{"id":25,"date":"2003-09-30T00:22:09","date_gmt":"2003-09-30T04:22:09","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2008-02-09T09:49:19","modified_gmt":"2008-02-09T14:49:19","slug":"the-importance-of-new-testament-church-principles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblearchive.com\/blog\/the-importance-of-new-testament-church-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of New Testament Church Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"

by W.E. Vine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In the Holy Scriptures God has provided for us “the faith which was once for all
\ndelivered unto the saints,” Jude 3, not once upon a time, as if the provision of the
\nfaith was a passing event, leaving something else to be provided later, but “once for
\nall,” indicating its completeness, its finality and its permanent authority. The Lord
\nHimself confirmed this authority as being binding and decisive by constantly appealing to
\nthe Scriptures. When, for instance, a certain lawyer questioned Him on a matter of the
\ngreatest importance, He said, “What is written in the law? How readest thou?”.
\n
\nWhat was taught by Christ and His apostles, as set forth in the New Testament concerning
\nHis will as to the principles of the formation, the gatherings, the worship and testimony
\nof an assembly, was designed to be both sufficient and obligatory during the whole of the
\npresent period until His return. Changed conditions in Christendom, which in large measure
\nhave constituted a departure from the New Testament teaching, only make that teaching
\nstand out the more conspicuously as the mind of God for the unprejudiced believer. Altered
\ncircumstances were never intended to involve any departure from the Word of God. The
\nScriptures are of such a nature as to need no modification. It has been found possible for
\nthose who desire to be obedient to Christ to carry them out through all the centuries of
\nthis period.<\/p>\n

It is of paramount importance for us to discern and follow the will of the Lord, and that
\nnot only in our individual capacity, but in our association with other believers in church
\nlife and practice. At the judgment seat of Christ the Word of God will be the criterion by
\nwhich we shall either receive a lasting reward for our adherence to its teachings, or
\nsuffer irretrievable loss for failure to fulfill
\nthem.<\/p>\n

The teachings of the New Testament concerning a local church or assembly are clear for all
\nwho desire to know and follow the will of God instead of the traditions of men. The claims
\nof the Word of God demand our adherence to it and our acceptance of that alone which is in
\naccordance to it. To follow any teaching contrary to the doctrines of Scripture is to
\nchallenge its accuracy and to deny the prerogatives of the Spirit of God and the Lord
\nChrist.<\/p>\n

It is therefore the responsibility of each believer to identify himself with those who are
\nseeking to assemble in accordance with the teaching of the New Testament. Our fidelity to
\nthe Lord must not depend upon the fidelity of our fellow-believers. We should be steadfast
\nenough to be true to Him and to His Word even if others may fail to act consistently.
\nWhere any assembly is marked by failure or faithlessness on the part of some of its
\nmembers, it is ours to set an example by remaining faithful, and this example will meet
\nwith the Lord’s approval here and will receive its reward in the coming day.<\/p>\n

The genuine acknowledgment of Christ as Lord will keep us faithful in our adherence to the
\nScriptures in the recognition of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in regard to
\nworship. The fulfillment of the will of the Lord should be our consuming ambition, and
\nthis will mean a repudiation of the traditions of men and of human additions to the faith,
\nas well as of all that undermines its teachings as set forth in the Scriptures of truth.<\/p>\n

The craft of Satan is ever at work to beguile us from allegiance to our Lord. What need
\nthen there is to receive the exhortation He gave to His disciples when He warned them
\nagainst mere profession of faith! It is quite easy to imagine that we are rendering
\nservice to Him while all the time His revealed will is being ignored. He said, “Not
\neveryone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he
\nthat doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven,” Matt. 7:21. Let us beware of
\nsubstituting our own preferences for what He has enjoined upon us, lest, in setting aside
\nHis authority, whether in private life or in our church capacity, we are after all found
\nwanting.<\/p>\n

The Lord still walks amidst “the lampstands,” the local assemblies, as He did as
\nrecorded in Revelation 2-3. He discerns the ways of His people and knows all that is going
\non in each assembly. Blessed are those to whom He will be able to say, “Thou hast
\nkept my word, and hast not denied my name,” Rev. 3:8.<\/p>\n

True obedience neither procrastinates nor questions. Francis Quarles<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by W.E. Vine In the Holy Scriptures God has provided for us “the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints,” Jude 3, not once upon a time, as if the provision of the faith was a passing event, leaving something else to be provided later, but “once for all,” indicating its completeness, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Importance of New Testament Church Principles - Rey Reynoso's Bible Archive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/biblearchive.com\/blog\/the-importance-of-new-testament-church-principles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Importance of New Testament Church Principles - Rey Reynoso's Bible Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"by W.E. 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