Our number one desire for these
Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy
Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct
interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:
- We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.
- We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
- We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
- We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated.
In our last lesson;
- We learned that the body of Christ is made up of believers who have believed the gospel as preached by Paul. (The death, burial and resurrection from the dead of the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.)
- We learned that these believers which are many are to function as one body.
- We learned that there should be no schism, but that all the members should take care of each other the same.
1Cor.12 [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but
that the members should have the same care one for another.
Let’s go to the dictionary and get
the definition for schism (a schism is a division
among the members of a group that occurs because they disagree on something).
Simply put a schism is caused
because members have disagreements about their individual beliefs and instead
of being able to let people be at different stages of growth the leadership will break
fellowship with those individuals and cause divisions in the body of Christ.
1Cor.12 [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond
or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Alright let’s look at another
principle (a fundamental truth or proposition that
serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of
reasoning) about the body
of Christ, the body is composed of believers that have been baptized into the
body by one Spirit. On December 16 it
will be 43 years that I have been saved. I have had the pleasure of seeing many
people added to the body of Christ. I am sure many of you studying with us have
had similar experiences.
It is unreasonable for us to
believe that every time a new believer is added to the body of Christ that the
new believer is going to understand and have the same knowledge level as a
believer that has been saved and studying the scriptures for 10, 20, or 30
years etc.
1Cor.3 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I
have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to
bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
In the above verses we see the
apostle Paul tell the Corinthians that they were babes in Christ and could not
be fed with meat but he had to feed them with milk. Again this is a good
example of how the body of Christ is similar to a physical body, in that a
physical body needs milk and meat to grow, so also the spiritual body of Christ
needs spiritual milk and meat to grow.
1Cor.10 [1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through
the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3]
And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the
same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Heb.5 [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of
God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb.5 [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full
age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.
1Pet.2
[2] As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
John 6
[63] It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I (Jesus) speak unto
you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The verses above simply confirm the principle that we learned in previous
lessons of the Bible Study, believers in every dispensation are to memorize,
study and search the scriptures daily to grow spiritually.
Ok we saw in the previous lessons how Satan has used
erroneous teachings concerning water baptism and denominations to cause
divisions in the body of Christ.
Now let’s look at the
leadership roles as defined in the scriptures for the body of Christ, the
church of this dispensation.
1Tim.3 [1] This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop,
he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt
to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy
lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth
well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5]
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the
church of God?)
1Tim.3 [8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not
given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; [9] Holding the mystery of the
faith in a pure conscience. [10] And let these also first be proved; then let
them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. [11] Even so
must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. [12]
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well. [13] For they that have used the office of a deacon
well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
1Tim.5 [17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double
honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [18] For the scripture saith, Thou
shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is
worthy of his reward.
Tit.1 [4] To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and
peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. [5] For this
cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that
are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed
thee: [6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For a bishop must be blameless,
as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine,
no striker, not given to filthy lucre; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover
of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; [9] Holding fast the faithful
word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
What we find when we look at
the directions and qualifications for the spiritual leaders of the body of
Christ is that only two offices are listed, one the office of an elder, or
bishop, both are one in the same and the office of deacons. Elder or Bishop
definition; one having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision: one of the
governing officers of a church, often having pastoral or teaching functions. Deacon definition; a minister or a person who attends to
the needs of a congregation.
So what we see is that the
body of Christ is to have elders or bishops who oversee the spiritual needs of
the body, they were to do this by teaching, holding fast the faithful word, and
using sound doctrine to exhort and convince the gainsayers. The deacons were to
minister to the body as well by serving with and helping the elders to be able
to perform their duties.
Now compare what we just read with what is actually going on
today in Christian organizations and circles.
Christian Hierarchy;
(Hierarchy; is a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked
one above the other according to status or authority.)
If you google Christian
Hierarchy you will quickly find a lot of different examples, for sake of this
study I am going to use only two examples which really represents the majority
of Christian denominations and nondenominational groups as well. I am not
trying to offend anyone, but simply want the readers to let the Holy Spirit
help us discern truth from error.
Church Hierarchy in order,
top down is God, Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons,
Laity.
Denominational Hierarchy in
order, top down is God, Senior Pastor, Associate/Youth Pastor, Deacons,
Congregation.
Nowhere in the Holy Bible do
you find this pattern for leadership of the Body of Christ. In fact most of the titles above are not even in the Bible.
What a day that will be when we all will be known as Christians, and not the unscriptural denominational names that people attach to themselves.
Time for a story;
I remember as a young child my
family members talking about a statement that my Grandmother made after coming
home from Church one Sunday afternoon. She was complaining about the new
preacher, how she didn’t understand him and his teachings. Today 40 some years
after her death I have come to the believe I have the answer to what happened
to the Church she loved and where she previously understood the preaching.
Two things happened in the
1950’s which spread all across the United States. People started treating the
ministry as a profession. All across the land seminaries became the source of
Bible critics, instead of instructing men how to teach and defend the Bible,
they taught men to become Bible correctors.
This is
just a couple of the many statements attacking the accuracy of God’s Holy Word
found in the Revised Standard Version Preface of 1952, “The King James Version
of the New Testament was based upon a Greek text that was marred by mistakes,
containing the accumulated errors of 14 centuries of manuscript copying.” “the
King James Version has grave defects”. “By the middle of the nineteenth
century, the development of biblical studies and the discovery of many
manuscripts more ancient then those upon which the king James version was
based, made it manifest that these defects are so many and so serious as to
call for revision of the English translation.”
Anyone should be able to see
these statements do nothing but cast doubt on the King James Bible and make one
think that until these modern day Bible critics came along, no one had an
accurate copy of God’s word. What these modern day preachers have done is
destroy the Christians faith in God’s Holy Word and made people think only the
seminary trained preachers can understand the Word of God, nothing can be
further from the truth.
Back to the subject at hand, another
divider of the Christians are the very pastors they pay to bring them the word.
There is nowhere in the
teachings of Paul as given to him by the Lord Jesus that the body of Christ
should be run or controlled by a pastor. Instead the body of Christ should be
guided by Elders and Deacons no wonder the Christian church is so far off
course.
These preachers are not
defending the Christian faith but defending the doctrines of men and their
particular group’s distinctives, and not the sound doctrine found in the
Pauline epistles written to the body of Christ.
Satan hates it when young
believers, middle aged believers, and old believers fellowship together as this
promotes learning. As long as Christian denominations have one man at the top
making the decisions, and not spirit led Elders and Deacons guiding the body of
Christ there will always be schisms.
Unfortunately, I do not see unity
in the body of Christ today. Unity will
only come when the Lord Jesus meets us in the air at the end of this current
dispensation.
When you have over 30
different English translations of the Bible and pastors teaching that none of
them are to be trusted, it leads one to
believe there is no final written authority and it brings all Bible doctrine
into question.
"The crowd that will
not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God:
many denominations, many translations, many gods."
All of the confusion among
Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the
church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and
unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.
If you fail to understand, or fail to learn
how to rightly divide the word of truth, you can never come to the knowledge of
the truth, and sound doctrine.
Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh
thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we
preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!
2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
Come join with us as we study
God’s Holy Word!
Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible
Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of
people.
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