While He was on this earth, Jesus said that He would build His church (Matthew 16:18). The question that we must answer is: Which church is His church? He only promised to build one. Therefore, only one church will be “His”. Those who want to please Jesus must seek out that one true church. Membership in a church that has as its beginning any time other than the 1st century and that has as its founder someone other than Jesus Christ Himself, is a church that is “according to the knowledge of man” and is of no spiritual profit to its members. The church which Jesus built is described in the pages of the New Testament. Any church that does not follow the New Testament pattern, either in worship or work is not His church. If we are not members of His church, then we cannot be saved. The apostle Paul tells us:
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17).
To do something “in the name of the Lord Jesus” means to do it by His authority. If we want to please Him, we must do things just the way that He revealed them,. Anything less than full obedience is to operate by our own authority. Such divergence serves no spiritual benefit! It may make us feel good. It may make us look good to those that are watching us. But, it does nothing to help us get to heaven!
Sometimes honest people have been deceived about their service to God. They think that what they are doing is right. But, just because you are sincere in your service to God does not mean that you are right in all you do! Can you point to the “authority of Jesus” for each and every religious practice in which you are involved? Can you give a “book, chapter, and verse” for what you believe and do? If not, then you need to re-examine your faith. In the same way I need to continually re-examine mine. Perhaps I am doing something that is not in accordance with the will of God. If such is the case, then you would be my friend to point it out to me. However, if you are doing something that is not in accordance with the will of God, you need to change that to be right with God. God wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). We can help one another to find the truth of God’s word, if we study that word together. We should have the attitude of Isaiah, who said:
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD (Isaiah 1:18).
Let us reason together. We would like to invite you to come and study the Bible together with us. We are a group of Christians who are trying to do the will of God. By following His word as revealed in the New Testament we try to please Him in all things. We hold to all that is revealed in the New Testament as our pattern to imitate. If you are tired of the religious differences that are in the world and the secular nature of most religious groups, then we invite you to visit with us. We do not have coffee and doughnuts. We do not have games and concerts. We do not have sports and shows. What we do have is the unchangeable gospel of Jesus Christ. We will be more than happy to share that with you!
by Kris Brewer
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