Romans Eight
Introduction
Romans 8 has been called, “The greatest chapter in the Bible,” “The little Bible,” and “The greatest letter ever written.” Romans has been my constant companion and joy for many years, and I am pleased to share it with you in a series of essays, hoping that it will mean as much to you. If you are serious about being a righteous person and are receptive to the grace of God, be assured that Paul will assist you in this great chapter. While chapter eight does stand out, it does not stand alone. In chapters one and two we read of condemnation; in chapter three and four, justification; in five and six, sanctification, and in chapter eight, glorification. This is an ever ascending letter, from the depths of sin and despair to the heights of righteousness and glory, where “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”
Roman 8 is Paul’s description of a righteous life. He states his theme early and then develops it in this letter. “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” he writes, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith’” (1:16, 17 NASB). The Revised Standard Version (RSV) says, “He who through faith is righteous shall live,” which is to say that one becomes righteous by faith and also lives a righteous life by faith. God’s righteousness is revealed by faith from beginning to end – “from faith to faith.” To be righteous is to be in right standing with God, just, upright, aligned with His will. We were saved by the Lord’s powerful gospel to an upright life, now Paul wants us to understand what this righteous life really is. And this is the purpose of these essays.
I always assume that I am writing to Christians, but you must not assume; you must be sure. If you are sure and have sufficient faith, you may go with Paul deep into the Romans mine of Christian theology and bring out treasures far more valuable than you have ever imagined. I have been working this mine for almost sixty years and from it I have drawn the greatest understanding and richest treasurers I have ever known. Upon hearing of the Romans class I am in at church and my upcoming essays on chapter eight, a good “old” (like me) preacher brother wrote, “My heart cries out for what you are pursuing. I wish I could attend the study on Romans. No matter how many times we travel its holy ground, our tank needs refueling. Keep up the great work. In Him, Bob.” I pray that you will have the same yearning—and the same experience.
I have divided this chapter into five sections under the heading, “Assurance of the Righteous.” There will be the following essays: 1.Your Freedom is Complete, 2.Your Adoption if Final, 3. Your Hope is Certain, 4. Your Help Is Unlimited and 5. Your Joy Is Unspeakable.
1. Your Freedom is Complete (vs. 1-11)
1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
If you are in right standing with God, you are a righteous person, under no condemnation whatsoever. And you have all the freedom you can accept. Christians are often hindered by their inability or unwillingness to accept the grace of God; they feel that they must “do their part,” not realizing that Christ has already done it all and there is no part for them to do. Following their shepherd is what sheep do best. It is their nature. “When he puts forth his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him because they do not know the voice of a stranger” (John 10:4, 5).
You can see at the outset that we are not dealing with obeying laws or plans or in any way working for salvation and righteousness. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law (rule) of sin and death.” Nor does the Law, under which generations before us lived, control our lives, “For what the Law could not do...God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The spiritual mind is alive and at peace. This is your state if the Holy Spirit dwells in you and gives life to your mortal body.
Jesus didn’t come to condemn you; He came to condemn the sin in you. Isn’t that why He said He had come? “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him” (John 3:17). So you have been set free from sin to live a life of freedom, guided by God’s word and empowered by His presence. You have a spiritual mindset that keeps you “in step with the Spirit,” following your Shepherd You are free from everything that hinders you, except your own inhibitions; shake them off and you will be as free as a human being can be.
But this assurance of righteousness is not for everyone. No one who refuses to submit to God and do His will shall ever be righteous or know the freedom righteousness brings. Nor does church membership necessarily contribute to righteousness—sometimes it gives one a feeling of self-righteousness and superiority, which is destructive to humility and righteousness. Paul was writing to “the saints at Rome,” and by extension, to the saints of out time as well. His aim was to give assurance that the gospel is God’s power to save and that saved people are righteousness people. They are also free people. Your first assurance is this: “Your freedom is complete.”
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Note: Dianne said, regarding my last essay, “I don’t know that I agree with you about the Weight Watchers program.” Perhaps I was too casual and simplistic. We all need support sometimes. If it works for you, go for it. Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. I have never been known for my iron will but as a teacher.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Programs, Plans and Prayers
In the beginning the church was established and empowered by the Holy Spirit and given inspired instructions for it growth and development, but carnal and crafty men took control and changed it into something entirely different. Now the church is fallen, fragmented and false. It has become a curious thing, governed largely by programs, plans and prayers.
