5.14 - THE CHURCH—ITS ESTABLISHMENT, ITS HISTORY, AND ITS FALLING AWAY

THE CHURCH—ITS ESTABLISHMENT, ITS HISTORY, AND ITS FALLING AWAY In spite of the rain which doubtless prevented many from coming, we have an exceedingly fine audience. Your presence I duly appreciate. I also am glad to see the interest that you evidence in matters that transcend the realms of time; I am fully conscious of the continued responsibility that I have assumed. We are indeed in the midst of perilous times. I have but little to say of world conditions and of the problems that confront us as a result of the war. The church of the Lord knows that it must continue, regardless of things material or things worldly in their nature. Involved as we are, it certainly seems that our attention ought to be the more earnestly centered upon things of spiritual importance. I am talking tonight, as was announced, upon the church of the Bible. I call attention to, first, its establishment; second, its history; and third, the warnings and the evidences of its drifting from the original standard. Now all of you will understand full well that the discussion of these different topics must be brief. This meeting is so scheduled that much territory must be covered in the least possible time. Throughout the Old Testament the word church is never found. It is strictly a New Testament term. But the prophets clearly foretold the church, the kingdom of God. In that period it was also pointed out quite vividly that Jesus Christ was to be the builder of it; that Jerusalem was to be the place in which the house of the Lord was to be built; and that it should comprise all nations. These thoughts were new to the people of former dispensations. I think perhaps that most of us do not appreciate the significance and the importance of the right beginning for the church. Many errors arise from a misconception of the beginning.

There are three general periods designated as the time when the church of the Lord was begun upon this earth. One theory is that it started in the days of Abraham and was perpetuated throughout the rest of the patriarchal and likewise the Jewish age. Now, just to help you to understand matters clearly, let me say that all pedobaptists —those who believe in baptizing babies believe that the beginning of the church was in the days of Abraham. In that number, as you will see, are our Methodist friends, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and so on. Their idea, however, that the church was thus begun is a false premise—a statement untrue. Hence, you need not be surprised at the multiplied errors that crept into those religious bodies. It just occurs to me that they fail to recognize the simple statement of Paul when he said that Christ has "obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." But under the old covenant there was remembrance made again of their sins every year, hence, their need of repeated sacrifices from year to year. Now, in the light of what Paul here says, I just cannot quite understand why people cannot see at once that the covenant of the Christian age is not the covenant made by God with Abraham. Therefore, it follows that in those denominations which claim their origin back there, are indeed many errors. Those who look to Abraham or to the law of Moses for spiritual guidance now have their minds blinded and the veil is not yet taken away. Until they forsake denominational ideas and come to Christ, the new and the living way, the light of God’s truth will not shine upon their hearts. The second theory is that the New Testament church was established in the days of John the Baptist or during the personal ministry of Christ—just any time before Pentecost. Prominent Baptist preachers would one time affirm such a statement, but men of that type can scarcely be found now. There is a reason. The fact is that the church was firmly fixed and definitely established upon this earth on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. The work of John the Baptist was that of preparing the way of the Lord, of making ready a people for the Lord by giving them a knowledge of salvation. Let me say kindly, I have never yet found (and I have called upon Baptists to help me) one single historian and scholar who will put it down in cold print that the church of the New Testament was established in the days of John the Baptist or during the personal ministry of Christ. Hence, all of those preachers who have been deceived and deluded ought to turn away from this error and come to the full realization that the church of the Lord was founded after the tragedy of the cross and on that memorable Pentecost. John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea, a wild vacant territory, and with his clarion voice broke the silence of that wilderness and attracted people from Jerusalem and from Judea and the region round about. The burden of John’s proclamation was that the people ought to repent, for "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Thus John proclaimed the approach of the kingdom of God. Next, the twelve were sent out under a restricted commission with specific authority to proclaim the same thing—that the "kingdom of God is at hand." And then the seventy were sent and they said the same thing, but clothed it in different words when they announced, "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." When Jesus Christ himself began, he said: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." We may ask what time is fulfilled? There is but one answer—viz., the time spoken of by the prophets. Let it be remembered that during the days of John, the twelve, the seventy, and the personal ministry of Christ, they all proclaimed that the "kingdom of God