The church are those bought with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Those in the church are the only ones saved (Acts 2:41, 47; Eph 5:25–27). Only members of the church of Christ Jesus are enrolled in heaven (Heb 12:23). By the way, all children are safe in Christ (Matt 19:14). Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
Because the churches of Christ proclaim this biblical teaching, many are mistaken to assert that the churches of Christ mean only those with name “church of Christ” on the building’s sign will receive eternal life. The churches of Christ are made of imperfect people and they are not perfect in themselves. Only Christ perfects Christians having repented of their faults and strengthened through their weaknesses.
Churches of Christ
Did Jesus build His church as He promised (Matt 16:18)? Did He purchase the church with His blood (Acts 20:28)? Jesus certainly did. For the church of Christ is a part of God’s eternal purpose (Eph 3:9–10). Where is that church? Look to the Scriptures. Christ established and bought the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). Christ cleansed the church of their sins by His blood (Eph 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Matt 26:28; Rom 3:25; 5:9; Col 1:20; Heb 9:12, 14; 13:12, 20; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 1:5).
As a minister trained by loving evangelists within the church of Christ, this Christian has never heard that only the “Church of Christ” denomination, only “church-of-Christers,” or only those with the sign “Church of Christ” on the building are the only ones going into eternal life in paradise. The churches of Christ do not make that judgment. God decides who are His people — the church of Christ. God makes the judgment of who is going rise and live in the new paradise (2 Pet 3:13). “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim 2:19).
Denominations Divide
In the Scriptures, no one was baptized into the Baptist church, Catholic church, evangelical church, or any man-made denomination or sect. No one was baptized solely into a local congregation, but they were baptized into one body — the church of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12:13).
Believers were only baptized into the church of Christ in the Bible. The Scriptures do not assure the salvation of those baptized into denominations. Paul taught against divisions according to names — even good names like Paul, Cephas, and Apollos other than Christ (1 Cor 1:10–13; Gal 5:19–21). Paul revealed that divisions are destructive, and those who cause and maintain such division will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal 5:19–21). Jesus prayed that Christians be one (John 17:20–21). Did His prayer fail? Certainly not! Christ is the Head of the one church (Eph 1:22–23; Col 1:18). The plea of the churches of Christ is not to denominate and join as one church of Christ.
False Unity
Interdenominational churches may boast of working together despite their differences, but their differences are apparently trivial opinions and man-made traditions or they would not forfeit them. Certainly, ecumenical churches can give up their own traditions, opinions, and inventions. No Christian should divide over opinions (Rom 14). However, Christ’s church cannot compromise His words, His teaching, His commands.
If someone must do something to join a local church that a believer does not have to do to join the church of Jesus Christ, then those church leaders are adding to God’s written Word. Joining a denomination is not joining that church that Christ built. The Scriptures provide complete teaching for every good work (2 Tim 3:16–17). Adding and annulling parts of God’s Word is the foundation and source of divisive sectarianism (Gal 1:6–9). If joining a denomination is the same as joining the church, then all Christians would be a part of the same denomination. However, joining a denomination is not joining the church that Christ built.
Must one be a member of a denomination to receive eternal life? No. Must one be a member of the church of Jesus Christ to enter into eternal life? Yes. Must believers be a part of a denomination or the church of Jesus Christ? The Bible revealed that the Lord adds believers to the church when they are baptized in Jesus’s name (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Cor 12:13). Now, are those of the church of Christ that Christ built the only ones receiving eternal life in paradise? Yes! Jesus saves faithful Christians who have joined the church that Christ built.
The Head of the Church
How can all churches unite? The church of Christ is solely built upon the Rock who is Christ by the confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Matt 16:16–19). Churches unite in Christ, that Jesus rose from the dead, and He gives eternal life through His resurrection (Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 6:12–13).
