Dear Weekly Readers!
This week I am using an article which was published in our
church’s monthly publication in the USA and was written by E. Bisila. Please enjoy!
Someone
who is not familiar with the Apostolic Lutheran faith may ask how we
differ from other denominations, especially other Lutheran churches. We have
similar beliefs in many areas with certain other faiths.
We also have
differences. If there were no differences, it would be an easy choice to belong
to any church. I will not discuss differences here, but perhaps it would be
profitable to tell those who inquire what, as a Christian in the Apostolic
Lutheran faith, has been revealed to me. It is not my intention to judge others
who confess to be believers. We have One Who is all-knowing and in a position
to do so without error.
• The
Bible is the holy and inspired Word of God. 2Timothy
3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. See
also 2 Peter 1:19-21.
• I
believe in the triune Godhead: God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the
Holy Spirit. Jesus said: I and my Father are one. (John 10:30) He (Jesus)
breathed on them
(His disciples), and saith unto them, Receive ye the
Holy Ghost. (John 20:22) He
also gives us His Spirit. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his. (Romans 8:9)
• I
believe in the need for the preaching of repentance from unbelief and
consequent sin, and in redemption by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Jesus said: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel. (Mark
1:15) As it is written, There is none righteous, no,not one. (Romans 3:10) See
also Luke 13:3-5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Jeremiah 17:9.
• Unbelief
and resulting sin separate us from God but He has provided a remedy in Christ. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
• The
shed blood of Christ is the only means of redemption and reconciliation with
God. In whom (Christ)
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) See
also Acts 4:12; John 14:6.
• The
office of the laying on of hands for the forgiveness of sins in the name and
atoning blood of Jesus was given to the Church. The Holy Spirit is given to us
and dwells within us. Now when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received
the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17) Then said Jesus to them (His
disciples) again, Peace be unto you: as my Father
hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye
remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are
retained. (John 20:21-23) See also Luke 24: 47-48; Acts 13:37-39.
• Apostle
Paul exhorts Timothy: Till I come, give attendance to
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee,
which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:13-16) See also 2 Corinthians
5:17-20
• By
the indwelling Spirit the believer has a desire to seek to do the will of God
and live a life separate from the world. 1 John
2:15-17 says: Love
not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the
will of God abideth for ever. See
also Matthew 6:19-21; Romans14:7-8. Our dear elder pastor said in a sermon that
the kingdom of God is a hospital for sinners, not a playground for Christians.
• I
acknowledge that I am a sinner, mercifully redeemed by grace in the name of
Christ and washed in His precious atoning blood. Therein is the reason for my
peace with God. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7)
God's
peace. E.Bisila
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