THE
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
By Bro Eric Okhuakhua (Winter),
A follower of Christ Jesus
By the grace of God Almighty.
Greetings
in the name of the Lord who bought me, HALLELUIAH!
One may not see why a man who should author a proverb
would begin his writing by counting himself “more brutish than any man, and
have not the understanding of a man.” I feel no better myself, as I try to
articulate what the Lord has laid in me. Although, I have not learned religion
from any Seminary or Bible College, I trust that the Lord God, who has taught
me wisdom, will use this humble piece to His own glory. I have known the
knowledge of the saints by His spirit. I have no glory of my own. But I am a
worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. So look not on
me, as though by my own wisdom, power or holiness, I write this treatise. I
have nothing that I have not received. These graces that I now enjoy are but
gifts from above. How should I glory save in that which the Lord has done? I
owe much thanks to Him for revealing His saving doctrine to me to both save
myself, and them that hear me. I also glory in the church of the living God,
the ground and pillar of the truth, which has both birthed and strengthened my
faith in Christ Jesus; wherein I have so learned Christ and taken upon me His
yoke of meekness. For He has come to the Earth in the flesh for this very
purpose (1John3:8). Therefore, it’s my humble prayer that the eyes that look
upon these lines will grow a desire within their breasts to hunger and thirst
after that which the Son of God has manifested here on the Earth. Amen.
What
could that be?
By Doctrine is meant the whole teaching and practices of
a faith, especially for the regulation of the moral conduct of the adherent. Therefore,
the doctrine of Christ reveals His mission to the world. Christianity is
centered on the teachings and person of Christ Jesus. To understand this
doctrine, we must first come to terms with His personage. Peter’s inspired answer
to this great question is a pointer to the fact that no man can of his own
understand who the man Christ Jesus is. For the Lord Himself affirmed that
flesh and blood did not reveal it to him. Every follower of Christ needs this
divine revelation to properly discern Christ and His flesh or His body, which
is the church. The Lord Jesus Christ started His ministry by first, selecting twelve
humble men of different background, in order to teach them the right way life
should be lived. Yes, God made man to live in a specific way, but man chose various
other ways, which are defective and pervert. (Eccl 7:29 Lo, this only have I
found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many
inventions. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.)
Christ actually trained the first disciples and followers, or the first church.
He taught them by example how to live not for themselves, but for the Father.
He himself did not please Himself in the flesh (Ro 15:3 For even Christ pleased
not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee
fell on me). This fact accounts for the highly disciplined life that they lived
here on Earth.
Apart from the physical aspect of this training, which
is actually focused on pleasing the Father Almighty, and not oneself, He promised
to empower them spiritually, to make for the inward depravity which baulked man
from achieving the goal of moral purity. He did this on the day of Pentecost.
We can find the account in the book of Acts chapter two. He gave them a
commission to make disciples of men of every nation on Earth. On this day, He
fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi: “…he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and
silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” These
later disciples or church were to learn to “…observe all things whatsoever (the
Lord Jesus had) … commanded…” Discipleship is not merely an ideology but a
practice. The disciples imitated the Master. Those who they trained also
learned their way of life. The Apostle, Paul said: “Be ye followers of me, even
as I also am of Christ”… “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of
God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus”; and Peter, the Elder, also said: “For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye should follow his steps”. This is true Christianity or
Christ-likeness, not the church going social activities of modern day perverts;
the name “Christian” has now become so cheap that even arrogant politicians, wayward
street urchins, sly craftsmen, feminists, clowns, shameless fornicators, cursed
gays and brazen divorcees lay hold to it. The grace and love of God has been
turned into lasciviousness. Sin sick souls know deep within their consciousness
that they are in need of sound doctrine of life to become healed indeed from
their spiritual hurt. They will not be persuaded or satisfied with “slight
healing”, or doctrines of “Peace, peace”, when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14;
8:11, Isaiah 5:20). It has become necessary to state here that the doctrine of
Christ, which is also known as love, is a life of faith, long suffering,
humility, selflessness, separation, denial of worldly pleasures and lusts, etc.
I shall hereafter endeavor to make a distinction between God’s unconditional
love and the senseless concept the world has to offer.
What
a great thought!
