New Testament Christianity

Should We Still Be Trying To Restore New Testament Christianity?

Well, The word restoration means the act of restoring something or someone to a satisfactory state.  Others say that it is to get something back again, indicating it was lost.  But usually, when Christians speak of the word restoration, it is either speaking of an era of time or it is referring to restoring New Testament Christianity.  Sadly, it is true that there are some who believe that there was no Lord’s church between say AD 400-AD1800.  I fully disagree with that.  We can see throughout history, that it has never been lost.  Sure, it was not publicized as other religious groups, but it was still there.

Now, as to the word restoration, many Christians, and that would include myself, do not like the term “restoration” when it comes to the church.  The reason why I say that is because the Word of God tells us that His Word will never end.  In Matt. 16:18, Jesus said to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  That includes that the church will continue to stand.  In 1 Pet. 1:25, Peter said, “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”  There are so many scriptures in the NT that imply that the church will exist until Judgment Day.  I mean, how can one “walk in the light as he is in the light” or how can we “have fellowship one with another” (1 Jn. 1:7) if the church didn’t exist for a period of time?  No, the church is His body and that body was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and regardless if there was a physical building or not, the body of Christ has remained since that day.

Now, sure there were persecutions, or they were scattered, or they worshiped in private or even in enormous caves, but the Body of Christ was, has been and will always be His Church which He died for, which will not be overpowered.  And, it is not for man to ‘eliminate’ or destroy.  I mean, you think about if the church had completely disappeared for around 1100-1400 years, then no one would possibly be able to know or obey the truth.  God would not allow that.  And so, because of these reasons, the church never needed to be restored, but rather a better ‘terminology’ would be “revived.”  I mean think about the church: she survived the “black ages” and around the 1500s or so, she was free again to worship openly, telling and teaching others the Gospel.

Now, the idea of using the word restore came from these four verses: Matt. 17:11; Lk. 19:8, Acts 1:6 and Gal. 6:1.  But, these words in the English language do not do justification here because often in English we use is done without clarifying the meaning.  But with Greek, it is much more precise because sentences give the definition and meaning of the word and not dictionaries.  For example: Matt. 17:11, restore here refers to making all things complete and closing the Mosaic law since Christ fulfilled it.  Lk. 19:8, restore here is referring to giving back by way of repentance or if any wrong was done.  Acts 1:6, here the kingdom had been taken away from some time, from the Jews and Judea was reduced to a Roman province and now under Roman power. Here the word restore shows that something was completely vanished and had hoped for its return. But, it never returned.  Gal. 6:1, here the word restore indicates taking a weakened Christian or unfaithful one and bringing them back again, resetting them in the church and restoring them to their former usefulness and good conduct which is to be done.

Therefore, if we use this word “restore or restoration,” we must be careful how it is used because those who are progressive in the church use this word meaning to keep updating the church to suit person preferences.  This is the reason why many Christians are now saying that they are a member of the church of Christ and not a member of the restoration movement.

Again, as for the word restoration, it is true that the church can stray into liberalism and be restored or brought back to the truth.  But, one cannot be restored to a truth of which it never knew, upheld or taught.  Therefore, the church, as a whole, was never lost.  And, read lights should go off when we hear of congregations who are restoring the New Testament Christianity or church.

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The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

It is common today to say that wisdom is knowledge in practice. While this may help us understand more about wisdom, this statement is not entirely accurate because it assumes that wisdom cannot be presented in the form of knowledge. Really, wisdom is a subset of knowledge; it is practical knowledge. Book knowledge is know-what knowledge. Wisdom is that area of knowledge that deals with know-how. For example, a medical student may know that the gall-bladder is near the liver, but only a seasoned surgeon will know how to identify the gall-bladder anatomically. The goal of wisdom literature is to provide some insight into the know-how of life.

The book of Job, the Psalms, and the Proverbs are in the part of the Old Testament known as Wisdom Literature. This is because these books of the Bible purport to set forth practical knowledge and understanding regarding day-to-day living. The first principle of wisdom literature is this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Job 28:28; Psa. 111:10; Prov. 9:10). The reason you find this principle in all three of these books is simple. All wisdom begins with God as He is the source, par excellence, of how the creation works. After all, He is its creator, and no one knows better how something operates than the one who made it.

