Who Determines Religious Authority

By Glen Elliott      Our nation is suffocating under the death-grip of anarchy. Disrespect for authority is evidenced in everything from civil disobedience to parental permissiveness. We are following the worldview so prevalent during the turbulent biblical period of the Judges. Scripture describes those days as a time when “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Even in the church there are many who discount the certainty of biblical revelation. But, if truth cannot be known, then Jesus was mistaken in asserting that it has the power to set us free from our sins (Jn. 8:32). However, the truth can be understood and is the basis of all religious authority (Eph. 3:4; 1 Cor. 1:10).     God, the Father, has given all authority to His Son, Jesus (Mt. 28:18). At Christ’s transfiguration, we read of a voice speaking out of the cloud which enveloped the disciples, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Mt. 17:5). Jesus has all authority to speak to men today concerning religious faith and practice (Heb. 1:1-2). We must pay heed to His words as those which will judge us on the last day (Jn. 12:48). God had promised centuries earlier to raise up a prophet like Moses from among their countrymen, saying, “I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Dt. 18:18–19). This prophecy, quoted by Peter in Acts chapter three, is fulfilled in Christ.     Christ’s authority resides in the New Testament. Knowing that He would soon leave His apostles by way of the cross, Jesus promised to send the Spirit of truth so that they could teach and preach the gospel without error (Jn. 14:26: 16:13). The apostles and prophets, who wrote the New Testament, did so as they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God (2 Pet. 1:21). Like those early hearers in Thessalonica, we must accept the Word of Christ as God’s message (1 Th. 2:13). The things written by inspiration are the Lord’s commandments and provide all authority for religious faith and practice.     The councils, creeds, and dogmas of men provide no legitimate authority in religious matters. Nor is there any authority inherent in our own subjective preferences and opinions. The only authority in matters of religion is the Word of God. We must not shudder at the thought of submitting to His authority; but humbly submit, obeying from the heart His Word which alone has the power to save us from our sins and deliver us safely to the eternal paradise of God (Jas. 1:21; Rm. 6:17-18).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Can We Join the Church

By Glen Elliott

The Bible doesn’t say anything about joining the church. The church had its beginning on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus. On that occasion, Peter and the rest of the apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem. Their message convicted the people of having crucified the Son of God. When these believers interrupted the sermon and asked what they needed to do, Peter replied, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38). In verse 41, we learn that “those who had received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Penitent believers who were baptized were added to the Lord’s church that day. In fact, verse 47 goes on to say that “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” The King James Version of the Bible translates it this way: “and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”     Man cannot establish entrance requirements or initiation rites for being added to the Lord’s church. While we can join various religious denominations, we cannot join the Lord’s church. God adds to His church every penitent believer who is baptized for the forgiveness of sins. We are not voted into the church. God adds us to His church. God’s church is comprised of all who have done what God said to do in order to accept God’s grace by faith. In addition to belief, this includes repentance and baptism. Later in the New Testament, Paul spoke of how the Corinthians had come into the body of Christ. He said, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).     Anyone of accountable age and aptitude can become a member of God’s church. But one cannot join the Lord’s church. Only God can add a person to His church when he or she has submitted to His requirements for salvation. Why not be added to His church today and be truly numbered with the saved?

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Unity in the Body of Christ

By Glen Elliott
    The church is not so much an institution as it is a living organism. It is referred to in Scripture as “the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). This analogy teaches us several very important truths about the unity of the body.    First, because the church is the body of Christ, it must have a head to direct, guide and control its various functions. The Bible teaches us that “Christ is the head over all things to the church, which is His body…” (Eph. 1:22-23). Just as the physical body operates in obedience to the directive impulses of the brain, so also Christ’s spiritual body, the church, operates in harmony with Christ’s directives expressed through His written revelation. Whether physical or spiritual, when the body fails to obey its head, the result is chaos and confusion. It is not God’s fault when Christ’s body becomes divided; it is simply man’s failure to live under the headship of Jesus Christ. After all, “God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33).    In addition to a head, a body must also have a harmonious membership. Each member of the body has an important function (1 Cor. 12:14-27). When the smallest member fails in his or her assigned duty, the whole body suffers. The body is a finely tuned organism and its members must cooperate with one another, working together toward a common goal. Functional unity in the church is not just a nice thing when it happens, it is an essential ingredient to be sought after with great fervor and intensity (Rm. 14:19; Heb. 12:14).    Let us emphasize again that a body must be unified. Disunity among members frustrates the purpose and intention of the body. Christ’s fervent prayer was for His followers to be one (Jn. 17:20-21). But upon what basis shall believers unite? Only on the basis of Christ’s headship and our willingness to place our lives in submission to His will. Only on such a foundation can we be united as members of Christ’s spiritual body, the church.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Is God in Control

