Today's New Testament Message To Mankind

Today's New Testament Message To Mankind TO-DAY'S NEW TESTAMENT MESSAGE TO
MANKIND
By W. D. CAMPBELL

Introductory Remarks—I want to quote as a basis for my address on "To-day's New Testament Message to Mankind" two inspired statements, one from the Old Testament, and one from the New: Solomon by the Spirit of God said "Remove not the ancient land mark, which thy fathers have set"; and Paul wrote "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou has learned of me"; The message of the true prophets of the old covenant to God's ancient people in spirit is the New Testament mess­age to-day: For it is a true saying, that history repeats itself as we shall see: The prophet Jeremiah said "Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." The language sets forth the idea of travelers, who have lost their road, or way, on which they once had traveled, but from which they had wandered. Idolatry and apostasy are the wrong ways of the prophets teaching; and the true worship of God the old way. the right way. The history of the children of Israel furnishes many types, and striking analogies; and they are written for our admonition. Paul said "For what MI ever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Only the great God could make the past so minister to the future. Make Israel in the flesh, a type of spiritual Israel. Let me place before you briefly the type, in order that we may see in the anti­type the necessity for a distinctive message to-day. The children of Israel became slaves in Egypt by their own wickedness, just as men and women to-day be­come sinners by committing sin by doing wrong. God heard their groaning, their cry of anguish, and remembered his covenant with Abraham, and sent Moses, as a physical Saviour. Moses made known the plan of deliverance through Aaron, and the people believed their Leader; turned away from serving the Egyptians, and were bap­tized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and were constituted an holy nation at Mount Sinai; entered into covenant relationship with the great God, and pledged their loyalty to his law. Moses, as Mediator, exhorted them to whole hearted obedience. While still under the Theocracy, Israel asked for a king, they wanted to be like all the na­tions about them. With this act of unbelief and dis­loyalty the Jewish troubles multiplied, and their apostasy can be traced on the pages of Old Testament history. To induce the people to forsake God, and give up the true worship, false prophets labored most earnestly. They said smooth things, uttered sweet words, and predicted pleasant things. The people were turned away from the true prophets unto fables. But let me give the testimony: ''The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will ye do in the end thereof." Again in the words of Jeremiah, which I have already quoted "Thus saith the Lord, stand yet in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." "But they said, (that is the people) we will not walk therein." Again, for I want to place a mental picture of God's ancient people before you. "Then the Lord saith unto me, the prophets' prophecy lies in my name, I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them. They pro­phesy unto you a false vision." "Then hearken not ye to your prophets, which speak unto you saying; ye shall not serve the King of Babylon." The true prophets of God with all their warnings could not call the people back- to God, and his revealed worship, and thus save them from final apostasy and disgrace, by being carried down into literal Babylon. The people would not hear the true prophets, but misused them, persecuted them. The history of the apostasy of God's ancient people is a sad commen­tary upon human weakness, and fickleness—the law of the Lord was violated and the authority of God disregarded. Israel in the flesh departed from the word of God, and became subject to human authority in religion. The Lord by Jeremiah said " My people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water"; or as Isaiah has expressed it: "They have transgressed the law, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." The apostasy of Israel took time, it was a gradual development, but the end came, and God's chosen people were carried down to Babylon into helpless captivity.

There were as you know; three distinct captiv­ities, and three distinct periods of return. The return was as distinctly foretold, as the captivity. There is nothing in history like the return of the captive Jews. It shows the hand of God in history. Daniel knew from the prophecies of Jeremiah that the years of captivity were expired, as we learn from the! )th chapter of Daniel: He prayed to God in behalf of his people, and made a confession for himself, and his brethren: Cyrus the great, no doubt influenced by Daniel issued a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, which gave permission to the captive Jews to return to Palestine to rebuild the house of God, and restore the worship. The restoration of the Jews was a volunteer movement, as the larger portion of the people remained in the land of bondage. But by faith we can see a great company of pious people fulfilling Jeremiah's prediction. "In those days and in that time, saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going, and weeping, they shall go and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, come and let us join our­selves in a perpetual covenant that shall not he forgotten." "Back to Jerusalem" was their slogan, as they marched on, and I submit to you my friends, they did not make the mistake of good men of more modern times. They did not stop at Nineveh, or any other way station, and set up a temple and establish a worship. These men knew, as all Israel did, that God had not recorded his name, at any other place but Jerusalem. They traveled onward, and backward until they reached the city of David. There, they laid the foundation, and began to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The young men shouted for joy; and, the fathers wept with a loud voice, as they remembered the beauty of the first temple, and realized what their apostasy had cost them. The work was carried on against opposi­tion and bitter persecution. It was troublous times for the faithful workmen—, as they wrought with one hand and held a weapon with the other,, ready to work or light as the occasion called for. Finally the house of God was completed, the law read—the worship restored. I have now briefly outlined the type sufficiently for my purpose. I shall now make the application. As the literal temple was built in the city of David; so the spiritual temple, the church was built at Jerusalem. Isaiah said "Thus saith the Lord God. Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, he that believeth shall not make haste." Jesus said "Upon this rock I will build my church."' The first temple was composed of prepared stones, and timber made ready for position in the build­ing, before brought from the quarries, and the mountains, so that there was neither hammer, nor axe. nor tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building—so the spiritual temple, the church was made of prepared living stones, consecrated men and women, made ready for posi­tion in the Church by the preaching of the gospel. Jesus came into the world to save it, when mankind was in spiritual bondage worse than Egyptian bondage. The Lord Jesus through his apostles made known the plan of sal­vation, which requires the sinful of earth to believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Leader, to turn from the service of satan to the Saviour with full purpose of heart, to render a new service to Christ, and by an act of obedience be baptized into our divine leader. That these were the steps taken by those that were first built upon the divine foundation, when it was laid in Zion, Jerusalem, the begin­ning place; there can not he a doubt, with well informed people; and further it is recorded just how they wor­shiped. "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doc­trine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.'" But when did the Church meet to worship, when it was first established? Luke by the Spirit of God said, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread: Paul preached unto them.''