The ancients of the Old Testament knew that a healthy respect for God resulted in clean living, and this is something that has been lost on society today. The rise of modernity with its emphasis upon resolving all problems through autonomous human reason (humanism) has resulted in the disparaging of ancient wisdom. Modernism skeptically asks, “How could the ancients have known about the social sciences without the empirical method?” Yet when the so-called empirical method is applied rigorously today, the social-sciences have seldom (if at all) rendered novel conclusions. Traditional families really are the basis for a stable society. Attending church regularly really does make one a more charitable person. And a healthy respect for God leads to a more positive outlook on life. While just a few, each of these conclusions has been demonstrated in the social-science literature.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because when we fear God, we are going to have respect for His word. The Bible is the word of God, and it contains more than just facts. It is a history of God’s people as they interact with the world and with one another. While this history unfolds, those who read the Bible are taught how best to live so as to maximize good relationships with one’s fellow and with one’s God. God is always the priority in these relationships because He has the keys to knowing what will best suit each person’s effort to build these relationships. God stands as the source for all good relationships because He is the ultimate source of goodness, and He is the ultimate source for understanding what best perpetuates relationships. God’s word is key to fearing God, and fearing God is the key to having true wisdom.

Wisdom, however, may be appreciated not only from the standpoint of its utility in providing for good relationships, but for the beauty of what it reveals in and of itself. Wisdom as a virtue (and God is the source of all that is wholly virtuous) may be sought as a good in and of itself. One receives blessing simply by studying the wisdom literature, and simply by imbibing at God’s fount of knowledge and goodness, whether one seeks to apply what one has learned or not. This is because God is ultimately beautiful and may be appreciated in and of Himself for Who He ultimately is. Wisdom, as an aspect of God’s character/nature, may also be so appreciated. This is partially why Proverbs 19:8 says, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.” If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, perhaps the love of the Lord is the end of wisdom, for when this world ends, and all we have left after this life is our eternal relationships with one another and God, loving that which is truly beautiful in and of itself will prove to be an intrinsic good. The practical ends of wisdom for this world may come to an end, but the eternal aspects of and for an appreciation of wisdom will endure in heaven as we know God’s true beauty.

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Your Son Lives

In John 4:46-54 Jesus was approached by a certain nobleman whose son was sick. He implored Jesus to come and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke and he went his way. And as he was now going home, his servants met him and told him, “Your son lives!” What beautiful words! Your son lives!

When Jesus was born into this world we are told that an angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds and said, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11). Then in verse 13-14 we read, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” The Son lives!

In 1 Peter 1:10-12 we read that the plan of God and the mission and passion of Christ was something that the prophets searched the scriptures for diligently. We are told that even the angels desired to look into these things and acquire the knowledge of God’s plan of salvation. When Jesus was raised victoriously over death (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) we can certainly imagine the joy in heaven at His glorious, victorious resurrection. Your Son lives!

The dark veil of spiritual death drapes each sinner and God mourns the loss of every one of His children (James 1:15). The separation sin causes (Isaiah 59:1-2), between God and His children, is more painful and sad than any heartache known in this temporal realm. Imagine then the joy in heaven when the sinning child is reconciled to his Father. In Luke 15:10 Jesus speaks of this elation when He says, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Notice the joy is “in the presence of the angels of God…” God is rejoicing! In the parable of the Prodigal Son, immediately following this statement, we read the father’s response to his son’s return from the far country. “…this my son was dead and is alive again;… And they began to be merry” (verse 24). My son lives!

The most memorable and precious moments of my life have been the honor, privilege, and elation I felt in assisting each of my children in being baptized for the remission of their sins. I joy in each soul I am privileged to teach and lead to God in Jesus Christ through the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15). John writes to Gaius and expresses his joy in hearing that his “children walk in truth” (3 John 4). What a joyous expression when we can say, “Our children live!”

