The Call of The Gospel

IN GOOD HANDS

CHRISTADELPHIANS BELIEVE strongly that the gospel of Christ demands a practical response. We do not share the idea sometimes put forward that all you have to do in order to be saved is to say, 'I believe in Jesus as my saviour'. Such an idea makes a large part of the New Testament superfluous. The letters written by the apostles are full of careful instructions as to how the Christian should live day by day, and in giving these instructions the apostles were following the example of Jesus their master.

Nothing can equal or replace the work of Christ. His sacrifice on the cross has alone made our salvation possible. That is the God-given means, the only way, and requires our wholehearted acceptance and faith. But to declare our belief in him is only the first step. God expects to see in our subsequent manner of life some tangible evidence, that we are now truly devoting our life to Him. 'Shew me thy faith...by thy works'' (James 2:18) is how James puts it in his forthright way.

WHERE DO WE START?

There are however differing ideas as to what the phrase 'good works' really means. The Scriptures are the only safe guide, and it is clear that in the sight of God a virtuous character is more valuable than big donations or heroic once-for-all sacrifices. Solomon's words are worth pondering:

"He that ruleth his spirit (is better) than he that taketh a city". Proverbs 16:32

Baptism and the commemoration of the last supper are the only rites enjoined upon Christ's followers. The rest of our duties may be summarised in the words of Jesus:

"If any man will come after me. let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily. and follow me". Luke 9:23

To try to understand more fully what this means we will now look carefully at Romans chapter 6. taking this as an example of the apostles' writings which, as already remarked, are full of practical instruction.

In chapter 5 Paul has been laying great stress on the grace (or favour) of God. and the 'free gift' of eternal life that is obtainable through the work of Christ. (See especially verses 15-21.) But Paul then foresees and forestalls a wrong application of his teaching. Some might say: "lf our sins provide an opportunity for God's grace to flow out to us, forgiving us for Christ's sake, then let us continue our sinful ways so that God's grace may have even more scope!" This is the question posed at the beginning of chapter 6. and Paul gives it a resounding NO! "How shall we. that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2) Those who seek salvation through Christ are nor free to do as they please. In the remainder of the chapter Paul shows this in two ways.

THE FIRST STEP

He speaks first of the baptism which signals the beginning of life in Christ. (Important Note: This is not 'christening' of which the Bible says nothing: it is the immersion in water of an adult believer of the gospel.) Paul explains baptism as being a symbolic re-enactment of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, by which the believer identities himself with the sacrifice of Christ. Then what is put to death when we are baptised? Our old way of life, as it was before we turned to Jesus. "Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:6) : The same theme is developed in Paul's letter to the Galatians, where he lists the evil aspects of human conduct, and then declares, "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal 5:24-25)

The characteristics of 'walking in the spirit' he defines as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance". All this emerges from the ordinance of baptism when its scriptural meaning is understood.

In the latter part of Romans chapter 6 Paul introduces a further theme, that of masters and servants (slaves, really). In coming to Jesus we change masters:

"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Romans 6:18

The theme can be traced through this part of the chapter:

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unnghteousness unto sin : but yield yourselves unto God ... For sin shall not have dominion over you ... To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey . . . ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you...As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness...even so now yield your members servants to righteousness." (Romans 6:3-14. 16-17. 19)

In Christ we have a different master, and different work - righteousness, not sinfulness, is our business. And the pay is different too! "The wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23)

With such vivid figures of speech Paul presses home the crucial need for practical results to be seen in the life of the disciple of Christ.

A NEW DIRECTION

The idea of two masters and of rejecting one and choosing the other was not new when Paul used it; Jesus had already said:

"No man can serve two masters...Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt 6:24

This is found in that discourse of Jesus which is usually called 'The Sermon on the Mount'. (Matt5:1-11) It might equally well be called 'A manual of Christian service', or even 'The job description of a disciple of Christ'. To study it is to realise that serving Christ is full time, not part time employment! He gives us our priorities, asks for our total commitment, yet this is reasonable enough, when we set this beside the example he gives us and the reward he has promised us.