A great thought is set before us by this subject: THE
DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. But, who can fully exhaust all that is entailed herein?
What mere man? None at all, I think. Has
any ascended into the heavens to learn the mind of God who dwells there; or
descended thence down here to teach men below what he had learned above. No man can fully know and teach us these
things unless he hath been in heaven, and sent down from there to the earth for
that purpose. Since there be no man, pray, that there be a hungering and
thirsting of the soul that follows hard after the Lord and His Spirit that searches
all things, yea, the deep things of God. I have endeavored here to rest upon a
more sure word of prophecy, which was written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Ye have an unction from
the Holy One, and ye know all things; and the anointing which ye have received
of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Word
of Life!
Every word of God is pure. All things were made by him;
and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the
life was the light of men. That life is the doctrine, which I here bring unto
thee, oh man, that there may be light in you. This light is a shield unto them
that put their trust in him. In this life, there is safety from the evil one.
If you desire inexplicable peace and joy unspeakable, seek out the wholesome
doctrine of Christ, which is the rock upon which the church of God is founded.
It is a compact doctrine. It works as a whole. Therefore, we are not to add
unto God’s words, nor detract from it, lest He reprove us, and we be found
liars. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is
antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. But how do I deny Him as the
Christ? Yea, there are some who profess that they know God; but in works they
deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate. With their lifestyles they deny the Lordship of Christ Jesus. Worse
still, they deny His flesh and bone, the body of Christ, who walk after His
footsteps. Yea, you deny His spotless body, when you do not abide in His
teaching in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye ought to
shine as lights in the world. Indeed, you deny before the world that He has
come in the flesh, through the souls of sanctified ones, who have not defiled
their garments.
Two things have I required of the Lord; which I trust He
will not deny me them before I die: one, That I be removed far from vanity and
lies: and, two, That I be given neither poverty nor complacent riches of
knowledge; I need spiritual food convenient for my welfare: I do not desire to
be so full and spiritually independent of Christ that I deny His saving power,
and say, Who is the LORD? Neither do I wish to be destitute of the true
doctrine of Christ, and act shamefully and blame worthily, and so take the name
of my God in vain. Many today do take or rather wear His name in vain, in that
they are known as Christians but do not live like Christ. Christ came in the
flesh and lived life the way it ought to be. He did not live in isolation, but
mentored few men, who have testified unto us His doctrine of life. Brother John
the beloved proclaims, thus:
·
That which was from the beginning, which we
have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
·
(For the life was manifested, and we have
seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with
the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
·
That
which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ.
It therefore follows that the doctrine of Christ is not
abstract, or something impracticable; for the disciples actually saw with their
eyes, heard with their ears, and handled with their hands that which was from
the beginning. This heavenly life has been right from the beginning with the
Father. It became flesh and dwelt among men. It is the word of life, through
which everything was made. It was manifested to the disciples. This Word became
flesh and noticeable in them, as the church of God. They thus became members of
his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. It would be safe to say that they
were Christ-in-the-flesh to those who knew Him not. They had imbibed His
doctrine of love. They had learned of Christ and received His yoke. They in
turn have declared unto us this heavenly life, which they saw and heard and
handled. Their declaration was not only verbal, but was also practical, in that
they lived out the life of Christ for all to see. And all who believe in Christ
ought also to live the way He did. For He has said: “whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come
after me, cannot be my disciple”. Therefore, the doctrine of Christ speaks much
about the cross of suffering. For in bearing the cross, one must first of all
deny himself. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow me.
Will any man propose to build a house and not consider
what it would cost him? This is exactly what I seek to state in this write up.
Is not enough to admire this write up and say, “Yea, it’s nice one”. Count now,
what it will cost you to follow Jesus. Some of you will have to make drastic
decision that may alter the course of your life for the utmost good of your
very soul. What is that vain lifestyle you have been endeared to? It is a yoke
that needs to be broken by the anointing. Put it away and live. The life of
Christ, which is contained in His doctrine, is the real life God has fore ordained
for all men. It is life and peace. Check the lessons in Matthew chapters five,
six and seven. Which one does not fit the way you live? Is it clear to you now
that more needs to be done to become a disciple who should not to be ashamed?