is at hand." But after the kingdom or church was established on the day of Pentecost no such expression as "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" is found in the Bible. I next call attention to what Christ said in Mark 9:1 : "There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." Friends, I think the man does not live that can harmonize this statement of the Lord with the idea that the church was then in existence. Everyone must admit that the kingdom was nigh, that it was to appear during the lifetime of some who were then standing there. If it be a fact that the kingdom has never yet been established, do you not think that some of those fellows are getting rather old? Christ said nineteen hundred years ago some of them would not die until they had seen the kingdom of God come with power. Again I am told that the kingdom never has come and will not until our Lord’s return to earth. Some of those to whom Christ spoke ought to be living yet. And instead of Methuselah being the oldest man, these disciples are already nineteen hundred years of age, and no sign, as yet, of the direct and immediate approach of the kingdom of God. Such an idea is founded in a brain that fails to function in harmony with the word of God, or, in a mind that disregards the plainest statement of God’s eternal truth. But note, the kingdom of God was to come with power; the power was to come with the Spirit; and the Spirit came on Pentecost. So we conclude without the shadow of a doubt that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ was established upon this earth on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Gospel preachers, from the pioneer days on down, have been perfectly willing, and sometimes anxious, to affirm such a statement. The time was when opposition could be had, but those days are almost gone possibly forever. The opposition have learned that the better part of their policy is to evade all such arguments, and pose as being too good to enter into a public discussion. I know that such is not so. They can debate well when they have no opponent. By bitter experience they have learned some lessons, and hence, they fear an open investigation of the differences between the church of Christ and their human denominations. Let me call attention next to the history of that church established on Pentecost, in as brief a time as I may be able. On that occasion, when Peter preached the first gospel sermon in the name of the risen Lord, the Bible declares: "About three thousand souls were added." Within a short time, the number of men alone came to be about five thousand. Upon the persecution that arose over the stoning of Stephen, all the Jerusalem Church was scattered abroad, save the apostles, and they went everywhere preaching the word. Numbers and numbers of souls became obedient unto the faith. Philip then preached in Samaria the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. The people heard it; they believed it; and "they were baptized, both men and women." Hence, the church of the Lord was planted in the city of Samaria by the simple preaching of the gospel. Later on Peter was called from Joppa to Caesarea, where he preached to the centurion Cornelius and his house. When they heard the story, they were baptized in the name of the Lord, and hence the church in those parts. And throughout the country of Asia Minor, Paul and Barnabas, together with Silas and Timothy and Luke, spread the glad tidings of salvation. Then, in response to the Macedonian call, Paul and his company crossed the Aegean Sea and established churches upon European soil. Thus they continued until the record says: "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Not only that, but to be more specific, Paul declares in Colossians 1:23 : "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." Under that great world-wide commission, inspired men went into the uttermost parts of the earth, proclaiming the gospel of God’s Son. Obedience to that gospel made Christians, and when they were banded together they constituted the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. From such statements it would seem that the church might soon cover the face of the earth, but such is not its history. I am calling your attention next, friends, to the warnings and to the evidences of departure and apostasy. As I talk about matters of this kind, I want you to be aware of one thing—viz., that human nature has run in about the same channel since the days of Adam. It has not changed. Members became quite enthusiastic in the first church. They were thoroughly honest and earnestly intended to be faithful in carrying out the principles thus accepted, but with the passing of time they yielded to the temptations and the allurements of the world, and erelong evidenced their indifference, their carelessness, and their downright apostasy. I am reading to you a number of passages right along this line. I verily believe that the time never has been when these passages ought to register more effectively than in the period through which we are now passing. If I can discern the signs of the times, and the characteristics of mankind, I think I know that preachers, elders, and all members of the church ought to stand foursquare for the old paths. In observing the affairs of the church, I have seen those who have lost interest, who have become discouraged, and who have evidenced a disposition to compromise. They want to become broad-gauged and sweet-spirited. Dale Carnegie’s philosophy has had more influence on some preachers than has the word of God. I now read at length from Acts 20:1-38 because, brethren, I think what Paul said should challenge our serious study. He called the elders of the