By Glen Elliott
    The rapidity with which major events happen in today’s world and the quickness with which information is conveyed to us is truly amazing. Though the details are sometimes inaccurate or misleading, our need to place our trust in the Lord becomes crystal clear. God is our only trust and He is in control to work all things for good to those who truly love Him (Rm. 8:28).    Is God really in control of world events? Yes. Is He responsible for the actions of sinful men? No. But, we can be assured that He does work providentially to bring about His ultimate purpose. How can we know this is true? Because the Bible tells us so.    In the days of the prophet, Daniel, the “wise men” of Babylon were threatened with death unless they could both reveal the contents and interpret the meaning of the king’s dream. By revelation from God, Daniel was able to reveal the secrets of the king’s heart and save the lives of the king’s advisors. In thanking God for the revelation he had received, Daniel prayed, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings…” (Dan. 2:20-21). It is God who changes the times and the epochs—who removes and establishes kings. In other words, God is in control of human history.    Those in positions of authority today have a sacred trust from the Lord. There “is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Rm. 13:1). Paul goes on to say that those who resist authority are opposing the ordinance of God. The only time we are obligated to violate the laws of the land is when those laws are contrary to the will of God. In such cases, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Governing authorities are God’s servants for good, a responsibility which must be taken seriously. Otherwise, if they prove unfaithful to their trust, God will in His own time, remove them from power. The rulers of the kingdoms of the world are accountable to the great King of the universe.    When things appear to be spinning out of control, remember God’s overruling providence. As the psalmist said, “we will not fear, though the earth should change, and…the mountains slip into the heart of the sea” (Ps. 46:1-2). Place yourself in the hands of the living God. He is in control of the universe. Why not give Him control of your life?

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Washed in the Blood

By Glen Elliott 
    We live in a society blessed with great material prosperity. A person living just one century ago could hardly imagine the lifestyle we often take for granted. Where there is a need, there is usually a product to meet that need. Even doing laundry has become high-tech. We have many products designed specifically for the care and cleaning of our clothing. If truth be known, there is little difference between many of the products vying for our attention. One may be about as good as another. However, when it comes to spiritual cleansing, there is only one agent that can purify the soul – the blood of Jesus Christ.    Scripture tells us that “all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). God’s cleansing agent of the soul is blood. However, not just any blood will do the job. The blood of bulls and goats, so prominently displayed in Old Testament sacrifices, could never take away sin (Heb. 10:4). It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from our sins (1 Jn. 1:7). In the book of Revelation, when John saw a vision of souls before the throne of God, he asked, “Who are these?” In answer to his question, he was told that these were those who had “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (7:14). The blood of Christ provides spiritual cleansing. We could hardly imagine anyone washing their linens in blood! But, when it comes to spiritual cleansing, only the blood of Jesus can purify our spiritual garments so as to make them white as snow (Isa. 1:18).    All who desire spiritual cleansing must turn to the blood of Christ. How do we make contact with the death of Christ and, thereby, gain the benefit of His blood? Paul tells us that we are “justified by faith” (Rm. 5:1). In verse nine, we are told that we are “justified by His blood.” Putting the two verses together, we rightly conclude that we are justified through our faith (trust) in the blood of Christ. Or, we could say that our hope is grounded in the fact that Jesus died and shed His precious blood on the cross for us. Such faith leads us to be baptized into Christ whereby we are also united with His death and raised to walk in newness of life (Rm. 6:3-5). But, let us never forget that it is the blood of Jesus that answers our most urgent need – our need for spiritual cleansing.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Did the Prophets Say Christ Would be “Called a Nazarene”?

