What are the conditions for reception to an assembly?

What are the New Testament conditions for reception to an assembly?

The New Testament provides an example and doctrine that answer this question.

In Acts 9:26" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:26 & 27, Saul came to the assembly at Jerusalem. Three facts confirmed by Barnabas enabled the assembly to receive Saul: his salvation ("how he had seen the Lord"); his beliefs or doctrine ("He had spoken to him"); his life ("he had preached boldly"). Some may object that this was necessary because Saul was a persecutor. Universally in the New Testament, wrong doctrine and behavior, and unbelievers "creeping in" posed more danger to assemblies than persecution. Overseers in an assembly have a responsibility to preserve believers in that assembly from behavior or teaching that will endanger their progress in Christian living.

New Testament doctrine implies that, since an assembly is a fellowship, anyone whose behavior or teaching denies the scriptural truths held by the assembly could not be part of the assembly or participate in its privileges.

Since an assembly is a testimony, to include anyone whose life and testimony are contrary to the testimony of the assembly weakens or destroys what the Lord expects the assembly to uphold. An assembly, for instance, testifies that Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:3). Baptism is an initial public testimony of submission to the Lord’s command. Without being baptized, a believer could not participate in a collective testimony to the Lordship of Christ.

Carrying a letter of commendation when visiting another assembly is a scriptural practice. The letter does not certify "membership" and therefore guarantee "admission." It enables the receiving assembly to determine whether the visitor can be safely received. The letter is only valuable to the degree that the receiving assembly knows and has confidence in those who have sent the letter.

D. Oliver
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How does the Holy Spirit lead a meeting of the church?

What does the Bible teach about being "led by the Spirit" in an assembly gathering?

Spirit's guiding the disciples into all truth (i.e. The Word of God). In Romans 8:14," TARGET="_blank">Romans 8:14, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God," relates to what is characteristic of all true believers. Being led by the Spirit instead of the flesh relates to the character of our lives, not a specific activity.

In Galatians 5:18," TARGET="_blank">Galatians 5:18, "If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" corresponds to the earlier statement "walk in the Spirit." it involves dependence on the Spirit, rather than the law, for fruitfulness in a believer's life.

Thus the three occasions relate to the believer's entire life and not to a specific gathering of the saints. To the degree to which these are predominant in a believer's life, he will be intelligent as to the Spirit's purpose when the saints are gathered together and will be able to contribute to the glory of God.

A Higgins

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In what sense have we "crucified the flesh"?

In what sense have we "crucified the flesh" (Galatians 5:24)" TARGET="_blank">Galatians 5:24)?

This involves an individual change of viewpoint that began when we discovered we were without strength before God. It is not what God did at the cross nor could we have done it. They that are Christ’s began at the cross (Galatians 3:1)." TARGET="_blank">Galatians 3:1). As a Jew, Paul recognizes he became dead to the Law when the Law’s penalty was carried out at the cross (2:19). Having been crucified with Christ, the believer lives, not by the Law, but by the faith of the Son of God (2:20). The law demanded that the flesh be obedient. After reviewing all that the flesh can produce (5:19-21), Paul insists that it cannot be obedient; therefore, Law-keeping is not Christian living. The believer’s crucifixion with Christ (2:20) declares that God is finished with the flesh. In the crucifixion of Christ, the believer sees the irrelevance of the flesh in righteous living. That is the viewpoint God intends all believers to maintain. The cross negates every suggestion that any contribution from us, that is, from our flesh, can please God. Since we began in the Spirit (3:3), He must govern our manner of life (5:25). We can become like Christ only under the control of the Spirit.

D. Oliver
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Should sisters ccover their heads at events outside of the assembly where the Bible is being read?

What about head coverings for social gatherings in the hall or outreach activities?

Where assembly believers meet is not the issue. If the gathering is social, wearing a head covering is discretionary for a woman. If the Word of God is opened at a social function (how becoming!), it remains a Christian social gathering. If a social gathering of the assembly gives way to a teaching session or a missionary report, it has moved into the character of an assembly meeting. To distinguish the social gathering from an assembly meeting, why not move to a different setting? The sisters then wear head coverings, as the Scriptures direct for assembly meetings.

When assembly believers open their home to discuss the Bible with friends or neighbors, this is not an assembly meeting, although these believers are accountable to the elders in what they are doing. These believers are using this setting to gain the confidence of unbelievers and to sow the seed of the Word of God. Hopefully, they will be able to bring those friends and neighbors to assembly gospel meetings.

We cannot limit the personal witness of believers to only unscheduled encounters with individuals. "By all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 9:22).

