Let Us Unite: ONE GOD

Our world is full of strife and division: right against left, conservatism against liberalism, black against white, male against female, homosexual against straight, rich against poor, young against old, atheists against believers, evolution against intelligent design, religious divisions of Christianity, denominationalism, Judaism, Islamism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Humanism, etc.  Schisms of ideas have resulted in a deep resentment and hatred of one another.  We are broken and fragmented.  In 1858, as Abraham Lincoln ran for Senator of Illinois he fearfully spoke of a divided nation and civil unrest.  He quoted Jesus – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth” (Luke 11:17  cf. Matt. 12:25  Mark 24-25).  A divided nation, church or family cannot stand.  That which is divided is doomed to fail.  What can we do?  What is the answer to division?

The answer begins with the acknowledgment and acceptance of two divine truths:

(1) Sin separates (divides) men from God and other men (Isa. 59:2 cf. Gen. 3:1-6, 16-19, 24).

(2) God unites and offers reconciliation (John 17:11, 21-22  Rom. 5:10  2 Cor. 5:18, 20  Eph. 4:3, 13).  Jehovah God (not Allah) is the answer to the problem of sin and division.  God, and God alone, is our salvation!

The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation” (Jer. 10:10).  Paul agrees (1 Thess. 1:9).  He further declared (there is) “One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all” (Eph. 4:6).  Paul preached this message to a group of “enlightened” Athenians (Acts 17:16-21) who thought he was a babbler.  Listen to what he said…

“Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.   The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;  that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:  for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:  inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:22-31).

Consider A Few Observations:

1)  The ‘so-called’ educated Greeks were actually “ignorant” (unknowing, lack of intelligence).  They really did not know God.  They were not as knowledgeable or smart as they thought.  If we know God at all, we will understand Him alike!  Paul tells us all about Him.

2)  This unknown God is the Creator and Keeper of all things.  God is not dependent on man, but man is dependent on Him!  We are not the product of mere chance,  but we have been made in the wonderful image of God (Gen. 1:26-27  cf. Rom. 1:20).  May I also point out that since He is Creator, all things belong to Him and He alone has the right to instruct and command His creation.  We must all humbly submit to Him.  David taught (and Paul quoted), “The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fullness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1  cf. 1 Cor. 10:26)

3) We must all seek after God.  We are splintered and divided, because we are not truly pursuing Him; nor are we helping others to seek after God.  He is not the creation of man, but we are made in His image.  Man needs to know His Creator – His Heavenly Father.  Where did we all come from?  How are we all related?  What are we to be doing?  How can we all go home to the Father?  God answers the questions of life.  To know our God and Father is the very essence of unity and harmony.

4) Repent! We must put away our idolatries, selfishness and silly ideas, because one day we will all be judged by the same God.  Divine judgment unites us together.  We will all be judged by God and His law.  “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10  cf. John 5:28-29; 12:48   Rev. 20:12-13).  “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.  So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:11-12 cf. Isa. 45:23).  Let us put away the divisive sins and unite ourselves together in preparing for the judgment day!

— Daniel S. Dow

Come, let us all unite to sing, God is love.

Let heaven and earth their praises bring; God is love.

Let every soul from sin awake,

Each in his heart sweet music make,

And sing with us, for Jesus’ sake, God is love!

 

How happy is our portion here!  God is love.

His promises our spirits cheer; God is love.

He is our sun and shield by day,

Our help, our hope, our strength, and stay,

He will be with us all the way: God is love!

Jesus – ALL Authority

Jehovah God is the Great I AM – Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.  He owns all things and has the inherent right to command and demand what so ever He wills.  He is sovereign.  Man is to submit to His authority.

Throughout history God has uniquely communicated with mankind.  He created and communed with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.   He spoke openly to men like Cain, Abel and Noah.  He made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He spoke through  Moses and Aaron.  He used prophets and once even spoke to man through a donkey!

 “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,  hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds…” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

God no longer speaks to us through prophets and patriarchs, but now speaks to us through His Son, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.  Even as a 12 year old child, before He began his earthly ministry, Jesus knew what he was to be doing.  “I must be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49).  Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus continued to repeat the message: “My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16).   “…The works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me” (John 5:36-37).  Again Jesus said, “For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49).

(Luke 4:18; 9:48; 10:16  John 4:34; 5:24, 30; 6:38-39, 44, 57; 7:28-29, 33; 8:42; 9:4; 12:44-45; 13:20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 20:21)

Thus when Jesus (the Son) speaks, it is as if God (the Father) Himself is speaking!  Jesus therefore speaks with power and authority!  Following His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).