In 1937, a man named Napoleon Hill wrote a book titled Think and Grow Rich. The book sold over ten million copies and has influenced many - including Andrew Carnage, Clemet W. Stone, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuler and millions of others like them who have been committed to the positive thinking and success philosophy. Hill tells how he sat in a restaurant in Detroit, watching the rain form streams on a large windowpane and observing how they started out small, merged and increasing in size as they flowed down the glass. He was writing a series of small books on The Laws of Success, and these streams suggested seventeen titles. He wrote his books and summarized them later in his Think and Grow Rich.
The point I am making is this: Random thoughts need to be gathered up and formulated into plans, programs and prayers in order to make them coherent and communicable, but the church has gone too far; she has become enslaved to her programs, plans and prayers and neglect the inspired instructions given her. We shall spend considerable time later studying the divine instructions, but for now we need to look into these human functions. There is nothing original or inspired about these; they are copied directly from the social and business world.
The Programs
1. The Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) movement has a 12 step program for sobriety, which deals with confession, affirmation and growth. I commend them for both their program and their adherence, but it is regrettable how they become wedded to their program and defer living as they try to master it. “Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic,” they confess as they continue their struggle. Their aim is to “come clean” and grow, but by their self- depreciation they continue to relapse. Some are helped by this program, some succeed in spite of their program, and some become genuinely converted to Christ and don’t need a program. They serve a Savior not a self-help program.
2. The Weight Watchers also have a program that is so important to them that they spend more time studying calories and weighing food than they do enjoying life. Their adherents, who sincerely desire to lose weight, seem to overlook the simple fact that the best way to loose weight is to stuff less food into one’s stomach. If a diet program doesn’t work for them they look for another while they go on overeating.
The Plans
1. Those who teach must devise a lesson plan or find a work book that has one. Many teachers, just like many preachers, never learn how to analyze Scripture and develop an expository lesson. Eventually most of them discover that they are teaching a plan instead of the people, and they grow dull while the people become disinterested.
2. The Church of Christ has a five step plan of salvation. I talked with a members some time ago who told me how he had attempted to aid a seeker who had asked him what he would have to know in order to become a member of the church. “I told him that he wouldn’t need to know much,” the member related, “just the plan of salvation.” By that he meant, hear the Word, believe what you hear, repent of your sins, confess Christ and be baptized. This five step plan was introduced by Evangelist Walter Scott in the early days of the Campbell-Stone Restoration Movement. My brother could tell a man how to become a member of the “Church of Christ,” but I wonder if he could have told him about Christ? Can you imagine Philip giving the eunuch a five step plan when he wanted to know more about the Christ he had heard about in Jerusalem? Or Peter responding to the jailer’s question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” by answering, “You don’t have to do much, just the plan of salvation?” I must not have been a very effective minister or I would have taught him better. Tell seekers and others with whom you speak what Philip told the eunuch and Peter told the jailer: “Believe with all your heart” and “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved...” Before someone reminds me of baptism, I hasten to say that both of these men were baptized; that was what people did in those days when they believed in Christ. However, this biblical mandate is not as popular in our time as it was in the beginning because churches have now finished their programs.
3. Grandma’s pan plan. John and Mary were married. John watched his new bride make her first pot roast. She cut off about one quarter of the roast and put the remainder in the pan. John inquired, “The roast is not very large, why didn’t you put it all in the pan?” Lost for an answer, Mary replied, “I don’t know; that’s the way mom always did it. I’ll call her and find our.” So she called, “Mom, why did you always cut off part of the roast before you put it in the pan?” Mom replied, “I don’t know, Mary, that’s the way your grandma always did it. I’ll call her to find out and I’ll call you back.” So Mary’s mom called her mother, “Mary wanted to know why I cut off part of the roast before I put it in the pan. All I could tell her was that that’s the way I have always seen you do it; can you tell me why, so I can call Mary back and tell her? “Why child,” grandma replied, “didn’t you know that my pan was too small?” For two generations grandma’s family followed a tradition without even knowing why.