Oh, saint, I write these things unto you, so that both
of us also may have fellowship with the first apostles. We are children of the
light, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. How do we have
fellowship one with another if we are not preserved from false doctrine? To
have true fellowship with one another and also with the Father and Son, we must
abide in the apostles doctrine, which is the doctrine of Christ. This doctrine
is the light of God which has come down from heaven. Oh, disciple of Christ, I
write these things unto you, so that your joy may be full. This fullness of joy
in the Holy Ghost instills righteousness and peace into your life because you
have believed the gospel of Christ.
What’s
this doctrine thing?
“This … is the message
which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him
is no darkness at all.” This is the whole gospel and doctrine of Christ! God is
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
His doctrine is the light of men. This is the life that lights up the whole
world, which hitherto lieth in darkness or wickedness. This light is the
righteousness of God, which was shown to us all in the life of Christ Jesus.
This doctrine is centered on His life, and established by His death. He is
love, but not the kind of love that the apostles of Satan have presented to the
world. This love suffereth long, and is kind; it envieth not; it vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, it doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth. It’s not the kind that is self-seeking. Nay! It lays
down its life for others. It’s not the type that condoles evil. It reproves it!
Think not that it brings the kind of peace the world desire, think not that it
promotes the sort of union fleshly minds seek for. Yea, the love of God brings
a sword and not worldly peace. It brings judgment on the wicked. It brings a
righteous division to a mixed multitude. It sets a man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against
her mother in law. There’s a division in the Earth, and a great gulf
irreconcilable. Who is on the LORD'S side? Let him come unto Christ Jesus and
be one with the saints. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye
shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you. But who are these creeping and unclean
things which are on the earth? Are they not the heathens that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel or doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ? A disciple
keepeth himself unspotted from the world (see James 1:27). Are you a friend of
the world? If you are, I must be frank enough to let you know you are a self
acclaimed enemy of my God. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye
not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. You cannot marry both
worlds! If you try, you show yourself an adulteress or an adulterer. Both
worlds are irreconcilable forever. Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve. You
cannot serve the two masters. You are either a disciple of Christ, practicing
His doctrine, or you’re a disciple of Satan practicing profanity, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. You cannot
live in pleasure and be a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ is sober,
not prodigal. He desires to walk in the light and not in darkness. He finds
delight in his God in whom is no darkness at all. Even if the world turns
against him, he counts himself fortunate to abide in the doctrine of Christ
alone, and not in the creeds of men. He thanks his God he’s not alone in the
faith. There are clouds of witnesses, yea, a great company, “and, lo, a great
multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people,
and tongues.” We are the church of the living God! The New Jerusalem, our
mother, which is free and above, suffices us. We need not make friends of the
world. For we are holy unto our God and King: a holy nation and a peculiar
people. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we
lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
I
dare not trust the sweetest frame
But
wholly lean on Jesus name
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,
and yet is not washed from their filthiness. If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The hypocrites trust in the
outward form of religion and ignore heart purity. This is because it has become
evident to them that their effort to keep their heart pure is only futile.
Their external acts of righteousness are as a filthy rag before God. No man can
live a sin-free life on his own accord. For Satan has held man captive at his
will (2Tim2:26). God spoke of a time that the Anointed One would break this
yoke of sin, from off the shoulder of them that turn back to Him (Isa 10:27).
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works
of the devil. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. A victorious life over sin made possible
only in Christ Jesus. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Are you now
cleansed from all unrighteousness? Go and sin no more. God’s grace will keep
you from sin. But, if like Peter, you fail to fix your eyes on the Author and
Finisher of our Faith, and fall into temptation, despair not, drown not. For we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world. He is able to restore you in fellowship with the Father, and with
the church.
Hearing
and doing
Ro 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before
God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.
Mt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a
rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
I wish to quote Charles E Orr here: ‘"Ye are manifestly declared to
be the epistle of Christ." (2 Cor. 3:3). "All can see that you are a
letter from Christ." (20th Cent.) The Christian is Christ's "Open
Letter." His life is a message from Christ to the world. His daily walk is
a genuine letter from the Saviour of men. The Christian life is written by the
same hand that wrote the New Testament and they read just alike, word for word.
If you profess to be a Christian, be sure your daily life is the handwriting of
Jesus. Your life in your home amid its trials and provocations should read like
God's Word. It is very confusing and discouraging to others if your life and
the New Testament read differently.’
