Indifference -- The Great Destroyer

Indifference refers to an attitude held by a person indicating a lack of zeal, commitment, and concern regarding whatever that individual is indifferent toward.

I do not know of anything a person can succeed at long term with indifference dominating him or her. Natural talent will only take a person so far. There comes a time when to succeed you have to buckle down, get serious, and do the work. This is true of the great athletes of the world, the great musicians, of people who are highly successful in their fields, and even the Einsteins of the world, and so how much more so of you and me?

Of course, we are talking here about the significant things in life, things that matter and make a difference. If you want to get a degree or degrees, a good education, if you want to have a successful marriage, if you want to succeed in your job or vocation, and if you want to go to heaven, you cannot be indifferent. Yes, and if you want to go to heaven.

We are living in a time of a great falling away from spiritual matters, from Christianity. The percentage of what are called the “Nones” continues to grow. “Nones” are those who have abandoned faith in any kind of religion. More and more people are coming to the decision that they do not need God in their life and they are not searching for him.

From an article on the religionnews.com website published Aug. 5, 2019, I quote the title of an article found there, “‘Nones’ now as big as evangelicals, Catholics in the US.” The article itself was dated March 21, 2019, but put online August 5th. It may or may not be online by the time you read this and the numbers will no doubt change with time, becoming more or less, but that has been and remains the trend over the past several years.

Most churches I know about, living as I do in the rural Midwest, have declined drastically in membership over the last 50 years, some having closed their doors and others are on the verge of doing so. People have lost interest in Christianity which is another way of saying they have become indifferent. They are not seeking and thus they shall not find. “Seek, and you will find.” (Matt. 7:7 NKJV)

If God and his word are matters of no serious concern to me, if God is only going to make my top 100 list of the most important things to me in my life, if he gets that high, then realistically what kind of hope do I have of salvation, of going to heaven? To be indifferent is to not care. If you do not care about God, about his will, about going to heaven, if you are disinterested in living a Christian life, what joy do you bring to God? You bring grief and sorrow like Israel and Judah in the Old Testament before they went into exile, but joy, no.

But, there is a lot of indifference abounding in many who proclaim Christianity. It is not just the “Nones.” A lot has been made of the fact that salvation from sin is a free gift from God. This, while true, is seldom understood properly because seldom taught properly. People have gotten it into their minds that their soul’s salvation is solely dependent on God. This lends itself to indifference. There is nothing for me to do if God is going to do it all. No need to seek God, from their point of view, despite the fact he says in his word, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 NKJV)

The idea people seem to have is there is no need to study the Bible; God is love; God is grace; God is going to save everyone no matter what he or she believes or practices just as long as the person believes that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. That belief can be held in the most abstract sort of way, divorced from all action and commitment, and many doing so believe their salvation is secure. Put another way you can be indifferent and go to heaven.

Attend services wherever you so desire, no matter what they teach or practice, or don’t attend anywhere if you don’t want to, and it will make no difference just as long as you believe in Jesus seems to be the idea so many hold today. That is generally the Christian (?) world we live in, in America. False teaching along this line has led to a lot of the indifference we see.

Indifference is one natural byproduct of denominationalism. If it really does not matter what you believe or practice, just so you believe in Jesus, then certainly one can be indifferent about both doctrine and practice. What difference does it make about either if we are all going to be saved anyway? Why does the church matter? Thus many, perhaps most, could jump from one denominational church to another without qualms.

The scariest thing for me when it comes to one’s loved ones having indifference towards God and salvation, toward spiritual matters, is that indifference is one of those types of sins that are nearly impossible to get people to see and thus to own up to and repent of. They do not see themselves as being indifferent but are satisfied they are doing all that is necessary for salvation, even though it is nothing, and they believe they will be saved as they are. Nothing is necessary for salvation for God will take care of it all is the thinking. This is a perversion of Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (NKJV)

The modern-day exegesis of this passage is that man has absolutely no obligations in any way toward God. There is no need to read his word, there is no need to worship, there is no need to obey the commandments. Just show up at Judgment Day and all will be fine. Heb. 5:9 thus becomes meaningless, “And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (NKJV)

Indifference is accompanied by satisfaction. The satisfied do not repent. The satisfied do not seek, knock, or search in any way for anything for satisfied is satisfied as is. It becomes, as a result of that, nearly impossible to get people who fit into that state of mind to a mindset of repentance. They are not interested in studying or searching the scriptures for they are indifferent and content.