Because Jesus is the chief cornerstone and the head of the church, the church finds Jesus Christ as having authority over His church (Matt 28:18). Jesus is sinless (John 6:63; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22). Therefore, Jesus’s words are infallible, and He gave those words to His Apostles and prophets in the Scriptures (John 15:20, 16:12-13, 17:8). The apostles and prophets wrote the Scriptures for Christians to perceive the apostolic insight of God’s revelation (Eph 3:3–5). Christians can unite in the meaning of Scripture and obey Jesus’s commands without dividing over opinions. Christ’s church cannot compromise Jesus Christ and God’s commands for man’s traditions (Matt 15:7–9; Mark 7:6–9).
In Ephesians 4:5, Paul taught that there is only one body. That one body is the church (Eph 1:22–23). Churches of Christ proclaim this church urging all believers to leave the named divisions and man-made church governments behind and let all believers unite in Christ by His Word. In the Bible, the apostles organized churches with elders leading each congregation (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). The churches of Christ assemble to learn, sing, pray, break the bread, and give to collection every first day of the week (1 Cor 11:17–34; 14; 16:1–2).
Paul and Barnabas divided over application of the way to spread the Gospel, but they remained united in the Gospel, the revealed message of Jesus Christ (Acts 15:36–41). Christians may differ and do regarding application of the Scriptures, but Christians rarely disagree concerning the meaning of biblical texts.
Entering the Church
The Scriptures teach that Jesus saved the baptized and added them to the church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 1 Cor 12:13, cf. 1 Cor 6:11). When the Pharisees rejected baptism, they rejected the purpose of God (Luke 7:30). As Ephesians 5:26 depicts, Jesus washed those in the church with water, and the church unites in only one baptism as one body (Eph 4:5).
Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18–20). Peter revealed, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Peter also taught, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). Therefore, Peter refused to withhold water and commanded them “to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:47–48).
In His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit (Matt 28:18–20). The early church affirmed that Jesus revealed, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15–16). Christ saves believers through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:1–4). Therefore, true believers confess that Jesus is the resurrected Lord (Rom 10:9–10). Believers do not reject Jesus’s resurrection; be saved by being raised with Christ from baptism (Rom 6:4–7; Eph 2:4–6; Col 2:12–13).
The Church that is of Christ
The churches of Christ refuse to bear a denominational name or form a man-made organization. Christians bear the name of Christ by being called “Christian.” By the name “Christian,” the church is “of Christ.” Christ tears down the dividing walls (Eph 2:14–17). The church carries the name of God and Christ in descriptions such as “church of Christ,” “churches of Christ,” “church of Jesus Christ,” “Christians,” “disciples of Christ,” and so on with biblical names.
The churches of Christ are congregations of Christians who have set to be the church of Christ as found in the Bible. These congregations are not perfect, and the churches in the first century were not perfect. Like the first century, churches of Christ are made of imperfect people who are only perfected by the death of Jesus Christ (Col 1:21–23).
Some churches will continue to struggle in their immaturity, but those who are truly believers will unite in love for God, Christ, and one another (Eph 4:11–16; Col 3:14). Christ makes Christians holy, blameless, without spot, and blemish (Eph 5:27; Col 1:21–23). Therefore, the churches of Christ diligently strive to unite and not to divide by man-made doctrines and divisive names. Churches in the first century struggled with divisions and false teachings too (1 Cor 1).
Making a Stand
The churches of Christ believe the Bible that Christ only saves the church of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:25–27). Congregations of Christ stand against the leaders and teachers who divide and denominate. The church pleads with all believers to be Christians only and to follow Christ through His words. Because of our confident stance upon the Scriptures as the sole authority for doctrines and practices, churches of Christ are diligent to “observe all things” that Jesus instructed (Matt 28:20). The churches of Christ strive not to go beyond the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9). Because of this, many judge the churches of Christ and scoff at the church’s love for God, love for one another, and obedience to His commands (John 14:21, 23; 1 John 5:2–3; 2 John 6).
