It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

The New Covenant Only

Last week, we observed some different terms by which the New Testament was called. The term we used in closing was from Romans 1:16,17:"the gospel of Christ," the power of God unto salvation to "every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Perhaps you have sung the song, "The Gospel is for All." It is true, isn't it? Romans 1:17 tells us that "therein," that is, "in the gospel," the righteousness of God is revealed from "faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." In what is our "faith" to be, according to Romans 1:17? It must be in the gospel. Just this week, a religious group, in their convention, voted that there were some lifestyles which were wrong. Because the President of our nation belongs to this religious body, some might consider the group to be prestigious. However, it is not man's prerogative to say what is right, and what is wrong. Those things are settled by God in the gospel of Christ. We would encourage you to read the rest of Romans 1 (verses 18-32). Yes, the gospel of Christ teaches us how to, and how not to live. There are times when man says, "But the Bible does not say not to do..." thus and so. When God says "do" something, that eliminates all other desires man might have regarding the matter. The things recorded in Romans 1:20-32 are sin. It is unnecessary and wrong for man to even consider any of them in a convention. To do so shows a lack of faith. When God, through His Word, stated it, that settled it!

To further illustrate this point (and, to also make clear the nature of man), Jude 3 states this: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints." There are two phrases in this short book we would like to notice. The first is "needful." Why was it "needful" for such a letter to be written? Verses 1 and 2 tell us those to whom the letter was being written were children of God. Then verse 5 has this statement: "though ye once knew this." Did they no longer know it? Was it therefore necessary for them to "learn" it again? No. Verse 4 tells us : "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." How serious is this matter? That which is revealed by God in the Word - called "the faith" in verse 3 of the book of Jude - is what we are to obey. When conventions are held by man, then we can know that that group does not have faith in "the faith" whereby we are to be saved.

First Thessalonians 5:21 tell us to "prove all things; hold fast to that which is good." So, take your Bible. See if the things taught in these articles be truth. Earnestly contend for the truth, proving your faith in what God says, by believing and obeying His Word only - no more, no less.