Much
confusion exists in the body of Christ today.
All
Christians are aware of the verse - "Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Many
Christians do seriously study the Bible today with
this verse in mind. We all want to stand at the judgment seat of Christ
and
hear the words "Well done!" However, many study the Bible with
preconceived ideas and try to get verses to back up their position
without
letting the English in the King James Bible reveal what it says.
Too
often, we quickly jump in with `what we think it means.'
Where
should a Christian get their doctrine from?
There
is absolutely no doubt that it is to be taken from
Paul. He says "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ."
(1Corinthians 11:1).
Also
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned;
and avoid them."
(Romans
16:17).
So
from Romans to Philemon, we can be assured of no
contradicting doctrine.
So
where does the confusion come from?
Unfortunately,
well-meaning Christians are misquoting
Matthew, Acts, James, John, Peter, Revelation, the gospels and even the
Old
Testament, without realizing that this is not following Paul.
A
simple rule of thumb
"If
it agrees with Paul, it's doctrine for the
Christian."
But
what if it's in the New Testament?
That
doesn't matter. If it doesn't agree with Paul, it's
historical and/or spiritual but not doctrinal for the Christian.
So
does this mean then, that the church started with
Paul?
If
it does, how do we handle Romans 16:7 "Salute
Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of
note among
the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." Obviously
the body of Christ existed before Paul came on the scene.
In addition we have the following:
"For
I am the least of the apostles, that am not
meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God."
(1Corinthians 15:9)
Did
the church exist at Pentecost?
Yes.
"Praising God, and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should
be saved."
(Acts 2:47)
So
was the gospel of Paul preached at Pentecost?
No.
It was a gospel given by God to Peter to
preach to the nation of Israel.
What
was Peter's gospel?
"Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Could
people get saved today with Peter's gospel?
No,
they'd go straight to hell. There is no mentioned of
the `blood of Jesus being shed for sins' or `believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ
and thou shalt be saved." But at the time, this is what the Lord
commanded
for the nation of Israel to be saved and put into the body of Christ.
So has
Paul dropped water baptism in order to be
saved?
Yes. Paul says to the jailer "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved." There is no mention of water baptism here.
Has water baptism ceased for this church age?
Yes.
Did Paul ever baptize?
Yes.
If baptism
ceased at Paul, why did he persist in
baptizing?
He didn’t
persist. He baptised a couple of people
but then stopped, as he realised it would make the gospel of none
effect.
For
example, people do say “I got water baptised,
therefore I must be saved!”
This is
wrong. They equate water baptism with being
saved.
Paul says
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest
any
should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And
I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether
I
baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach
the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of
none effect. 1 Cor 1:14-17
So in summary, when did the church start?
When
the veil in the temple was ripped in two. God put
many Jews into the body of Christ even though it wasn't under Paul's
preaching
and Paul's gospel. Just because the church was not evident and
operating under
the gospel of Paul like today, it doesn't mean it didn't exist then.
The Lord
put people into the body of Christ under different rules than that of
Paul.
Still
not convinced?
Answer
this then. How were Peter, James and John put
into Christ before his death? "...as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us:... I in them, and thou
in me,
that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may
know that
thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
(John 17:21, 23).
Now
there is only one body of Christ - not two. God can
do what he likes, when he likes..... and he doesn't have to follow our
reasoning.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; ...