Author: Price, Joe

It’s that time of year again, when millions make New Year’s resolutions — with many breaking them within the first week of the New Year. Resolutions are not bad. Making goals is a helpful way to achieve the improvements we wish to make in our lives. They need to be realistic and possible.

May the Lord help us all to “approve things that are excellent” that we may be “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” and never bind on others that which the Lord has not bound (Phil. 1:10).

Jesus saw the straying multitudes and was moved to compassion for them (Matt. 9:35-38). Their need compelled Him to work. Likewise, He calls upon us to be conscious of the condition of the people around us (they are lost in sin); to have compassion for them (be distressed to the point of action); and to be committed laborers in His harvest (praying and working). The work is before us. The call to labor is clear. With Isaiah, will we say (as we often sing), “Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8)?

The history of a “feast of the resurrection” or Easter is simply not found in the Bible. It is extra-biblical in its origin, development and observance. The scriptures teach us of, and persuade us to believe in, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The scriptures teach us that the day of His resurrection – the first day of the week – is the approved day of our memorial worship and praise. Nowhere in the pages of the inspired text are we taught to celebrate an annual holy day in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. While the New Testament records the events of the last week of Christ’s life, nowhere does it instruct us to observe them as holy days of a holy season (Lent, Palm Sunday, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday).

This series of lessons has been an effort to help all of us examine our beliefs, teachings and practice on the subject of unity and fellowship. It was also presented to set forth the truth that we are able to understand and conform to the revealed word of Christ. Every false teaching, left unattended, endangers the souls of men by seeking to turn them away from God’s truth and grace (cf. error on divorce and remarriage, fellowship and unity – Gal. 2:4-5; 1:6-9; Jno. 1:17; 14:6).

At every turn, the doctrine of unity in diversity, which allows ongoing fellowship in spite of doctrinal disagreement, is unsupported by the word of God. It must be rejected as a doctrine of man (Gal. 1:8-10).

My dear brethren, nowhere in the Scriptures does grace mean that we may ‘agree to disagree’ over the revealed doctrine of Jesus Christ. This is not the oneness shared by the Father and Son, and it is not the oneness we are to promote. (Jno. 17:20-21; Eph. 4:1-6).

The gospel calls us to a unity which is based upon the revealed truth of God (Eph. 4:1-6; 1 Cor. 1:10). The only credible standard of authority to which we may rightly appeal to establish unity is the revealed word of Christ, the New Testament (Jno. 17:20-21; Col. 3:17). It is His word that establishes faith and enables unity. The inspired teachings of His apostles make it possible for us to have fellowship with them and with God (1 Jno. 1:1-4, 5-7). When we go beyond the teaching of Christ – His New Testament – we forfeit our fellowship with the Father and the Son (2 Jno. 9).

Watchmen in Zion will sound forth warnings against sin and error – wherever it is found – in an effort to turn lost souls away from certain and sure destruction to the salvation found in the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord (Jude 3-4, 20-23). Those who watch for the welfare of souls will mark those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine of truth, and turn away from them (Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). They will identify false teaching and when necessary, the false teachers of that error so that innocent souls will not be corrupted and lost (Rom. 16:18; Col. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:16-18).

“I and the Father are one ” is equivalent to saying “I am the Son of God” (v 30, 36). This was a clear declaration of deity by Jesus and the Jews took it as such (v. 33). Only in a representative sense have men ever been called “gods.” However, one has lived among us who was more than just man. Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:14; Col. 2:9). His works confirm it. His words attest to it. He has power to save and to protect your soul. Do you believe it? Are you his sheep?

The Bible presents Jesus as the Mediator of a new and better covenant. He is also presented as the testator of His new testament. We must not deprive the gospel of its testamentary attributes, since Hebrews 9:15-17 ascribe such traits to it. We must be content to allow God to depict the covenant of Christ as He sees fit. He has described the new covenant as a testament which contains an eternal inheritance when the conditions of His will are met.

To the extent that the convicting power of the gospel is compromised, we have perverted the gospel and nullified its power to save. It is imperative that we be vigilant against all intrusions into the purity and power of the gospel to save the lost (2 Corinthians 11:3-4; 1 Corinthians 4:6). Only a gospel which is free from the contaminants of human wisdom and worldly influences will save sinners from their sin (Romans 1:15-17). Only the full and complete message of truth will lead the lost soul out of the bondage of sin into God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.