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)
(click on the button
of the answer of your choice)
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.
2)
The Bible specifies that the Lord's church is to be overseen by a
pope.
3) (2 Thessalonians 1:12) What name should be glorified? The town of Nazareth. John the Baptist. Our Lord Jesus
Christ.
4)
We should glorify every religious name. 5) (1 Peter 4:16) We should not be ashamed to suffer as a Pentecostal. Christian. Lutheran.
6)
We should wear different names religiously even if they do not glorify
Christ. 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.
8)
The things we teach and do must be done by the authority of Christ.