The Prayers
1. The prayer wheel is a Buddhist aid to prayer. As they pray, they spin a wheel to convey their prayers to their deity(s). They may begin with a single wheel on a long handle, but they eventually pray before a row of wheels, turning them all as they walk by them. They depend on their wheel and pray from the wheel rather than from the heart, and the wheel becomes a hindrance rather than a help.
2. The rosary is another distracting “aid.” Those who depend on such objects feel that they must have them in order to be successful in their prayers. But counting beads and spinning wheels, like so many other traditional practices, become the center of the worshiper’s prayer life and divert their prayers away from God to the object at hand. It’s as if the wheel or the beads are mediators and people can’t get through to God without them. Using them is habit forming, and people grow addicted to them.
3. Then there is the “little prayer” that is so popular today. Jesus encountered a rich ruler on the road one day, who asked Him what he had to do to have eternal life. Jesus said, “Sell what you have and give to the poor and come follow me.” He didn’t tell the man to give it all to the poor, as is generally said, but rather, stop hoarding and start giving; stop being selfish and start being generous. I read a modern version of this incident some years ago, which went like this: Jesus encounters a rich young ruler on the road one day and had a conversation with him. The man asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus questioned his convictions and commitments, and then said, “Say this little prayer after me.” The rich man repeated the little prayer and went on his way rejoicing because he had great possessions.
Conclusion: If you are free in Christ, stay free; don’t become enslaved to a program. Programs change in a progressive church and society. Nor should you reduce your theology to a pattern. Churches lead by pattern; God leads us by His Spirit and His Word. And don’t depend on a little prayer, a big prayer, a repeated prayer, a memorized prayer or any other kind of prayer except a heart prayer.
Hey good people! It’s well past time that we returned to God and His holiness and gave up “doing church” our way. Jesus Christ is our Lord, the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, and God is still our Father. Let us respect divine authority and not be entangled in either the maddening maize of worldliness or the dullness and confusion of unbelieving churches. But if you have a good church, be a good member, cherish and support it. Let your life be “a call to return.”
____________________________________
Note: I’m sending this essay early because I’m going to Columbus, OH to spend a few days with my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is always so good to be with them. They like me! You should receive number one in my series on Romans eight on Friday 26th.
In 1937, a man named Napoleon Hill wrote a book titled Think and Grow Rich. The book sold over ten million copies and has influenced many - including Andrew Carnage, Clemet W. Stone, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuler and millions of others like them who have been committed to the positive thinking and success philosophy. Hill tells how he sat in a restaurant in Detroit, watching the rain form streams on a large windowpane and observing how they started out small, merged and increasing in size as they flowed down the glass. He was writing a series of small books on The Laws of Success, and these streams suggested seventeen titles. He wrote his books and summarized them later in his Think and Grow Rich.
The point I am making is this: Random thoughts need to be gathered up and formulated into plans, programs and prayers in order to make them coherent and communicable, but the church has gone too far; she has become enslaved to her programs, plans and prayers and neglect the inspired instructions given her. We shall spend considerable time later studying the divine instructions, but for now we need to look into these human functions. There is nothing original or inspired about these; they are copied directly from the social and business world.
The Programs
1. The Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) movement has a 12 step program for sobriety, which deals with confession, affirmation and growth. I commend them for both their program and their adherence, but it is regrettable how they become wedded to their program and defer living as they try to master it. “Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic,” they confess as they continue their struggle. Their aim is to “come clean” and grow, but by their self- depreciation they continue to relapse. Some are helped by this program, some succeed in spite of their program, and some become genuinely converted to Christ and don’t need a program. They serve a Savior not a self-help program.
2. The Weight Watchers also have a program that is so important to them that they spend more time studying calories and weighing food than they do enjoying life. Their adherents, who sincerely desire to lose weight, seem to overlook the simple fact that the best way to loose weight is to stuff less food into one’s stomach. If a diet program doesn’t work for them they look for another while they go on overeating.
The Plans
1. Those who teach must devise a lesson plan or find a work book that has one. Many teachers, just like many preachers, never learn how to analyze Scripture and develop an expository lesson. Eventually most of them discover that they are teaching a plan instead of the people, and they grow dull while the people become disinterested.
