Old Paths Advocate - Church of Christ

was strictly treated as the sa6bath. Read Lev. Speaking of Christ, the Apostle Paul wrote,
23. Be sure to read it. If there’s any question, “he is the head of the body, the church” (Col.
ask it please.
-E. A..Lowry. - 198). The head.of the church is Christ, and is
- not the mind in the head? Therefore, the mind
WHAT CHRIST .IS TO US
of the church is in Christ. I have much consola-
’ Gayland Osburn
tion in knowing that the church has a mind which
is divine, a mind which is wise, and a mind which
There are various ways by which Christ is cares for it’s body. But, to have the guidance of
connected to us by parables. Such parables were such a beneficial mind, we must place ourselves
not only written that we might learn our rela- in subjection to it by obeying the thoughts which
tionships with Christ, but they were also written proceed therefrom. If we thus obey Christ, the
that we might find spiritual truths within them, obedience will make us members of his body and
which truths-if placed in our lives and in our a possessors of his mind for “we have the mind
teachings will give us the assurity of living in of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Have you ever seen a
that eternal bliss where we all wish to-be with leg, an arm, or any member of a normal body do
Jesus Christ in endless ages.
contrary to the bidding of the mind by which it
Christ is our:
is controlled? Who is the man who will say that
Foundation
the church should be an abnormal body, a freak
The great Apostle Paul write “ye are God’s if you please? We can not afford to make such
building” (1 Cor. 3:9), from which we learn that a statement. The body of Christ “should be holy
God does possess a building in which he dwells and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). This magnifi-
(2 Cor. 6:16) and this building is not made of cent head which is-our guide and upon whom we
earthly material such as brick, plaster, or wood, can i-ely will protect his body from all diseases
but the material is the disciples of Christ. .Thus, and will decorate it with glory in eternal life, the
we see this building is the church. But, does not dressing of a divine body.
the church of God have a “foundation”? “Other
.
foundation cafi no man lay than that is laid,
Christ is our:
Vine . -.
which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:ll). Yes. Jesus
Christ is our foundation, and the Apostg Peter Christ said, “I am the vine” (John 15:5), and
said he is “a living stone, disallowed indeed of he said also, “I am the true vine” (John 15:l).
men, but chosen of God, and precious” (1 Pet. Christ did not want his disciples to think that‘ he
2 :4). Christ is not a natural stone but a “living was just.any vine, but he wanted them to know
stone.” This is not a mere dream but a reality, a that he was “the vine” (which is singular in numliving
truth. Although-he was dead, he does now ber) which is “the true vine.” But, what conneclive.
Wheq he was here upon the earth, men tion do we have with this true vine? Christ did
looked upon him as weak, and Isreal refused him not say we are the roots, the bark, the blossoms,
as God’s foundation. He is also refused today, nay nor even the fruit, but he did say, “ye are
but God made him strong. Let us be sure that the branches” (vs. 5). The only way Christ can
our foundation is Chriit for God did build none bear fruit is through us; does not nature teach
I _
other.
us it is impossible for a vine to bear fruit without
Christ is our:
branches ? Although Christ is dependent upon
Husband
us in this.way, we have a greater dependance up-
“Ye also are become dead to the-law by the on him “AS the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
body of Christ; that ye should be married to an- except it abide in the vine; no more car. ye, exother,
even to him who is raised from the dead” cept ye abide in me” (vs. 4). It is impossible for
(Rom. 7:4). That same Christ, who was raised Christ to bear fruit without us, and it is also imfrom
the dead that he might be our foundation, possible for us- to bear fruit unless we abide in
was also ‘!raised from the dead” that we might Christ. But, what about the branch in Christ
be married unto him as our husband. The Apos- which does not bear fruit? Concerning this,
tle Paul-also wrote concerning this marriage in Christ said, ’? am the true vine, and my Father
2 Cor. 112 saying, “I have espoused you to one is‘the husbandman. Every branch in me that
husband, that I may present you as a chaste pir- beareth not fruit he taketh away” (vs. 1, 2); and
gin to Christ.” If we are married “to one husband” that finds such abiding not in Christ, the vine.
who is Christ, what right have we to wear an- And, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth
other’s name? What right have we to flirt with as a branch, and is withered; and mep gather
other men by accepting. their doctrines?. Nay, them, and cast them into the Yire, and ’they are
we have no right to do such things for this mar- burned.”. But on the other hand, “every branch
riage - should be Dure as all other marriages should that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may
be. “As the chirch is subiect unto ChFist, so let bring-forth more &uit” (vs. 2), and “He that
the wives be to their 061-1 husbands in every , abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
thing” (Eph. 5:24). We are to be subject unto forth much fruit: for without me ye
I
. Christ as our husband for we are the church. $,Do L. inp”. (vs. 5).
APRIL 1, 1946 THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE
“KNOW THEM”
The apostle, Paul, in his letter to the church in
Thessalonica said, “We beseech you, brethren, to
know’them that labor amang you and are over
you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem
them very highly in love for their works
sake” (I Thes. 5:12, 13).
