In our first article we addressed some of the issues that hinder unity for all believers. Today we want to continue to look at this grave issue. Fact: not all believers are one. Cause: Some have been misled and choose not to adhere to the Word of God. How did this happen? Like all human beings we are subject to sin. As Paul writes in Romans 3:9-10 ”
“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one…”
He also affirms: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23. Left on our own without guidance we wander away from God and His will. This is why we are reminded by the prophets to stay the course. Jeremiah proclaims, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23. Consider then it is not up to us to chart our course religiously because God has given us a path to follow. Jeremiah 6:16 reminds us:
Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Jesus has called us to that sweet rest in His invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. The Wisest Oracle once penned: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12.
Simply put, we are not united because of sin. We have decided to leave the path of God, to forge ahead on our own paths. We have no idea where we are going because we have never been there. We have taken God’s road map, tossed it in the storage room of our hearts and said “I can find heaven all by myself.” We have ignored the pleadings of a merciful God that cries to us to repent and return to Him. We have said the old paths of God are no longer useful in this post modern world. We have shunned the Righteousness of God and exchanged it for our own righteousness which as Isaiah tells us is but “filthy rags”, but we wear it proudly in our denominational names. We have taken God’s Eternal truths and perverted them so it pleases us and not God. Some ask how that has been done? We have added to the word of God, or else we have taken away from God’s Word.
We ignore what God has clearly warned us about. You may scoff and tell me it is preposterous, but consider some of these passages: New American Standard Bible Deut. 4:2: “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” In the Old Testament the Book of five was often considered as one book, at the beginning of the Covenant with God’s people He commands them do not add to my Word. Do not take away from my Word. Other Bible verses point to this as well (Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18). Let me give a word of caution here. Paul instructed Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV. Please understand as we rightly divide the Word of God, there are three dispensations (Patriarchal, Mosaic, Christian). Two Covenants (Old Testament, and New Testament). For instance, many people believe the New Testament begins with the Gospel of Mathew, but they are only partially correct. Until Jesus died upon the cross at Calvary the Old Testament was in force. Only after the death of Jesus did the New Testament rule of faith come into being. Please study Hebrews 9:16-22 NIV
In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Today people will try to drag Old Testament practices into the church, they pick and chose whatever they want, with complete disregard of what God wants. Many of my denominational friends will attack the Catholic Church for bringing Old Testament practices such as incense and the priesthood into worship and point out (correctly) that it is incompatible with the New Testament. Those same friends fail to see that they have done the same thing by bringing things from Catholic traditions into their worship. Next week I will write more on this.
Steve Webb, evangelist
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Unity of the Faith 