Church Doctrines

 

          Hello Brothers and Sisters; fellow children of God. I want to thank God for awakening me this morning. Thank Him for the “sunrise” this morning. O how great God is. He is an excellent, mighty God. Family of God, I want to talk with you at this time about our Lord Jesus Christ, the founder of the “New Testament Church.” Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: “…upon this rock will I build my church…” Ephesians 5:25 tells us “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

          Christ gave to the church doctrines, which are beliefs and teachings. He also gave to the church ordinances, which are things to be observed. In the New Testament church, there are two ordinances: one is baptism and the other the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Saviour the night Jesus was betrayed and delivered to die for our sins on the cross. I want you to note: no one can be saved by partaking of the Lord’s Supper. It is a memorial of the death of the Lord Jesus. The purpose of it is that you and I will remember what He did for us on the cross. It is dangerous to take part in the Lord’s Supper if you are not saved, but if you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour and have followed Him in baptism, you may partake of the Lord’s Supper. I John 5:1: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him begat him also is begotten of him.” That you will continue and read the whole fifth chapter of I John is my prayer, for I believe you will find great comfort in this chapter. You will also find love and the understanding that God’s Word and commandments are not grievous. There is a period-God has the final word. In I John 5:4, you will find victory. It says, “…whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, ever our faith.” Most importantly, I believe you will find eternal life, if you believe on the Son of God.

          You have to know that you are saved and a child of God before you partake in the Lord’s Supper. Paul wrote that some died because they took communion in an unworthy manner: I Corinthians 11:27-30. Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead; they lied to God: Acts 5:1-11.

          I believe the answer for us is Christ’s return! We must have assurance of our salvation-we cannot have questions about our salvation. We must be sure we are saved. I John 5:13: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Matthew 3:1, 2: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” According to Scripture, John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:13) and He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15).

          I want to speak on the meaning of baptism and show a picture of three things. Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Galatians 3:27: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We must be saved and baptized, only then can we take part in the Lord’s Supper.

          I want you to know that baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life. Our faith that when we die and are buried we shall also be raised from the dead. Jesus overcame these things: He overcame death, He overcame the grave, and He overcame Hell. As saved people, we will do the same.

          Brother and Sister, I want you to remember the Bible teaches that we are to be baptized by immersion. This means going under the water and coming up out of the water. As we stand in the water, it crosses our body, like the cross where Jesus died. Going beneath the water is a picture of how Jesus went into the grave. Coming up out of the water is a picture of how Jesus came out of the grave: alive forever.

          I want to thank you readers and believers. You must be saved, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:37. We must obey Christ in baptism after being saved, Matt. 28:19, 20.

          At this time, my brother and sister, we go in peace, we pray for your sure salvation, we urge you to tell someone about Christ that they may know of Him and have a personal relationship. The answer for us is Christ, Amen!

          May God bless you in a great way!

                   Love, Your Brother in Christ,

                             Marion Dobbs