The Church Today In Its Preaching and Teaching

The Church Today In Its Preaching and Teaching THE CHURCH TODAY IN ITS PREACHING AND TEACHING
Oscar Smith Text: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from rivers unto the ends of the earth.” (Psalms 72:8)

“And as many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of thb glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14). The promise of redemption embraced “all the families of the earth,” but the prophecies concerning the proclamation of the gospel could not be fulfilled until Jesus broke down the middle wall of partition and abolished the law of Moses by nailing it to the cross.After the resurrection of Jesus and just before his ascension, he met the apostles in a mountain in Galilee and commanded them to “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20). This commission is the accumulated wisdom and power of forty centuries. It is Christ’s farewell message to mankind. When it was given, the Lord would not trust the disciples with it, until they were “clothed with power from cn high.” (Luke 24:49). An interesting conversation occurred between Christ and the apostles just before the ascension, which should be noticed here. “They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know times and seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority. But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8). This well defined plan of operation required that they begin preaching in Jerusalem, where the Jews were in a position to vindicate his claims, or prove that he was not the Messiah. The inhabitants of the rural districts of Judea were also prepared to accept the gospel at once. Then the Samaritans, who had witnessed these miracles of Jesus were to have opportunity to hear the gospel, and thence to the uttermost part of the earth.

Let us consider the preaching of the apostles. The first gospel sermon that was ever preached in the name of the Lord, was that of Peter on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was one of the three annual festivals of the Mosaic law, at which all of the male Jews were required to be present. Hence, there was a large crowd assembled in Jerusalem at that time. The firelike and forked tongues appeared, and Peter began his work of “binding and loosing” with the assurance that his work would be recognized in heaven. It was a great occasion. The Jews w'ere cut to the heart and inquired what to do. Peter said: “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remisson of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). Result: “They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41).

Peter and John went up into the temple at the hour of prayer. The lame man at “the beautiful gate” was healed. The people were astonished and ran together in Solomon’s porch. Peter explained the power by which the miracle was performed, and emphasized the doctrine of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Result: “But many of them that heard the word believed: and the number of men came to be about five thousand.” (Acts 4:4)

Stephen, a man “full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” preached to the Jews in Jerusalem. They resisted his arguments by stopping their ears. They cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. (See Acts 7:1-60.)

Philip carried the gospel to the city of Samaria. “But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.” (Acts 8:12.) The same evangelist, guided by an angel of the Lord, preached Jesus to the Ethiopian officer. “And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:26-39.)

Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church. He was on his Way to Damascus with authority from the high priest to bind Christians and cast them into prison. The Lord appeared to him saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” He inquired what to do. The Lord directed him to Damascus where Annanias was sent by the Lord to tell him what to do. (Acts 22:16.)

Peter was sent to the house of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. The gospel was preached, Cornelius believed, repented and was baptized. (Acts 15:7; Acts 11:18; Acts 10:48.)

Lydia was a worshipper of God. She heard Paul preach the gospel. The Lord enlightened her understanding, “and gave heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul,” and “was baptized.” (Acts 16:14-15.)

Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi for preaching the gospel and casting out devils. At midnight they prayed and sang praises unto God. The prisoners heard them. An earthquake shook the prison’s foundation, opened its doors and loosed the bands of the prisoners. The jailor awoke and was about to kill himself. Paul assured him that the prisoners had not escaped. He inquired what to do. Paul "spake the word of the Lord unto him, and all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.” (Acts 16:25-34.) At Athens Paul encountered philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoics, who desired to hear him “concerning Jesus and the resurrection.” Paul preached to them, with the result that “certain men clave unto him and believed.” (Acts 17:33.) At Corinth Paul preached the gospel. “And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8.)

Today, we are under divine instruction to preach the same gospel that the apostles preached. In other words, the teaching and preaching of the church of the first century, must be the teaching of the church now. The Lord’s plan has always succeeded. Were the apostles successful? In less than forty years Paul wrote the church at Rome, “Did they not hear? Yea, verily their sound went out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:18.) Again: “If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.” (Colossians 1:23.) The Lord, during his personal ministry selected twelve men whom he qualified to go before the world and testify of him. These men are known in the New Testament as apostles. While they are not with us in person, their teaching remains binding open the human family, and will be binding as long as the Christian dispensation stands. Consider the following:

