Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-29
Return to the Old Paths (2)
Intro.
1. Review Part 1.
2. God’s plea to return to the old paths of truth is possible and necessary in order to partake in Christ’s spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).
I. WHAT RETURNING TO THE OLD PATHS OF GOSPEL TRUTH DOES:
A. It Returns Hearts to God, cf. Mal. 4:5-6 (Lk. 1:16-17).
-The gospel turns evil hearts into good hearts, Eph. 4:20-24; Lk. 8:15.
B. It Returns Sinners to Christ’s Law of Pardon, Acts 3:17-20, 26.
1. Unity on how to be saved (not praying through, sinner’s prayer, faith only, Holy Spirit experience…)
2. NT: Hear, believe, repent, confess faith, baptized (Acts 2:21, 38, 40-41; 8:35-38; 16:30-34).
C. It Returns Christians to Offering True Worship to God.
1. Not everything offered is approved, Lev.10:1-2 (Jno. 4:24).
a. NT: Singing (Eph. 5:19); Prayer (Acts 2:42); Giving (1 Cor. 16:2); Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7); Preaching/learning (Acts 20:7)
b. Returning to the gospel means removing all additions as well as replacing what has been taken away.
2. Only what God wants will be accepted, and only when hearts are pure and holy, cf. Psa. 51:16-17 (Jas. 4:6-10).
D. It Returns the Local Church to its God-Ordained Arrangement, Acts 16:5.
1. When obedient , the churches grew and were blessed, 16:4.
2. Return to its NT organization (independent), Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2.
3. Returns to its NT worship and work (preach, edify, relieve saints), Acts 6:1-4, 7.
4. Returns to its NT unity, 1 Cor. 1:10.
E. It Returns the Importance of Doctrinal Accuracy, 1 Tim. 4:1 (Gal. 1:6-10). cf. Jno. 8:31-32; Acts 2:42
1. A spirit of compromise has swept through churches of Christ.
2. Almost anything goes “as long as you are sincere and open to study…” (“by reason of time...”)
3. We must abide in the doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno. 9-11.
F. It Returns Us to Moral Purity and Holy Living, 1 Pet. 1:13-16.
1. Commandments will not be compromised.
2. Modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10); Adulterous remarriages (Matt. 19:9); lack of self-control (smoking, drink, drugs, language, 1 Cor. 9:25).
Conclusion
1. A return to the old paths of divine truth (the New Testament of Christ) not an idealistic fairly tale – it is not “cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16).
2. It is not merely “church of Christ tradition,” or “our faith tradition,” 2 Tim. 1:13.
3. It is mandatory for our salvation, Matt. 7:21-25 (Jer. 6:16); Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jno. 9.
4. The wise ones build their lives on hearing and doing the teachings of Christ, Matt. 7:24-27.
5. They are complete and sufficient in supplying us with “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3-4).
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: January 3, 2017