"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let all things be done decently and in order," 1 Cor. xiv, 33, 40.
We believe that it will please and glorify God, our heavenly Father, to set in order this highly important subject, that there may be a perfect union and Bible understanding of these things among us; therefore we make the attempt to bring this subject out, praying that God may bless the effort to the advancement of "present truth," and lead all our minds into the love of order, and unity of the faith once delivered to the saints, that we may be able to stand before the Son of man at his coming.
We believe that the holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, and were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Bible, and that alone, when carefully studied, rightly divided and literally understood, furnishes the only rule of faith and discipline. God is a God of order; for when he created the heavens and the earth, he did the work in the order of six days, and rested on the seventh: when he gave his written law to man, we find it in the exact order of nature and reason: when he gave the direction to Moses to build the tabernacle, it was all in the most exact order. The earth and all the heavenly bodies move in such order that astronomers have foretold of eclipses and movings of the heavenly bodies exactly. Whether we study, meditate, write, preach, or do any church business, there must be order about it, or else there will be confusion and distraction.
1. THE CHURCH OF GOD.—This is the only name that God has seen fit to give his church, for the good reason that it belongs to him. If his church had belonged to man, he could just as well have called it after some one of their names, or some other name; as, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Mahomedan, Lutheran, Calvinist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Wesleyan, Methodist, Sweeden-borgian, Baptist, Universalist, Christian, United-Brethren, Campbelite or by any one of the six hundred threescore and six of the confused sects, if he had so pleased.
This savors more of Babylon, confusion, mixture, than it does of the church of God. Yet we believe that many of God's dear children are in Babylon, and will come out in the loud cry of the third angel's message. Rev. xviii, 4.
But where has this church been? Ans. "The mystery of iniquity" [2 Thess. ii, 7,] began to work in Paul's day. Divisions and contentions arose among them: one would say, I am of Paul, &c. 1 Cor. i, 10-13. Then after Paul's death, wolves entered in among them. Acts xx, 29. So after the days of Constantine the church of God "fled into the wilderness" and there remained some 1260 years until after the Papal persecution. Rev. xii, 6. Then she "cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved." (Jesus, Cant. viii, 5.) And just before Jesus comes, God's people will be gathered into one body, "into the unity of the faith," that when he comes they will be as terrible as an army with banners.
2. WHO IS THE CHIEF HEAD AND BISHOP OF THE CHURCH? "The Head of Christ is God." 1 Cor. xi, 3. "And he gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body." Eph. i, 22, 23. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Eph. iv, 15. Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Eph. v, 23. "He is the head of the body, the church." Col. i, 18. "Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant." Heb. xiii, 20. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and bishop of your souls." 1 Pet. ii, 25. "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." Chap. v, 4. These scriptures place this subject in its true light.
3. WHO ADDED THE MEMBERS TO THE CHURCH OF GOD?—We will let the Scriptures answer this question plainly. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts ii, 41, 47. "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Acts v, 14; xi, 24. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor. xii, 13, 18. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. xiii, 24. How? "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Gal. iii, 27.
When we become obedient believers and have put on Christ by baptism, then the Lord will add us to his church and make us members of his body. It is not our business to add to the church, but when we have good evidence that the Lord has done so, we should not withhold the right hand of fellowship.
4. HOW ARE WE TO KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH?—"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt. xii, 50. "But in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts x, 35. "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." 2 Pet. i, 5-7. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Gal. v, 22, 23. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. vii, 20. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will bear the fruits of the Spirit, will be for signs and wonders in Israel, and will know by all.
5. WHERE ARE THEIR NAMES RECORDED?—Ans. "Your names are written in heaven." Luke x, 20. "Whose names are in the book of life." Phil. iv, 3. To the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven. Heb. xii, 23. But they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. xxi, 27. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Dan. xii, 1.
It is quite certain that there are books in heaven in which are written the names of Adam's children both good and bad: in one is written the righteous, in the other the wicked. In these are recorded all the good and evil deeds of every one. Dan. vii, 10; Rev. xx, 12. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name. Mal. iii, 16. Thou tellest my wanderings . . . are they not in a book. Ps. lvi, 8.
There is danger after one's name is written in the book of life of its being blotted out. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. Rev. iii, 5. Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Ex. xxxii, 32; Ps. lxix, 28.
6. THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD.—And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Acts iv, 32. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. i, 10; John xvii, 21, 22. That there should be no schism (division—margin) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 1 Cor. xii, 25. Be of one mind. 2 Cor. xiii, 11. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Eph. iv, 3, 13, 14. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with148grace. Heb. xiii, 9. Joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith. Col. ii, 5, 7. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2 Pet. i, 12.