1. The apostles were eye-witnesses of the Lord.
2. They were immediately chosen and trained by the Lord.
3. They were infallibly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
4. They performed miracles to prove their mission.
5. Had power to impart spiritual gifts upon others by the laying on of hands.
6. Exercised authority while they lived over churches planted by their instrumentality.
7. Received their commission directly from the Lord, hence, could not transfer their office to others. They had no successors.
8. They were the Lord’s chosen ambassadors. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
9. They have the keys of the kingdom. (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:18.)
10. They are upon thrones today, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:29.) The only official personages in the church today are evangelists, elders or bishops and deacons. Elders or bishops are appointed in the local congregation to look after the spiritual interests of the church, and deacons manage the financial affairs of a well-organized congregation. The word “evangelist” occurs three times in the New Testament as follows: “And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.” (Acts 21:8.) In writing the Ephesian church Paul says that the Lord “gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists.” (Ephesians 4:11.) Timothy was instructed by Paul to “do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Timothy 4:5.) The evangelists of today receive their commission just as Timothy did. Paul said to Timothy: “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2.) Again “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that need- eth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15) His duties are:

1. He must be an example to others. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12.)

2. He must be meek and holy in life. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1 Timothy 6:11.) Again: “But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes. And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves.” (2 Timothy 2:23-25.) 3. He must “hold the pattern of sound words.” (2 Timothy 1:13.) 4. “Speak the things which befit the sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1.)

5. Preach the word. “I charge thee in the sight of God. and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts.” (2 Timothy 4:1-3.)

Evangelists must take the apostles for their models. In the fourth chapter of Acts we have an account of Peter’s defense before the council. Of course Peter and John were asked by what power they had healed the lame man. “And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,” said, “Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of !Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.” (Acts 4:10-12.) Here Peter puts his accusers in the attitude of laying the foundation for a building, and rejecting the stone which was cut out for the corner. He further declares that Christ was raised from the dead, and that salvation is in his name. The next verse reads, “Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13.) The text does not say “and when they beheld the deep piety of Peter, although piety has its place. It says, “and when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John.” After this, the apostles prayed, and one of the main points in the prayer is stated as follows: “And now, Lord, look upon their threatings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness.” After the prayer the place was shaken, and it is recorded of them “that they spake the word of God with boldness.”

It was God’s will that the church should be kept pure. The apostolic preachers drew the line deep and wide between the church and the world. Sin was not tolerated in the church at Jerusalem, and the man today who follows the plain preaching of the apostles, will not hesitate to cry out against every form of corruption in the church. Like the prophets of old, it Is the duty of a preacher to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to build. The mission of the church is to help the needy, edify itself and preach the gospel to the world. The paramount work of the church is that of preaching the gospel to the lost. The church is said to be “the pillar and ground of the truth.” That means that the church supports the truth, upholds it and transmits it from generation to generation. The question may be asked, “What is the truth?”
1. It is not philosophy. Some body has said that “philosophy is the search of a blind man in a dark cellar for a black cat that isn’t there.”
2. It is not theology. Theology is the word of God diluted by human opinion. Theology sent the church into the wilderness and brought on the dark ages. Theology as the curse of the religious world today.

Since the church is the pillar and ground of the truth, what is meant by the term “truth?”
1. The truth is the word of God. “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17.)
2. The truth is the gospel. “In whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation.” (Ephesians 1:13.)
3. The truth or the gospel must be rightly divided. “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15.) The evangelist, armed with the “sword of the Spirit,” must wage an aggressive warfare. Some seem to think the Christian’s armor is for defense only; but Paul told Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith,” and to “Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” To get some idea as to the faithful preacher’s attitude toward the false teacher, follow Paul and Stephen in their career as preachers. Stephen engaged some men in a regligious debate in the Cilician synagogue in Jerusalem, and it is reported that his enemies “were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” (Acts 6:10.) On one occasion Stephen defended himself before the Sanhedrin. That speech closes with these blistering words:

“Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7:51.) As a result of that speech, Stephen was stoned to death. On the island of Cyprus, it seems that Paul and Barnabas encountered an influential man who desired to hear them preach. “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. But Saul who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:8-10.)

After many years of hard labor on the firing line, Paul was able to look back over a life of faithful service in the Lord’s kingdom and call it “a good fight.” Having fought the “good fight of faith,” he could look forward to the crown of life “which the Father has in store for all who love him.” In New Testament times, each local church was a unit of action. Mission work was often done, by a congregation selecting evangelists and sending them out, as in the case of Barnabas and Saul and the Antioch church. “The Holy Spirit said, seperate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Then when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3.) The first missionary journey of Paul was from Antioch through Asia Minor back to Antioch. Upon his return to Antioch he catted the church together and reported the work done in foreign lands. The church at that time was the divine society organized for the purpose of preaching the gospel to the lost. The Lord’s plan will succeed.