RESTORATION PRINCIPLES - THEIR BIBLICAL BASIS (3)

RESTORATION PRINCIPLES - THEIR BIBLICAL BASIS (3)

by Yeow Chin Kiong

There would be NO need for restoration if there is no original pattern of belief and conduct to believe and obey to begin with NOR if that original pattern was never meant to be preserved over time NOR if the original pattern had never been adulterated or deviated from. However, the Bible clearly teaches that, firstly, there IS an original pattern or form of sound doctrine or teaching to be believed and obeyed for righteousness and salvation (Romans 6:17-18; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; Titus 1:9; 2:6-7), secondly, that pattern of doctrine WAS meant to be preserved unaltered over time (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 John 9-10) and, thirdly,  that original pattern has,- at various times and in various ways,- been altered and adulterated (Acts 15:1,5; 20:29-30; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 4:6). Hence, Christians must be ever vigilant to detect deviation or error creeping into our doctrine and correct it to restore the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

To restore the ancient and enduring order, Christians must revive the doctrines of holy scriptures in their entirety (and not be selective in what Bible content to defend and obey). So, firstly, Christians should have a good knowledge of the scriptures, particularly with regard to the doctrines which have undergone massive alteration since they were revealed. Chief among these are the doctrines of sin and of salvation. Interconnected tbough they may be, if we are correct about every other doctrine but wrong about how and why we must obtain salvation and eternal life, our knowledge of scripture will profit us,- and those who hear us,- nothing (Matthew 16:26; 1 Timothy 4:16). In any case, if we are not armed with Bible doctrine based solidly upon scripture, we will not be able to defend truth from error and restoring the pattern of sound words will be the furthest from our heart and mind!

Secondly, we must also identify those who teach or practise error so that we can obey the Divine command to avoid them (Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:19-21) and have no company with them (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15) nor eat with them (1 Corinthians 5:11) nor receive them into our house nor greet them (2 John 9-11). Those who teach error for whatever reason must have their mouths stopped (Titus 1:10-11) and be made ashamed of their error although they remain our brethren (2 Thessalonians 3:4-15)

However, Christians also have a duty to turn one in the wrong back to to the truth (James 5:19-20).We must restore those who err by gently teaching them what the scriptures teaches about where they have erred in their belief or conduct (2 Timothy 2:24-26). As we do this, we have to be careful that we ourselves do not fall into error or misconduct (Galatians 6:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:12). The one doing the correcting must use God's word because only "sound doctrine" can exhort and convict those who contradict it (Titus 1:9) and God's word is definitive truth (John 17:17).

Indeed, as in everything we do, we must adhere or conform to God's word, which alone has authority (Colossians 3:17) if we are to bring glory to our Father (1 Corinthians 10:31)