Invitation
The churches of Christ welcome all believers to unite. Members of all denominations are welcome and urged to become Christians only — apart from denominationalism. If you disagree, we lovingly and kindly plead from the Scriptures to find and join the church of Christ. Those who are honest will all seek Christ. All guests are welcome meet with churches of Christ. The congregations of Christ are focused on the mission of making disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commanded (Matt 28:19–20).
Christ has built the church and bought the church with His blood (Matt 16:18; Acts 20:28). The Lord adds repentant baptized believers to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41, 47; Eph 5:25–27). Only members of the church of Christ are enrolled in heaven (Heb 12:23).
Find out more about the churches of Christ via this article, “Ten Characteristics among Churches of Christ,” or online video, “Searching for the Truth.”
The Breath of God 
Reblogged this on Seeing God's Breath.
“Now, are those of the Church of Christ the only ones going to Heaven? Yes!”
This line comes out of no where. The scripture very clearly denotes that it’s not a certain brand of churches, but what makes a church a figurative “church of Christ.” A church that follows Christ.
Let me ask everyone a question:
It was so important in the steps to getting to Heaven that someone get saved by faith in Jesus Christ, The Bible lays it out without any confusion or secret interpretations. Anyone who wants to be a Christian has little confusion about how to do it.
So you’re telling me that God went to such lengths to lead us to Him through salvation, yet He didn’t include such clear direction as to what address we should worship at, so as to result in only a minute percentage of worshippers even benefitting from salvation?
And don’t tell me it’s clear because your opinion is that it’s clear. “Clarity” would result in a near universal belief amongst Christians.
I do not understand what you are saying. Christians are those who love and follow Christ, but not by simply believing a little about Christ. Even the demons believe (Jas. 2:19).
Are mainline churches made of Christians, who reject Christ’s words about marriage and permit the killing of the unborn?
Did you read this article and its scriptures?
There are absolutes in 1 Cor 6 and Rev. 21 which although we still can’t judge the person we can warn. We didn’t write, we just point.
Scott, I agree with 1 Cor. 14, also. I had a member of the Way College “speak” years ago. He had an interpreter. Had to take the interpretation by faith which I didn’t. I think 1 Cor. 14 is more in line with a manifestation of Acts 1 ad 2. I though no longer will argue over ecstatic utterances. Are they necessary,? Paul negates that. But to make a dogmatic statement in regards to existence I can’t. At least not as primary doctrine. I believe God is still the author of faith. We have the Word. Our unity is to be in Christ. What happens in another person’s spirit is between Him and God. If the fruit of the Spirit is evident in their life I can’t see the inner man. The control issue is that of dogma. It instills fear that is unfounded. Be it tongues, choirs, located ministers, etc. To judge another as not in Christ due to a differing opinion is to put oneself in a dangerous place according to Matthew 7 and James 4.
Maybe you have point there that addressing tongue-speaking is not worth it since it really reveals itself. Yet, I think we should still warn the immature.
These tongue-speakers would also be able to support their revelations with miracles (Heb. 2:3-4). Tongues were for evangelizing the world. If any of the so-called tongue speakers were so much more spiritual than us (1 Cor .14:22), I’d expect them to be evangelists to lands of foreign languages. The Gospel spread to all the nations before the writing of Romans and Colossians. To do this starting with 12 Apostles and those whom they laid hands on is nothing short of amazing, which testifies to authenticity of spiritual gifts and proving Christ all over again.
Judge fruits? Yes (Matt. 7:20). Judge eternal destination? No (Rom. 14:10).
DW,
Amen. I agree especially with yielding and being passively not excluding our active faith. I only disagree with exception in regards to the churches of Christ from my experience. I also add that the tongue-speaking of unknown languages is a problem in the Assembly without an interpreter, which he is to bring more revelation (1 Cor. 14). This is not anymore about control than the Apostle Paul’s “control” excluding foreign languages without interpretation for the sake of the edification of the mind (1 Cor. 14:9-20ff). I believe the Scriptures to be complete in revelation from the Apostles and prophets and I am challenged by the usefulness of supposed interpretation of unknown languages. I am convinced that such partial revelation has ceased and now prophecy is complete. Certainly, speaking by the Spirit in foreign languages would have ceased too as a means of revealing prophecy.