What does the Bible say or teach about indifference?

One of the first passages that comes to mind is Rev. 3:15-16 where Jesus is directing a message to the members of the church at Laodicea and says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16 NKJV)

Jesus is talking to Christians here. Does it sound like they are in a saved state? If you will read one verse further (verse 17) Jesus goes on explaining, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.’” (Rev. 3:17 NKJV) They were perfectly satisfied. Please note carefully the words from this passage, “have need of nothing,” expressing their satisfaction. They were indifferent toward doing anything other than what they were doing.

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 NKJV) Can one go to heaven who does not love God? “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (1 Cor. 16:22 NKJV) How do you keep the commandments if you are indifferent? Is love indifferent? Is love uncommitted?

In another statement, Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27 NKJV) What kind of cross does the indifferent person bear for Christ? Can such a person be a disciple of Jesus? What does the text say?

In the Old Testament God said with respect to the people of Israel through the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6 NKJV) If it happened to them could it not happen to people today? The indifferent cannot gain knowledge of God for the attitude of indifference creates no desire to seek and learn. Mr. Indifference is also Mr. Satisfied with the way things are and with what little knowledge he already has.

Jesus said, “Seek, and you will find,” (Matt. 7:7 NKJV) but one’s indifference keeps him from seeking and thus from finding. We are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV) but the indifferent have no will to seek let alone seek first.

The Bible teaches the love of God, or love for God, is keeping his commandments. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (1 John 5:3 NKJV) Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me.” (John 14:21 NKJV) “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” (John 14:23 NKJV) “He who does not love me does not keep my words.” (John 14:24 NKJV)

The indifferent cannot do that. Why? Because he/she is too indifferent to read, study, and learn the word that Jesus would have them keep. They are satisfied with what they have. They will never wear a Bible out from use. They do not know the truth from study of the truth. What they know is only what they have heard which may or may not be the truth and what they believe is that which has satisfied them whether it be truth or error (they know not the difference).

Many are going to die eternally simply because they did not care enough to be saved. Jesus taught a great deal about the idea of being ready, of making preparation, for his return and the Day of Judgment. The parable of the ten virgins comes immediately to mind. Another passage that comes to mind is found in Matt. 22:11, the account of the man who came into the wedding unprepared and as a result was cast out.

The indifferent, due to that indifference, are negligent and do not prepare and consequently, unless they can be brought to a change of heart cannot be saved. They live in a continual state of unpreparedness.

Indifference is a symptom of a spiritually diseased heart. The heart is not where it ought to be as it is concentrated on the self and this world. It is full of pride; I’m okay; I don’t need any more religion than I have. It is presumptuous and assumes God will save me as I am. It is rebellious against God (we will do it my way).

The question becomes, for those of us who care about people we fear may be in this state, is what can we do about it? Here I must stop. I cannot write any more, for how does one answer this question? If a person is indifferent, satisfied, does not care, then how do you get them to care? This is why this is one of the most fearful sins a person will ever run up against. How do you get a person to care that does not care? How do you move a satisfied person into a state of dissatisfaction where he can repent?

If a person has committed a sexually immoral sin or sins of many other kinds, sinful acts versus sinful attitudes, he/she probably knows what they did was wrong and feels some pang of guilt. There is hope there. You can get a person like that to repent but how do you get the indifferent, those who do not care, to repent? It is your turn now to write the next article and tell me the answer.

(Originally written in 2011, revised since then.)

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How Was Noah Saved Through Water

How was Noah and his family saved through water? Peter, in 1 Peter 3:20-21, says they were but just how is a little hard to understand without some study and thought. The passage reads as follows: "When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (NKJV)

How was Noah and his family saved through water? What was he saved from? What is an antitype? Was he saved by grace or by works (he did build the ark)? There are a lot of questions. Let us start from the beginning.

