A Plea for a
Return to the New Testament Church
Stephen Anderson
Posted July 18,
2006
The Gospel
of Jesus Christ is a marriage proposal, and the New Covenant is
a marriage covenant. Salvation and forgiveness of sin comes only
through uniting with Christ in this New Covenant. We are saved
by the grace of God through faith, but this faith is not merely
believing in God or the facts of who Jesus is and what He did.
Faith is primarily a personal commitment (marriage) to Christ.
The New
Covenant which Christ purchased for His Bride (the Church)
promises forgiveness of sin, a new heart and a new spirit, God’s
Holy Spirit living in us, personally knowing God, and eternal
life. Repentance and Baptism is God’s ordained way of entering
the New Covenant.
There is
only one Church, though it gathers in many places. It is
manifest "where two or three [disciples of Jesus, saints,
brethren] have gathered together in My name, there I am in their
midst." The Church is the community of the saints. The assembly
of the Church is the gathering together of the disciples of
Jesus in His name. All who are in Christ are members of the
Church and all who are not in Christ are not members. Any church
that gathers on some other basis is not the Church of Jesus
Christ.
The
disciples of Jesus Christ are made evident to the world by our
love one for another. Those who do not love the brethren have
not been born again and are not part of the Church. The Church
today is to demonstrate the same love for one another as the
Church did after Pentecost.
The
teachings of Jesus and the Apostles are the doctrine of the
Church. We are not to add to nor take away from what the New
Testament teaches. Neither Council, nor Pope, nor denomination,
nor local church, nor any so-called apostle, prophet,
evangelist, pastor or teacher, can establish any doctrine,
article of faith, or standard of fellowship other than that
established by Jesus and His Apostles.
The example
of the Church of Acts and the practices the Apostles established
in the Church are still God’s pattern for today. It was the
practice of the Church to meet together on the first day of the
week. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper, often as part of a
meal was apparently the centerpiece of their gathering. The
saints met for the purpose of strengthening (edifying) one
another and for fellowship. All were free to bring a teaching or
a song, or to spiritually minister in love as the Spirit led,
under the oversight of the elders.
We are to
be careful to maintain the purity of the Church. Those who
demonstrate through habitual action that they have not been born
again are to be put out of the Church for three reasons:
-
For
their own sake, that they may not continue in the delusion
that they are saved, in hope that they may repent and truly
turn to Christ.
-
For the
sake of the purity of the Church and the welfare and unity
of the brethren.
-
For the
sake of the world, that the lost may not be deceived as to
the nature of salvation and the grace of God in Christ.
Christ is
the functional head of the Church, not just the titular head,
and the unmediated head of every man. The Church is to be
overseen (not lorded over) by faithful elders (plural), of good
repute, leading by example, able to teach, full of the Spirit;
and there are to be faithful deacons full of the Spirit and of
good reputation to ensure the poor brethren are provided for.
A
professional clergy defrauds God’s people of their rightful
position as priests and ministers of God.
All the
members of the Body are ministers of Christ. The ministers of
Christ ought to walk as Jesus walked. Those who show that they
love the world and the things of the world are not ministers of
Christ. Those that exalt themselves rather than exalting Christ
are not ministers of Christ. Those that seek the approval of men
rather than the approval of God are not ministers of Christ.
The gifts
(manifestations) of the Holy Spirit continue until that which is
perfect comes; that is until Christ returns. The gifts of the
Spirit are to be used to edify and not divide the Body. They are
not a replacement for the Scriptures, nor a replacement for
obedience and holiness. The teaching that the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit is separate from salvation or that it is always
accompanied by tongues was not taught by the Apostles. The
Spirit may fill us many times and we may walk in different
degrees of His fullness, but all who are in Christ have the Holy
Spirit.