The apostle was warning the church in Thessalonica
of the false teachers, who were perverting
the gospel of Christ and turning the disciples
away from the truth. Of such were Hymenaenus,
Alexander, and Philetus (1 Tim. 1:20; 2:17j.
Phygellus and Hermogenes turned the affections
of the disciples away from him. While other
false teachers infested the neighboring churches
of Pergamos and Thyatira (Rev. 22, 6).
On his farewell to the elders at Ephesus he
said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church of
God which he purchased with his own blood. For
I know this that after ‘my departing shall grevious
wolves enter in among you not sparing the
flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after .them.”-The apostle gave the elders a final
and solemn warning of the conditions that would
exist after his departure. Probably, warning
them of those with whom he had disputed in
Ephesus (Acts 19:9), or of the Nicolaitans (Rev.
2:14, 15).
Paul warned the church to know their leaders
and teachers. And those who were loyal to the
doctrine of Christ and the apostles were to be
“esteemed highly for their works sake” and those,
who were not, were to be dealt with accordingly.
The elders at Ephesus were to take heed to
themselves first because after the apostle departed
the responsibility would rest with them. They
must be able by sound doctrine to both exhort
and convince the gainsayers. Having dorie this
they would be able to feed the flock as a shepherd
would care for his flock. And to recognize
false teachers, when they came into the congregation.
His warning was that after he departed
that grevious, violent or rapacious, wolves would
enter their midst, not as persecuters, but as disciples
and teachers. As indicated by verse thirty.
They being ambitious, self-seeking, men would
not spare-the flock. Claiming to be members of
Christ’s body, they would pervert the Scriptures,
that is, they would “twist” the Scripture in order
to gain from them some evidence for their
teaching. In this manner they drew away disciples
after them, and made them followers of
themselves instead of Christ.
“Therefore watch!” How often was that command
on the Master’s lips ? Leaders should never
be taken by surprise. The adversary is sleepless
and so should they be. When strange preachers
come into a congregation the leaders should by all
means learn something about thein. Something
of his past, where he came from, what he taught,
and if he were in good - standing. - - “Therefore
-J. C. WATERS.
PAGE SEVEN
THE PERFECT CBED
There is a need for all to have a creed in re-
ligion. Since the word means, “What I believe,”
this ought to be clear and no one in doubt about
what it is. In the true sense, Christ is what tve
are all to believe; but since we get faith in him
by what is written, we should all go to the same
writing and believe the same thing. If we all
go to the will and testament of Christ, we will
all get the sawe thing, and there will be no need
for any division. Jesus, a perfect being, gave a
Perfect law, and we need not look to man to im-
prove on it. This will, being by the guidance of
the spirit, makes safe the correctness of it, as
Jesus wanted it revealed. Men make creeds and
they differ; but Christ being the same yesterday,
today and forever, and having all Power, we must
listen to His creed and leave man’s out. We have
a perfect Christ to believe and a perfect law from
Him.
To be the perfect creed, it must be for all men
to know by it what to do to be saved from their
past sins, and to tell the saved how to live to be
pleasing to God. Jesus wanted every creature to
know about it and He asked, that all have it
preached to them (Mk. 16:15). “If any one will
do His will, he shall know of the doctrine” (7 :17).
Or, if we “hunger and thirst after righteousness,
we shall be filled” (Matt. 5 :6). Then too, the words
must be life-giving, and such are the words of our
Saviour (Jno. 6:33). Jesus being the perfect model
or way (Jno. 14:6), we must follow that to be
safe. Only when we do as the perfect law of lib-
erty says, may we expect to be blessed (Jas. 125).
It is-our place to find what is said in this life-
giving creed, and then do it with the hope that
we will, be with the Author in life, eternally hap-
py. No, we are not to let any set of men tell us
what to do, but look unto Jesus, the Author and
finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:Z). The very
thought of its being a perfect creed would ex-
clude the idea of man’s writing it. Man never
has been able to direct his steps (Jer. 10:23).
Then, too, we read of the steps of a good man
being ordered of the Lord, God has spoken to us
by His Son (Heb. 12). Then since no one knows
the Father save the Son (Matt. 11:27). I must
listen to the Son and let the rest of the world go
by, as for as advice is concerned, as to what to do
in religious matters. The early inspired preachers
knew nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1
Cor. 22). To understand the mystery, we need
to read what these inspired men wrote as Paul
declared (Eph. 3 :4). This would get all together
and keep together, if all would just take the word
of God, and leave off the creeds of man. But
often it is said that my creed is more like the
Bible, than the others. Why would I-want a like-
ness when I can ,have the real thing, itself?
Creeds of man have so covered the truth found
in the Bible, that people’need to clear away the
creeds of all man-made things, and look into the
perfect law of liberty, and be doers of it and not
of what man said. Then, too, creeds are often re-
vised or changed to suit the age, country, or peo-
ple. But, the one the Lord gave is for all time and