We are all aware of the story of how the flood came about. After God made man in due time mankind came to be great sinners before God. "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6:5 NKJV) God determined to destroy man for his evil, an evil so great it grieved God in his heart and made him sorry he had created man. (Gen. 6:6-7)

However, the text then says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Gen. 6:8 NKJV) One cannot emphasize too much the teaching of this text. However, the story of Noah and his salvation goes against almost everything that men today have to say about grace. Grace today, as men see it, means you need to do nothing at all toward your own salvation other than believe in Jesus. If more was required of you that would be, so they reason, salvation by works.

How did God show Noah grace? Was it not by telling him what was going to happen (judgment was to befall the inhabitants of the earth and life on the earth be destroyed) and what he (Noah) needed to do to save himself? That was it exactly.

But, in today's world of so-called Christendom, this is not grace. Why? Because Noah had to work, some say, based on Gen. 6:3, one hundred and twenty years on the ark. Peter spoke of the longsuffering of God waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared (1 Peter 3:20) so it was no short-term project. Noah received grace but had something to do, an obligation to fulfill if he was to be saved. Being saved by God's grace does not mean man has no part in his salvation, that man has nothing to do. Ask Noah.

There is also one other very important New Testament verse on Noah's salvation. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned (God's grace-DS) of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Heb. 11:7 NKJV) Noah was saved by grace (God's giving him warning and instruction) and by faith (he believed what God had told him without which he would have been doomed) and he was saved by works for he built the ark which afforded him safety.

We can easily see in Noah's case how grace, faith, and works all combined to bring about his salvation, and yet we somehow or another seem to be blinded to the fact all three work together today in the Christian era to bring about man's spiritual salvation. James himself declares "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26 NKJV) but no one seems to take him seriously. We say if a man is baptized to be saved it is being saved by works and thus ridicule the idea. Why do we not ridicule Noah who built an ark (worked) to be saved?

Is it ignorance, is it prejudice, or is it something else? I have no answer. This much I do know—Noah was saved by grace through faith the same as we are today (Gen. 6:8, Heb. 11:7). He was moved so much by faith that it instilled within him "godly fear" (Heb. 11:7) and put a diligent work (or obedience) ethic into his life. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26 NKJV) which is exactly where Noah would have been without works.

There is a difference between a work of obedience to God's command and a work that merits salvation. The Bible condemns the latter. You cannot merit your way to heaven by works. Don't you think Noah was well aware that the God who caused the flood was just as capable of capsizing the ark Noah had built if he chose to do so? Do you really believe that people who believe the Bible teaches that baptism is necessary to be saved think that they are saving themselves apart from God when they are baptized? If the ark of salvation floats, whether it be Noah's or our own, it is only because the grace of God allows it.

How was Noah and his family saved through water? By water, they were saved from a sinful world, separated from it, separated to God. They became creatures in a new world, one without sin. The water that brought death to others brought life to them as it lifted the ark up placing them in a place of safety above the waters of destruction.

Do you think it strange that the water that brought salvation to the eight brought death to the multitudes? One cannot help but think of the waters of baptism of our own era. The water that brings salvation to some (Mark 16:16) will bring death to others who are willingly disobedient to the command.

This brings us to Peter's use of a word, a word somewhat strange to many, the word "antitype," used in verse 21 in the New King James Version, and also the word that is found in the Greek text. Let me quote that to you again. "There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism." (NKJV) Some of the more modern versions phrase it like the ESV or nearly so, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." The New American Standard is very close to this when it says, "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you." Many of the things in the Old Testament symbolized or we might say were types of things that would come to be under Christ in the new dispensation. The waters of the flood in the days of Noah were the type while baptism today is that which corresponds to it, baptism is the antitype.

The text does not say baptism is a symbol of salvation already achieved; it says it "saves us." If we wish to deny that baptism saves us today we do two things. (1) We deny the very words of the text of Peter. (2) We put Peter in the position of having misspoken about all of this. If our baptism is not an antitype, does not save, then Peter misspoke. If our baptism is an antitype then baptism saves (no one says it saves alone without grace and faith).

