#00 - Preface - The Church And The Churches

The Beginning of A Study

     We begin this study with the understanding that all readers believe “whosoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb 11:6, esv; see Act 17:27, 28) Furthermore, we beg understanding that only the fool has said in his heart that there is no God. (Psa 14:1) Still furthermore, we understand that although God has revealed himself somewhat in his marvelous works and in a natural measure – to some degree – and in some way – to all men, he reveals what he wants man to know of Himself only in the sacred and inspired Scriptures. (See Rom 1:18-32)

      There are no unimportant parts of the Sacred Scriptures, and scholarly efforts to arrange and explain these in a helpful manner have been for the most part, excellent. Even we old-timer “traditionalists” need to go back occasionally and trace the “thread” running from the Creation to the new birth in Christ – from the garden where sin originated to Pentecost where remission was finally made available, and on to the revealed information about the life in Christ and the hereafter. And, we need to do it honestly and accurately. No prejudice or tradition, but a “thus sayeth the Lord!”

      I’ve heard many times the criticism that some of “us” do not “believe in the Old Testament.” This of course is foolishness, but no more foolish than some (often our brethren) who take from one or more of the Old Covenants certain commands and/or blessings (i.e., whatever is convenient, and often according to our own interpretation) to prove a point needing to be made. All honest and legitimate study of the Bible must be studied by Covenants. Otherwise it can easily become faulty and even dishonest.

      It is generally accepted that “a Scripture taken out of context becomes a pretext.” The basis truth is that we today – and all men to the end of time – are under the Law of Christ, the New Covenant (Testament if you choose), in the Kingdom of God under Christ.

      And yet, with many, being unable to “rightly divide” the Word presents some problems to some saints today. We are not living with the great heroes of primitive mankind where God talked directly with whomever He chose. Neither are we Jews, to whom He gave the mighty man Moses as leader, and the great Law given to them through him. We live in the Kingdom of God today where Christ is King, and are governed by the laws of this New and last Covenant.

      We need also to recognize that certain principles of relationship with God, and moral righteousness, have been binding upon mankind from Eden to the Judgment, and the particular covenant period is inconsequential. One excellent example is the command to love God first of all, and love of brethren, neither a part of any one dispensation, but for all ages for all men. What dispensation would a statement such as Hebrews 11:6 be applicable? (But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.)

Our Study

      Probably we should never start any Scripture study with the question, "What does this Scripture mean to me?" Rather, we probably should ask, What did it mean to those to whom it was written, and then, is it applicable to us today, and, if so, in what way is it applicable? For more than half a century I have been taught a simple formula in Bible study, i.e.:

(1) To which “covenant” does this Scripture belong, and is it presently applicable to my relationship to the Lord? And then, and only then, (2) Who is speaking, and is the speaker (or writer) inspired? (3) To whom are they speaking, and again, is what is being said applicable to my present relationship to the Lord? (4) What do the words actually and accurately say, and again, are they applicable to my relationship to the Lord?

      We add furthermore this truth about proper use of appropriate language. Language often means different things to different people. This writer was born and raised in the South, in the very heart of the “Bible Belt.” Certain sectarian friends have helped me to understand that “we” have acquired many expressions that can hardly be found in Scripture, but are familiar to “us.” This is not to say that they teach error, but only that they often contribute to confusion with those of different backgrounds. This has handicapped our evangelistic effort in many cases, and should prove that Bible words to teach Bible thoughts is the only ground for the greatest success in communication. A wise and successful speech professor stated accurately (by my judgment), “Effective speech is not for exhibition but for communication.” Paul said it well to Timothy, “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2Ti 3:15,16).

      Thus, we need to understand if possible the language being used as it was being used by the audience to whom God gave it. The Lord God was the perfect communicator, and never confused the presentation of His will, to Adam in the Beginning and to us through Christ today as given by the apostles to whom he gave the Holy Spirit. (Joh 16:13) While Truth never changes, nor the commands to obey the principles under all circumstances, proper language is important, and we need to respect competent scholarship to keep from abusing God’s Message. The professionals refer to “effective speech,” i.e., that which produces desired results. And, we must remember that the number of Hebrew and Greek words used in the Scriptures was rather limited, while in modern English today we probably have many times more words in English. We need to be careful and as accurate as possible in selection!

