The Parchment 19-Aug-01: Areas in Which We Differ

For the past two weeks we have been considering the subject of unity and have addressed the question of why the religious world is not unity today. We have established the fact that the Bible calls for unity and we have also seen that the religious world can have no authority beyond that which is found in the Bible. This week we will examine some issues that separate the various religious bodies and then we will look at what the Bible says.

This was discussed last week, but as we appeal to the word of God once again, consider 2 John 9. “Whosoever goeth onward and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; he that abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” Paul told the Galatian Christians that if anyone, man or angel from heaven, came to teach them a different gospel they were to consider such a one as cursed (Galatians 1:8).

In the New Testament groups or bodies of saints and followers of Christ were identified in different ways, but individuals wore only one name. The name Christian marked them, or identified them, as those who belonged to or pertained to Christ. In Acts 11:26, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” In Acts 26:28, Agrippa spoke of almost being persuaded to become a Christian. Peter wrote, “If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” Nowhere were baptized believers called by some name that identified them with a man or a manmade group.

One can look at the religious world today and see various forms of organization. There are councils, synods, boards of directors, committees, etc. However, when we examine the organization of the church in the New Testament, such things are not found. Qualified men, who are called elders, bishops, or pastors, are to have the oversight and feed the local flock (1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28). They do not have a universal voice in religious matters as so many religious leaders in the world today seem to think.

Men have devised many of their own ways to receive eternal life, but God has outlined just one in His word. God demands more than just being a good person and more than just believing. Repentance, confession of faith, baptism and continued faithful obedience are God’s essentials for salvation (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:10).

The religious world can be united today if those who believe in God would simply obey what He has commanded in His holy word. Anything less than that is not acceptable to our Creator!