 1:4) and everything that is in it comes to naught (I Cor. 2:6; I John 2:17).

As Christians, however, our lives are to be lights in this world of darkness so that they give light to all (Matt. 5:13-16).  And, while, the kingdom in which we have our conversation is not of this world (John 18:36; Phil. 3:20), knowing we cannot go out of this world physically (I Cor. 5:10; John 17:5), we are to come out of the world and be separated from it spiritually and mentally (II Cor. 6:14-18).  We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them (Eph. 5:10,11).  We should have no love for this world or the things contained therein (I John 2:15-17) nor should we allow ourselves to be conformed to it (Rom. 12:1,2) but, rather, the world should be crucified to us (Gal. 6:14).

Standing up for what is right cannot be wrong.  So what if the Pharisees were offended by the teaching of Jesus (Matt. 15:12)?  Every plant not planted by the Father will be rooted up (Matt. 5:13).  So what if enemies are made by speaking the truth (Gal. 4:16)?  To be friends with the world is to be the enemy of God (James 4:4).  The solemn charge of Joshua the son of Nun rings loud and clear even to this late day: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (John 24:15).

Will we stand up and be counted?  Will our fingers grasp tightly the golden handle of the sword of the Spirit and draw it from its sheath; will we, unashamed of the Christ and the Cause for which He shed His blood, wield that Blade confidently in the fight for the Truth?  As the world continues its spiraling descent into the everlasting abyss, Christians must be willing to fearlessly lead the way ever upward to heaven by holding aloft in word and deed the glorious and everlasting gospel of Christ.

Eric L. Padgett

Necessary Things

          When Martha requested that the Lord tell her sister, Mary, that she should help in  serving, Jesus responded by saying that while Martha was careful and troubled about many things, there was one thing that was needful and Mary had chosen that better part (Luke 10:38-42).  There are some things that are important in life, but there are other things that are necessary–needful.  Just to mention a few.
          Some think that being free to do whatever they feel like is important.  I believe in freedom (and incidentally think that too many freedoms are being taken from us these days) because God created us that way.  We are free to choose to obey Him or reject Him.  Of course, there are consequences to our choices.  What we really need, however, is freedom from sin.  How does that come about?  Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the Truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).  It is a choice we make (Rom. 8:16-18).
       Some think that great knowledge is what is needed.  Man so often thinks he has the answers to all his problems.  However, the way of man is not in himself (Jer. 10:23).  Men devise so many schemes whereby they think they can outsmart God, but it is futile (Rom. 1:21ff).  What we really need is spiritual wisdom (Col. 1:9).  Science falsely so-called does not offer anything but empty hope (I Tim. 6:20).  Wisdom that is from above (James 313-18) recognizes the importance of Jesus’ words (Matt. 7:24-27).
       Also, so many look for a higher standard of living.  They want more money, a better car, a bigger house, more prestige and every other material item which they can grasp.  But instead of a higher standard of living, we need a higher standard of conduct.  Christ left us an example, that we should follow in His steps (I Pet. 2:21-24).  We should walk worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10) and do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Matt. 7:12).  Our conversation should be as it becometh the gospel (Phil. 1:27) and not like the world (II Cor. 6:11-18).
       These and so many other lessons can be learned about what is important and what is necessary or needful.

Eric L. Padgett

In Search of the Ancient Order (4)

The church was built according to the divinely inspired pattern (Matt. 16:16-19). Just as soon as the church was established (Acts 2:47), that same pattern for the church was communicated to the disciples and was to be steadfastly adhered to by them. Luke wrote, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). This pattern is constantly affirmed throughout the New Testament.

Concerning the apostles’ doctrine, the New Testament is plain:

Whosoever transgresseths and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Far he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (II John 1:9-11).

If we are so bold as to tamper with the pattern, we will loose our soul. Furthermore, Paul states that we are to “hold” to the traditions the apostles gave us (II Thess. 2:15; 3:6; cf. I Cor. 11:1,2 where this word is translated “ordinances”). The things which Paul (and the other apostles) taught were to be universally followed by all congregations of the Lord’s people (I Cor. 4:17; Col. 4:16). This constitutes a pattern to be followed.