What did the water do for Noah and how does it correspond to baptism today? (1) Both place those who are obedient by faith (believers) into a new spiritual world. The world Noah entered through water was cleansed of sin. The world we enter when baptized is a spiritual world that has been cleansed of sin, our personal sin. [see Acts 22:16, Acts 5:25-26, Titus 3:5] (2) Both salvations were by grace for Noah was warned and given an opportunity for salvation and so are you and I. God was under no obligation to warn Noah and give him a way to be saved and the same can be said of you and me today thus both were acts of grace.

I would not begin to know how many verses there are in the New Testament telling us about baptism and our need for it but let me give it a shot—Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, John 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Col. 2:11-12, Titus 3:5, Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20, Rom. 6:3-6, Gal. 3:26-27, 1 Cor. 12:13, Heb. 10:22. These were just those that came to mind without using a concordance. I barely touched the Book of Acts.

Like Noah, we have been given a warning. We will like him be obedient with "godly fear" or else we will take God on by being disobedient. Who do you think is really saved by grace? Is it the man who hears and believes and obeys or is it the man who hears and disbelieves and does not obey? Who truly has "the answer of a good conscience toward God"? (1 Peter 3:21 NKJV) I am sure Noah's conscience was clear as he obeyed God and did all he was told out of faith. How does a man have "a good conscience toward God" all the while being disobedient? Will he say I didn't know? Will he say I heard the passages, I read them, I just did not believe them? Will he tell God it was God's fault for being unable to communicate effectively?

What saved Noah? The answer is God's grace, Noah's faith, and Noah's obedience. If you and I are saved today it will be because of God's grace, our faith, and our obedience. When we speak of obedience we are talking about works of obedience, that is faith obeying. Yes, everything depended on God's grace for without it Noah was helpless, a doomed man. The same can be said of you and I but just like Noah we must act if God's grace is to benefit us. We must believe and respect God enough to obey him.

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How We Are Reconciled to God by Grace

It is so easy in life to take things for granted. We tend to take our life, our health, our family, our friends, our peace, our happiness, our possessions, just about everything one can imagine for granted the thought being tomorrow will be much like today. We often fail to realize how pleasant we have it until suddenly we lose what we thought we had.

Love, friendship, and fellowship also fall into this category of things so often taken for granted. We have a family member, a close friend, a colleague whose love and friendship we have enjoyed in a harmonious relationship up until the moment something arises in the relationship that causes friction, disruption, and alienation. We soon learn how great it once was back before discord entered the picture and estrangement came, back when we were taking it all for granted thinking there would always be peace, affection, and harmony between us, never giving it a thought it would ever be otherwise.

Adam and Eve were the first two to experience the sorrow and despondency that estrangement brings into a relationship. As long as they believed and trusted God life was good. Eve, however, becoming dissatisfied convinced herself she and Adam could do better than what God had given and acting on that belief sinned, bringing Adam along with her, and broke the relationship they both had with God. They broke trust with God. Mankind has been doing the same sort of thing ever since that day.

Adam is not the cause of my sin and estrangement from God nor is he the cause of yours. It is our own personal sin that is the problem. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23 ESV) “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 ESV) “If we say we have not sinned, we make him (God–DS) a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10 ESV) “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezek. 18:20 ESV) No, Adam is not my problem. I am my problem.

As a consequence of our sin we become alienated from God. “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isa. 59:2 ESV) “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” (Prov. 28:9 ESV) “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23 ESV)

If you are new to Christianity it might sound as though you are doomed. That is not at all the case. God says, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Ezek. 18:32 ESV) “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise (a reference to the second coming of Christ, of Judgment Day–DS) as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV) The message of the Bible to mankind is “repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21 ESV)

As the apostle Paul would say in his preaching, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20 ESV) God sent Christ into the world to save the world. Jesus says himself, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12:47 ESV)

Once an individual becomes alienated from God through sin he/she is left powerless on their own initiative to restore the breach that sin made in the relationship. God was offended by man’s sin and after all God is God and man is man; there is a hierarchy of power and authority. That is why salvation is by grace, by God’s choice. It was his choice to restore us, to reconcile us to himself, to accept us back once again. However, it is left up to the individual to decide whether or not he/she will accept the reconciliation God offers.

