Law of Faith      

Dear Brethren,

It is good that we take stock of ourselves frequently.  We must be careful, because it is a trait of human nature to think that we are right.  The Bible gives us the example of the Pharisees who “knew in their hearts” that they were right – but Jesus revealed that they missed the mark terribly.  In warning us of their self-deception, Jesus said, “I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 5:20)

Keep in mind that the Pharisees would fit in pretty well with the Church of God organizations of today.  They fasted; they prayed; they kept the Sabbath; they attended the Holy Days; they tithed; they did everything right – or did they?  Where did they miss the mark?  The answer is that they did not know the Law of Faith“For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”  (Romans 10:3)  “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the Law of Faith.”  (Romans 3:27)

When the Worldwide Church of God abandoned God’s Law, rejected the teachings of Jesus Christ, and changed the nature of God to conform to the doctrine of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, the true saints of God were scattered, dispersed, and separated from one another.  That is the way we find ourselves today – but, is God pleased with the division among His people?

By definition, Jesus Christ has only one Church, one Body, and one Spirit.  “…The Body of Christ… is the Church.”  (Colossians 1:24)  Therefore, there is only one True Church“There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  (Ephesians 4:4-6) (Ephesians 5:30) (1Corinthians 12:12, 13, 20)

When Jesus looks down from His heavenly throne, He sees only one Body of believers who share a unity of the Spirit.  The Church of God is not physical – but a spiritual entity.  The “Church of God” is the body of true believers that God the Father has called to be a spiritually unified part of the “Body of Christ.”  "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."   (1Corinthians 10:16)

Let me present an example for your discernment.  What is wrong in this following scenario?  An elderly sick member who lived alone was neglected by the Pastor of their group.  But brethren from far away, prayed for, sought to help, and encouraged the sick member.  Upon learning of the kind consideration that other church members were bestowing on the ailing person, the Pastor hastily descended upon the frail member – requesting and expecting to be fed and catered to – not to serve, but to be served – while demanding loyalty to his group affiliation alone.

Brethren, are we mature enough to pin-point the error in that practice?  This is not an isolated case, nor is it a unique occurrence within the church.  In fact, it is a quite common practice among church organizations today to give lip service to the concept of the “Unity of the Body of Christ,” while following a policy of exclusivity.  Ministers frequently reject all those who will not give their sole commitment and allegiance to them.  Not all ministers treat the brethren with such contempt, but there seems to be a code of loyalty among the ministers that allows this abhorrent practice to continue to divide the torn brethren.

Five times on Jesus’ final night, He prayed to His Father, “That they may be one.”  God has given the aging ministry of the Church of God ample time to demonstrate whether or not they intend to unify the brethren under the Father’s name (John 17:11).  They will be judged on their compliance to Jesus' Will.  “Woe be to the shepherds... Thus saith the Lord God; behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; ...for I will deliver my flock from their mouth.”  (Ezekiel 34:2, 10)

Among all the Churches of God today, which group is Christ's favorite?  Most act as though they believe that Christ would most certainly choose them above all the rest.  One claims to be the biggest; another the best; another has the most credible leadership; another does the work; while yet another declares themselves to be the spear point.  Jesus Christ is outraged by such conduct!  He does not approve of division within His Church.  When He said, "This is my Body," and, "I will build my Church," He had only one Church Body in mind (Matthew 16:18). "Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the savior of the Body."  (Ephesians 5:23)  Jesus is not pleased when the people of God, His Body, are partitioned by boundaries of separation.

Just like the Pharisees of Christ’s day, the ministry today bases its claim to righteousness on its Law keeping – fasting, praying, keeping the Sabbath, attending the Holy Days, and tithing.  They omit one law – the Law of Faith.  They would say they believe in Jesus Christ while feeling neither compunction nor regrets at not having unified the Body.  This is a salvational matter for the ministry.  Jesus is going to ask each minister to give account for himself – “What did you do to unify my Body?” (Romans 14:12)

So, brethren, reach out, serve, and love all the other brethren – your salvation depends on it as well.  Some of our brethren are scared, some are trapped, and some have not been taught that it is sinful to reject or exclude those brethren who are not a part of their organization.  Their ministry has not educated them to the Truth of Jesus Christ.  “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”  (1John 3:14)

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Sermon:  "Law of Faith"

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