Does It Fit The Description? (R. H. Deaver)

As I anticipated a lengthy business trip, I knew I did not want to leave my automobile in the airport parking lot for the three weeks I was to be away. So I asked a friend to pick up my car at his convenience and keep it at his home until my return. After telling my friend where he could expect to find my car parked, I began to describe it to him over the telephone. "My car," I explained, "is a 1974 red Buick with a white roof; Texas license number DDD-8979." With this information, my friend promised to pick up my car at the airport the evening of my departure.

I began my flight early on a beautiful morning, confident that my friend would be able to locate my car and drive it to his home. After his own working hours, my friend drove to the airport to get my car. He immediately located the general parking area and began looking for the most obvious detail of the description - a red car.

Seeing several red cars, he drove near for a closer look - not a single Buick. As he continued looking, he saw two red Buicks - both shinning new 1977 models. Realizing this was not the right year model, he looked some more.

After a few minutes of intent searching he observed a 1974 model red and white Buick - but it had a white body and red top. He looked some more. He drove through the parking lot carefully observing the cars and trying to match one of them with the description he had. He came close several times, (even finding one 1974 red Buick with a white top - but it had Oklahoma license plates), but still he knew he had not located the right car.

Several more minutes of searching and comparing, however, led my friend to a 1974 red Buick with a white top, Texas license number DDD-8979. "This is the car," he concluded. "It fits the description in detail." He took the key from his pocket and drove my car to his home. He had indeed found the right car - it fit the description.

Jesus Christ promised to build only one church. Matthew 16:18 - "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Its organization, its worship, its doctrine, and its practice is described in the pages of the New Testament. As we look for the church Jesus built today, however, we find it almost as confusing a task as trying to find the right red Buick in a parking lot with hundreds of cars. But we CAN find it.

We have a good description of it. All we have to do is to compare these hundreds of religious groups with the description of Christ's church that we have in the Bible. This is a tedious, time consuming task perhaps, but it can be done - we have a good description of what we are looking for!

Does the church you attend fit the Biblical description in every detail? If it does, you may be certain you have found the right church. If it does not, don't stop searching until you have found the one church that Jesus built. Yes, you will know Christ's church when you find it. It's the one that fits the description.

Does It Make A Difference? (Kent Heaton)

There are some things in life that have little impact in their actions. Many things in life are important to where it does make a difference in how a person views the matter. If a person does not think it matters what type of medicine to take, their indifference could be a decision of life or death. When people are indifferent about the laws of the land - laws of the road, for example - their indifference could cause much harm.

When a chef desires to make a certain dish, following the instructions is imperative to a successful result. If the ingredients call for two egg whites and indifference leaves this part of the recipe out, the result will not be what is desired. A builder is asked to build a certain type of house and given plans to follow to create the desired look. If the builder is indifferent to the construction of the house, the structure could fall or be less than expected from the owner.

A simple illustration will show how important it is to follow the exact instructions of what is established as the rule. The keyboard used to type these words is similar to every other keyboard of its kind. A typist learns first where to place the fingers in order to achieve the final result. If I decide to be indifferent about where I place my hands to type, the following will result: [Fpr Gpd sp ;pved tje wpr;d tjat je gave jos pm;u begpttem spm/] This should have read, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." (John 3:16) Does it make a difference?

God told Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16-17, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Did it make a difference if they obeyed?

Noah was told the build an ark out of gopher wood to specific dimensions and to place certain animals inside for safety. (Genesis 6 & 7) Did it make a difference if he obeyed or not? Naaman was given instructions by Elisha to dip seven times in the Jordan river to heal him of his leprosy. He complained angrily, "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" (2 Kings 5:12) Did it make a difference where he dipped to be clean of his leprosy?

The description of the New Testament church is outlined in very clear terms. The founder and builder is Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:18) In fulfillment of prophecy, the church of Jesus Christ was founded in the city of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3; Acts 2:5,47) Christ is the only head of the church as no man takes that rule. (Ephesians 1:22)

The organization of the New Testament church is made up of men called Elders who shepherd the local church as given to them by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; 1 Peter 5:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16) Deacons are men who have a special role in the work of the church to carry out various duties in the work of the Lord. (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13) Evangelists and members are an important part of the work as they submit themselves to the rule of the elders. (Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12:4-5; Hebrews 13:17; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)

The names of the church as described in the New Testament are "church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 20:28), "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16), "house of God" (1 Timothy 3:15), "church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23). The followers of Christ were simply called "Christians" (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16), "disciples" (Acts 11:26; 20:7), "saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1) and "brethren" (Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 15:1,3,22,36)

The worship of the New Testament church was singing (Ephesians 5:19), praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17), teaching (Acts 20:7), communion (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29) and giving (1 Corinthians 16:2).

The creed they followed was Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Matthew 16:16-18), the rule of faith was the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3), they practiced unity (John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10), and their mission was only the saving of souls (Ephesians 3:10; John 6:45; 1 Timothy 4:16).

Membership into the New Testament church was through Faith, Repentance, Confession and Baptism. (Hebrews 11:6; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:10; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Peter 3:21)

Does the church you belong to fit the description as shown above? If not, you are not in the church of the New Testament. Does it make a difference which church you belong to? It makes an eternal difference! Your soul salvation depends on the decision you make - does it fit the description and does it make a difference?

Does It Make A Difference If The Description Of Your Church Is Different Than The One Of The New Testament?

N. T. Church - Founded by Christ in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2!

Baptist Church - Founded by John Smyth in London, England - 1607. Catholic Church - Founded in Rome, Italy in 606 (Pope Boniface III) Church of God - Founded by D. S. Warner - 1880. Freewill Baptist - Founded by Benjamin Randall in New Durham, NC - 1780. Holiness Church - Founded by Howard Hoople in Chicago, Illinois - 1907. Jehovah's Witness - Founded by Charles Russell in Pennsylvania - 1874. Lutheran Church - Founded by Martin Luther in Germany - 1530. Methodist Church - Founded by John Wesley in London, England - 1729. Mormon Church - Founded by Joseph Smith in Seneca, New York - 1830. Nazarene Church - Founded by P. F. Bresee in Los Angeles, California - 1895. Presbyterian Church - Founded by John Calvin in Switzerland - 1535. Salvation Army - Founded by William Booth in London, England - 1865. Seventh Day Adventist - Founded by Ellen G. White in Massachusetts - 1846.