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Bible Will I Find: From The Beginning It Was Not So? By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: From The Beginning It Was Not So? By: Gary Colley
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The Pharisees came to Jesus tempting Him, and asked about Moses’ granting a writing of divorcement for every cause. This was allowed for a time as a protection of wives that were not being treated correctly (Duet.24). However, Jesus made it clear that Moses’ Law would be replaced (Matt.26:28). Jesus’ New Law returned men to Jehovah’s original intention for marriage, one man for one woman for life (Matt.19:3-9). Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery”(Matt.19:9). In addition to ignoring of the marriage law today, there are many other things practiced in religious groups, that “from the beginning it was not so.” There are likewise today many departures from God’s standard for His church. For example: 1. A plurality of churches. Many are the religious organizations exist today, ranging from very popular to the most radical and irrational sects, but “from the beginning it was not so.” The Lord built and purchased but one church (Matt.16:18; Eph.1:22-23; 4:4). He also condemned division in the New Testament, and prayed for His followers to be “one” through the Word (I Cor.1:10; Jn.17:20-21). 2. A plurality of human designations. Different names are found identifying religious denominations which are not found in the Bible, because “from the beginning it was not so.” First century Christians were collectively called “the church of the Lord” (Acts 20:28), the church of God (I Cor.1:2), and “churches of Christ” (Rom.16:16). Individuals simply wore the name “Christian,” instead of names of human leaders or practices as is common today (I Pet.4:16). Paul called the Corinthians “carnal” because wanted to wear human names (I Cor.3:3-4). 3. Sprinkling and pouring for baptism. Such teaching as this today is a departure from the practice of the Apostolic age. The first century church of Christ for many centuries recognized only immersion as baptism. Baptism in the Scriptures, is called a burial or planting, because the person is to be completely submerged in water in the likeness of Jesus’ burial in the borrowed tomb (Col.2:12; Rom.6:3-6). When men today substitute sprinkling or pouring from baptism it is a departure, and “from the beginning it was not so”(Matt.19:8). 4. Mechanical instruments of music. Another departure from the practice of the New Testament church is the use of instrumental instead of vocal music in worship to God (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16-17). As other things mentioned, “from the beginning it was not so.” Let us go back to the Bible.--Gary Colley