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:19 ESV) The message of reconciliation Paul speaks of is the gospel of Christ.

Humanity is reconciled to God by the cross of Jesus. Peace between God and mankind became possible once again, as in the beginning in the Garden of Eden before the fall, by the blood of his cross, the cross of Jesus (Col. 1:20). It was at the cross that the price of man’s sins was paid, the price paid for our redemption from sin. It was with “the precious blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:19 ESV) We were “bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:20 ESV)

“Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6 ESV) “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Rom. 5:10 ESV) and “have now been justified by his blood.” (Rom. 5:9 ESV) It is through Jesus Christ that we have now “received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:11 ESV)

It is a wonderful thing when alienation between persons is resolved and old feelings of affection and friendship are restored, when the past is forgiven and put behind and peace and joy are brought back into a relationship. Reconciliation is a wonderful thing. Sometimes in this life reconciliation between two parties is not possible for it does indeed take two and sometimes the other party maybe will just not budge. But we should never be that other person who will not reconcile. God’s command is, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Rom. 12:18 ESV)

While we always ought to seek reconciliation among men and women how much more so between ourselves and God who is our God. He is all for us; he desires that we be saved and brought into fellowship with him, and not be lost in the last day. He has made provision at great sacrifice to himself and his son to bring about our reconciliation. It was by his grace that these things were done.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV) We have all been invited to come and partake of the water of life freely. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Rev. 22:17 ESV) It is time to obey the gospel if you have not done so. Faith in and obedience to the gospel, the message of the cross, is God's means of reconciling us by his grace. Obedience to the gospel message is reconciliation to God. The message of reconciliation is the message of the cross, of God's grace.

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Jesus The Rock

The reader is likely aware that the Roman Catholic Church does not believe the church was built on Christ but rather upon Peter. In this article, we will examine what the Bible teaches and then let the reader decide whether to follow the Bible or the Catholic Church.

The relevant text for this study is found in Matt. 16:16-18:

"Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 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.'" (NKJV)

After Jesus' arrest he was brought before the Jewish council where he was asked, "'Are you then the Son of God?' And he said to them, 'You rightly say that I am.'" (Luke 22:70 NKJV) This fact was earlier confessed by Peter in Matt. 16, quoted above, when he said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matt. 16:16 NKJV) Jesus, being the Son of God, is the rock Jesus built the church on. No one can enter the church built by Jesus who does not believe this foundational doctrine, that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus, as the Son of God, built the church upon himself.

Jesus is described by Peter as a living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious (1 Peter 2:4). He goes on a couple of verses later to say, "It is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame.'" (1 Peter 2:6 NKJV) The chief cornerstone (a rock) is a reference to a man. I ask the readers to decide for themselves whether this man Peter is describing, that if a man believes on him he will not be put to shame, is meant to be a reference to himself or to Jesus. The church cannot be built on both Jesus and Peter. Both cannot be that rock upon which the church is built. Who did Peter consider to be the chief cornerstone, himself or Jesus?

But let us compare 1 Peter 2:6 just quoted above with Isaiah 28:16 where God had said hundreds of years before Peter's time, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily." (Isa. 28:16 NKJV) The stone God laid was Christ, not Peter. Isaiah was not prophesying about Peter.

But what does it mean when the text says "whoever believes will not act hastily"? The idea that both Isaiah and Peter present is that the rock God laid in Christ is so solid and so secure under the feet of the true believer that there is no insecurity. The rock you stand on when you stand on Christ is solid and secure, safe and reliable, and will not fail you. Some translations instead of "not act hastily" use the phrase "will not be disturbed" (NAS), "never be stricken with panic" (NIV), or "will be unshakable" (CSB).

