____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 25, 1993 ____________________________________________________ An Analogy Between Faith and Fearing God by Tom Edwards This bulletin has often pointed out the prevalent teaching of salvation by ``faith only'' as being a false doctrine that cannot save anyone (James 2). Rather, the New Testament shows that there are various other things one must also do in order to be saved, such as repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38), be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), and remain faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). Often, however, the Bible sums up these other prerequisites by using the term ``faith,'' ``believe,''--or one of their related forms--as a synecdoche which implies the need for these other actions as well, without their having been specified in the verse. For example, many verses speak of the one who ``believes'' in Jesus as being in a saved state, without any specified mention of ``repentance'' or ``baptism.'' The only way we know that repentance and baptism are also necessary toward contacting the remission of sins--and thus implied in these passages--is by what we have learned in other verses, such as Acts 2:38. (Incidentally, this verse doesn't even mention the need to believe, but who would teach that believing would not be a precondition toward salvation? From other verses, such as Acts 2:36, the need to believe is set forth.) Should it not be inferred that the one who truly believes in Jesus to the saving of the soul is also the one who believes in what Jesus teaches and in what He commands one must do in order to be saved--and not only believe in His words, but also act upon them? Though ignorance will not be an excuse in the Judgment Day, does it not seem worse for one to know what the Lord commands and not do it than to have never known? Is it not snubbing or rejecting the Lord when one--though believing in Christ's deity--refuses to repent, to be baptized, or to do the other things Jesus commands? Without question, believing in Jesus to the saving of the soul involves more than a mere mental assent toward His deity; it also involves one's obedience to the gospel. In the morning service, last Sunday, we considered the blessings connected with having the proper fear of God. Proverbs 14:26,27 states: ``In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.'' Notice the four things this passage shows that accompany the one who is characterized as having the fear of God in his life: 1) strong confidence, 2) a refuge, 3) a fountain of life, and 4) salvation from the snares of death. Could not the same be said about the one who truly believes in God and acts in obedience toward the Scriptures in view of that faith? Surely, he, too, would have these four blessings that Solomon speaks of. What, though, is the ``fear of God?'' Is it merely a mental attitude or simply a passive emotion? In Exodus 20:20, Moses declared to his people, ''...Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.'' We can first note that the fear of God is not to be equated with being fearful or terrorized. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 12:32, ``Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.'' Secondly, Exodus 20:20 teaches that the fear of God will keep one from sinning; and sin is not only when one commits a wrong act (a sin of commission), it is also when one fails to do what one should (a sin of omission). As James warns, ``Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin'' (James 4:17). From this we can infer that the fear of God, which keeps one from sinning, is not a mere passive emotion, but rather it directs our actions toward living a godly life by abstaining from--AND BY DOING--that which God has commanded. To fear the Lord, therefore, is to keep His commandments (Deut. 6:2); and where this fear does not exist, lives are often characterized with unrighteousness, deceit, cursing, bitterness, and even the guilt of murder (Rom. 3:10-18). But let us also bear in mind that not every passage in the Bible that speaks of the fear of God specifies what that fear will do, but to those who are referred to as having the proper fear of the Lord, we can infer that they were the ones who were abstaining from evil and doing those things which were pleasing in God's sight. Just as the fear of the Lord must be accompanied with obedience, even so must one's faith, in order that that faith will not be in vain or to no avail. Don't let others deceive you with their false doctrine of salvation by ``faith only.'' Read the Scriptures for yourself, and see exactly what it is that God demands of you. Then, give yourself to Him by your faith and obedience. In eternity, you'll be especially glad you did--not to mention the joy you'll have while in this earthly life. ___________________________________________ "Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife" (Proverbs 17:1). ___________________________________________ What Makes The Church of Christ Different? by Billy Moore Question: ``You say the Church of Christ is not a Protestant denomination, but I know you protest the Catholic religion for I have read a lot of your writings, so what makes you different from the other churches. You look like one of many churches to me.'' -- Missouri Yes, we have said that the church of Christ is not a Protestant denomination, and we have said that for very good reason. Christ established his church in the