2. The Church of Christ has a five step plan of salvation. I talked with a members some time ago who told me how he had attempted to aid a seeker who had asked him what he would have to know in order to become a member of the church. “I told him that he wouldn’t need to know much,” the member related, “just the plan of salvation.” By that he meant, hear the Word, believe what you hear, repent of your sins, confess Christ and be baptized. This five step plan was introduced by Evangelist Walter Scott in the early days of the Campbell-Stone Restoration Movement. My brother could tell a man how to become a member of the “Church of Christ,” but I wonder if he could have told him about Christ? Can you imagine Philip giving the eunuch a five step plan when he wanted to know more about the Christ he had heard about in Jerusalem? Or Peter responding to the jailer’s question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” by answering, “You don’t have to do much, just the plan of salvation?” I must not have been a very effective minister or I would have taught him better. Tell seekers and others with whom you speak what Philip told the eunuch and Peter told the jailer: “Believe with all your heart” and “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved...” Before someone reminds me of baptism, I hasten to say that both of these men were baptized; that was what people did in those days when they believed in Christ. However, this biblical mandate is not as popular in our time as it was in the beginning because churches have now finished their programs.
3. Grandma’s pan plan. John and Mary were married. John watched his new bride make her first pot roast. She cut off about one quarter of the roast and put the remainder in the pan. John inquired, “The roast is not very large, why didn’t you put it all in the pan?” Lost for an answer, Mary replied, “I don’t know; that’s the way mom always did it. I’ll call her and find our.” So she called, “Mom, why did you always cut off part of the roast before you put it in the pan?” Mom replied, “I don’t know, Mary, that’s the way your grandma always did it. I’ll call her to find out and I’ll call you back.” So Mary’s mom called her mother, “Mary wanted to know why I cut off part of the roast before I put it in the pan. All I could tell her was that that’s the way I have always seen you do it; can you tell me why, so I can call Mary back and tell her? “Why child,” grandma replied, “didn’t you know that my pan was too small?” For two generations grandma’s family followed a tradition without even knowing why.
The Prayers
1. The prayer wheel is a Buddhist aid to prayer. As they pray, they spin a wheel to convey their prayers to their deity(s). They may begin with a single wheel on a long handle, but they eventually pray before a row of wheels, turning them all as they walk by them. They depend on their wheel and pray from the wheel rather than from the heart, and the wheel becomes a hindrance rather than a help.
2. The rosary is another distracting “aid.” Those who depend on such objects feel that they must have them in order to be successful in their prayers. But counting beads and spinning wheels, like so many other traditional practices, become the center of the worshiper’s prayer life and divert their prayers away from God to the object at hand. It’s as if the wheel or the beads are mediators and people can’t get through to God without them. Using them is habit forming, and people grow addicted to them.
3. Then there is the “little prayer” that is so popular today. Jesus encountered a rich ruler on the road one day, who asked Him what he had to do to have eternal life. Jesus said, “Sell what you have and give to the poor and come follow me.” He didn’t tell the man to give it all to the poor, as is generally said, but rather, stop hoarding and start giving; stop being selfish and start being generous. I read a modern version of this incident some years ago, which went like this: Jesus encounters a rich young ruler on the road one day and had a conversation with him. The man asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus questioned his convictions and commitments, and then said, “Say this little prayer after me.” The rich man repeated the little prayer and went on his way rejoicing because he had great possessions.
Conclusion: If you are free in Christ, stay free; don’t become enslaved to a program. Programs change in a progressive church and society. Nor should you reduce your theology to a pattern. Churches lead by pattern; God leads us by His Spirit and His Word. And don’t depend on a little prayer, a big prayer, a repeated prayer, a memorized prayer or any other kind of prayer except a heart prayer.
Hey good people! It’s well past time that we returned to God and His holiness and gave up “doing church” our way. Jesus Christ is our Lord, the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, and God is still our Father. Let us respect divine authority and not be entangled in either the maddening maize of worldliness or the dullness and confusion of unbelieving churches. But if you have a good church, be a good member, cherish and support it. Let your life be “a call to return.”
____________________________________
Note: I’m sending this essay early because I’m going to Columbus, OH to spend a few days with my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is always so good to be with them. They like me! You should receive number one in my series on Romans eight on Friday 26th.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Who is Returning?