D. Oliver
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What is Ash Wednesday?

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday, also known as the “Day of Ashes” is the first day of the season of Lent. It occurs 46 days before Easter. Ash Wednesday and Lent are extra-Biblical holidays, meaning that they are based on traditions from centuries past, but are not mentioned in the Bible. Lent is often associated with Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran churches along with others.

It is wise to have a Biblical point of view in regards to religious celebrations. While taking time to remember Christ's work on the cross and the events preceeding his crucifiction is a wonderful activity, Christians are not commanded in the scriptures to celebrate Lent, Ash Wednesday or even to make Easter a special holiday. God is not impressed by someone practicing a ritual to gain acceptance or forgiveness. Instead, Jesus warned the Pharisees of celebrations without faith.

Mark 7:6-8" TARGET="_blank">Mark 7:6-8 And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (7) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' (8) You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."

The pattern of the scriptures tells us that the Apostles and the first Christians regularly celebrated the Lord’s Supper to commemorate the Lord’s death and resurrection on the first day of the week meaning that we should be celebrating Christ's work on the cross 52 times a year in stead of just once.

1 Corinthians 11:26" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Acts 20:7" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Lent is supposed to be a period when sinful habits are left behind for the 40 days leading up to Easter. The act of putting ashes on one's forehead is a sign of repentance from sin. The preceding festivals of drunkenness on Fat Tuesday and Madi Gras show that there is a terrible misunderstanding or ignorance of the scriptures since a Christians should refrain and avoid sinful habits all of the time, not just during the days of Lent.

1 Thessalonians 5:22" TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 4:3" TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality

During the period of Lent, some foods such as beef or pork are avoided as a penance for some sin. This too, is a curious teaching since the scripture teach the exact opposite in regards to forbidding what a Christian may eat.

1 Timothy 4:1-4" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 4:1-4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, (3) who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (4) For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Ash Wednesday Dates
March 9, 2011
February 22, 2012
February 13, 2013
March 5, 2014
February 18, 2015

Shad David Sluiter

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What does the Bible say about dinosaurs?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL in your answer. You may optionally include an email address. Answers will be reviewed.

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Was the deity of the Lord Jesus somehow limited in His humanity?

Was the deity of the Lord Jesus somehow limited in His humanity?

By definition, God is spirit (John 4:24," TARGET="_blank">John 4:24, ESV), infinite in His duration (Isa 57:15)," TARGET="_blank">Isa 57:15), ability (Luk 1:37)," TARGET="_blank">Luk 1:37), and attributes (1Jo 1:5)." TARGET="_blank">1Jo 1:5). Limited deity is an oxymoron. Being in one place and "becoming flesh" (Joh 1:14)" TARGET="_blank">Joh 1:14) did not limit His omniscience, omnipotence, or omnipresence; He was without beginning (Joh 1:1)" TARGET="_blank">Joh 1:1) or end (Heb 1:12)" TARGET="_blank">Heb 1:12) and He was holy (Luk 1:35)." TARGET="_blank">Luk 1:35). The Pharisees balked at His forgiving the paralyzed man (Mar 2:5)," TARGET="_blank">Mar 2:5), since only God has this power (v 7; Psa 130:4). The Lord Jesus had and has that power that belongs solely to God (Mar 2:10)." TARGET="_blank">Mar 2:10).

Nonetheless, His Father told Him what to say (Joh 12:49" TARGET="_blank">Joh 12:49b) and the very words He should speak (v 49c). The Father showed Him each act He did (5:19). These truths do not indicate that He was limited, but that He was subject to His Father. This affirms that the Father and Son have different roles in the Godhead. The Father directs and the Son carries out the direction, while the Spirit enables.

D. Oliver
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Why was it a sin for David to count the people but not for Moses?

Why in 2 Samuel 24" TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 24 was it counted a sin in David to number the children of Israel, whereas Moses was commanded by God to do so? (Exodus 30:12)." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 30:12).