I strongly disagree with your contention that Christians are only proactive in their Christianity. If you cannot see that passive surrender is the way toward relationship with God then I cannot help you.
The sin nature is the flesh. That’s exactly what it is: “A sin nature.”
You said, “Should we be passive toward the flesh?” Maybe not in the way you are thinking, but can you overcome the flesh by means of the flesh? Surrendering the flesh (sin nature) to God empowers the Spirit, so in a way yes you are passive toward the flesh. You can win the war against the flesh.
Surrender is passive. You cannot be proactive in surrender. I’m not sure you have a grasp on how the Spirit works. Your job is to get out of the way and allow the Spirit to do His work in you. You are to become the dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit. If you don’t agree with this then you are still a babe in Christ. I don’t know how you can read the NT and miss this point.
The question is this?…..
Pro-active pursuit, or passive surrender?
Which will you choose?
“Pro-active pursuit, or passive surrender?” Both.
“I’m not sure you have a grasp on how the Spirit works. Your job is to get out of the way and allow the Spirit to do His work in you.” No. I’d rather the Spirit work through me.
Regarding Gal. 3-4, if I speak of any law, I speak of the Law of Christ and faith (Gal. 6:2, Rom. 3:27, 8:2) and not the Law of Moses (Gal. 3-4, Rom. 11:6) or the natural law of the conscience (Rom. 2:14-15).
John 16:13 are Jesus’ words to His Apostles. Should we consider the Spirit speaking through the Apostles to be any more current than Jesus speaking to us in the flesh? No. Yet, both speak to us through the scriptures.
I have no more to discuss. I only request that you give scriptures for your beliefs for any further consideration.
As I have said there is a place for pro-action, but as the Christian matures and allows Christ to be formed in them then it is Christ who works in the believer, not the believer working for him/her self.
You said, “Regarding Gal. 3-4, if I speak of any law, I speak of the Law of Christ and faith (Gal. 6:2, Rom. 3:27, 8:2) and not the Law of Moses (Gal. 3-4, Rom. 11:6) or the natural law of the conscience (Rom. 2:14-15).”
Not sure what you mean here. When the NT refers to law it does not always mean the old law. Law has limitation as far as changing the consciousness of the believer, which is the essence of the new covenant. Law can only change behavior.
NT law is inner law, not outer law and the principles that govern the person under inner law (the law of Christ) are not about the believer working at fulfilling this law but is about the believer surrendering their will to God and allowing God to fulfill the law in them.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 2:22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
I have given you plenty of Scriptures to support my claims. You seem to present scriptures that support your theory of “Christiany by the scripture” but do not present much that support “Christianity by The Spirit.” You claim the the Spirit works through the Scriptures but minimize the fact that that the Spirit work equally in the consciousness, even though the NT speaks much about the direct work of the Spirit in the believer. I have given you enough scripture to support this claim.
Please show me where the NT says that living by the written text is more valuable than living by the Spirit and I will leave it alone. I don’t think you can do this. But please try.
Thank you.
Scott,
Your reference to 1 John 3:24 is a good one. However, would you be of the belief that all one has to do is obey the commands to know that they have the Spirit? If a Christian obeys the commands from a sense of fear of what will happen if they don’t would this still awaken the Spirit within them? This is important because 1 John 3:24 does not address this.
Also this passage goes on to say that we know He lives in us by the Spirit He gave us, and not by the written word he gave us. Your thoughts?
I didn’t say that we have the Spirit when follow, but rather we are shown we have the Spirit when we keep God’s commands (1 John 3:24). We have the Spirit when our minds are set on the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6).
What do you mean by “sin nature”?
Dying to sin is an act. It is a work of submission and humility. The vine and branches does not show that one is passive in receiving the Spirit, but one is active and remains in Christ.
