Admonisher

"…able also to admonish one another."(Romans 15:14)
PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE

Vol. 5

March, 2003

No. 3

When Paul wrote the letter to the saints at Rome he explained to them why he had not visited there yet. He had promised to come and still intended to do so (15:24), but had been prevented (1:13). Then he set forth the basic principle of salvation - "…the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…" (1:16). He was ready to preach the gospel in Rome, for it was the means by which people could be saved from their sin.

Basically, the gospel means "good news" and has to do with the death, burial, resurrection and new life (1 Cor.15:1-8) of Jesus. There are some facts that those who are to be saved must believe. But, there is also something in the gospel that demands obedience. In Rom.10:16, Paul mentions some who had not obeyed the gospel. In 2 Thess.1:8 condemnation is promised (at the coming of Jesus) to those who have not obeyed the gospel. So, the gospel has to do with some things to believe and some things to do because one believes.

We see this illustrated in Acts 2 where Peter and the other apostles are preaching in Jerusalem. Peter reminds those present that Jesus had been crucified and buried, and then affirms that he was raised from the dead. He tells those present they should "know assuredly" that when God raised Jesus from the dead he made him both Lord and Christ (verse 36).

Upon believing this some of the people asked what they needed to do (verse 37). They now believed the facts but realized they were not right with God. What did they need to do? They were told to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…" (verse 38). About 3,000 of those present gladly did what Peter told them to do (verse 41).

When Paul reminded the saints at Rome of what they had done in order to be forgiven he told them they had been "…buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom.6:4). On down in the chapter he reminds them that when they obeyed this they were "…then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom.6:18).

Truly, they had obeyed the gospel! They believed the facts that had been presented to them about Jesus and they obeyed the commands they were given. When Jesus told the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel, he told them that those who believed the things preached (the good news) and were baptized would be saved (Mk.16:15,16). In Acts 2 they are doing what Jesus told them to do. Certainly, those who obeyed were blessed as Jesus said they would be because their sins were forgiven.

Have you heard the good news about Jesus? He died for you, he was buried and he arose from the dead. Have you believed and been baptized for the remission of your sins? The gospel is the power that God uses to save. If salvation is your desire this is the way God will accomplish it.

Some people read the Bible every day. Others read it once in a while, and there are others who never open it. All have some different views as to what it teaches. Do you think God had it written so we would "understand" it differently so that each of us could believe what we want to believe? I think not!

According to Ephesians 4:5, there is just "one faith." This means there is just one body of truth. Paul had earlier (Eph.3:4) told these people that when they read (studied) the things he wrote, they would have the same understanding that he had in regard to God's will. Later (Eph.5:17), he commanded them to be not unwise but to understand what the will of God is. All of this does not sound like God gave a revelation that He knew people could not understand, but that they would have the freedom to "understand" it as they chose.

There are times when one will need to pray for wisdom (Jas.1:5) so he can rightly divide (2 Tim.2:15) the word of truth. There may also be times when one needs to ask help from another who has more knowledge (Acts 8:30,31). The personal study, the prayers for wisdom, and the seeking help from others are all part of God's plan for people understanding His will for us today. At one time it was a mystery, and rightly so, but now it has been uncovered. We just have to study.

How to become a Christian is something that can be learned quickly if one will take the time to read the book of Acts. This is what it is all about. One can learn how Christians are supposed to live if he will study the letters written to churches and individuals. God has revealed all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet.1:3), but we have to study it to understand it.

Acts chapter 2 tells people what they have to believe and to do in order to be saved. But it will remain a mystery until one reads it carefully. Yes, the will of God for man today is still a mystery to many people simply because they don't study and rightly divide the word of truth. But God did not intend it to be so. That is why we have the New Testament. It is the mystery of God revealed!

Study is hard work (Eccl.12:12), and it is easier to let someone else tell us what God wants us to do. This was also true in the first century. 1 Jno. 4:1 tells those who are interested in learning the will of God to test the teachers because there are those who don't teach the truth. Let us search the Scriptures as did the people in Berea in Acts 17:11. We can know the truth and by obedience to it be made free from our sins. God's will for us today has been revealed and is there waiting for us to study and obey it.