church at Ephesus to deliver to them a final report of his journey. When they were come, he said unto them: Brethren, "ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." My, what a journey, and what an expectation! Now observe: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." May I inject this thought? Such was the spirit that caused primitive Christianity to spread over the face of the earth. "And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Are we conscious of such warning, brethren? Have those passages registered upon the tablets of our minds? Are we aware of the fact that the same dangers that beset the church back there are still in evidence? Are our elders watching over the flock? And believe they that there be dangers lurking on every hand? Are they looking after the character of those whom they invite to preach, and the kind of sermons which the audience is called upon to hear? Are they unmindful of the fact that the preaching today is largely dealing with things secular, with matters that are foreign to the gospel of Christ? Do they know that social affairs, political relations, and world-wide issues are the chief things discussed in the pulpit? All of such might be interesting, but it is not the gospel of God’s Son. Elders are falling down on their duty when they permit a preacher in their midst to know anything save Jesus Christ and him crucified. A little sermonette on some abstract theme makes the preacher popular and causes him to receive the commendations and the eulogies of those who are ignorant of gospel truth. Paul said: "Brethren, of your own selves there will men arise to draw the disciples after them by speaking perverse things. Therefore, for the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." But do you know, brethren, that until the clouds gather, the lightnings flash, and the thunders peal, it is hard to make an impression upon people? Last Thursday I went into the office of Secretary Hull, who, in my judgment, is the biggest man connected with any government on earth. Mr. Hull was exceedingly serious. He said: "Hardeman, back in ’33 and ’34 and ’35, I saw the gathering of this great conflict just as clearly as I ever watched the accumulation of the clouds. I did my best to warn the people of America of the coming tragedy, but they were as the somnambulist walking along the mighty precipice, unmindful of the terrible danger that lay just one step beyond." I thought what wonderful words were these coming from a man upon whose heart lies a large part of the responsibility of this country. The same principle is true regarding the church. Paul may warn, preachers may read what he said, but the church pays little attention. For the space of three years, Paul warned the churches. He knew what was going to happen. It did occur back there, and those folks were just about like we are. The elders of the church at Ephesus were not a different kind of men from the elders of the churches here in Nashville. World conditions to them were just about what world conditions are to us. People loved attractions back there just as they do now. They loved entertainment and the way of the world. They loved to be patted on the back and to hear complimentary remarks from various people whom they met. Paul declared that grievous wolves would "enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Elders, I am pleading with you. Don’t let such things come to pass. Now, if that Scripture alone would register with us as much as does "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," we would have far less trouble in our churches. But, too often, after we get on dry clothes, we forget everything of that kind. Again, in the second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had this to say: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." There will not only be a "falling," but there will be a "falling away." The word "away" cuts one loose from all connections. He also said: "For the mystery of iniquity cloth already work." Paul could see evidence of departure in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, again, when he warns his young son Timothy to "preach the word; in season . . . out of season," he said: "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." Now he was not talking about some denomination; he was not talking about some political party or social club. He was talking about members of the church of the Lord. And with prophetic vision, he said: "Timothy, the time will come when members of the body of Christ, those in your midst, will not endure sound doctrine." I am not stopping to reason as to whether or not such a condition now prevails. I think you know that there are some preachers who cannot be accepted everywhere. The reason is they contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered. There are those who want that which everybody can accept, and at which no one could possibly be offended. They want that which is general and which the world can accept just as readily as the members of the church. Again, I am calling attention to 1 Timothy 4:1-16 : "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Think about it. Are members of the church going to depart? Paul said they would. Have you seen things of that kind? I think you have. We are just as human as were they. We are just as weak as was any one of them, and we are exposed to the same danger. Hence, our protection is to watch and remember, and to heed the warnings. Paul had this also to say regarding some: "Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as cloth a canker." And then he was specific. He did not deal in generalities. He told exactly who they are. Had some of my brethren been there, they would have said: "Don’t