Should we be passive toward the flesh? “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Rom. 6:12).
Yes, Rom. 7 shows that being pro-active in the flesh and the law will not bring obedience, but rather being pro-active toward the mind on the Spirit in Rom. 8 and now we can follow Christ rather than the Law or flesh. By reading Rom. 7, we see that working does nothing without the Spirit as seen in Rom. 8. The only passiveness is not following the law in the flesh, but rather setting the mind on the Spirit.
You obviously know little about the Spirit and how it is invoked. the Bible gives much insight into this but those without ears cannot hear.
Matthew 10:39
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Mark 10:31
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
These are seemingly paradoxical principles that describe how the Spirit works in us, if we are willing to see it. You still see value in your proactive approach do the death of self, and all it does is make you the master of your salvation, and not Christ as your Savior. The “self” that you are proactively using to pursue salvation is from the same mind that caused the fall from salvation. How can the cause of war be the cause of peace? Until you see this you will continue to see value in the flesh as that which can overcome itself. The power of surrender has evaded you because you still see surrender as something you proactively pursue.
Dying is passive. You cannot be proactive in the dying process. It naturally occurs when one sees their actual state of helplessness. The flesh (sin nature) is proactive by nature. The Spirit is proactive in you when you (the flesh) become passive. You must have ears to hear this.
When you die to the mind of flesh your mind naturall defaults to the Spirit because the Spirit is your true nature. The Spirit is not something you can actively pursue. The flesh pursues. The Spirit allows. You must get this subtle principle or you will continue to struggle with yourself in this divided nature that is the flesh.
Yes. Christ proactively works through me by faith (Eph. 2.10, Col. 2.13). That faith comes from the Word (Rom. 10.17).
He works in you through His Spirit within you, not just the written scriptures. WOW! How many scriptures testify to this? Where shall I start?
So how do you proactively pursue surrender? The mind (of flesh) that tries to surrender is the mind (of flesh) that needs to die. THE MIND WILL NO KILL ITSELF!
Do we only know of God’s existence and presence by reading the Bible? Not at all.
1 John 3:24
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Hebrews 8:11
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
Certainly the story of Jesus is only known through the Scriptures, but when the Spirit is awakened within us (through regeneration) then our dependency on the written text becomes less as our direct connection grows. The parable of the vine and branch validate this.
We should be careful not to get so connected to the words that it hinders our personal connection to God. God is interactive with us and this is what must be encouraged.
You said, “Understanding is important and not subjective or we have to say that Jesus did not sustain His words or communicated effectively enough to be understood.” If one is intellectually processing the words of the text then this understanding is subjective. Understanding that comes from the Spirit is not subjective. The key is knowing the difference. We cannot become too analytical in our study of the Truth. It will lead us astray. Instead we must become passive and allow God to give us understanding. Understanding can be something as subtle as an epiphany and not a logical conclusion.
Let go and let God.
Why are you trying to teach and instruct me about things that I already know?
First John 3:24 is one of passage that shows us that we have the Spirit when follow God’s commands, which we have received through the Spirit’s guidance of the written Word.
Hebrews 8:11 is a general reference to the New Israel, the Church where everyone knows the Lord.
I agree the Spirit regenerates us and we are born of the Spirit. The Spirit does this, but necessary within or without the Word.
“Understanding can be something as subtle as an epiphany and not a logical conclusion.” This is where you need scripture. Explain this with scripture. You say that we shouldn’t be diligent but passive? Why? What scripture teaches this?
Here is where we differ. You say “we have the Spirit when we follow God’s commands.” I think the bible teaches that when we have the Spirit we follow God’s commands from His Spirit within us. One can certainly follow God’s commands from the flesh but the flesh is contaminated with the sin nature. The Spirit is not and therefore the task is live from the Spirit not from the flesh. Not sure you’re getting this important point.
