Volume  3    Issue   42   August 24th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    (I Peter 2:21-22) “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”   In last week’s bulletin we talked of accountability.  One of the arguments often given to remove accountability is to say “no one is perfect”.  Clearly, Jesus Christ changes that statement.  He was one who was perfect in the sense that He was without sin upon this earth.  He did not last just one day, two days, or even just a week without sin.  Jesus Christ lived approximately thirty-three years on this earth without committing a single sin.  He is an example to follow.  You can live a sinless day.  However, the arguments begin to follow arguing the differences between Jesus and a man today.  They say, “He could not sin”, or “times were different”.

    (Hebrews 4:14-15) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  The Hebrew writer clearly disproves the idea that Jesus’ temptations were less than ours.  If any argument would be made I would argue that His temptations were greater than ours.  He was tempted not only according to fleshly temptations, but He was also tempted to misuse His attributes as deity (Matthew 4:6-7).  We can’t claim that we go through that.  Jesus had the weight of mankind on His shoulders.  If Jesus failed, then God’s plan for redemption would have failed.  There would have been no spotless lamb that could act as a one time offering for the sins of all men (Hebrews 9:14; 28).  Now really, does that old “Jesus did not face real temptation” excuse work against those facts?

    The holders of the “continuous cleansing” doctrine contend that man cannot be perfect nor confess his every fault.  They misuse and misunderstand passages like Romans chapter three and verse twenty-three.  It is very clear that all men have sinned, or they would not need a Savior.  It is also clear that all man can sin, but no one can continue in sin with hopes that grace will abound (Romans 6:1-2).  Sin does have serious consequences.  The word of God teaches us that, as shown in last week’s article, our sin(s) separates us from God.  Therefore, the premise of this doctrine is wrong.  The Bible teaches that we must repent of our sins or we will perish (Luke 13:3; 5).  The Bible teaches we must keep every part of God’s word (James 2:10).  The Bible also teaches the way in which we can appear faultless before God.  We can appear faultless before God by repenting and confessing our faults to Him, because He then forgives and forgets those transgressions (Hebrews 8:7-12 and I John 1:9).  Christians do not have any excuse for themselves when they sin.  We have the power to remove ourselves from temptation and those things which bring about sin.  When sin occurs we must accept accountability, repent, and confess that fault before God.

    Any true student of the scriptures realizes that Christians are supposed to grow spiritually (II Peter 3:18).  A Christian’s spiritual growth will cause them to have a true hatred for wrong (Psalms 119:104).  That mindset of hatred for false things and false ways, gained from spiritual growth, will cause a Christian to abstain from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).  One does not typically do those things that they dislike.  Apply that to a Christian who dislikes, or hates sin.

    Spiritual growth is the key that will gain us more and more days without sin upon this earth.  We would stop seeing things physically and learn to renew our minds in thinking about spiritual things (Romans 12:2).  In closing, notice Peter’s words: (II Peter 1:3-10) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Introduction:

A. So many have sought out the text of Acts chapter fifteen to allow for:

1. Sponsoring churches.
2. Church cooperation.
3. Councils of men.
4. National boards and conventions overseeing churches, etc.

B.  As we enter into this lesson let us consider some things about “autonomy”:

1. An eldership has oversight of those numbered among them (I Peter 5:1-2).
2. Clearly, the preaching and teaching of the Gospel is not bound by congregational boundaries:

a. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached everywhere (Mark 16:15-16).
b. Paul wrote inspired letters to congregations of which he was not a member (Rome, Corinth, churches in Galatia, Ephesus, etc.).

II Corinthians 11:28

c. The same thing needs to be taught in every congregation (I Corinthians 4:17).

I Corinthians 7:17

I Corinthians 16:1-2

d. Just as we read epistles today written to other local churches, such was the case in the first century as well (Colossians 4:16).

3. Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18), therefore every congregation is doctrinally governed by the same rules which Christ has given to men through the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:9-13).
4. An eldership, preacher, or anyone else does not have authority over the scriptures (Colossians 3:17, Acts 5:29, Galatians 1:10-12, and Matthew 15:7-9).
5. Therefore, we must conclude that autonomy applies essentially to matters of expediency alone, which Acts chapter fifteen supports.