They were known by such names as the Holy Spirit gave them; they represented one family all children of God; one brotherhood in which ail were brethren in Christ, Jesus; and bound by no law, but the law of the Lord; the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Older men were chosen to take the oversight of the New Testament congregations, and deacons were appointed to look after the temporal affairs of the Church, and evangelists sent out to proclaim the message of life, as "messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ." Thus the church con­tinued during the first century maintaining the simplicity that is in Christ. But even then the mystery of iniquity- was working. The apostle Paul sounded this warning "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your ownselves, shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." The same great apostle further warned his brethren in these words: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work." And the in­spired Peter adds, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you; who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them." Peter, by the Holy Spirit foretells here, what would come to the early church: That already symptoms of error, and evil were appearing. That they were in danger of teachers of false doctrines, leading them astray. That false teachers would come among them bringing to their attention hurtful heresies, not at first openly and directly, but by the way, bringing in error by the side of true teaching so as to deceive, and mislead the people: And so error has always been introduced. Peter affirms that they will go so far in their false teaching, as to deny the Lord that bought them; and time has proven that the apostle wrote by the spirit of God. Men have arisen professing to be Chris­tians who have denied the divinity of the Lord Jesus, and the atoning efficacy of his blood. They are abroad in the land to-day; and these words of the apostle have been and are being fulfilled before us. The Apostasy began, thus early in the New Testa­ment Church. I want you to notice its growth. We can trace it on the pages of history. Now listen, to the voice of the Ante Nicene fathers, and as I quote you will notice the gradual falling away from Apostolic teaching and practice. Clement of Rome, one of the earliest Christian writers, wrote "Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ; They (the apostles) appointed the first fruit of their labors; having first proved them by the spirit to be bishops and deacons." This proves, that there had been no marked changes yet. Clement writes or speaks as the oracles of God. He speaks like the Apostles: Jesus said to his disciples; his chosen ministers: "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Now listen to Ignatius testify: "It is not lawful without the bishop, either to bap­tize or celebrate a love feast." This statement is not apostolic. Anything like it in the writings of the Apostles? No, sir, what about Philip? One of the seven chosen to do the work of deacons. When persecution scattered the Church which was at Jerusalem, the Church went every­where preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ, and baptized men and women into his saving name. According to Ignatius Philip did a very unlawful thing; for no one but the bishop can lawfully baptize, or celebrate the love feast; preside at the Lord's table. The fact of the matter, from the plain bishops, or elders of the first century, a new class arose, having the spirit of self-created eminence, and selfish ambition. They wanted to exercise authority, have power, and lord it over their brethren, and thus the clergy, and laity originated by degrees. At this point hear Cyprian, a disciple of Tertullian: Thence through the changes of time, and succession of bishops; he said "So that the Church is founded upon the bishops, and every act of the church is controlled by these same rulers": "When the church was established it was founded upon Christ". Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ"; said the inspired Paul; but in the days of Cyprian, bishops became, not only its foundation, but abso­lute rulers- Once more, let me quote the testimony of Tertullian: "When we are going to enter the water, but a little before in the presence of the congregation, and under the hand of the president, we solemnly profess, that we disown the devil, his pomp, and his angels; I say to you, not a very bad thing to do, but not the thing, that the Lord requires us to do in his gospel." "Hereupon we are thrice immersed, making a somewhat simpler pledge, than the Lord has appointed in the Gospel. Then when we are taken up, we taste first a mixture of milk, and honey; make the offerings for the dead, birthday honors, the sign on the forehead. If for these, and other rules, you insist upon having positive scripture injunction you will find none. I put the apostles aside." My friends as I quote these words, you can see the apostasy growing before your eyes. The mystery of iniquity gradually but surely developing its power, until there was finally a universal bishop or Pope at Rome—where now is the simple, pure church of God, the bride of Christ? Corrupted, per­verted, gone down into spiritual Babylon—And my friends as you know, the dark ages came on, and the apostate church ruled the people with the unwritten word in the form of decrees of councils, and the decisions of Popes. But just as there were earnest, pious hearts in the literal Babylonian captivity, willing to return to Jeru­salem, and rebuild the temple, and restore the worship: So God had a people in spiritual Babylon. There were true hearted people, who were feeling after God, and searching for truth—Beginning with Wickliffe; and Huss; and Luther, Calvin, and Wesley, and a host of good, and great reformers; whose purpose was right. That they did good, we are glad to concede. But they did not conceive the idea of a restoration of the faith and practice of apos­tolic times—in an effort to lead the people back to Jeru­salem; Martin Luther inaugurated a great reformation. He accomplished much and