If Peter is the rock does this sound like Peter, you stand on Peter as the rock and you become unshakable, not be disturbed? No, I think we would all rather stand on Christ than on Peter if we were to be unshakable. Peter was far from unshakable, far from never being stricken with panic. He panicked when walking on the water (Matt. 14:28-30), when he denied Christ, when he withdrew from eating with the Gentiles at Antioch (Gal. 2:11-12). Jesus, by contrast, was always calm and unshakable no matter how difficult things became.

Peter was a great apostle, a wonderful proclaimer of the gospel, but he was ultimately a mere man. To build anything on man is to be disappointed for we are all but human beings, prone to sin. We need to listen to Peter for he spoke and wrote as a Holy Spirit inspired man. He was not, however, the cornerstone of the church or the foundation the church was built on.

Very early in the history of the church when Peter and John were taken into custody, a consequence of their teaching at the temple, and were placed before the Jewish rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as the high priest, and as many as were of his family, Peter testified of Jesus saying, "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other." (Acts 4:11-12 NKJV) In verse 10 Peter names Jesus as being the one of whom he speaks.

"Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

"This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'" (Acts 4:10-11 NKJV)

Does that sound like Peter was declaring himself to be the one upon whom the church was built as the Catholics claim?

Paul said of Jesus, "No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11 NKJV) The foundation of the faith, of the church, the spiritual body of Christ, is Jesus--Jesus not as a man, per se, but as the Son of God. In writing to the Ephesian brethren Paul says they were members of the household of God (Eph. 2:19) "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone." (Eph. 2:20 NKJV) One has his choice--he can either believe the Catholic Church that Peter is the rock upon which the church is built or he can believe the Bible which makes it plain that Jesus as the Christ, as the Son of God, is that rock.

Yes, Peter is a stone in the church but so is every other Christian. Hear Peter, "You also, (he says, speaking to Christians--DS) as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV) The church is the spiritual body of Christ, a spiritual building being built up. Peter is a stone in the church just like every other Christian but he is not the cornerstone, the stone upon which the church was built. Jesus is the stone upon which every other stone was laid. True, the apostles (which includes Peter) and the prophets were foundational pieces but they were laid on top of the cornerstone which was and is Christ himself.

The church is Christ's body--"his body, which is the church" (Col. 1:24 NKJV - see also Eph. 1:22-23 and Col. 1:18). "He is the Savior of the body." (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) This is the body which he sanctified and cleansed "with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26 NKJV), a reference to baptism, so that "he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:27 NKJV)

Paul calls the church "God's building" (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV) and says he laid the foundation to that building. He did so by preaching Christ and him crucified. "We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor. 1:22-23 NKJV) If a man is going to be laid as a living stone into this spiritual building called the church, which Jesus has built and continues to build by adding new stones onto it, then he must be laid on top of this foundational rock that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world as the lamb of God to give his life as a sacrifice for all of mankind's sins, to bring salvation to all who will believe and obey the gospel message.

What kind of building is the church? Paul describes it as "the temple of God" (1 Cor. 3:16 NKJV) and says that the Spirit of God dwells in it (1 Cor. 3:16) and says it is "holy" (1 Cor. 3:17 NKJV). In Ephesians he describes it thus, "the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:21-22 NKJV)

Paul makes a statement in connection with the church being God's temple that ought to frighten all those who think they are free to tinker around with doctrine and practice in the church. He says, "If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him." (1 Cor. 3:17 NKJV) He says it is holy. One has to remember who built the church. Jesus said, "I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18 NKJV) He did this by his sacrifice on the cross making the church possible and then through the medium of the Holy Spirit in the Spirit's teaching the word (the gospel) through the apostles and New Testament prophets.

One would think common sense would lead one to conclude that if an individual was to build himself a building he would not build it on another man. If I build a building I am the one who builds it. It is mine. I am not doing that to give glory to some other man. Jesus built his church, he built it for himself, he built it upon himself.

The work of building continues today and will until the end of time not by means of inspired men still living but of inspiration completed and placed in the book we call the New Testament. The Holy Spirit continues the work of preaching the gospel and building the church every time the word is read or accurately conveyed in teaching and preaching.