      We will continually stress that this presentation is never intended to be a “commentary” of the Scriptures. (There are plenty of these available to everyone; good ones.) It is a testimony of this writer’s understandings (with some experiences), with a sincere request that it be evaluated and all questionable statements be confronted and corrected if necessary. Your understanding of this will be much appreciated! Anyone who innocently misrepresents God’s Message needs to be helped, and anyone who deliberately misrepresents the faith designed to save souls needs to be soundly rebuked.

      We trust that all disciples of Christ (especially this disciple) will always attempt to use His Word correctly. Even then there is another consideration that is often violated. Paul writes to Timothy, “charging them before the Lord that thy strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers” (3Ti 2:14).

A Practical Approach To Bible Study

      The Lord made it clear that we are to "understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17). He has even given us the means to do so: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed; handling aright the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). If this was good advise for Timothy, it is doubly good for we teachers and students today!

      Paul never suggested that by merely reading the Word we could, or would, be confident of a proper understanding of all that he knew. This would be a perversion of Eph 3:3-5. On the contrary, Peter declares that some of the writings of Paul are difficult to understand (2Pe 3:16), and so we need to “give diligence,” or study. With these thoughts in mind, may I offer some suggestions which may help us to better understand what the Bible is teaching, and a guide to this writer’s articles.

1. Recognize How Much of the Bible

Was Written To Us!

      How much of the Bible was written to us? Consider Gal. 1:2; Eph. l:l; Phil. 1: l; Col. 1:12. Now to whom was the Galatian letter written? The Letter to the Ephesians? What about the letter written to the church at Phillipi? Finally, the Colossian letter? Were any of those letters written to us who are living today? Obviously not! Certain it is that they were written “for” us, but not “to” us. There is a difference.

      The O.T., while not addressed to anyone living today, was written for us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom 15:4). Jude, an apostle, writes to “them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called” (Jude 1:1), and says: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (v.3). It is apparent that these referenced writings were provided by God for all mankind, for all time, and we are a part of that time. Just as the letter to the Colossians was to be distributed farther, so all of the book is to receive that same treatment (see, Col 4:6).

      Now, having established that principle, let us make a practical application of it. Probably we should never start any Bible study with the question, "What does this mean to me?" Rather, we should ask, What did it mean to those to whom it was written?, and, is it applicable to us today, and, if so, in what way is it applicable? For more than half a century I have been taught a simple formula in Bible study:

      (1) Who is the speaker (or writer),

      (2) To whom is the speaker speaking?, and

      (3) How is this applicable to us today.

Those are different questions and need to be thought of as being different. Let's consider why that is important.

      When the Lord used the "fruit of the vine" in the Lord's supper, what kind of fruit was that? Those to whom it was written would have understood it immediately to mean fruit of the grape vine, of course. Since we have fruit of the same vine today, why would anyone desire to change it? We know that the fruit of the grape vine was acceptable, and meaningful, in the first century. Why would it not be acceptable, and meaningful, today?

2. Language Is Important; We Dare Not Abuse Words (2 Tim. 2:14)

Or Deliberately Use Them Incorrectly.

      There is a command in the Word that seems almost impossible to violate. It is found in the last portion of 2 Tim. 2:14: “charging them before the Lord that thy strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” The word "church," for instance, has been the subject of much debate in this century, and often not always accurately (or kindly). The English “church” does fail to translate the Greek word “ekklesia” in many instances, and, therefore, leads to some error. What error? A failure to understand that ekklesia in the New Covenant Scriptures is an assembly, both spiritual and physical? Every person I have ever met who is even minimally cognizant of New Covenant Christianity knows that “the church” is not a physical building, and yet it has become commonly thus used. The “ekklesia” of Christ is ALWAYS the people of God and Christ, and yet the Christian world has accepted church as an adjective and we have church “this and that” for just about everything we can associate with New Testament religion. This is so flagrant that some scholars have chosen “congregation,” or “community,” instead of “church” to avoid these obvious incorrect usages.

      Among those who are so diligent to make the point of it not being a "kirk” (building, “lord’s house”)but a "gathering," has this better understanding led to greater spirituality of God’s people? My answer is, “probably not,” but at least correct language is always more edifying than incorrect. The controversy over proper use of the word “church” has contributed to trillions of arguments and debates, and many have simply given up the effort to use it correctly, judging it is not worth the hours of time given to it. This is not to say that we should not exercise diligence to use Biblical terms as they are used in the Word of God. It is to say that those of us who seem to understand how the inspired apostolic doctrine is used, ought to strive to use it that way, with no compromise.

