For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth

of the gospel Col 1:5

The Logos november 2012 Issue

A publication of the Church of Christ on Tortola, with the aim of bringing everyone in unity through the Logos of God.

The Logos

I Read It In My Bible, But.. By Kenny Lake

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Heb 1:1-2 But men have also spoken unto us. With excellency of speech and persuasive words of wisdom, they have troubled us with many variations and different kinds and ways to obtain salvation. All different from that preached by the apostle Paul and other inspired men. Missionaries have taken the doctrines and commandments of men throughout the world. It has been printed on slick paper with the latest sophisticated printing equipment and mass mailed to millions. It has been embellished with impressive and professionally produced TV specials featuring slick orators and moving testimonials. And, not without results More people have been more influenced in religion by what men have spoken than by what God has spoken. Denominationalism itself is a living monument to the influence of false doctrine. The many doctrines of men denominate and divide, not the doctrine of Christ. Denominationalism offers men many ways to be wrong: the doctrine of Christ offers men one way to be right. Not that denominations do not claim to follow the Bible. Notice this affirmation from a popular denomination creed book: "The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or thought requisite or necessary to salvation." To which we say, "Amen!" However, in the same creed book may be found "articles of faith" and practice that are not contained in the Holy Scriptures and certainly cannot "be proved thereby". Many believe and are influenced by what this and other denominations teach concerning various topics and dogmas. They think it to be Bible doctrine, but God has never spoken thusly. Elsewhere, the same creed-book gives instructions for the baptism of infants. From whence cometh such a practice? From heaven or from men? The same could be asked concerning another statement about baptism. "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion." The New Testament knows nothing of baptism by sprinkling or pouring; only by immersion, a burial Romans 6:4 as the word itself indicates, and as demonstrated in the baptism of the Ethiopian in Acts 8. Infant baptism and sprinkling as baptism are practiced, not to please or obey God, as some may suppose, but in response to doctrines invented by men. God deserves better. It is not enough to be "religious" and well intentioned. Fellowship with God is possible only as we abide in the doctrine of Christ II John 9. That requires knowing Truth John 8:32 and making it the standard of everything believed and practiced in the name of religion. False prophets and false teachings offer false hope. We need to be sure about our salvation! and we can as we "prove all things" by the gospel standard I Thessalonians 5: 21.

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The denominational world has tried to seek unity by teaching we are to believe the Gospel and not enforce "doctrine." According to them we should not divide over baptism, the Lord's Supper, instruments of music, tithing, marriage and divorce, etc, because all of this falls into "doctrine," and we have no right to bind doctrine, just bind a belief in Christ. Many years ago there were two men by the name of Paul Whitehead and Larry Farms that advocated that we needed to seek unity only on a belief in Jesus, the Gospel, and not be caught up in the teaching of "doctrine." According to these men and denominational preachers, all that is "doctrine" should not be taught; but the Gospel of Christ should be taught. The reasoning of such is found in I Corinthians 15:1-4, "Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;" It is now stated that the Gospel is defined as being the "death," "burial," and "resurrection," of Christ and that is all that is in the Gospel, just a belief that Jesus is the son of God. When one looks at I Corinthians 15:1-4 he is impressed with the fact that Paul said he preached the Gospel in v. 1; but in v. 2 he said he preached the Word. Now we learn the Gospel and the Word are the same. In John 17:17, we note, "Sanctify them in truth: thy word is truth." From this passage we learn that the "Word" is "Truth," so, what is called the "Gospel" is called the 'Word" and what is called the "Word" is called "Truth." These are different terms to describe the same idea - the Word of God! But if you will consider a little further the thought that all of this is called the "Seed," in Luke 8:11: "The seed is the word of God." We now have another term by which the Word is described "seed." Can you now see that the Gospel is called the Word and the Word is called Truth and the Truth is called the Seed? All of these terms are describing the same idea - the entire Word of God. We cannot stop without considering the word "doctrine." In II Timothy 4:2-3, "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts." In v. 2 Paul says, "preach the word." In v. 3 he says, "they will not endure the sound doctrine." The idea is that they will not endure what is preached the Word which is "sound doctrine." Now in this passage it is called the "word" in. v. 2 and the same thing is called "doctrine" in v. 3. The word of God is "Sound Doctrine!" Now, connect it all together and you have the Gospel, the Word, the Truth, the Seed, and it is also called the Sound Doctrine. In Acts 17:18 Paul "preached Jesus and him crucified." But in v. 19 it is called "teaching" and this comes from the word "doctrine." The word "doctrine" is used concerning the teaching of Jesus and his resurrection! When a man obeys the Gospel he obeys "that form of doctrine," Romans 6:17. So, when one has Faith, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism, this is obeying the Doctrine, or the Gospel of Christ. All of these terms are used to signify the same thing THE WORD OF GOD! There is no distinction between the word Gospel and Doctrine. The words Gospel and Doctrine mean the same. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." II John 9. The "doctrine" is the Gospel and is the Word of God. Lets be students of the word and study it, so we can please and obey God and not man. Dont become like those who say I found it in the Bible but my pastor teach someone different , I see it in the Bible but my church believe something else I read it in the Bible but ...

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