Regarding “passiveness,” there is plenty of insight (in the NT) into how the seeker should become passive so that God’s Spirit can dwell within us and then become the means by which we obey. The parable of the vine and the branch is a perfect example. The branch is passive in it’s development. It does not pro-actively grow on it’s own. A major NT principle is that we are made strong through weakness and that one must die to find life. These are both passive in nature. we cannot pro-actively become weak. We cannot pro-actively die to self.
The coC theology is not directed toward passiveness. It is based on pro-active pursuit toward salvation. I spent 35 years in the coC. I know of what they teach.
Yes, there is a place for pro-activity in the early stages of Christianity, but at some point this pro-action must give way to passiveness as the seeker understands the futility of living from the flesh.
I hope you will open yourself up to these possibilities. If you do God will take you where you can’t take yourself.
Too many still don’t understand “It is finished”. They have fallen into the trap of Gal. 3:1 and even worse their fruit is that of Col.2:6. Having relegated the Spirit to the written Word like the Pharisses they have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Man made rules and traditions quench rather than give life. They destroy unity which Christ sent the Spirit to build. Many also do not understand rhema and logos We are to live by faith and not sight, but an abuse of the gifts has led to outright denial and a highly probable misinterpretation of 1 Cor 13:8 by many groups including many of the coC. I too was raised and still attend. Works of the Spirit are manifest, but the Word speaks of what is being produced by the Spirit not by the written Word. The arrogance of the flesh is very evident in those who try to live totally by the Law and even more so when tradition becomes law. We become actors(Hypocrites) rather than branches. Our fruit is ours not His.
Excellent thoughts, DW. I agree wholeheartedly.
I meant Col. 2:20ff instead of 2:6.
The Pharisees did not relegate the Spirit to the written Word. They didn’t know the word. They used the word. They were very progressive in justifying divorce for any reason and dishonoring their parents by not caring for them.
Let’s not quench the Spirit in quenching prophecy (1 Thess. 5:19-20). The Apostles spoke of the Spirit speaking to us through the Scriptures (Acts 1:18, 28:25, Heb. 3:7, 10:15) and through the prophesies of the Apostles and the prophets (Eph. 2:19, 3:3-5), which we only have today through the Scriptures.
First Cor. 13:9-10 shows the completion of prophecy and the continuance of love in verse 8. The partial is partial prophecy, but with the complete or the completion (perfection) of prophecy. Now, partial prophecy is gone, when we received everything from the Spirit through the Apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:3-5).
“Now, partial prophecy is gone, when we received everything from the Spirit through the Apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:3-5).”
This simply is not true. We have a direct connection to God without the Apostles. You referred to this in John 3:24.
Also, John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth….
How can you say that the Spirit only teaches through the Apostle in light of plenty of evidence otherwise?
Semantics plays a part. We have started a study on the Spirit and the truth be told many do not want “direct revelation” lest they lose control of their own lives. Many are spiritually blind, many immature. Many think of direct revelation and think automatically of a new plan of salvation. One can still receive a word of knowledge as wisdom or instruction in their spirit as God wills. I don’t believe Scott denies this. Yet I do believe also that obedience to the written Word yields peace and favor also. Read Corrie ten boom’s account of meeting a former captor. Her human nature did not want to forgive. But she was not unkind to the man, embraced him and then says she had a sense of peace come in. The word work also bothers many. Yield is a verb in the English language and we are taught that verbs are action or work words. So even passively yielding to the Spirit or submitting ourselves to the Father of spirits as in Hebrews is a work. It is not a man-made tradition, but a work to which we are saved and is a fruit. The Spirit called Paul to many places. His work was to follow the lead.. Receiving the gift of salvation is still an active -passive act under the rules of the English language. Some of the works that are plain in the Bible are in James 1:26ff. Our willingness to do even in “infancy” shows a want to grow. But that is from God. The problem is still when misinterpretation and context or mis-context become law. One of the biggest problems I find in many who come out of any group including the coC is the danger of “reverse” arrogance. We are to refute false doctrine, which binding in an unscriptural way is. But as in speaking in tongues the problem is not really does it or doesn’t it still exist, but do I bind belief or otherwise in a way which negates the efficacy of the blood. And is it really a necessity of salvation. At times we do wrangle too much and faith is messed up. We want cookie cutter Christianity. And that is not of The Spirit, it’s a control issue.