      Another case in point of proper use of words is that of Hebrews 10:25 where the word "assembly” is substituted for "assembling,” so as to teach that a given missed assembly constitutes sin. We must remember that Paul (if he be the writer of Hebrews) is probably not dealing with what a saint might do inadvertently (or even intentionally on a given occasion), but does deal with weak saints disbandoning the “assembling of ourselves” with brethren in the face of the approaching persecution of 70 A.D. The provocation for neglecting this assembling of ourselves together today is probably more often related to becoming a victim of the cares of the world.

      There are other inspired words that must be understood today in its proper context, otherwise we can easily begin to preach and practice “our” gospel and doctrine instead of that which is written.

3. We Must Be Careful of Figurative Speech

      Occasionally misunderstanding results from failure to properly recognize figurative language in the Scriptures. Jesus called Herod "a fox” (Luk 13:31,32); we should be careful about using that term against anyone, especially a brother in Christ. When Paul warned about “biting and devouring one another” we could picture mean-spirited saints; we should be careful about such terms. (Gal. 5:15; Phil. 3:2). And yet, as one esteemed brother has correctly said, there are enough illustrations, metaphors allegories in the Scriptures that we who preach and teach will have rare occasion for using our own, often used in isolated situations and unique occasions.

      The figurative language used by the Lord in instituting the Lord's Supper has no doubt been since abused by the Roman Catholic Church, who fail to recognize that the emblems "my body, my blood" are not literally his flesh and blood. They fail to see the picture that Jesus was giving us in those passages (Mat 26:26, etc). Let us learn from all Biblical illustrations, and be very careful about explaining them when the inspired writer does not do so.

      We need to be especially careful about explaining prophecies and prophetic language used in the Scriptures. Some of today’s most dynamic evangelical speakers have made their reputations and accumulated many followers by interpreting certain prophetical language according to their ideas and conclusions. One of the ways to avoid such misapplication of Scriptural teaching is to refuse to insist that an Old Covenant passage is prophetic in the absence of a New Covenant declaration of, "this is that."

4. Do Not Allow Others to Determine Your Faith.

      It is a regrettable fact that many saints today are basing their hope of eternal life upon their confidence in a favorite preacher, or maybe an elder. We fail to understand that, as Paul told the Romans, “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom 14;12). Peter tells those to whom he wrote, “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . . (2Pe 1:10). The statements are plentiful that emphasize the “every man,” “each one of you,” “whosoever,” etc., etc. And yet, because of laziness of study, or simply because of adoration for another man, many have formed their answer to the faith that saves the soul upon other uninspired men instead of the inspired apostles.

5. Form The Habit Of Considering Everything the Bible

Says on a Given Subject.

      We accept the fact that if the Sacred New Covenant Scriptures speaks accurately one time on a matter of soul saving faith, that is sufficient. A popular saying is, “If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” And this ought to be true. But probably there is not one single soul saving statement in the Scriptures that is not confirmed by others. This is reassuring. And, an esteemed brother has concluded that there is not but about eight verses in the New Scriptures that are difficult and, note this, “none of these eight verses are essential to our salvation!”

      One of the interesting matters to me is the number of times that dissident advocates of various sects will speak or write, “What the Scriptures REALLY Teach,” implying that they are alone in accurate understandings. And, some of us have made the same mistake in judgment, instead of simply going to the Scriptures and letting the inspired apostles do the teaching!!!

      Yes, elders (pastors, overseers) are to feed the flock (Eph 4:11ff), but with what are they to feed? Brethren are to encourage and exhort one another, but with what are they to use to encourage and exhort? Those who go to the unconverted to tell the old, old story (the Gospel) are to tell the most marvelous, beautiful, wonderful message ever spoken, and when properly done, sinful men will respond. It doesn’t need to be embellished in any way; only told forcefully; shouted out is the word! The Truth in Love (Eph 4:15). Paul said it wonderfully, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2Ti 3:16, 17 esv).

      Nothing that man could ever say, or write, could accomplish this majestic Message!

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