Christ
in the flesh
Who do you say He is? Your answer may decide your
future. Peter says He is Christ, the Son of the living God. What about you?
Paul says He “is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” What about you? Are you
having any problem discerning who He is? One group says He is completely
divine, and denies He has human nature. To such, I am sure that Hebrews 4:15 has
some wisdom to share. While another admits He has come in the flesh, but denies
He is completely divine. To such, I have little words, but to Christ Jesus, I
say, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever” (Psalm 45:6, Hebrew 1:8). If we
agree that Christ is divine but deny He is one with the Father, then we may
have to explain why God would share His glory with any other. He is a jealous
God. Salvation is of Him alone. He is the only One that saves. For Some hold that He is merely a mediator
between God and man. If you worship one who is not the Almighty God, you must
be an idolater. But the church have always worshipped Jesus. See Luke 24:52 and
Matthew 28:9, 17. The disciples or the first church of God actually worshipped
Jesus. This is not idolatry, because Jesus is God. Here is what Adam Clarke
says about what they did after Christ had left them and ascended into the heavens:
“Verse 52. They worshipped him] Let it
be observed that this worship was not given by way of civil respect, for it was
after he was parted from them, and carried back into heaven, that they offered
it to him; but acts of civil respect are always performed in the presence of
the person. They adored him as their God, and were certainly too much
enlightened to be capable of any species of idolatry.” I so affirm in my
spirit. You had better discern by the Holy Spirit, who the Lord is and save
your soul from damnation.
But some, who are sincere but wrong, hold that He is
only the Son of God, and not God. They may need to contemplate what it means to
be a Son of God. The Sons of God are the church of the sanctified, the first
born. They are Christ in the flesh, bought by the Holy blood, washed from sins
and preserved in holiness without spot or wrinkle. The Word of God, through
which life was created, became flesh, a Son, bringing many sons unto glory, to
make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. He emptied
Himself, made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross. Here now is a divine truth: O
what Riches of the glory of the mystery: Christ in you (the church), the hope
of glory! This is the church of the living God: God in the midst of men! It
is indeed a pointer to our future glory with the Father forever. God instituted
marriage to show us what He intends for cleansed mankind to be one flesh with
Him. “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be
joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” Unity. “It is a great
mystery”, says Paul. “But I speak concerning Christ and the church”, not just
about married couples. To my mind, I am sure that God in His design of the
union of Adam and Eve intended to point out the union of Christ and the Church.
Eve was made from the flesh and bone of Adam who was put into a deep sleep,
likewise was the church made out of the flesh and bone of Christ Jesus on the
cross. Thus we can indeed say, “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and
of his bones.” This is indeed a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ
and His church. They are but one flesh. But they are not His church who yet
glory in unrighteousness. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
the affections and lusts. For His redemption is unto them that turn from transgression.
Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Yes, He lived in the flesh. He can be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities. He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin
(Hebrews 4:15). So we have no cover or excuse for our sins (John15:22). He is
still here with us today in the church of the living God. We are His holy
temple. We are His flesh and bone. We are one with the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, since we have baptized in the Blessed name of the thrice holy God,
being made conformable unto the death of Christ.
Having now, by the grace of God, established that Jesus
Christ is indeed the Son of the living God, though, not the sense in which
scoffing mohammedans relate the term, but the sense of the Jews in John 5:18
and 10:33, and also in the sense in which Thomas, a disciple, addressed Him,
saying: “My Lord and my God”, let us now set forth
The
principles of the doctrine of Christ
We get a better understanding the whole scriptures when
we realize that they all point to Christ Jesus. All the law and ordinances and
sacrifices all pointed to Him. For a foundation, these rites were given to the
Jews to guide them to perfection. The law made nothing perfect but the bringing
in of a better hope did; by this hope of glory (the church) we draw nigh unto God.
We are not to linger on the principles or elementary teachings of foundation.
Some spend their energy proofing genealogies, types, and antitypes. It is good.
