Have you given thought to what binds believers together? The following article was written 36 years ago by Pastor Alvin Holmgren and directs our thoughts to the early church. Truth is timeless. Jesus tells us: ” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6) Let us pray for unity to begin in the hearts of those that have come to know “the way”, Jesus the Christ. It is only through knowing Him that we can see “truth” and truly live. We can see from society that even crisis doesn’t bring a lasting unity. How quickly we fracture along political lines. there is no immunity from that. But we can look to the One that existed before time began, He has united us with an eternal love, first in reconciling us to God, and then to one another, by grace.- Pastor Stan
In One Accord
May 1984
No more beautiful testimony can be given to a group of believers that that which St. Luke used to describe the disciples and other friends of Jesus after the ascension and on Pentecost. Of them he wrote: They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” and “they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 1:14 & Acts 2:1) Believers in every age have striven to achieve and preserve this unity. We also seek for it today.
In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed: “ that they all may be one as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they may be one in us.” (John 17:21) The oneness for which Jesus prayed was a oneness of spirit and not an organizational unity. The key to this unity can be found in the words of Jesus to His disciples: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31) There is no true accord outside of the Word of God. It alone is the “lamp unto our feet and the light upon the pathway”. (Psalm 119:105) “We have also a more sure word of prophesy; whereunto ye do well that that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.” (II Peter 1: 19)
This spiritual accord, for which we labor today, can be achieved in no other way than in the early church. It requires submission to and continuance in the Word. When St. Peter began his first epistle, he praised God for “having begotten him again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (I Peter 1:3) and stated that this born-again experience is effected by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God..which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1: 23&25)
Jesus explained that He was the door into the sheepfold and that anyone who climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1) Jesus, Who is the door, has given the keys of the kingdom (sheepfold) to the church with the commission and the authority expressed in Matt. 16:19 : “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.” In referring to this authority, St. Paul says that as ambassadors for Christ we have received the ministry and word of reconciliation. (II Cor. 5: 18 & 19) He boldly identifies himself with this word of truth by saying that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. (Romans 1:16)
In his epistle, Jude writes of our common salvation and exhorts the believers that they should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. (Jude 3) As we seek to abide in the doctrine of Christ and to follow the counsel of Jude, we must not forget the importance of also abiding in the vine, the Lord Jesus Christ, and obtaining our life from Him. We are told in the sixth chapter of the book of Hebrews: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection.” In this we are reminded that our life is in Christ, who has been made unto us of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, and that we are to glory in the Lord. I Cor. 1: 30 & 31)
If we base our salvation upon a knowledge of the doctrine of Christ and not upon Christ Himself, we are in danger of finding ourselves in the same condition as the Angel of the Church of Ephesus. Although the Lord knew his works to be good and gave him approval as to his faithfulness in pursuing his calling, yet he was told: “I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:4) Although he had contended earnestly for the faith, had tried those that said they were apostles and were not and found them liars and had labored without fainting, yet he was told: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Rev. 2:5)
Although we endeavor to uphold the doctrine of Christ, we must remember that our salvation does not lie in doctrine, but in Christ alone. In Christ there is unity, in Christ there is accord.
“I SEE THEE STANDING, LAMB OF GOD
NOW AT THY FATHER’S RIGHT:”
( From the archives of the late Pastor A.C. Holmgren, May 1984)
Submitted by Pastor Stan
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