Certainly obedience to written revelation is virtuous, but it only addresses the form of the individual. It does not address the content. Laws, commands, rules and regs have their place in the life of the Christian, but this is not the highest calling of the Christian. The Galatians were Christians but they were also void of Christ within them. They were attracted to law. Paul’s frustration with them was displayed in his quote: Galatians 4:19
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” So the Galatians were Christian but Christ had not yet been formed in them. Are there Christians today like this? Absolutely! The written text and the law become their only tool toward obedience and yet they think that this is all there is to Christianity. The law has it’s place but obedience to commands is not evidence of the presence of the Spirit. Galatians 3:19, “Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.” The Seed is the Spirit and the law keeps us in line until Christ (The Spirit) is formed in us. Those who insist that we are under the rule of written commands is admitting that Christ has not yet been formed in them. If Christ had been formed in them then they certainly would not be extolling the virtues of living from the text.
I must say that I can’t help but find it amusing that you start by claiming that we can know of God’s existence other than by reading the Bible, and then quote scripture (i.e. reading the Bible) to ‘support’ that contention.
The rest of course, once you dig through the gobbledygook phrases; is really no more than a suggestion that we just believe it all for no reason, try not to think too much and just accept wholeheartedly…and I do mean “heartedly” as in affix on an emotional attachment rather than reasoning.
Possible? Definitely. None of the patriarchs had a written word on anything other than their hearts, until Moses, that we can see. God spoke to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Cain, Abel…. Phil, as I have seen, has never discounted the necessity of the written Word, although it my belief that for some it is a written affirmation of something” they just knew”.(Heb 8:11). For some the written Word is “de jevu”. Christ chose the apostles and gave them special knowledge, they had a contact and relationship with the Spirit others didn’t have(Acts 6). Jealousy of that relationship occurred then and before. Still does.Read the account of Aaron and Marian in Exodus. Can one prove without a shadow of a doubt the Spirit does not still communicate with the human spirit in those who will listen? The Pharisees well fit the poem “Invictus”. That spirit still exist today. Hebrews tells us to subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live. We’re also told the law was written for those who had become dull of sight and hearing. They have to have a written law as to be able to see with the flesh what they can’t get in spirit. Yet there is also grace in that. But as of old, many man made-rules and regs have taken precedence , and little Gospel is taught. Having grown up in the coC, a truly terrifying revelation exist in that many fit the statement of Christ “you search the scriptures, for in them you think you have life…” Still happens today. The scribes and Pharisees searched the OT, not to see what was prophesied, but to make laws. They pointed to death, rather than Life. It still happens, but we now have 66 books rather than 5.
I’m not amused with those who say they’re amused. It smacks of an arrogance for which all too many are known for. A misuse of spiritual gifts is nothing new, nor or lying signs and wonders.
But to base doctrine on the cessation of them(1 Cor. 13) as an absolute is in itself a form of heresy. I’m not well read in ancient church history, but Eusebius, who is oft quoted by many of the coC and other group preachers, speaks of miraculous occurrences which post date what most of us learned to be the date of the closing of the canon. The argument is not new.
A denomination among others(the roots of the restoration, as are much of the practices still have their roots in the RCC), the group which by census is known as the coC, is probably the most fragmented of those who claim Christendom. Gobbledy-gook and it’s fall out are a rule rather than an exception. I often hear and was raised with reasoning and logic. The Pharisees were good at such. It’s oft end result is revealed in Colossians 2.
Many in the coC can quote Col 3 and Eph 5, they claim it as gospel. How many know 1 Cor. 15:4? The letter of the law kills, the Spirit gives life. Churches are full of zombies.