But there is more. Let us not rest on the basic principles of the doctrine of
Christ: repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of baptisms, of the laying
on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Do not
misrepresent me, or rather the inspired writer of the book of Hebrews, we are
not advocating for the abandonment of these doctrine. We are only beckoning for
advancement unto Perfection, which is the ultimate goal of the doctrine of
Christ. Mind you, perfection cannot be attained without first establishing the
basic principles. For instance, repentance from dead works may be properly
called the basis of the work of God in the human soul. It is through repentance
that we forsake sin and turn to God for mercy. Dead works are works that
deserve death. They are the works of those dead in sins. They are pronounced dead
by sentence of the law, because they had broken the law through their deeds.
The law shows the severity of their offences by its sentences.
The next foundational principle before us is Faith
toward God, without which it is impossible to please God and obtain salvation. Through repentance and godly sorrow, we feel
the need for God's mercy. We find that mercy by faith.
Baptisms of the body in water, sprinklings, and
washings, were frequent as religious rites among the Hebrews, and were all a
shadow of that cleanness and purity which the holy God requires in his
worshippers. In the faith of Christ, Baptism marks a public demonstration of
what God has performed in the life of a new believer. In the sixth chapter of
the book Romans, Brother Paul effectively shows how through baptism or
immersion, we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We
also receive the baptism of God’s Spirit, to enable us live that heavenly life
that will draw men to the Kingdom of God. He also helps us function in the body
of saints in various ways by His unlimited ability, by aid of spiritual gifts,
imparted by the laying on of hands.
Lastly, the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and
of eternal judgment, were much stressed in the writings of the apostles and the
prophets. They are points in the doctrine of Christ that cannot be altered. Any
teacher who denies or downplays them only proves himself a heretic. All through
scriptures, we are told that man has one life to live, and after that life the
judgment day comes. A day has been set by God on which many that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt (Dan12:2). The Lord Jesus confirmed this when He said, “Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.” He also stated in another part of the scripture that “When the Son
of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he
sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations:
and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep
from the goats…” Even Paul corroborates this fact when he wrote, “…When the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming
fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ…” and “the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom”. From the foregoing it is
very clear that the second coming of our Lord Jesus is synonymous with the Day
of Judgment. Although, this is not within the purview of this write-up, it
would be needful to state here on a sad note that many have devised another
doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment from
disjointed scriptures. As for me, I am very satisfied with the teachings of
Christ and the apostles. Some even make light of everlasting judgment by
proposing annihilation of the wicked. Is it not a relieve for some wicked soul
who wish to take their own lives so that they may find peace at last, if on the
day of judgment, they are finally annihilated. On the contrary, scriptures
teach that punishment of the wicked is forever and ever. These few lines from H M Riggle might throw
in some light on the issue:
‘THE FIRES OF HELL WILL BURN FOREVER
‘We
have seen that the Scriptures clearly teach that the wicked in the great Day of
Judgment will be cast into hell, into a "lake of fire and brimstone,"
termed "hell-fire." But how long will the fires of hell burn?
"Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:
41). "Cast into everlasting fire" (Matthew 18: 8). "Suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7). "And if thy hand offend
thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having
two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where
their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend
thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having
two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched;
where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye
offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of
God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire: where their
worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9: 43-48). "And
these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25: 46).
‘In
plain, unmistakable language the terrible doom of the guilty is here foretold.
Whether men believe it or not, some day they will awake to its awful
realization. Some day they will fully comprehend the eternal loss of their
priceless souls. The many scriptures I have cited teach that the wicked will be
cast into an everlasting hell and will there suffer everlasting punishment.
Sixteen positive texts of Scripture declare that the wicked will be turned into
"hell," termed "hell-fire," "furnace of fire,"
"lake of fire and brimstone"; that this fire will be an
"everlasting fire," a fire that "never shall be quenched";
and that in this fire the wicked will "wail and gnash their teeth"
and will suffer an "everlasting punishment." If they suffer an
"everlasting punishment," there will be no end to that punishment.
The everlasting fires of hell in which they will suffer this punishment never
will be quenched; hence they will burn forever.
‘These
expressions, some say, are only figures of the sinner's doom. If so, there
would be no room to ease the guilty conscience. For if such expressions as
those I have quoted are only figures of future punishment, I ask in Jesus'
name, What must the reality be? All must admit that the reality is greater than
the figure. If all the expressions in the texts cited above are but figures of
future punishment, then the reality will be far greater.’