you dare call names, because that will not be nice and you will not be sweet-spirited." Now you listen and see what Paul said about it. "They will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as cloth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred." Well, in what was their error? They said: "The resurrection is past already." Now what was the effect of that preaching? They overthrew the faith of some. These young men, so far as I know, were splendid characters and possibly fine speakers, but they began to speculate. They thought that they had found something that was new, and, therefore, they decided that "while we believe in the resurrection, we also have decided that it is already past." As is usual, some thoughtless brethren accepted their theory, and as a result their faith was overthrown. Let me say that in principle, I cannot see one particle of difference between Hymenaeus and Philetus and a lot of others that are in error tonight. Their theories differ, but the basis is the same. Some say that the kingdom of God has not yet come. They claim to believe in the kingdom all right, but it is a thing of the future. What about you, Philetus and Hymenaeus?? They believed in the resurrection, but said it was already past. What did they do? Overthrow the faith of some. What are these doing that are proclaiming the kingdom is yet to come? Likewise, they are disturbing many and are overthrowing the faith of good brethren who ought to reverse their gear and hark back and let unrevealed things belong to God. Well, that is not all. I remember another statement from Paul regarding some young preachers. He said: "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." That sounds fine to nearly everybody. But I ask: "Paul, who did it?" Paul did not hesitate to tell us who some were. "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." So here they arc Hymenaeus and Alexander. No doubt many brethren now living would have criticized Paul for calling names had they been present. Let me say that I would not care one hit for any man’s telling what I have to say, provided he would in no way misrepresent me. I am sure that such was ever the sentiment of Paul. Whom was Paul talking about? He did not hesitate to say that one of them is Hymenaeus, and the other one is Alexander. But may I ask: "What have you done to them?" His answer: “I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." That is what he said about them. Do you think that was nice and sweet-spirited? Brethren, just what do you think about it? Wouldn’t you criticize Paul? Would you say that he ought to have just gone on and preached the gospel and let the other fellow alone? Had such a course been followed, Christ would not have been crucified nor would any of the apostles been martyred. "Preach the word. Reprove and rebuke." "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel of God’s Son." We will never kill the Japs nor the Germans if we just take a shotgun and give it a broad range with no aim at something definite. When we discuss errors, let us tell the audience who teaches such, for it is a fact that a large part of the people will never know unless specifically told. Let those whom we are trying to convert understand that we are talking about them. Again, Paul said to Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." These warnings imply danger. They are just as applicable to us as they were to Timothy. Young people, heed such warnings. Do not seek to be galvanized into prominence at the expense of your soul. Remember that the world will hate you. It will hate the man that proclaims the gospel of God’s Son without fear or favor. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world. If so, his servants would fight. Paul said to Titus: "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine." Now what is sound doctrine? I have heard all along the line about a preacher being "sound." What is meant by that? What is sound doctrine? Sound doctrine is Bible doctrine. Sound speech is Bible language. "Hold fast the form of sound words," and "if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." The oracles of God are God’s Word. Let him speak as the Bible speaks. Let him respect the Bible. Let people understand that he proposes to go by the Bible. Let him preach nothing, practice nothing, and be nothing other than what the word of God says. Now my last thought of tonight is this: Brethren, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." This does not argue that you are wrong, but it implies that you might be, and hence "examine yourselves." Recently I went to Memphis for a special physical examination. I felt all right and, so far as I knew, nothing was wrong. I just wanted to make sure. After many careful tests, the doctor said to my delight: “I think you are all right and that you ought to live another forty years." Now, I wasn’t scared. Death wasn’t staring me in the face, so far as I knew, but 1 wanted myself examined to find out whether I be in good health or not. Am I more interested, friends, in my physical make-up than I am in my spiritual welfare? Examine yourselves. Are you doing something that the Lord forbids? Are you measuring up to His standard? Are you living up to the requirement of the New Testament? Are you standing foursquare for the old Jerusalem gospel? Are you behind the man that proclaims God’s truth one hundred per cent? Are you holding up the hands of those who go forth to tell the story? Examine yourselves, and I think it will do all of you good. Friends, I have talked long enough tonight. If now there are any in this audience who understand the will of the Lord and who are disposed to accept it, you are earnestly invited to come while you may.