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| It is "Feed my lambs"; It's not "receive my rams" |
A frightening thought crossed my mind.
In reaction to the woolly and loose
churchmanship that prevails in many churches, not a few churches have developed
an elitist syndrome - that of setting extra-biblical standards for baptism and
membership.
Let's remember a few basics:
Eternal salvation is God's immutable and
effectual work:
- He purposed eternal salvation for His
elect,
- Christ secured that same salvation for
them, and the
- Holy Spirit applies it to each elect
personally at God's appointed and approved time... effectually calling each one
out of his native state of sin, condemnation, and death, to that of grace and
salvation.
- In this, there is no variation. Everyone is
equally saved in the same manner, on the same ground, and to the same extent.
- By these divine monergistic activities,
they are completely and perfectly fitted for heaven. Nothing else is needed!
- However, God is interested not only in
getting them fit for heaven, but He has also appointed the means for their
temporal salvation while here on earth on their journey to their eternal
inheritance.
The gospel ministry in the context of the NT
church of Jesus Christ is God's appointed means to nurture and train God's
children, both in sound doctrines and godly living.
- God's children, depending upon the QUALITY
and the QUANTITY of the gospel ministry available, and their responses to it,
are converted to the truth of God to vastly different degrees. They end up
believing and obeying different amounts of the truth of God, some more, some
less, and others very little. Some are sound in their head and godly in their
ways; others less converted are still deceived with falsehood, lies and
superstition. Some are less detoxified by the gospel ministry!
The least converted among them are still
God's children NONETHELESS.... minister to them! That's Christ's command -
"preach the gospel, baptize them that believe, add them to the church, and
teach them to observe all things Christ has commanded," - that is,
baptized by Christ's authority AND brought under Christ's authority vested in a
local church.
Matthew 28: KJT
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.
Christ said, "Feed My lambs..."
Some elitist-minded likely heard,
"Receive My Rams."
So, they admit rams, not lambs into
membership so that feeding commanded may be done.