Therefore, leaving or rather building on these principles
of the doctrine, let us now contemplate on
The
Doctrine of Perfection
The
doctrine of perfection is the doctrine of Christ, though rebellious religious
professors so deny. The Lord does not mince words when He says, “Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt.
5:48). Neither was He equivocal when He told some persons to sin no more (John
5:14, John 8:11). I find in our day that those who hold to the teachings of
Christ on this subject are derided with all manner of spiteful nomenclature.
Much as I admit that many who teach sinless perfectionism, do lead hypocritical
lives because they know not the power of God, I do not deny that the Lord God
requires of those who must follow Him, that they must be holy and without blame
before him in love (Eph 1:4). Some learned men or scribes argue that even
though God requires for us to be perfect, sinless perfection is not possible in
this life. They seem not to believe that the Lord can fulfill His promise to
save His people FROM their sins (Matt 1:21).
How sad it is these blind leaders of the blind think God would require
the impossible of His subjects. This does not sound too different from the
voice of the unprofitable servant who accused his master of being a hard man,
intent on reaping where he had not sown, and gathering where he had not strawed.
(Mt 25:24). John Wesley paraphrased the servant as saying that the master
required more of his servants than he had given them power to perform. This is
the very same manner many an obstinate sinner, in one way or another lay the
blame of his own sins on God. We cannot lower the holy standard and doctrine of
Christ because carnal men and denominations of Mystery Babylon are far below
it. How forcibly and apt the words of our beloved brother Paul apply here!
"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I
yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Gal. 1:10. Now there
is a gulf between God and the people. He wants them to be holy, perfect and
spotless in his sight. But they are far from this. So if they will become one
with God, it is either he will have to come to them, or they to him. He must
either cancel or change his commandments, or the people will have to measure up
to them. What shall we do, as ambassadors of God, in this matter? Do we now
persuade men or God? Should we now persuade him to edit his Word, or should we
rather persuade the people to change their ways? "Or do I seek to please
men?" God forbid; "for if I yet please men, I should not be the
servant of Christ." I would be the servant of gain. An ancient prophet
rightly spoke about this men-pleasing spirit and doctrine when he said,
"Which say to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto
us right things; speak unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits." (Isaiah.
30: 10). The doctrine of perfection is just the same today, no matter what they
say. Christ came for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil, which is
the yoke of bondage that works in the children of disobedience. Faith in the
finished work of Christ on the cross is the anchor that holds on to the saving
grace of God, which has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world. I wish to quote Adam Clarke’s thoughts here on Matthew 5:48: ‘Be ye therefore perfect-as your Father] God himself is the grand law, sole giver, and only pattern of the perfection which he recommends to his children. The words are very emphatic, esomai humeis oun teleios, Ye shall be therefore perfect-ye shall be filled with the spirit of that God whose name is Mercy, and whose nature is love. God has many imitators of his power, independence, justice, &c., but few of his love, condescension, and kindness. He calls himself LOVE, to teach us that in this consists that perfection, the attainment of which he has made both our duty and privilege: for these words of our Lord include both a command and a promise.
‘"Can we be fully saved from sin in this world?" is an important question, to which this text gives a satisfactory answer: "Ye shall be perfect, as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect."-As in his infinite nature there is no sin, nothing but goodness and love, so in your finite nature there shall dwell no sin, for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus shall make you free from the law of sin and death, Ro 8:2. God shall live in, fill, and rule your hearts; and, in what He fills and influences, neither Satan nor sin can have any part. If men, slighting their own mercies, cry out, This is impossible!-whom does this arguing reprove-God, who, on this ground, has given a command, the fulfillment of which is impossible. "But who can bring a clean out of an unclean thing?" God Almighty-and, however inveterate the disease of sin may be, the grace of the Lord Jesus can fully cure it; and who will say, that he who laid down his life for our souls will not use his power completely to effect that salvation which he has died to procure. "But where is the person thus saved?" Wherever he is found who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and his neighbor as himself; and, for the honor of Christianity and its AUTHOR, may we not hope there are many such in the Church of God, not known indeed by any profession of this kind which they make, but by a surer testimony, that of uniformly holy tempers, piety to God, and beneficence to man?’