A. The binding of circumcision upon Gentiles by certain Christians who were by birth Jews in Antioch was the problem (Acts 14:26 - 15:1; 4-5).

1. Circumcision was bound upon male Jews according to the Old Law representing the agreement of God with Abraham (Genesis 17:9-11)  [CF. Leviticus 12:1-3].
2. Clearly, in Christ this is not so (Galatians 5:6).
3. Entrance into the Kingdom is open through the putting away of the Old Law (Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:10-21, and Colossians 2:14).
4. Those individuals who were binding what God had not bound upon those in Antioch were adding to the word of God by speaking where God has not spoken (Deuteronomy 4:2, I Peter 4:11, and Revelation 22:18-19).

B. The Apostles and elders met in spiritual discussion finding that:

1. Peter was a witness to the fact that the Gentiles were accepted by God (v. 6-11, CF. Acts 2:39; 10:44-48; 11:14-17).
2. Paul and Barnabas declared what they had witnessed among the Gentiles (v. 12).
3. James argues on behalf of the Gentiles (v. 13-21).

a. The grace of God is for all men (Titus 2:11).
b. The power of the preaching of the Gospel is to all men (Romans 1:16).
c. No nation, people, etc. are excluded from the opportunity to obey the Lord (Matthew 28:19).

A. The problem came from Jerusalem (v. 24).

1. False doctrine must be dealt with (Philippians 1:17, Jude v. 3, and I John 4:1).
2. False teachers must be exposed (Romans 16:17-18).
3. Therefore, they had no choice but to deal with the issue brought to them, from among them.

B. As brethren we must be concerned with error we hear our brethren falling into which would have us to take action.

1. Paul serves as an example of one who involved himself in the affairs of a congregation because of what was reported to him (I Corinthians 1:11).
2. John is a great example in writing the book of III John and dealing with Diotrephes. Notice some things from that letter:

a. John was an elder in a congregation outside of the brethren he is addressing (III John v.1).
b. John, an elder in a congregation outside of the brethren he is addressing, tells them he has had reports about them (III John v. 3-4).
c. John addresses the problem [Diotrephes] and implies he may deal with it in person (III John 9-11).

3. If our love for the church goes no further than those with whom we assemble with weekly (I Peter 2:17), we will find that we are part of the problem of apostasy when we ignore issues in the brotherhood.

a. Gospel Meetings, publications, bulletins, internet work, etc. are some examples of tools that we can use scripturally to help other congregations spiritually.
b. Deciding matters of which we have no business, in other congregations, as though we have the oversight there, is when autonomy is broken.

III. Was the Solution a Violation of Autonomy?

A. The solution was to write a letter and send faithful men to handle the issue (Acts 15:19-27).

1. The Holy Spirit was involved in moving this action (v. 28).
2. They would teach about eating meats offered to idols (v. 29).
3. The solution was well received (v. 30-35).

B. The solution was preaching the truth, nothing more or less, and that is no violation of autonomy (Matthew 28:20 and II Timothy 4:2).

A. So many on both sides of the autonomy issue misunderstand the truth.

1. The gospel is not bound, but is to be preached everywhere.
2. A congregation cannot shut her ears to preaching because the one doing the teaching is not from among their local congregation.  If such was right, then no inspired epistle would be valid today!
3. On the other hand, preachers in Gospel Meetings and other short stays have no authority to change matters of expediency or be involved in those matters.
4. Surely, we all understand that if a faithful Christian was assembling with a local church of which they are not a member on vacation, then they heard error, that even though they are not a member there they have a responsibility to try and correct that error (Acts 18:24-26; Acts 20:26-27)!

B. We must keep in mind when we begin to redefine the parameters of autonomy that the events we read about, like Paul’s and John’s letters involving themselves in the work of congregations they were not members, that:

1. Those letters where authored by God (II Peter 1:20-21).
2. If we suggest those things cannot be done today we must also suggest that we cannot follow approved examples in the New Testament as God says we can:

a. I Corinthians 11:1
b. Philippians 3:17

Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian A. Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Mike Lockwood
Lord’s Table – Bill Graham
Assisting – George Papp and Young Jay
First Prayer – Steve Burgoon
Closing Prayer – Jay Wagner

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Tony Sassano, Joan Croyle, Julie Stutz, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer).
 

THIS COMING WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS OUR MONTHLY SING NIGHT!!!