First Century A.D., beginning in the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). ``The church...is his body'' (Eph. 1:22,23), and ``there is one body'' (Eph. 4:4), therefore, Christ built but one church. After the passing of the apostles there was an apostasy--a falling away from the faith (Acts 20:29,30; 1 Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:1-4), which ultimately came to be known as the Catholic Church, with doctrines and practices not authorized by Christ and his apostles. In 606 A.D. Boniface III, Bishop of Rome, became the first ``universal Bishop,'' later known as the Pope. In the Eleventh Century the Catholic Church divided into two groups, Roman and Greek, with the Roman Catholic becoming the greater of the two. Many were unhappy with the Catholic Church and began to lift up their voices against it, and the ``sale of indulgences'' (selling the right to sin without having to make confession to the priest) was just too much, and open protesting was strong. In 1517 Martin Luther, a Catholic Priest, wrote his famous thesis pointing out 95 things he thought to be wrong with the church, and was excommunicated by the Pope and would have been put to death, as so many others had been, but he had friends in high places who helped him. Many shared the views of Luther and within a few years there were many who had joined with him, thus the first Protestant Church was born--the Lutheran Church. (Although Luther pleaded with them ``call not yourselves Lutheran...but Christians,'' none the less the name stuck.) In the 1530's John Calvin left the Catholic Church, starting the Presbyterian Church and in the same decade King Henry the Eighth broke away starting the Church of England. These were the first three Protestant Churches. This is the Sixteenth Century! The church of Christ was established in the First Century A.D., 1500 years before there was a ``Protestant Church,'' therefore I think I am justified in saying that the church of Christ is not a ``Protestant Church.'' Yes, the church does protest against Catholicism, but it is not a Protestant Church. It is the body of Christ to which saved people are added by the Lord day by day. ``What Makes You Different From Others?'' The church of Christ is different from the Protestant Denominations in several points. 1. We have no organization larger than the local church. This in itself sets us apart from most Protestant Churches, who have district, State, National and international organizations. In the New Testament there was no organization larger than the local church, with bishops, deacons and saints (Phil. 1:1). 2. We have no creed but Christ and his word--the New Testament. There is no Manual, Discipline, Catechism, etc. as is found in Protestant Churches. The early disciples were taught not to add to or take from the inspired scriptures (Rev. 22:18,19), or teach any other gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). We still follow this charge and have no other creed. 3. The name that we wear makes us different. Look at the Protestant Churches and see what they call themselves. They wear names that give honor to the man who started them, or to some particular practice. By what name were the early disciples called? They were called Christians (Acts 11:27) and were not to be ashamed to suffer as a Christian (1 Pet. 4:16). That is the name we use today. As a collectivity, the early disciples were called the ``church'' (group of people), ``church of God'' (group of people that belongs to God), ``churches of Christ'' (groups that belong to Christ). There was no ``specific'' name for the local churches. Today, we refer to the church in the same manner. But we do not wear some name that gives honor to men or to practices. 4. The worship we render to God is different. We eat the Lord's supper ``upon the first day of the week'' (Acts 20:7), which necessarily infers a weekly observance. Most Protestant Churches do not have the Lord's supper each week. Our music in worship is a cappella, just as it was in the New Testament (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). Most Protestant Churches use instrumental music in worship. 5. We teach the plan of salvation just as the apostles taught it. Believe in Christ as the Son of God, repent of sins and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:36,37; Mark 16:16). Most Protestant Churches teach that one is saved ``by faith only,'' before and without being baptized. 6. The concept we have of the church makes us different, for we believe that church consists of those souls who have been saved (Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22,23). The Protestant Churches teach that the church consists of all the Protestant Churches, that each is a part (denomination) of the body of Christ. These are some of the things that make us different from Protestant Churches. The differences have to do with faith and practice. We plead for ``speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent.'' The church of Christ of the New Testament was not a Protestant Denomination. You do have a choice. You can be just a Christian, a member of Christ's church. ___________________________________________ Selected Sentence Sermons Either the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible. You can't build a church with stumbling blocks. If you don't live it, you don't believe it. An upright man can never be a downright failure. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________