The church was built up by men and women and boys and girls of accountable age (old enough to be responsible) hearing, believing, and obeying from the heart the gospel of Christ. Every time such an individual obeyed the gospel another living stone was added to the building of the church and such building continues on today. Shortly after Pentecost the Bible says, "The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47 NKJV) Now note who was adding to the church. It was the Lord; the Lord built the church and continues to build it yet today in the manner previously described.

But I want to go back to something mentioned earlier that needs more emphasis. I speak specifically of the great danger inherent in defiling the church, the temple of God, of which Paul says that the one who does so God will destroy (1 Cor. 3:17). God (Jesus) built the first century New Testament church. Do we think we can do better than he did? Men are trying continually to change the church from what it was in the first century and modernize it. Do we think that is wise? How do you know as a mere man that the changes that seem good and right to you or me are fine with God? Jesus is a perfect builder. Can you do better than he did without defiling the church? Remember the penalty for being mistaken is severe, not a slap on the wrist.

We might respond and say, "I have read the New Testament and I know not all of the churches back in the first century were what they ought to be." True! The church at Corinth had all kinds of problems and then we can read about the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2 and 3) of which most had one thing or another wrong with them. Yes, that is correct but we also see in our reading they were rebuked for their error and told what to do to get their house in order. In other words, we were given a blueprint for what the church ought to be. Who among us believes that any of those congregations could have continued in error forever without eternal consequences? The rebuking was to bring about repentance and thus salvation.

Here is our situation today. We are not going to get a letter to our church, the congregation of which we are a member, directly from the Lord or an inspired apostle. When we start deviating from the blueprint (New Testament teaching) deceiving ourselves that all is well with what we are doing there is not going to be a rebuke directly from inspiration other than from the New Testament itself. If we are or have deviated from the teachings of the New Testament we have convinced ourselves it is okay, we have justified ourselves in doing so. This makes it nearly impossible to repent, impossible because we have convinced ourselves we are doing the right thing.

No religious group knowingly goes into error. God's people in the Old Testament went into all kinds of sin and even into idolatry. When they were going down that path did they go thinking I want to commit spiritual suicide? They did what they did because they had convinced themselves it was the right thing to do and all of God's prophets could not keep them from it. They saw their error as not being an error but as being their salvation. They had gradually lost their faith in God's word until there was no faith left in it at all save on the part of a tiny remnant of believers.

How does one defile the temple of God, the church? I know of no other way other than by departing from that which governs the church--the word of God. When a group of people (a congregation or church) begins to practice things not found in the New Testament, allows liberties God does not permit in his word, begins to teach things contrary to the direct word of God, adds to the worship things unheard of in the pages of the new covenant, tolerates sin in the church winking at it or worse begins to call sin righteousness then I would fear being a member of such a congregation. God doesn't just talk to be talking or because he is bored. He said he would destroy him who defiled the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:17) and I for one do not want to be in the vicinity when that happens, do you? Do you want it to be said that you went along with the defiling even if you did not initiate it?

Christ built the church. He is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23). The church is to be subject to Christ (Eph. 5:24). Those things being true then if I come into your worship service and you are doing something I cannot find in the word of Christ (the New Testament) I want to know why you are doing it and upon whose authority. Don't tell me it does not matter for "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Col. 3:17 NKJV) How do you do a thing in the name of the Lord Jesus when the Lord Jesus has never said a word about the thing that you are doing? Do you think you, a mere man, can take the authority upon yourself to initiate things into the worship service unknown to the word of God? The sad truth is yes, most in Christendom believe that very thing. The church cannot be defiled by doing what the scriptures teach but it certainly can be by adding things not found in scripture.

In closing, Jesus is the foundation of the church, the rock upon which the church was built but it is his church, not mine, not yours. He built it and he built it the way he wanted it and not the way you or I might like it to be. It is what it is. Our choice is to accept it, reject it outright, or defile it as many have done. The church belongs to Jesus. If we would remember that we would perhaps quit trying to make it ours. We get to be a part of it, a living stone, but we do not own it or rule it and we have no part in making rules for it unless we want to get into the defiling business.

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