We continue in the apostles’ fellowship by obeying their doctrine, the doctrine of Christ. John wrote, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). What is the light? God’s word (apostles’ doctrine, gospel, faith) is the only illumination that can direct our path to the portals of heaven (Jer. 10:23; Ps. 119:105).

The breaking of bread is the Lord’s supper (Matt. 26:26-29). Is God pleased when men tinker with His pattern in this matter? Ask the Corinthian brethren. They attempted to change the Lord’s supper and Paul, by inspiration, condemned the practice (I Cor, 11:20). If there was no pattern for the church to follow in worship then why would it matter that these brethren did not eat the Lord’s supper? Paul surely believed that there was a God-given pattern for the worship of the church and he condemned these brethren for disregarding it (I Cor. 11:17; Gal. 1:6-9).

And what of prayer? Is there any type of pattern at all for it? Yes, there is. Is not this the reason the Lord said, “After this manner therefore pray ye…” (Matt. 6:9-13)? Are the words of Paul in regard to prayer without significance (Col. 4:2-4; I Tim. 2:1-3)? Who can deny that these commands are to be followed?

These things were obeyed in every assembly of the Lord’s people. For instance, “many were gathered together praying” on more than one occasion (Acts 12:12). We know it was on more than one occasion because Peter knew exactly where to go. Further, when Peter went in, he began to preach to them (v. 17). Luke tells us that the disciples gathered together on the first day of the week to partake the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7). We are also told that Paul preached to them on the occasion. This is exactly the pattern we follow today. When Christians gathered together according to the commands of the Lord, they took up a collection (I Cor. 16:1,2), sung hymns (Eph. 5:19), and offered prayers.

All these passages and more clearly attest to a pattern for the church.

Eric L. Padgett

In Search of the Ancient Order (3)

Blueprint 

Is there a pattern set forth in the New Testament for the church of Christ? As we have seen previously, the testimony of the Old Testament is that such would be the case, for it prophesied of a kingdom that would be ordered by Messiah (e.g., Isa. 9:6,7). The apostle Peter wrote that those prophets of old looked forward to our time, i.e., the Christian Dispensation (I Pet. 1:10-12). Thus, we may expect to find a pattern in the New Testament for the church which Christ built (Matt. 16:18-18). Let us therefore turn our attention to what the New Testament teaches on this subject.

Jesus Himself foretold the establishment of the church (Matthew 16:18,19):

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Notice, first of all, that the word “church” is used synonymously with the word “kingdom” in these verses and elsewhere. For example, Jesus came preaching that the kingdom of heaven was “at hand” (Matt. 4:17), and then later spoke of the establishment of His church (Matt. 16). But when He stood before Pilate, He again spoke of His kingdom (John 18:36; cf . Acts 2:41,47). Thus, >Paul could both be in the kingdom (Col. 1:13)and in the church at the same time (Col. 1: 18). John, when writing to the seven churches of Asia, could say “I am your companion in tribulation and in the kingdom” (Rev. 1:9).

The terms “church” and “kingdom” simply denote two different aspects of the nature of the Lord’s people. In relation to the world, the Lord’s people are “called out” (II Cor. 6:17) and with respect to the government of the Lord’s people they are a kingdom (i.e., a state the head of which is a king).

Notice, first of all, concerning this passage (Matt. 18), that Jesus said He would “build” His church. When any house is built there is a blueprint that is followed if the house is to have any utility at all.

Second, the laws for the church were to be sent from heaven. Jesus told Peter, “And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (19b). This same statement is made to the other apostles, as well (Matt. 18:18). This passage makes it plain that there is a pattern in heaven to be followed by the church on earth. The verb tense of the word “bound” is significant. It means, in essence, that whatsoever they bound on earth was already bound in heaven.

The apostles were not going to decide any doctrine on their own (Matt. 10:19; cf. Acts 15:28). What they spoke was given to them by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). Not just the ideas, but the very words they spoke were given to them (I Cor. 2:13,14; II Pet, 1:16-21). To deny that there is a pattern for the church of Christ is tantamount to denying the inspiration of the scriptures. A serious charge, indeed!

(To be continued)

Eric L. Padgett