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The Doctrine of the Church
The term "doctrine" signifies the teaching of the church, especially as it relates to the terms of entrance into the church, the conditions upon which salvation is obtained, and the principles by which one remains saved. Let us first consider the terms of entrance into the church. We have observed in previous discussions that salvation is in Christ (II Tim. 2:10). To be in Christ is to be in his body; to be in his body is to be in his church, for Paul says that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22, 23). Therefore, all the saved are in Christ's church. Salvation cannot be obtained outside that Divine institution. Hence, the terms of entrance into the church and the conditions of salvation are the same.
The terms of salvation were stated by Christ shortly before his ascension, when he gave the great commission to his disciples. Matthew s account of the commission reads, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:19, 20). According to Mark, the commission reads, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mk. 16:15, 16). Luke's account says, "Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46, 47). Summarizing the terms of salvation given here by the Lord, we find that in order to receive salvation, or the remission of past sins, one must hear the gospel, believe, repent, and be baptized in the name of Christ.
On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ the day on which the New Testament church began the apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached the first gospel sermon in the name of the risen Lord. Those who heard the gospel on this occasion were persuaded to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Many of them were guilty of the blood of Christ, and were now convinced of their sin. Therefore, "when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . . They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:37-41). Now let us note just what took place. Peter had been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:19). He had also received the Lord's commission to preach the gospel to all the world, stating the terms of salvation. Now, guided by the Holy Spirit, he preached the gospel, and in response to it, three thousand souls believed, repented of their sins, and were baptized in the name of Christ. They were promised the remission of their sins upon their obedience to the gospel. But the scriptures state that they were also "added" together, signifying they were added to the church upon the same conditions and at the same time that they received the remission of sins. Again we see that the conditions for salvation from past sins and the terms of entrance into the New Testament church are identical. In Acts 2:47 we read, "And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved." Hence, they did not "join" the church, but the Lord added them to it when they obeyed His gospel.
In the two preceeding discussions it was shown that both the constitution and the creed of the New Testament church are enfolded in the gospel of Christ. Let us now observe that the gospel also constitutes the doctrine of the church, especially as it relates to the conditions of salvation. It will be in order at this time, then, to see just what the gospel is, and what constitutes obedience to it. The term "gospel" means good news, or glad tidings. In the fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians, the apostle Paul defines the gospel of Christ. "Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried: and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:1-4). The gospel then, is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead on the third day. This is good news, indeed! Through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ we have remission of sins and the hope of everlasting life.
While the death of Christ was for the sins of all mankind, only those who obey the gospel can be saved. Thus, Paul says that when Jesus returns, he will appear "with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (II Thess. 1:7, 8). Now let us ask, What is there in the gospel of Christ that must be obeyed? In the sixth chapter of Romans, Paul gives the answer. He says, "Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you" (Rom. 6:17). Now, the doctrine, or teaching, which they had received was the same as that delivered to the Corinthians, namely the gospel the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In the passage just read, Paul says, "Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" that is, Ye have obeyed a form, or type, of that doctrine. Therefore these Roman Christians had obeyed something which was typical of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Upon the basis of that obedience they received the remission of their sins and became members of the body of Christ. What, then, had they done which was a form or type of the gospel of Christ? In the third and fourth verses of this same chapter we find the answer: "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3, 4). Thus, the baptism of a penitent believer constitutes obedience to the gospel, for burial in water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Similarly, it signifies our death to past sins and our resurrection to walk in newness of life i.e., a new relationship, as children of God. Thus Paul says, "For as many of you as were baptized into-Christ did put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).
Does this mean that baptism alone constitutes obedience to the gospel? Not at all. Paul's teaching here is in perfect accord with that of the Apostle Peter. In the Hebrew letter Paul says, "Without faith it is impossible to. please God" (Heb. 11:6). He also said, "God... now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).. Furthermore he said, "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). Thus, when Paul speaks of one being baptized into Christ, he has in mind a proper subject for baptism the penitent believer who has publicly confessed his faith in Christ (See also Matt. 10:32, 33). In summary, let us note: (1) That the doctrine of the New Testament church is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; (2) the gospel is the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; (3) obedience to the gospel in-eludes faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism; (4) through obedience to the gospel we receive remission of sins and become members of the church; (5) it is God who remits our sins and adds us to the church; and (6) he does both simultaneously, at identically the same time. Thus one becomes a Christian.
Our next question is, What must one do after becoming a Christian? In the first place, he must wear the name of Christ. Paul says, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:17). Secondly. Christians must continue steadfastly in worshiping God. From the first, the disciples who constituted the church when it began in Jerusalem "continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . and praising God" (Acts 2:42 , 47). Thus they continued in the five items of worship provided by the Lord for the church the apostles teaching, the contribution, the Lord's supper, prayer, and singing praises to God. Third, Christians must study the word of God. In 2 Tim. 2:15 we read, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Fourth, we must be steadfast in the work of the Lord. Paul says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58). Fifth, we must add to our faith the Christian graces. "Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and. in your knowledge self control; and in your sell-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:5-8). Sixth, we must remain faithful unto death. Jesus said, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
In conclusion, what must one do if, after becoming a Christian. he is unfaithful and falls away? Again we find the answer in the inspired doctrine of the New Testament church. To Christians John says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Whereas one who has never become a Christian receives the remission of past sins by baptism, the Christian who sins is not to be baptized again, but is simply to repent of his sin, confess it to God and pray to him for forgiveness. We then have the promise that "he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness." In this way the blood of Christ not only cleanses us of past sins when we become his disciples, but it continues to cleanse throughout the Christian life. John said, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7).