Back To The Bible (part 2)

Ben F. Vick Jr

Good preaching requires that the truth of God be presented in such a way that individuals can see that the lesson applies to them. Preachers need to "bring home" the message by making the application to all present.

We need to go back to the Bible in preaching on distinctiveness of the church. The church of Christ is not a denomination among denominations. When the devout Jews on the first Pentecost following the resurrection heard the truth for the first time, were convicted in their hearts, repented and were baptized for the remission of their sins, to what did the Lord add them? (Acts 2:36-47). Did they join the Roman Catholic church, the Lutheran church, the Presbyterian church, the Methodist church or the Baptist church? The answer is: They were not added to any of them. None of those denominations were in existence until centuries later. Do your own research to see when these sectarian groups began. You will find that they began many years later than the first century.

No, those penitent believers when they had been baptized were added to the only church there was, the church of Christ. The church which Jesus had promised to build (Matthew 16:16-19). They were added to the only church over whom Christ reigns as head (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). They were added to the only church wherein salvation is found (Ephesians 5:25; 2 Timothy 2:10). They were added to the only church that he will present to himself, the only one for whom he will one day come (Ephesians 5:27; 1 Corinthians 15:24).

We need to go back to the Bible to learn of the distinctiveness of the church. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). Just as certain as there is one God, there is one body. Just as certain as there is one Lord Jesus Christ, there is one body. Just as certain as there is one Spirit, there is one body. This one body is his church. Paul clearly said " And he [Jesus Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

Sixty years ago the Lord's people knew the difference between the church and denominationalism. But that is not the case now. Brother Alan Highers recently  told of having given a blank sheet of paper to an elder and having suggested to him that for three months he listen to the preacher, and write down anything that he said that could not be preached in any denomination in town. Brother Highers saw the elder three months later, and was told by the elder that the page was still blank. But Highers said that the elder had not been doing anything about it either. Elders need to return to the old paths; preachers need to preach the old paths, i.e., the Bible; all members need to follow the old paths

Let us get back to the old paths in faith and practice.