Paul wrote of this perfect and complete authority in Ephesians chapter one: “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church…” (Eph. 1:17-23 cf. Col. 1:18-21 “in all things He might have preeminence”).

Having ALL AUTHORITY indicates that whatever Jesus says must be heeded and obeyed, for it is ultimately the word of God.  Neither you nor I have the right to usurp Christ’s authority.   We have no right to alter, by adding to or taking away from, the Lord’s teaching.  Let us humble ourselves, bow before our Almighty God, and allow Him to lead us through His Son, Christ Jesus!

SIN

The wise man wrote “Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  Virtue and morality causes a nation to rise and excel above other nations; But habitual and prevailing sin brings disgrace (first in the eyes of God, but also in the sight of other nations).

 What Is Sin?  In this text the idea of “offense” is conveyed.    A nation or people who offend Jehovah God by rejecting the things He teaches as ‘righteous’ are guilty of sin.  They are a disgrace to God, and a poor example of morality to follow.

Jesus referred to sin when He said, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3)  To transgress is to go contrary to or against a command (of God).  It originates from a compound word literally meaning “from the base.”

The Hebrew writer equated sin to iniquity (Heb. 10:17).  Iniquity is a defined as a “violation of law.”  Whenever we break God’s laws and commandments we are guilty of iniquity, and therefore  guilty of sin.  Iniquity is thus associated with unrighteousness and wickedness.

Jesus’ beloved disciple, John, wrote, “Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).  Whenever we act outside of God’s law (committing that which is forbidden or neglecting that which is commanded) we sin, because we do not have His law to support our actions.

Sin is serious business!  We are all sinners, because we have all committed sin.  We have all disgraced God.  “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).  Today the world, and even more perilous, our nation is deeply steeped in sin.  We continually offend God by turning our back to His commandments and live selfish and lawless lives.  We are called by God to turn away from our indifference to sin and pursue His exalting righteousness.

“The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30).

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9).

God’s Inherent Authority

These words are written with the assumption that you believe in God or at least a god.  If you are an atheist or agnostic in belief, another study all together needs to be consider.  These thoughts are directed to those who look about this world, from the vast wonders of the deep universe to the smallest particles that make up all things, and see design and a creative designer behind it all.  These thoughts are for those who clearly see and perceive through the “invisible things…the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity”(Rom. 1:20).  There is a God!

This God is not only eternal, but created everything with His great power.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).  He has revealed himself to man, explaining His Divine Holiness and Authority.  To Moses, He said, “I AM THAT I AM”  (Gen. 3:14).  He later declared to Israel, “I am Jehovah thy God…Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God…Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:2-7).

This Great God created all things, and therefore has the inherent right to command His creation!  This includes you and me.  All things belong to Him.  David said, “ The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fullness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 cf. Paul quotes in 1Cor. 10:26).

“O Jehovah God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.  Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.  …The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them” (Psalm 89:8-11).

Daniel, the prophet, reminded King Nebuchadnezzar, “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Dan. 4:25).  And Jesus, the Son of God,  reminded Pilate, “Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11).  God controls it all, because He owns it all.  Let us humble ourselves, bow before our Almighty God, and allow Him to lead!

About Us

The Borden Street Church of Christ is not a denomination. We are a group of Christians who meet to work and worship according to the New Testament pattern revealed by God.  We have no kind of central government, the New Testament is our sole authority and guide.

The church of Christ was established on Pentecost, A.D. 33 (Acts 2). Its members were called Christians (Acts 11:26). The Lord gave them this name (Isaiah 62:2). Human names and divisions are condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Acts 4:12).

The word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11). This seed produced Christians when first planted in the hearts of man. If we plant the same seed today, we will have the same results. Life is in the seed. Our mission is to sow seed.

One becomes a Christian by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26,27). This faith will lead the sinner to repent (change his heart and behavior) and confess Christ as Lord and Master. This faith will also move the sinner to obey Christ and be baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 2:3-41; 22:16; Hebrews 11; Mark 16:15,16).

The Bible speaks of only one church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12;12,13). It is referred to as the “church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27 Ephesians 1:20-23), the “house(hold) of God” (1 Timothy 3;15; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19 — it is the family of God), and the “bride of Christ” (Revelation 21:9; 22:17; Ephesians 5;22-32). When the same gospel is preached and obeyed, it produces the same fruit — Christians, members of the body (church) of Christ. No more, no less.

The Bible is our only guide. It is complete (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Jude 3; 2 John 9) and it will judge us on the last day (John 12:48-50; Revelation 20:11-15). It is important that we read it, study it, believe it and obey it. We cordially invite you to come and study with us and investigate the Lord’s great church.