[Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

GOD HAS SPOKEN

     When we appeal to people to go back to the basic truth
and practice of New Testament Christianity, we are not speak-
ing just of first-century Christians; but of even more import-
ance, we plead that people go to Apostolic authority as Christ
guided the Apostles into all truth by the Holy Spirit (Jno. 14:
26; 16:13).  Surely most of the first-century Christians follow-
ed the faith carefully; however, some did not, and the roots
of apostasy began to grow early -- even in the days of the 
Apostles (Acts 20:29,30; 1 Cor. 15:12; 1 Jno. 4:1-3; Col. 2:1-11,18-23; Gal. 
1:6-10; 3:17; 5:1-13).  Our authority comes, not
from those who lived after the Apostles had died, but from the Apostles' 
doctrine (Acts 2:42), the faith once for all deliver-
ed to the saints (Jd. 3).

     The unscriptural distinction between the office of bishops
and elders, with bishops given the higher authority, began
early.  Now look at the fruits of this error.  The terms bishops, elders, 
presbyters, and pastors are all used to refer
to one office in the New Testament.  Please consider Acts 20:
17-31.  To the elders at Ephesus, Paul said, "Therefore, take
heed to yourselves (the elders) and to all the flock, among
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (bishops), to
shepherd (to pastor) the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood" (vs. 29).  Similar language is used by Pet-
er in 1 Pet. 5:1-4.  The word presbyter is synonymous with
the word elder (Vine).  A plurality of these men were appoint-
ed, based on their being qualified, in each church (Acts 14:23;
Titus 1:5).  Their qualifications are set forth in 1 Tim. 3 and
Titus 1.

     The only hope for unity among those who profess to be the people of God 
is that they all go back to Apostolic author-
ity adn be content to abide in it, neither adding thereto nor 
diminishing therefrom.  There is one standard of authority
for children of God -- the Word of the living God.  It is the New Testament.  
 ------- Gilbert Alexander.

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