It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

The Gospel is the Truth

Last week, we noticed that the Supreme Court had ruled the line item veto power, given to the President, was unconstitutional. The court, in effect, took away the authority given to Congress by our forefathers when the Constitution was enacted into law.

It is not our intent nor desire to discuss the branches of government, but no better illustration could be used to see what man has done regarding God's Word. In order to be judged acceptable to God, to be declared "not guilty" when the Day of Judgment comes, each person must live in accordance with the laws God has given. Read Colossians 1:18-23: "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister:..." (all emphases mine - HL). What is it we are not to move away from? The gospel. Jesus Christ gave this command before His ascension back into Heaven: "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Paul re-affirms this, doesn't he, in Romans 1:16? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

This brings us back to our original thought regarding the line-item veto. Do we have the right to change the gospel of Christ? In John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." What part of God's Word is not truth? It is all truth! Is the Father (God) one with the Son (Jesus)? Is the Son one with the Father? John 17:21: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Yes, the Father and the Son are one. The gospel is the truth. We must accept it all, or else be rejected on the Judgment Day. The church of Christ believes in, and practices, the whole gospel of Christ. We encourage all others to do the same. In your New Testament, you can find the law we are under. There are no line-item vetoes!