Drifting and fallen churches are not returning to their original holiness; these don’t return, they just keep drifting and falling. They also change their names in order to become more relevant. “Crossroads” and “Community” are popular names that are often used together. Long-established congregations in various denominations are using these names while still affiliated with their respective denominations. It’s as if they no longer wish to be recognized as Baptist, Church of God etc., but prefer to go with the contemporary flow, supposing that this, being more popular, will gain them members. And with the change in name comes the change in doctrine and practice. Preachers are preaching contemporary topical sermons rather than biblical expository sermons. In “Bible Study” the Bible is replaced with booklets from their home publishing house. Progressive theology is spreading like a plague and progressive denomination are proud to be “emerging.” They never know just when they left the Lord; they only know that they are “progressing.”
But individuals are returning to the Lord and to the holiness of the early saints. I have been attending a large Bible Class of seniors, in which there are people from various backgrounds with their Bibles open to Romans and their hearts open to the Holy Spirit. This time I am studying Romans, not only to learn new truths but also to have new experiences. Others are doing the same. This is a double blessing for me: I am learning and having new experiences and also seeing others discover the meaning of Romans for the first time. Our lives will never be the same.
I remember an occasion in which a Christian College professor was speaking about our need to broaden our vision, look deeper into biblical subjects and gain spiritual experiences from Scriptures as we study them. He said, “It is as if a Bible teacher is standing before his classes with a wall of cubbyholes behind him, a compartment for each verse of the Bible. As he moves from verse to verse he asks, “What does this verse mean?” Then he takes the accumulated meanings of the verse being studied from its respective cubbyholes and read them. There are meanings written in previous generations, by our favorite commentaries and what we decided the verse meant the last time we studied it. “That’s all we have on this verse,” he says as he moves to the next cubbyhole. Most preachers are cubbyhole preachers rather than biblical expositors. We have asked for a lifetime, “What does this verse mean?” And for a lifetime we get the same reply, “It means what it says and says what it means!” But that’s not good enough. We must study the context, understand the meaning of the words, rely on other verses for help, and pray for spiritual understanding. Then the light will shine and we will understand what we read in the Bible. Millions will return to holiness if they can just see this light.
Many churches that do well in their first generation cool off in their second generation and die off in their third generation. If they do not die they exist as a vegetative spectacle in their communities; but they never return to their original zeal and holiness. If there is anything in a community more destructive than a dead church, it is a dying church. This is where sincere souls are disappointed, deceived and destroyed as they leave their first love. When I was a much younger preacher, I spoke to an older preacher about the indifference and deadness I was encountering in my churches. I must have supposed that he, being more experienced, would give me some magic formulae by which I could preach new life into my church. He listened to my plaintive appeal and that responded, “You won’t change them brother.” Another experienced Christian said, “It is easier to have a baby that it is to raise the dead.”
But individuals are returning to the Lord and to the holiness of the early saints. I have been attending a large Bible Class of seniors, in which there are people from various backgrounds with their Bibles open to Romans and their hearts open to the Holy Spirit. This time I am studying Romans, not only to learn new truths but also to have new experiences. Others are doing the same. This is a double blessing for me: I am learning and having new experiences and also seeing others discover the meaning of Romans for the first time. Our lives will never be the same.
I remember an occasion in which a Christian College professor was speaking about our need to broaden our vision, look deeper into biblical subjects and gain spiritual experiences from Scriptures as we study them. He said, “It is as if a Bible teacher is standing before his classes with a wall of cubbyholes behind him, a compartment for each verse of the Bible. As he moves from verse to verse he asks, “What does this verse mean?” Then he takes the accumulated meanings of the verse being studied from its respective cubbyholes and read them. There are meanings written in previous generations, by our favorite commentaries and what we decided the verse meant the last time we studied it. “That’s all we have on this verse,” he says as he moves to the next cubbyhole. Most preachers are cubbyhole preachers rather than biblical expositors. We have asked for a lifetime, “What does this verse mean?” And for a lifetime we get the same reply, “It means what it says and says what it means!” But that’s not good enough. We must study the context, understand the meaning of the words, rely on other verses for help, and pray for spiritual understanding. Then the light will shine and we will understand what we read in the Bible. Millions will return to holiness if they can just see this light.