Perhaps the very point our questioner notes as to Moses having been commanded to take the census of the people goes some way toward solving this difficulty. A thing may be commanded at one time, and not at another. For instance, the Feast of Tabernacles was commanded to be observed on the I 5th day of the seventh month, but to keep the feast in the 8th month, as Jeroboam did “out of his own heart,” was a flagrant offence (1 Kings 12:32)." TARGET="_blank">1 Kings 12:32). So, spurious imitations of God’s ordinances to-day become positive acts of disobedience; for instance, baptising infants, or making of the breaking of bread an idolatrous act, the “eucharist” or the mass. Moses was commanded in Exodus 17:6" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 17:6 to smite the rock, but when he did this in Numbers 20:11-12," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 20:11-12, it was counted a sin unto him. In Exodus 30." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 30. 12 the Lord gives a direction to be followed when an occasion arose for numbering the people—each one was to give a half shekel as a ransom for his soul unto the Lord. It was, so to speak, a recognition before the Lord that the life numbered was in reality forfeited and needed to be ransomed. There is no mention of this being observed in David’s case, though that was a command to the people in general. In Numbers 1:2, 3," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 1:2, 3, Jehovah commanded Moses to take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel—”From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel.” It was clearly a matter of order and importance that the number of the people should be known at the commencement of their desert journeyings, and it is given as 603,550. Then again in chap. 26, Moses and Eleazar were commanded to number the people at the close of their wanderings. They actually shewed a decrease of nearly 2,000, surely an eloquent commentary on the effect of their disobedience. Had they taken possession of the land when this was proposed to them they would, no doubt, have shown a large increase over a like period. In the case of David’s census, we read that “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and He moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 24:1)," TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 24:1), of which census a man of the world like Joab, and also the captains of the host, saw the futility. Joab’s words are remarkable; he expresses the desire that God might add a hundred-fold to the people, that the king might see the increase, i.e. without any need of a census. In 1 Chronicles 21:1" TARGET="_blank">1 Chronicles 21:1 we read, “Satan stood up against Israel,” which simply means that Jehovah in inflicting judgment on His people for their transgression, allowed Satan to move in the matter as His agent. Men may make difficulties and cavil at God’s ways, but He is Sovereign and He will be justified by all, when His ways and the secrets of men are known. In reality there was no command to David from Jehovah to number the people. It was an arbitrary act of self-will and self-glorying, resulting in the infliction of the plague on the very ones on whom God would inflict judgment. We see, then, in the “Samuel” account God in government carrying out His judgment on David and the people—He is the ultimate cause; but in the “Chronicles,” Satan is presented as the instrumental cause—He tempts David to engage in the path of self-will, and the King allows himself to be led astray and is responsible, as he admits himself (2 Samuel 24:17)." TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 24:17). David, however, knows the grace of God, as well as His government, and his prayer is: “Let me fall now into the hands of the Lord; for His mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hands of man” (v. 14); and so he is led to build an altar unto the Lord and offer burnt-offerings and peace- offerings, typical of the sacrifice of Christ.

W.H.

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how should we handle alcohol and smoking habits before our children?

Having unsaved in-laws at holiday gatherings in the home, how should we handle their alcohol and smoking habits before our children?

As a believer you are responsible for your home and children as part of your testimony Parents are to raise children in the Lord's fear and love (Ephesians 6:4)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 6:4). Smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages are clearly inconsistent with Christian testimony (Colossians 3:5" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 3:5 and 1 Peter 4:3)." TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 4:3). While you cannot change your in-law's behavior, you can control the sphere of your responsibility. It is better that you kindly and clearly inform any invited guests who may normally smoke or drink alcohol that you have established principles in your family refraining from these. Ask them to respect your rules (1 Timothy 3:4)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:4). Consistency with your convictions will make a definite impression and provoke consideration of your faith and devotion.

J. Smith

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What is the sealing of the Holy Spirit?

THE SEALING
Is the sealing of the Holy Spirit in this dispensation, a sealing on the forehead, seen outwardly, or is it experienced inwardly?

Does not John Bunyan refer to an outward sealing in the Pilgrim's Progress?

The sign of the old covenant was circumcision, an outward mark in the flesh. It is said in the case of Abraham to have been the “seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised” (Romans 4:9)," TARGET="_blank">Romans 4:9), which was of course exceptional, as infants of eight days old have no righteousness. The Lord seals His people as His own by giving them His Holy Spirit. “In whom having believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1:13 R.V.; see also Ephesians 4:30;" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:30; and 2 Corinthians 1:22)." TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 1:22). This is not an experience subsequent to conversion, but at conversion; nor is it an outward mark on the flesh, but a spiritual reality, which no doubt will come out in life. John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” is an allegory: that is, a spiritual truth conveyed under the form of a literal story. We should get into no end of difficulties, if we interpreted the figures literally.

Are all sinners, for example, to wade through a literal “Slough of Despond” on their way to the wicket gate? Besides, even Bunyan must be checked by the Word of God, and no less, “experiences” that pious persons claim to have passed through. There is no such thing taught in the Bible, as a Christian “being sealed on the forehead,” and for anyone to claim such a thing is a mistaken pretension, which he should seek grace from God to abandon.

W.H.

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