Friends, Jesus came to give us life and that the life we live would be an abundant life (John 10:10). He died and lives so that though we might be dead in “trespasses and sins” we might be made to live again (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus said if a man will believe in Him “though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). It is in Christ that we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring (Acts 17:28). In Christ we live!

How then do I gain this resurrected life? By hearing the word (Romans 10:17), by believing that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God (John 3:15-16), by repenting of sins (Luke 13:3, 5), by confessing your faith in Christ (Romans 10:10), by being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27) and resurrected to walk a new life (Romans 6:3-6). This new life is lived in Christ (Galatians 2:19) and in subjection to our Father (Hebrews 12:9). What a great statement and life, to be able to look to the heavens
and proclaim, “Your son lives!”

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The Doctor is Too Busy to See You

Imagine this scenario. An unseen terrorist has entered America and introduced a fatal virus which swept across our land like the rising sun. While children are immune, every other citizen faces certain death from his actions.

Opportunists arise. Reminiscent of those “snake oil” peddlers of the old west, many buy into the promised cure from the plague around them. The land seems to be covered with such opportunists, who use every available avenue of advertising to enrich themselves. There are those who say what they offer actually works, but there is no proof.

Then, there is one doctor who appears and brings the only medication which actually destroys the virus. It brings new life to those who come to him. You hear about it, but when you try to get an appointment you are unable to reach him. You try again and again, but he is not available. Your loved ones are dying all around you, but you cannot get to the doctor. He’s overwhelmed and too busy to see you.

This scenario is not too far removed from reality! That “terrorist” is that serpent first seen in Eden, and that virus is sin. It has come to all, for all have sinned and fallen short (Rom. 3:23). Tragically, that virus promises so much and delivers so little. It brings none of the long term pleasure it offers, and all Americans have been deceived.

Opportunists have arisen and promised many that remedy is found in ignoring the reality of the symptoms so apparent. Others proclaim that saying a few short sentences will remove the virus of sin. All to no avail. So many have been fooled, but the consequence of the unseen virus is still there.

At this point the scenario changes. There is that Great Physician who has the only remedy for sin, and how thankful we should be that He is always available to us! He arrived on this earth with the message of salvation from the virus. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). His message is, “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). The cure is for every person who desires to be saved by faithful obedience and service to Him!

That Physician has come. He has come for everyone. He is always available. That disease has swept across our land and infected all. It is in your life. Unlike doctors today who demand appointments be made weeks ahead of time, He is always ready. “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

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How to Build a Strong Church

Every True Christian wants the congregation that he is a member of to be a sound and strong church, exerting good influence in the community, dwelling together in peace, etc. The only way that this can be achieved is for the membership of the congregation to continue to exert effort to be the kind of growing Christian that Peter admonishes in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him (be) the glory both now and forever. Amen” {ASV}. Some things that will aid in building a strong, sound church are:

1.         STRONG BIBLE PREACHING AND TEACHING:

Acts 20:32, “And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build (you) up, and to give (you) the inheritance among all them that are sanctified”

2.         EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP {Good elders}:

1 Peter 5:2-3, > “Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to (the will of) God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; > neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock”

3.         PURE AND HOLY LIVES BY THE MEMBERSHIP:

Matthew 5:16, “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” {ASV}. — Philippians 2:15, “that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world” {ASV}.

4.         WARM, LOVING AND CONCERNED MEMBERS:

Fellowship in the church should be sweet and precious, it should be visible to the whole community, especially to those that visit the church from throughout the community.

5.         COMPASSIONATE  HEARTS:

Galatians 6:9-10, > “And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. > So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith” {ASV}.

6.         EVANGELISTIC   ZEAL:

Acts 5:42, “And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus (as) the Christ” {ASV}. — Acts 8:4, “They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word” {ASV}.

7.         AN  “I want to serve”  ATTITUDE AMONG ALL THE MEMBERS:

People serving the Lord because they love Him and want to glorify Him — not because they feel they have to do something, sometime.

8.         A DISPOSITION OF HAPPINESS, FRIENDLINESS, COOPERATION, HOSPITILITY, AND CORDIALITY:

No stranger should ever come into the midst of the Lord’s church without being greeted and welcomed by a happy, friendly membership!

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