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Awesome. I found it amusing that a guy so obsessed with science that he has an atomic symbol in his profile picture is trolling comments on Christian Websites. Feeling a bit empty inside? Science won’t cover that.
Phil,
Like I’ve said, I doubt the claims of personal revelation. I do believe that God including the Spirit will bless us with wisdom when we pray (Jas. 1). I’ve studied the Spirit and the whole of the Scriptures thoroughly and I do not read of anyone receiving personal revelation without the laying on the Apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-17).
I do believe in the indwelling of the Spirit, Christ, the Word, and of the Father. Some say that Christ and the Father indwell through the Spirit, and some say that the Spirit, Christ, and the Father dwell through the indwelling Word. I personally see no distinction and through diligent study have not resolved this and do not think it a matter of losing salvation. I believe that we should not judge one another such matters of opinion, but I’m always open to scripture that I may overlooked and did not study close enough.
To answer your question, I believe that my understanding comes through the Apostles and the prophets (Eph. 3:3-5). By the indwelling word (Jas. 1:21, Col. 3:16), Christ’s Spirit dwells in me as much as Christ Himself dwells in Me (Rom. 8:9-11). Therefore, I mind the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6). There are different understandings of the indwelling of the Spirit for which I do not find threatening to salvation, but worthy of discussion without offense. Therefore, I see the indwelling through the Word and also through the Spirit.
Understanding is important and not subjective or we have to say that Jesus did not sustain His words or communicated effectively enough to be understood. As you know, our worship is to be of the spirit and the mind (1 Cor. 14:15). First Corinthians 14 addresses what was lacking in the Assembly of the saints, which was the edification of the mind and maturity in knowledge (1 Cor. 14:20). I believe that we can be united in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10). This is the unity that we must endeavor to keep (Eph. 4:1-6). This understanding was compete and not subjective to Luke (Luke 1:3). The different understandings have a cause. Jesus said, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word” (John 8:43). As we know, Jesus did not fail to communicate.
I believe this study goes over into things that we cannot understand. Secret things that belong to the Lord (Deut. 29:29) like trying to understand the eternity of God’s existence is beyond our comprehension as His knowledge is greater than the Universe that He created for which we cannot fully comprehend.
Phil, you wrote accusing me of saying something that I didn’t and accusing me of error on different matters. I have simply answered you and welcomed the scriptures to which you refer. May God bless us in the study of His Word.
I should ad that the diagnoses are from secular psychologist and psychiatrist. I’ve dealt with the “problem” for 40+ years and it was not until I stepped out of my “comfort zone” of the church in which I was raised was I able to find some answers. For years many in the congregations I was raised in have used and still use 2 Thessalonians 2 in regards to delusions against others while failing to look at their own lives. Their own philosophy leaves them in danger of Galatians 3:1. Love is not just in word. Are “experiences” necessary? I don’t think so, and attempting to live by sight (relying on feelings) rather than faith is not good. But to deny “mystical” experiences as a whole is too deny the truth. It can also keep people in bondage that could be freed. Many are convinced that not all “psychiatric” anomalies are physiological in nature. As the OT pointed to Christ so does the NT. Yet no where does it demand we be cookie cutter Christians. The problem is too often fear of moving forward. The English language is a pain at times. And like most other groups we pointed fingers at , many still want to live the faith of their ancestors. Rather than being a Berean or studying to show themselves approved they carry the same prejudices of before. And “mysticism” outside of the Word is a danger. Too may want to deny the power of the Dark side also. Witchcraft is not a lot of hocus pocus. Those converted in Acts did not burn their witchcraft materials for nought. There are shysters and sleight of hand folks.But not all psychics are fake. Such is another danger of not taking certain realms seriously.. Granted not all maybe affected the same way. But some may be and not even realize it.
I agree. It is when mysticism loses Christ and adds new revelation to Him that brings err and heretical teaching. If as some claimed mystical help for their personal life, there is no objection. In the brotherhood, there is concern when some glories in this, applies it to Christ, or justifies sin.