By Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
The best a Jew could do in Old Testament times was to put a band aid on his sins and live as right as he could in the hope and knowledge of a coming Savior. Today we are so loved that we live in a time when that Savior has already come and our sins can be completely forgiven by the one who shed His blood on the cross to save us.
There are still rules that must be followed however and just as the Jew of the Old Testament they must be followed and kept. There have always been those who would not follow anything other than their own lusts and beliefs preferring to exercise their fee will in a manner that suites and serves themselves. The Christian however, seeks to do the will of the Creator knowing that the price is far to high for any selfish motive they may have.
That is the crux of free will it enables man to choose what he wants and the Christian knows this and is willing to bend his/her will to that of Gods. There are many who claim to follow the principles of Gods word who choose not to obey it in its simplicity but rather to do something then try to justify it afterward. It is really a simple matter of authority.
Jesus made clear He had all the authority when he spoke in Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. He then went on to command his apostles and disciples to go into all the world preaching and teaching by His authority Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It becomes clear that to teach all to observe those things He commanded was the only authority he gave to His apostles and to us today. When we go beyond what is taught we are endangering not just our souls but those whom we teach. These God inspired men recorded for us the very will of God that we might be saved. It doesn't take a scholar to understand what was taught and recorded, if those of the first century could understand so can we. This is a plain fact that seems to have been forgotten today.
The only apostle I know of who would even remotely be considered a scholar would have been Paul and yet he even preached the plain simple Gospel. Today it seems unless you have a fancy piece of paper or a bunch of extra letters behind your name one isn't truly considered educated enough to teach that simple doctrine given to man some two thousand years ago. Some think because there is a PHD at the end of a fellows name that he all of a sudden has more authority than the man who has simply studied the word on his own. Nothing could be farther from the truth however.
Folks I and many other preachers are just plain men with the desire to spread Gods word using only the same authority given by the Lord. Our desire is to teach you that to be saved, you must bend your will to that of Gods. We do not come to you speaking all manner of smooth talk allowing sin to go unchallenged. Beware those who come to you saying we have found something new. Beware those who would speak only loving words that sooth your mind and deceive you through their own vanity. Beware those who by their own authority bring in denominational and ungodly practices.
If you do not study for yourself as you have been instructed these men will come in and reek havoc among you as they have all along. Before you allow something in your life or in your assembly study the scriptures to be sure you have the proper authority. Follow the old saying I have come to live by and that is if in doubt do without. Please I beg of you stop allowing these deceivers in among you for they will surly lead you to hell.
Please seek the authority of God before doing anything. Do not start a practice and then try to justify it. Above all if these men and their damnable doctrines have already crept in among you put them out and go back to doing bible things in bible ways under the authority of God. Your souls depend upon it!