In many ways serving Christ involves striking a balance between extremes. Good works have to be diligently done, but must not be paraded before others. We must 'let our light shine before men', but shun the ways and associations of this ungodly world. We must be diligent in our daily work, so providing for our own and our family's needs, but must not seek riches. We are commanded to obey rulers and magistrates, but forbidden to sue at law or to get involved in fighting or politics. Faith is the antidote to all the cares and anxieties of daily life:

"Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (food and drink and clothing). But seek ye first the kingdom of God. and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:32-33

Jesus rounded off his teaching with the story of the two builders, the wise man who built his house on a rock, the foolish man who built on sand. When the storm arose the house built on sand collapsed, that on the rock stood firm. The wise man, explained Jesus. represents "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,. and doeth them". The foolish man also hears Christ's sayings, the difference is that he "doeth them not". (Matt 7:24-27) Thus does Jesus stress once more the vital importance of the manner of life of his disciples. It is not enough just to say 'I'm a Christian' - we must be doers.

It may be helpful now to summarise the things which the Christadelphian sees as making up a life of acceptable service to Christ.

• Baptism: immersion in water following a confession of faith in the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 8:12) Baptism signifies the forsaking of our past life, whatever it was, and a new start.




• A new life: a new aim in life, that is, to serve Christ, to try and live each day of our lives in a way that will please him. That must mean paying careful attention to what he asks from us - otherwise how can we hope to please him? So we must:
  

• Study God's Word. Paul counselled Timothy, 'Give attendance to reading' (1Tim 4:13) and he certainly meant reading the Scriptures. For more than one hundred years Christadelphians have followed a daily reading plan which takes us right through the Bible in a year - and then we begin again!

• Prayer: God speaks to us in His Word; we may speak to Him in prayer through Christ who mediates for his servants at God's right hand. Prayer is our privilege and our duty. We must pray, for only in confession before God do we obtain forgiveness for the sins of weakness we inevitably commit, even after our baptism. In our prayers also God is pleased for us to offer praise, to make known our desires and our troubles, to seek guidance, and to pray on behalf of others in their needs. In all this we have the assurance that our prayers are heard, 'for Christ's sake'.




• The Lord's Supper. We meet together, circumstances permitting, following the example of the early Christians, on the first day of each week, (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2) to break bread and drink wine, the appointed symbols of Christ's sacrifice, 'the body and blood of the Lord.' (1 Cor 11:27) It is a feast of remembrance - 'this do in remembrance of me.' (1Cor 11:24-26) It is also an expression of faith in the promise of his return - 'Ye do show the Lord's death till he come.' Our constant aim must be to prepare and so be ready to meet him at his coming. If that daily preparation entails foregoing some present benefits, well, the sacrifices made will prove to have been more than worth while in that day. This brings us to consider:

THE CHRISTIAN AND THE WORLD

The New Testament is uncompromising in its condemnation of the world in general as evil and opposed to God:

"Love not the world . . . For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the World." 1John 2:15-16

We are bidden to stand aside:

"Wherefore: come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." 2 Cor 6:17

True Christians are not rebels or troublemakers; we must obey laws, pay taxes, but not actively support the government in its political or military aims. How can we, when all our hopes are set upon the end of all human government when Jesus returns to establish God's kingdom in all the earth?

Although Jesus condemned the world for its evil ways he balanced this with a kindness and concern for the wellbeing of the individual which has never been surpassed. In the lovely story he told of the good Samaritan he clearly taught that this was the pattern he expected all his followers to copy.

Almost the last instruction of Jesus to his apostles before he ascended to heaven was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature". (Mark 16:15) His followers in all succeeding ages have recognised this as part of their duty. Christadelphians try to spread the gospel message, both by individual effort and in organised activities.

Without being aggressive about it we try to remember the words of Peter:

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1Peter 3:15)

AN EARNEST ENDEAVOUR

The life of the very first Christians is described for us in these words:

"They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42

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