The goal of every Christian should be to do
what pleases God. Our relationship with God is "what it is
all about." The direction of many in the Lord's church is
not good. Many have left the foundation that God gave us in His
Word. The truth is what the world needs.
We need to remember who we are, and what we should
continue to be before the world. Some who once stood for God's
plain plan of salvation no longer stand for it. When I was 13
years old, yes, 57 years ago, I saw the ice, 6 inches thick, cut
to baptize a young man. I heard this man in a discussion about
5 years ago make this statement, "God's grace will save a
man on a desert, who believes in Jesus, and there is no water
to baptize him." Jesus said, "The truth will make us
free." John 8:32.
Some of our influential men in the church no longer
preach this truth. Jesus came to this earth to save us, and, in
the process, promised to build His church. The plan of salvation
is too plain to misunderstand, and His church can be identified
in His Word. The foundation of the restoration movement is still
sound, "Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where
the Bible is silent."
Jesus plainly said, "He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16. One cannot misunderstand
this unless he or she has help. The plan, as Jesus gave it, is
still needed for the world today, and will last until the end
of time. God gave us an entire book, the book of Acts, where this
is carried out, and scattered this truth throughout the entire
New Testament. Truth teaches that if people will repent of their
sins, confess their faith in Jesus Christ, and be immersed in
water for the forgiveness of their sins, God will add them to
His church. (Acts 2:47) If you are reading this article and you
have never obeyed Christ, you can do just as the 3,000 did in
Acts 2. God could not have made it plainer than when a man, who
prayed for three days and nights, and his sins were still not
forgiven, was told, "Arise and be baptized and wash away
thy sins."(Acts 22:16) To deny this truth is to deny Christ
himself. (Matt.10:32-33)
What an honor to be a member of the church of
Christ. It is not just another denomination. The church should
wear the name of her builder, Jesus Christ. Some have taken the
name of Christ out of their group, and it is good they have, because
when they fail to teach the message of Christ, they cease to be
His church.
Many have destroyed the foundation of the Lord's
church in regard to the worship. Jesus said our worship must be
in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 The church in the New Testament
observed the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week. (Acts
20:7) To observe the Lord's Supper on any other day is to destroy
the very foundation of the church. God has ordained singing in
the New Testament church. (Heb. 2:12) In the discussion I mentioned
earlier, where the ice was cut and the young man was baptized,
one of the men from that group said, "We do not use instrumental
music in our worship, but we can't condemn those who do, if they
have everything else right." No, but God does. His Word teaches
us that our worship will be in vain if we follow the traditions
of men. (Matt.15:9) We need to remember, when we change God's
plan of salvation, or His plan of worship, we cease to be His
church.
God's people gave on the first day of the week.
1 Cor. 16:1-2. The Lord's people, generally, are liberal with
their finances. We are a giving people. We have done a pretty
good job in teaching our people to be faithful and to support
His work with their finances, but we need some more teaching to
get our people to share the message of Christ with friends and
neighbors.
Someone has said, "Only 3 % of the members
of the church ever personally lead one to Christ." We have
some beautiful methods to help us share the gospel of Christ.
We can just sit around the kitchen table and read the scriptures.
Just to read those beautiful examples of conversion in the book
of Acts is a great way to teach a friend. We have a great responsibility
to share Christ with our friends. You can give a good tract to
a friend or put one in every envelope when you pay your bills.
May God bless us as we get back to the foundation,
in regard to every aspect of the Lord's work. -15556 Rt. 322,
Clarion, Pa. 16214.