Many churches that do well in their first generation cool off in their second generation and die off in their third generation. If they do not die they exist as a vegetative spectacle in their communities; but they never return to their original zeal and holiness. If there is anything in a community more destructive than a dead church, it is a dying church. This is where sincere souls are disappointed, deceived and destroyed as they leave their first love. When I was a much younger preacher, I spoke to an older preacher about the indifference and deadness I was encountering in my churches. I must have supposed that he, being more experienced, would give me some magic formulae by which I could preach new life into my church. He listened to my plaintive appeal and that responded, “You won’t change them brother.” Another experienced Christian said, “It is easier to have a baby that it is to raise the dead.”
Friday, June 5, 2009
Reform, Restore, Restructure, Return
In the first article in this series, “A Call to Return,” I wrote the following paragraph, which I have expanded here to accommodate the present article. “The New Testament church was established in the first century; it also began falling away (apostatizing) in the first century. By the second century it had become something entirely different from what it was in the beginning – Christ’s spiritual body was taken over and organized by men. A hierarchy replaced congregational independence and eldership oversight, and the church was ruled from above (not heaven above but men in high paces). The church became rich and powerful, political and cruel, waged wars, demoralized and exploited her people, and fell into “the dark ages” that lasted for a thousand years. But light came with the Great Reformation of the 16th century.
As the church was reforming it was also fragmenting into many denominational factions. Then there came the Great Awakening of the 18th century, followed by a number of significant reformations, restorations and revivals in following years. Later there came the restructuring and progression that gave rise to the progressive post-modern church of the 20th and 21st centuries. By then many of the denominations who were rich and powerful had formed themselves into the World Council of Churches (WCC) and were fleecing their flocks to support this monster in its quest for global dominance. The idea of returning and the quest for holiness were largely forgotten. Many of the churches that did not join the WCC merged, compromised their faith for the sake of unity, and formed new and larger denominations. Others, claiming to be the Lord’s exclusive church (and there were a great number of them), separated themselves to protect their doctrine, and in doing so became cold and legalistic. The Great Reformation and the Great Awakening, along with the following reforms, restorations and revivals, ran their course and were largely replaced by the restructuring and progression of our time.” Add to this the dullness and deadness of the fragmented groups and you will realize the need for a return to the holiness that the early saints knew.
Now I want to comment on four methods men have used in an attempt to get back on track. While these methods overlap, each has its own distinctive characteristics.
1. Reform: Martin Luther was reading Romans when he came upon 1:17, which read, “The just shall live by faith.” Being the scholar that he was, he knew this meant that those who have faith are considered righteous and that justification does not depend on works. Righteousness is both realized and retained by faith. This insight and the power of this truth broke the bonds of the apostate church that held millions captive and began the great Protestant Reformation. But it had a down side; Luther was a Catholic monk who brought deeply held traditions and Catholic interpretations of the Scriptures into the new movement with him. This process was repeated with every attempt to reform the fallen church. This was the beginning of contemporary denominationalism. Other reformers have followed this pattern, only to develop their own theology, impose it on the Bible, and teach it as Scripture. History has shown that long-established churches cannot be reformed because they become so committed to their own particular theology that they cannot be moved. But they can divide and form new churches after their kind; this is what usually happens. These churches and their theologies hinder the cause of Christ by enforcing human rules and regulations rather then allowing the Holy Spirit to form new lives in the image of Christ. Reformation hasn’t worked.
2. Restore: In the early 18th century, some good men, seeing the futility of reformation, set out to restore the original church. If they could “do Bible things in Bible ways” and “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent,” surely they could restore the New Testament church. This gave rise to a century of debate and division, resulting in a number of separate groups, each claiming to be “the Lord’s church” that was “follow the pattern.” While they began by restoring the church they eventually claimed to have restored the church. Then they developed the attitude that “We are right because of who we are.” This thinking was exemplified in a letter I received recently, which said, “The church (name given) is nearest to the first century church that I have found so far. Even though they show their lack of faith, are gossipy, show their lack of respect of others, are closed minded and rude.” I responded by saying. “My mind is having trouble processing such a contradiction.” I should think that this kind of a church, in spite of its achievements and restoration claims, is most unlike the New Testament church. Attitudinal values are the greatest of values. The church will not have been restored until the Holy Spirit has been welcomed back and she bears the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (and) self-control. Until then we are pretending. Restoration hasn’t worked.