Some have unwittingly reduced the doctrine of Sanctification to mere separation. As much as it is agreed that Sanctification, or hagiasmos in the Greek, could mean to “set apart”, it is important to note that it however goes beyond mere setting apart. It is the setting apart for the use of the holy God, who has nothing to do with filth. Therefore, for anything or person to be set apart for Him, they must be purified, within and without. A lot of false prophets have founded cults whose members are set apart from non members; but this setting apart does not make them pure before God. It is the blood of Jesus Christ, through the word of God and by the power of the Holy Ghost that makes a man pure. The purified man is to touch no unclean thing anymore and to keep himself unspotted and separated from the world. But, if through faithlessness, he falls into sin, he can be restored into fellowship with the church of Jesus Christ through confession of his sins.
To fully grasp this doctrine of Perfection, let us consider
The Doctrine of Love
God is love. Love cannot be explained with mere words, but by action. God so love that He gave… Love suffers long, and is kind; it does not envy; it does not vaunt itself, nor is it puffed up. It does not behave itself unseemly; neither does it seek its own. It is not easily provoked and it thinks no evil. It does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. What is more? It will never fail. This love, for all it is, could be seen as hatred, in the eyes of sinful men, because God‘s way is not the way of man. This great love hates sin and punishes it wherever it is found. The love of God in a consecrated heart will preclude him from offending the Almighty. This love will keep God’s little children in the fold and away from wolves and snakes. This love makes them wise as serpent and harmless as doves. This doctrine makes the world know that they are the Disciples of Christ.
It may be expedient for me to state here that the doctrine of perfection is one and the same with the doctrine of love. How do I know so? The scripture is very clear that anyone who keeps God’s word has had the love of God perfected in him: and this is how we know that we are in him, as the church. It is the perfection of the love of God in us that makes keep His words. No man hath seen God at any time. But if we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. It is the indwelling God that makes us the church of God. That means, without the Holy God dwelling in the midst of us, we are not His flesh and bone, neither are we His body, which is the church. Being His church means dwelling in Him and Him in us; He being love. This is exactly where our love is made perfect, so that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is perfect, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear: because fear hath torment. He that is afraid has not been made perfect in love.
When the Lord said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect…” Luke recorded the same words as “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful,” in Luke 6:36. Oh, what can be more perfect than a loving bowel of mercy!
Our knowledge of God is proven by our obedience to His commandments. What are these commandments? This Doctrine of Christ shows us the commandments we are to keep. They are the entire New Testament. For God will judge no man by the laws of Moses on the last day, but by the gospel of Christ. Check the verses to be sure (2Thes 1:8, 1Pet 4:17). He that says, “I know him”, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Of course, flesh and blood cannot keep these commands which are way higher than the laws of Moses. It is the Spirit of God in the heart of man that makes the righteous fruit visible in the sanctified life. The degree of your resignation to God determines the depth of your perfection in love. Why not die to self and live for Christ from hence, oh friend?
This doctrine of love or perfection can be explained further by coming to terms with the virtues of joy, peace, longsuffering or patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, etc. However, this is not possible by mere exploration of intellectual or mental prowess, but by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For the kingdom of God is not in word, meat and drink, but in power: righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. To receive this spirit of love and power to enter this kingdom and church, you have to first of all have an earnest desire to please God, then you can ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given you. Ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. He shall not receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
What again is this new commandment or testament we speak about? Brethren, I do not write any new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. This new commandment is a command to love. It is not new because it has been here with us since the beginning. Darkness of ignorance is now past. The true light that now shines in these last day makes the commandment even clearer. Whoever hates his brother is like Cain, who broke that everlasting law. Therefore the Doctrine of Christ promotes love among true believers. Any one that brings a body of teaching that does not advance this Doctrine of Love is
The Antichrist that Denies the Father and the Son
Is this just
my opinion or the whole truth? Let me explain why I am so sure this is the
whole truth. The Doctrine of Love makes the Christian humble, since love is not
puffed up. He knows he is very unworthy. He appreciates the great honor
bestowed on him by God Father that calls him a son, though he was a bastard. He
feels indebted to the Father and to the Son, Jesus Christ, and also by
extension, to His body, the church, who represent Jesus Christ in the flesh. For
if a man says, “I love God”, and hates his brother in Christ, who is also a
member of the church of the living God, he is a liar: for he that does not love
his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? So the
love for God is shown in the love for the church. Furthermore, the knowledge
that the church is Christ Jesus, bodily or in the flesh, sparks awe in the
heart of a believer when he sees other believers in Christ. He knows that
anything he does to one of the least of these brethren is being done it to
Christ Himself. Another point to deduce from this thought is that the saint,
being an infinitesimal part of the great church, is humbled. He does not see
himself as anything, but sees Christ and His church as everything. All his
reverence goes up to heaven.