Three verses that answer the question which formed the title of bro. Dancer's previous article follow. Everyone would do well to know the great Bible principle they teach.

Paul said, "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:3-5).

A mystery is not something incomprehensible, but something that has not yet been revealed. In the Old Testament, the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, matters concerning the church, and how the Gentiles would enjoy the same blessings as do Jews, were prophesied often in figurative language. Because of this it was called a mystery. Other passages call it a "shadow of the good things to come" (Heb. 10:1). "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed" (Gal. 3:8). Therefore, the gospel in promise was a mystery to Abraham; he knew that somehow one of his descendants would bless all nations, but how, when, etc. were all unknown, unrevealed--it was a mystery!

After Jesus came to earth, lived, taught, died, was raised and ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit who guided the apostles into "all the truth" (Jno. 16:13). This "truth" into which they were guided was what they wrote under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. It is the New Testament in your Bible. Paul spoke of it as being given by "the inspiration of God," and all sufficient to make us spiritually complete (II Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, the New Testament or gospel of Christ, which was before a mystery (something unrevealed), became revealed! It is no longer a mystery! -- p.a.o.

In Daniel 2 there is recorded a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had, and the interpretation of which God gave to Daniel. Basically, it foretold the coming of four kingdoms, the last one of which was Rome. In Daniel 2:44, Daniel explains that "in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed." The New Testament opens telling how John the Baptist came preaching "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). From Luke 3:1-3 it is obvious that John's work was done during the reign of Rome. According to Mark 1:15, Jesus preached saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In Mark 9:1 Jesus told some of His followers that they would not taste of death till they saw the kingdom of God come with power.

It is clear from the New Testament that He did build His kingdom, and it was built during the days of the Roman government. The inspired apostle Paul said that he and the brethren at Colossae had been "delivered out of the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son" (Col 1:13). Notice the past tense. Obviously, by the time Paul wrote the letter to the church at Colossae the kingdom was in existence and they were members of it. In Revelation 1:9, John said that he was a brother and partaker with the brethren of the seven churches of Asia in the kingdom. John was in it, so clearly it was in existence.

But what is the kingdom? In Luke 22:29-30, as Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, he said to His apostles, "I appoint you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom." The Lord's table (His Supper) is in the kingdom. But surely, His Supper is seen to be in the church (1 Cor. 11:17-34). In Acts 20:28, Paul told the elders of Ephesus that the church was purchased with the blood of Christ. In Revelation 5:9-10, Christ purchased the kingdom with His blood. From these and similar passages the church and the kingdom are the same institution. In Matthew 16:17-19, Peter made the great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus promised to give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter. Keys indicate authority to open. Thus, Peter had been given authority to open the kingdom of heaven. He did this as recorded in Acts 2. When Peter told people what to do to be saved, he was using the keys to open the door to the kingdom of heaven. However, Acts 2:47 says the saved were added to the church. It is from these considerations that in Matthew 16:18-19 it may be fairly concluded that the church and the kingdom are simply two aspects of the same institution.

In addition to the preceding paragraph, our attention has been called by E. C. Coffman to the following matters which show that the kingdom and the church are the same institution, just looked at a little bit differently.

2 There is no difference as to how to enter: people who are born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom (John 3:3-5). This is how one enters the church (1 Cor. 12:13).

3 Both were established at the same time: the church in Acts 2:16-17, 47; the kingdom in Acts 2:30ff.

4 There is no difference in that they were established at the same place--Jerusalem: the kingdom in Isaiah 2:3; the church, which is God's house (1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 2:5, 30-33).

Remember the booklet by Bill Hall, Restudying Issues of the '50s and '60s. It is a 44-page transcription of lessons he has preached in several places. The Jackson Drive church has had these lessons printed and is offering them free of charge. Write or call for yours.