By Bob Prichard     After describing the birth and early years of the life of Jesus, Matthew tells us that Joseph, having obeyed God by going down to Egypt, returned to Galilee, to Galilee, “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23). There seems to be a problem, however, in that there is no Old Testament prophet who said, “He shall be called a Nazarene,” and the city of Nazareth is never mentioned in the Old Testament.     Some have suggested that Matthew meant a Nazarite, rather than a Nazarene. A Nazarite took vows of holiness, never cutting his hair, avoiding any contact with dead bodies, and generally living a very austere life. Some of the prophets did refer to the holiness of the Messiah, but none said He would be a Nazarite. John the Baptist may well have taken a Nazarite vow, but Jesus, who was called a glutton and a winebibber, and who touched the dead to bring them back to life, would not have been a Nazarite. Surely Matthew understood the difference between a Nazarite, one who had taken a Nazarite vow, and a Nazarene, one who was from the city of Nazareth.     A more likely explanation for Matthew’s statement that “He shall be called a Nazarene” lies in a play on words, specifically the Hebrew word “branch,” that would have been very obvious to the Jewish readers who were the target of his gospel account. Matthew stressed that Jesus was “the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1), as he showed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the words of the prophets as the One who was the promised Messiah-King. The Hebrew word for “branch,” neser is very similar to the root word of Nazareth. Isaiah had prophesied of the Messiah, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1). Of this Branch, he said, “the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). The prophet Zechariah said, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8).     Matthew’s statement, “that which was spoken by the prophets” (2:23), is a general statement, not necessarily indicating that any of the prophets specifically said, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Elsewhere, when Matthew speaks of fulfilled prophecy, and he has a specific quotation in mind, he names the prophet, or says “the prophet,” rather than “the prophets.” His general statement indicates that a general teaching of the prophets was that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.     There is significance in being called a Nazarene. To be a called a Nazarene was to be called “from the backwoods,” to be unsophisticated. When Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth,” Nathanael commented, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-46).  Many of the prophets said the Branch, coming from humble beginnings, would be despised and rejected by men. Jesus was treated as a “Nazarene” by the religious authorities of His day.

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Faith and Morality

By Glen Elliott     The Bible begins with the beginning. And, in that beginning, lies the basic premise around which to build our lives. Morality stands or falls on the basis of one unalterable truth: “God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). It is faith in God as our Creator that gives purpose to our lives. Without faith, we are aimless drifters with no hope beyond the grave.     When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he spoke of the evidence for God’s existence as displayed in the material universe. He said that what is “known about God is evident…for God made it evident….For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through that which has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rm. 1:19-20). Ignorance is no excuse for unbelief. God has provided, through His creation, evidence of His eternal power and divine nature. This argument is closely tied to that which was used by the Hebrew author who said: “Every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God” (Heb. 3:4). Because of its order and design, a house demands an architect and builder. In spite of what a future homeowner might wish, a house does not build itself! Infinitely more complex than a house is the universe. Its builder and designer is God.     But some will ignore the evidence and refuse to give honor to God as their Creator. Refusing to acknowledge God or render thanks to Him for His blessings, they will exchange the truth of what they know about God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator (Rm. 1:21-28). Such a rejection of God is followed by a downward spiral into moral depravity (Rm. 1:29:31). Though included in Paul’s description of their wicked behavior, the besetting sin of the Gentile world was not homosexuality, murder, or idolatry. Their great sin was rejecting God. Everything else was the result of their refusal to honor Him as Creator.     It is to our shame that we have allowed godless atheism its stranglehold in our society. Rejecting God as Creator, we have paid the price in moral confusion and wicked behavior. The tide will not be stemmed until we have restored faith in God as our basis of morality. Morality is not inherited from our forefathers. It is not decided upon by popular opinion polls. Morality is founded upon our belief in God. God will hold us each accountable for the lives we choose to live (Eccl. 12:14). Without God, there is no basis for determining right and wrong. And, where there are no absolutes, there is anarchy. Pray that we, as a nation, will turn our eyes back to God as our Creator and to Christ as our hope for everlasting life.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/