lasting good. He gave to the people the Bible in their own language but he did more— he gave them his opinions formulated into a confession of faith, with its ninety-five theses of his faith, some of which were taken from Rome. Other reformers followed him. We accept the good, the truth so far, as they taught it. But they all made the mistake of building a party or­ganization at some way station. And thus religious parties, denominations, have been produced by good, sincere men, adding to or subtracting from the doctrine of Christ. By adding to, or taking from the very words of the Holy Spirit, by mingling the terms of the Holy Spirit, with human thought and teaching. Thus giving prominence to opinions; merely speculative things, around which bodies of men have gathered, and formed organizations unknown to the word, to advocate and propagate the denominational ideas originated long after Christianity was perfected. Un­til the religious world was in confusion, split up into warring sects, bound and ruled not by the unwritten word, but the written traditions in the form of human creeds. More than a century ago, there was a movement in Scot­land called the "Haldanean reformation", in an earnest effort to return to the old paths of apostolic teaching, and practice; when about the same time Thomas Campbell came to this country. He was made sad, when he saw so much unchristian rivalry. He at once began a work of reform, first among his own people, urging believers to forsake creeds, and return to the Bible. In his address he gave utterance to these words: "Where the Bible speaks we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent." A principle which if faithfully followed should lead every honest minded man and woman to New Testament Chris­tianity—As it did lead such men as Barton W. Stone. Alexander Campbell, and other consecrated men to plead for a return to the faith and practice of the first Church; for a complete restoration of the apostolic order of things as set forth in the New Testament. They undertook to do what the early reformers left undone—to restore the Church, as established by the Apostles, and the worship as given by the Holy Spirit, in its original simplicity and purity. In doing this they Went with an open Bible back of Oxford—and London—back of Geneva, and Wittenberg, back of Rome, back, back to Jerusalem, to dis­cover the original survey made by the inspired apostles sent out by the authority of Christ. To discover the an­cient landmarks, which the fathers have set, and restore them. To discover the "Old Paths", and walk in them. They found in their study of the word, that the only suc­cession necessary to reproduce the church of the New Testament is the succession of truth. To plant the seed of the Kingdom only, and it would reproduce the Church of the New Testament only. In other words they realized, that if they preached just what the apostles preached: Teach men to believe, and do just what they taught men to believe and do, and then teach them how to worship, and live, as the first Christians did; that they could thus rebuild the Church of Christ, as the Apostles built it nearly nineteen hundred years ago; and be just what they were, simply Christians; followers of Christ; children of God. 'There is a grand body of men and women now in the field; pledged until death to carry on this work of restoration. They have no king, but Jesus. No law, hut the law of the Lord, and no bond of fellowship; but the word itself; as surely as literal Israel was restored from Babylon to Jerusalem; so we believe in the restoration of spiritual Israel to spiritual Jerusalem. The work may be slow—but it is going on. The restoration of ancient Israel took time. It met with, first ridicule, then opposition; then their enemies made an overture for a parley, to hold a conference. Put Nehemiah stood firm. This restoration work in which beloved, we are engaged, has passed through the stages of ridicule and scorn—of bitter opposition. 'The grand pioneer workers to whom we owe so much drew the sword of the spirit in its defense—We have entered the third stage, that of compromise; and there is danger my young brethren; I want to say to you, that the rock upon which we are apt to make shipwreck of our faith, is that of compromise—the disposition to give up principle and truth, for popularity and prosperity: But to compro­mise on a question of right or wrong is a sinful subter­fuge, and a sign of moral and spiritual weakness—My young brethren hold fast the form of sound words—"Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set'', and stand like a wall of fire for the church of the New Testament, and the simple gospel as the Lord gave it and as the Apostles preached it. And now in conclusion, what is "Today's New Testament Message to Mankind"'? What is the message which the world needs? There are those who think we need something new. Something that will attract, draw the people. A new message; a new form of worship; new plans. But this is a mistake. The power of God is in his gospel. The church to-day and the world need the old Jerusalem Gospel. The simple New Testament message which carried the church of the Apostolic days to victory—and we need to put consecrated consistent lives into the gospel, which the Lord gave to his apostles and which they preached by the Holy Spirit. The gospel should be preached by men, who believe it; preached in its purity, preached in love. The world needs just such a message, and the church needs the teaching of the word as much as ever, if not more—With the work of the de­structive critics, even in the church it is highly necessary to have the Bible taught, and the church grounded in the truth: To this end the church should send out more true hearted men to preach the gospel in its divine fullness. But more, the church needs to so organize its forces, that every member will become a worker for Christ, and be able to set forth the New Testament message to those about them. Breach Christ, and live Christ.

"For right is right, since God is God;
And right the day must win;
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin."