Each congregation of the Lord's church is to be overseen by
a group of elders. In Acts 14:23 we read, "So
when they had appointed elders in every church." Notice
there is to be a plurality of elders in every church or congregation. This is
the way the Lord set up His church.
But what does the Lord intend for the elders to do in His church? In
Acts 20:28 the apostle Paul was talking to the elders from the
church at Ephesus and told them, "Therefore take heed
to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers." The church the Lord built is to be overseen by
a plurality of elders. The qualifications of elders who are to oversee each
congregation of the Lord's church are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7
and in Titus 1:3-9. Is each congregation of the church
you belong to overseen by a plurality of elders? If not, why not? If it is to
be the Lord's church and has men who qualify, each congregation is to be
overseen by a plurality of elders.
If we really accept the Bible as our only authority, we will want to worship
God only as He has specified. We must reject human traditions and doctrines
that members are required to follow such as creed books, catechisms, manuals,
articles of faith, the book of Mormon, the Koran, constitutions, disciplines
and other guidelines of men, all of which produce new religious doctrines.
We are warned in Colossians 2:8, "Beware
lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the
tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not
according to Christ." It would be a tragedy to find out on
Judgment Day we have been cheated of our eternal reward in heaven because we
followed the doctrines of men; but it will be too late then.
II
Thessalonians 1:12 tells us "That the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the
grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ
is to be glorified and honored in us. Besides doing all that he tells us to
do, we glorify the name of Christ by wearing the name "Christian". I
Peter 4:16 says, "Yet if anyone
suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in
this matter." It is an honor to wear the name
"Christian." In wearing this name we are glorifying God and Christ.
We should not be ashamed to wear the name "Christian", yet many
seem to be. Men want to wear other names that give honor and glory to someone
or something other than Christ. For example honor and glory are given to
Martin Luther, the day of Pentecost, the apostles, the methodical way of
doing things, the town of Nazareth, John the Baptist, John Wesley, the hill
of Calvary, the city of Rome, the city of Antioch, the names of the different
"saints", and the list goes on and on. None of these names give any
glory or honor whatsoever to God or Christ to whom honor is due. How do you
think God feels about this situation? Do you actually think that He is
pleased with it? Do you wear only the name Christian?
God tells us in Jeremiah 10:23, "It
is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." Man has
tried but has always made a miserable failure of it. In Colossians
3:17 we read, "And whatever you do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." We
are to do all in the name of or by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Can it be
said that Jesus has authorized any of these different names?
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Questions Lesson 24 The Lord's Church (Part C)
1) (Acts 14:23 & Acts 20:28) Each congregation of
the Lord's church is overseen by The
preacher. A
board of deacons. A plurality of elders.
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2) The Bible specifies that the Lord's church is to be overseen by a pope.
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3) (2 Thessalonians 1:12) What name should be glorified? The
town of Nazareth. John
the Baptist. Our
Lord Jesus Christ.
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4) We should glorify every religious name.
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5) (1 Peter 4:16) We should not be ashamed to suffer as a Pentecostal. Christian. Lutheran.
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6) We should wear different names religiously even if they do not glorify
Christ.
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7) (Colossians 3:17) The things we do and say religiously must be done
by whose authority? The Lord Jesus Christ. The
authority of each different church's creed book. Our
own authority.
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8) The things we teach and do must be done by the authority of Christ.