But the antichrist is not so. He loves to have the
preeminence among the humble followers of Christ. He loves the uppermost rooms
at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. He also loves greetings in
the markets, in the streets and public places, including social interactive
media, such as the internet, to be called of men, His Holiness, Senior Apostle,
Pope, Arch-Bishop, Most Reverend, Man of God, Pastor, Teacher, etc. He is fond
of speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after himself. He is like a
grievous wolf in the sheep fold, not sparing the flock. I tell you the truth;
he is that man of sin, which was to be revealed, the son of perdition! He
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. He
was being withheld during the era of the first apostles that
he might be revealed in his time (2Thes2:3-6). His time came after the great
falling away or apostasy of the third century. He reigned without let or
hindrance for a space of one thousand, two hundred and sixty years (Rev13:5). By
the means of the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
he has deceived many who received not the love of the truth or the doctrine of
Christ that they might be saved. In place of the doctrine of Christ, he speaks
perverse things, which are smooth to the hearing of vile men. He has departed
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. He
speaks lies in hypocrisy; having his conscience seared with a hot iron. His
doctrine is the wine of spiritual fornication, which influences his followers
to lust after various abominable idols of the world. That is why they are all
the more lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God. He subverts whole houses, teaching things which he ought not, for filthy
lucre's sake. This man I write about is the enemy of the cross of Christ. His end
is destruction; his God is his belly, and whose glory is in his shame. He minds
earthly things. His messages are inspired of the earthly things: motivational
and sensual doctrines. A sin sick soul may tarry in his fold because he
receives sensual or slight healing for his hurt.
This antichrist which ye have heard that should come has
come; yea, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the
last time (1Jo 2:18). While, they feed the unsuspecting with wormwood, they
promise them that the antichrist would not come until a new temple is built in
Jerusalem. Their followers who have been sent a strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie, fail to realize that God does not recognize a physical
structure as temple any more in the gospel day; and that any prophecy of a
future temple after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, refers only to the
body of Christ. For sure, they went out from us, the church of God, but they
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with
us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all
of us.
Here now is a test to know differentiate the doctrine of
Christ from the doctrines of devils: Every doctrine that confesses, both orally
and in practice, that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. How do we establish
that? The one, who acknowledges Christ in the flesh to have come, will accept
the very purpose for His coming in the flesh, and his life will show the fruit
of the human mission of the Messiah. Such a one is of God. He has the love of
God in him. But every spirit or doctrine that does not confess that Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is not of God: this the doctrine that denies the
power to God to save man from his sinful nature, and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is
it in the world. Yea, modern Christianity is antichrist! The fruit of it are
obvious to the world that they are not of God. They have presented to the world
a Christ who is indifferent to sinfulness.
Whosoever sins, and do not continue in the doctrine of
Christ, do not have God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both
the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you, and bring another doctrine, do
not receive him into your house, neither should you wish him well: for in so doing,
you partake of his evil.
Hear ye the word of the Lord and take heed.
“If the reading
of this little book encourages
Any on their pilgrim way;
If it arouses them to greater diligence;
If it creates in them a stronger desire
To live more like Christ;
If it gives them a better understanding
Of how to live,
—This poor servant of the Lord
Will be fully rewarded for all his labor”
“It is not enough to know much about the doctrine of the
Bible, to be acquainted with this present reform, and to live a fair outward
life; we must be filled with the Spirit. We must be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, whose leaf does not wither. Take plenty of time to gain
heaven. Take time to be spiritual. A home in heaven is worth laboring for. Work
out your salvation with fear and trembling. Spiritual dryness is the result of
spiritual indolence. Be active and you will not be unfruitful.” C E Orr.