3. Restructure: In the 1960’s churches were “restructuring,” just as banks and motor companies are today. This amounted to accommodations and compromises – unity by conformity, and led to deeper division in the Restoration Movement, crystallizing segments of it by making them fiercely independent and competitive. In 1964, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), who had preferred the term “Disciples of Christ” over a denominational name ever since its beginning in 1810, became a leader in the restructuring movement, and gladly took “The Christian Church” as a denominational name in order to be in a position to negotiate for Christian union. They formed a consultation group of seven denominations under the title Consultation on Christian Union (COCU) and tried to work out a merger with these churches. For many years churches have tried to find ways to merge and unite in the interest of global unity. They tried everything except returning to the Word of God and submitting to His Will. Restructuring didn’t work. What are we to do now? There must be some way to get back on track and be the New Testament church again. There is one way: return.
4. Return: But Churches won’t return. Every attempt men have made in their own strength to advance the cause of Christ has resulted in Babel (Gen. 10:10-11:9) rather than in the church. But individuals can return to the faith and holiness of the early saints. As Christian individuals, we can read our Bibles for ourselves and come to our own understanding. We can practice what is holy, no matter what position our denomination holds. Churches will inevitably grow dull and fall into traditional patters of belief (and disbelief), and when they do they will demand loyalty to their cherished doctrines and traditions. I have known many Christians, even ministers, who grew so weary with church doctrine and practice that they just quit attending or left the ministry. As Alexander Campbell said, “Sometimes all one can do is put his hand over his mouth and walk out the door.” Some find other churches, some remain “unchurched,” and others proclaim their freedom from church doctrine and traditional restraint and feel at home among godly people wherever they found them. All who are serious with Christ will be loyal to Him, denomination doctrine and tradition not withstanding. Nothing, not even the church, can “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”
Ever since the church fell away, God has been calling for a return. And ever since the church fragmented, men have tried to put the pieces back together, or else have claimed that their piece is still the New Testament church. Rather than engaging in a futile attempt to reform, restore or restructure the church, we must simply and sincerely return to Christ and be His church. Many sincere people are leaving the churches because they can no longer endure the confines, conflicts and contradictions. Some go from church to church trying to find a suitable place for fellowship and worship. Others quit trying and stop going to church altogether. Many sincere seekers are learning that when they became Christians, “The Lord added them to the number of those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47), and that their salvation does not depend on belonging to one church rather than another; it is enough that they belong to Christ and have been added to His church. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all return to Him and be His church—one holy brother and sister at a time?
I would be pleased to publish helpful comments on this subject.
As the church was reforming it was also fragmenting into many denominational factions. Then there came the Great Awakening of the 18th century, followed by a number of significant reformations, restorations and revivals in following years. Later there came the restructuring and progression that gave rise to the progressive post-modern church of the 20th and 21st centuries. By then many of the denominations who were rich and powerful had formed themselves into the World Council of Churches (WCC) and were fleecing their flocks to support this monster in its quest for global dominance. The idea of returning and the quest for holiness were largely forgotten. Many of the churches that did not join the WCC merged, compromised their faith for the sake of unity, and formed new and larger denominations. Others, claiming to be the Lord’s exclusive church (and there were a great number of them), separated themselves to protect their doctrine, and in doing so became cold and legalistic. The Great Reformation and the Great Awakening, along with the following reforms, restorations and revivals, ran their course and were largely replaced by the restructuring and progression of our time.” Add to this the dullness and deadness of the fragmented groups and you will realize the need for a return to the holiness that the early saints knew.
Now I want to comment on four methods men have used in an attempt to get back on track. While these methods overlap, each has its own distinctive characteristics.