All
spiritual manifestations are to be carefully judged. Prophesy is
not to be despised, but carefully tested; tongues are not to be
forbidden, but their use carefully regulated. Tongues are true
languages, not babbling. Tongues are not to be spoken in the
Church without interpretation (translation). Any spiritual
manifestation that contradicts sound doctrine; brings disorder,
confusion, or division among the brethren; leads into sensuality
or worldliness rather than promoting holiness and pure devotion
to Jesus; leads into self made religion, subjection to angels,
or sever treatment of the body; or promotes perfection through
law rather than through faith in Christ: is not a manifestation
of the Holy Spirit. True spiritual gifts are good, but love is
better.
The Holy
Spirit exalts Christ Jesus and His Word. The Holy Spirit brings
conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment to the world. The
Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and leads us into all truth.
And the Holy Spirit can only be received by those who receive
Christ.
Denominationalism is sin. It is listed in Gal 5:20 as one of
the works of the flesh. Paul says those who practice such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Any dogmatic promotion of
a doctrine beyond the clear teaching of Jesus and His Apostles,
or promotion of a partisan spirit is a work of the flesh. We are
to abide in Christ and His words are to abide in us. We are not
to go beyond what is written and thereby sow division among the
brethren. We are to be careful to maintain the unity of the
Spirit, the unity of the faith, and the unity of the Church.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called
in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in
all." We are "to contend for the gospel delivered once for all
unto the saints."
Offerings
are taken for the support of the poor brethren. There is no
evidence that the New Testament Church engaged in systematic
works of benevolence beyond the community of Christ nor built
church buildings. Jesus Himself set forth the principle that "it
is wrong to take bread from the children and give it to the
puppies." The proper ministry of the Church to the world is the
proclamation of salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Those who take the offering of God’s people and use it to build
and maintain church buildings and programs rather than using it
for the poor in the Church are robbing God. The building of
buildings and the acquiring of property by the Church is sinful
because:
-
It
steals what belongs to the poor brethren.
-
It
consumes the time, energy, and resources of the Church in
doing and maintaining what Christ has not commanded at the
expense of what He has commanded.
-
It
distorts the Church by enabling a few "to do the work of the
ministry" rather than the whole Body of Christ.
-
It
promotes a false understanding of what the Church is, both
among the brethren and among unbelievers.
-
It
brings the brethren into bondage to the world through the
need for money and into a dangerous and adulterous
relationship with the government (incorporation and tax
exempt status).
-
The
need for money promotes the sin of showing favoritism to the
wealthy and dishonoring the poor.
-
Buildings,
property, and money have been the cause of much division
among the brethren.
-
Because
of property, membership in the church becomes a question of
who is entitled to vote rather than who is in Christ.
That which
depends on money is of the world. That which depends on the
Spirit is of God
If you are
a pastor or priest and are reading this, you know (or should
know) these things are true. Do you have the courage to take up
your cross and follow Christ? Contact me.
If you are
a Christian, check these things out with the Word of God. If any
man is willing to do the will of God, he will know whether or
not this is of God. Shake off your chains and follow the Lord!
You will not be alone. Contact me.
If you have
not committed your life to Jesus Christ and would like to do so
or talk to me about following Christ, contact me or another
follower of Jesus. Be careful, most of what is called
‘Christian’ has little to do with Jesus Christ. You can find the
truth in the words of our Lord and His Apostles, written in the
New Testament.
Brothers
and Sisters in Christ: What holds us back from truly following
Jesus but our own unwillingness? Has God grown old? Has the New
Covenant been repealed? Has God forgotten His promises? Or have
we like Israel of old turned aside to walk in the futility of
our own ways? The promised land of the New Covenant lies before
us. We can return the Church to all her blood bought purity, if
we are willing to obey the Word and the Spirit. God will go
before us and light the way. Let us not be as Israel at Kadesh
Barnea and turn back in fear of what might lay ahead.
Jesus said,
"whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My
disciple." Therefore, let us forsake all that hinders us: our
denominations, our man-made theologies, our traditions, our
possessions, and our fears and pride, --and taking up our cross;
then we will find the life, truth, and unity that are in Christ
Jesus. It is time for the Bride to make herself ready!
Stephen Anderson
stevea@awesomenet.net
www.zerubbabel.net
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