1. Reform: Martin Luther was reading Romans when he came upon 1:17, which read, “The just shall live by faith.” Being the scholar that he was, he knew this meant that those who have faith are considered righteous and that justification does not depend on works. Righteousness is both realized and retained by faith. This insight and the power of this truth broke the bonds of the apostate church that held millions captive and began the great Protestant Reformation. But it had a down side; Luther was a Catholic monk who brought deeply held traditions and Catholic interpretations of the Scriptures into the new movement with him. This process was repeated with every attempt to reform the fallen church. This was the beginning of contemporary denominationalism. Other reformers have followed this pattern, only to develop their own theology, impose it on the Bible, and teach it as Scripture. History has shown that long-established churches cannot be reformed because they become so committed to their own particular theology that they cannot be moved. But they can divide and form new churches after their kind; this is what usually happens. These churches and their theologies hinder the cause of Christ by enforcing human rules and regulations rather then allowing the Holy Spirit to form new lives in the image of Christ. Reformation hasn’t worked.
2. Restore: In the early 18th century, some good men, seeing the futility of reformation, set out to restore the original church. If they could “do Bible things in Bible ways” and “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent,” surely they could restore the New Testament church. This gave rise to a century of debate and division, resulting in a number of separate groups, each claiming to be “the Lord’s church” that was “follow the pattern.” While they began by restoring the church they eventually claimed to have restored the church. Then they developed the attitude that “We are right because of who we are.” This thinking was exemplified in a letter I received recently, which said, “The church (name given) is nearest to the first century church that I have found so far. Even though they show their lack of faith, are gossipy, show their lack of respect of others, are closed minded and rude.” I responded by saying. “My mind is having trouble processing such a contradiction.” I should think that this kind of a church, in spite of its achievements and restoration claims, is most unlike the New Testament church. Attitudinal values are the greatest of values. The church will not have been restored until the Holy Spirit has been welcomed back and she bears the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (and) self-control. Until then we are pretending. Restoration hasn’t worked.
3. Restructure: In the 1960’s churches were “restructuring,” just as banks and motor companies are today. This amounted to accommodations and compromises – unity by conformity, and led to deeper division in the Restoration Movement, crystallizing segments of it by making them fiercely independent and competitive. In 1964, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), who had preferred the term “Disciples of Christ” over a denominational name ever since its beginning in 1810, became a leader in the restructuring movement, and gladly took “The Christian Church” as a denominational name in order to be in a position to negotiate for Christian union. They formed a consultation group of seven denominations under the title Consultation on Christian Union (COCU) and tried to work out a merger with these churches. For many years churches have tried to find ways to merge and unite in the interest of global unity. They tried everything except returning to the Word of God and submitting to His Will. Restructuring didn’t work. What are we to do now? There must be some way to get back on track and be the New Testament church again. There is one way: return.
4. Return: But Churches won’t return. Every attempt men have made in their own strength to advance the cause of Christ has resulted in Babel (Gen. 10:10-11:9) rather than in the church. But individuals can return to the faith and holiness of the early saints. As Christian individuals, we can read our Bibles for ourselves and come to our own understanding. We can practice what is holy, no matter what position our denomination holds. Churches will inevitably grow dull and fall into traditional patters of belief (and disbelief), and when they do they will demand loyalty to their cherished doctrines and traditions. I have known many Christians, even ministers, who grew so weary with church doctrine and practice that they just quit attending or left the ministry. As Alexander Campbell said, “Sometimes all one can do is put his hand over his mouth and walk out the door.” Some find other churches, some remain “unchurched,” and others proclaim their freedom from church doctrine and traditional restraint and feel at home among godly people wherever they found them. All who are serious with Christ will be loyal to Him, denomination doctrine and tradition not withstanding. Nothing, not even the church, can “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”
Ever since the church fell away, God has been calling for a return. And ever since the church fragmented, men have tried to put the pieces back together, or else have claimed that their piece is still the New Testament church. Rather than engaging in a futile attempt to reform, restore or restructure the church, we must simply and sincerely return to Christ and be His church. Many sincere people are leaving the churches because they can no longer endure the confines, conflicts and contradictions. Some go from church to church trying to find a suitable place for fellowship and worship. Others quit trying and stop going to church altogether. Many sincere seekers are learning that when they became Christians, “The Lord added them to the number of those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47), and that their salvation does not depend on belonging to one church rather than another; it is enough that they belong to Christ and have been added to His church. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all return to Him and be His church—one holy brother and sister at a time?
I would be pleased to publish helpful comments on this subject.
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