RESTORATION PRINCIPLES - THEIR BIBLICAL BASIS (4)

RESTORATION PRINCIPLES - THEIR BIBLICAL BASIS (4)

by Yeow Chin Kiong

There would be nothing to restore if the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3),- the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5) the ultimate end of which is "the salvation of ... souls" (1 Peter 1:9),- had not been altered or amended by men not Divinely-inspired. The existence today of a great multitude of denominations of Bible-believers is proof of many human additions to, subtraction from, or unwarranted interpretations, of holy scripture by those who may have understood,- and even have been obedient to,- the truth but now need to be restored to God's truth.

Jesus Christ and His disciples had warned of such threats to the faith from within the church by those who did things using His name or authority but bearing bad fruit thereby (Matthew 7:15). Our Lord prophesied that some would even claim to be Christ (Matthew 24:5), hating and betraying one another (Matthew 24:10), indicating their victims were Christians.

In Acts 20:17-31, the apostle Paul warned elders of the threat from "savage wolves (who) will come in among you, not sparing the flock ... speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29-31). The only remedy would be to declare again and always the whole counsel of God" that Paul had declared beforehand to the elders (Acts 29:27).

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Paul stressed that the Lord's second coming and the gathering of the faithful to Him would be preceded by "the falling away" or apostacy (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). Paul had warned the brethren of this threat (2 Thessalonians 2:5) and reminded the brethren to believe and live the truth, which only can save (2 Thessalonians 2:10). This passage also tells us that God permits those who "do not believe the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness" to believe lies (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

1 Timothy 4:1-3 instructs us that it is the Holy Spirit who prophesied that some Christians would " depart from the faith" before the world's end, i.e. "in latter times".

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13 describes the moral depravity of the conduct of those who are "decieving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13). These the faithful must "turn away from" (2 Timothy 3:5). They are "disapproved concerning the faith" and must be shown to others whom they really are, as having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5)

2 Peter 2:1-3 tells us of "false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies", with many following their destructive ways and bringing blasphemy upon the way of truth .

1 John 2:18-26 associates false teachers with the antichrist. They had departed from the apostles and had not continued with them. We are reminded not to depart from that which we received "from the beginning" (1 John 2:24) implying the constant need to be ready for restoration.

Jude 1-4, 17-19 warns the faithful to be wary of those "ungodly men" who "who have crept in unnoticed", implying they have entered the church. The apostles had also warned of such ungodly men, against whom the faithful must contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3, 17).

Revelation 13:1-9 describes the agent of the dragon as "the beast" who receives "power, throne and great authority" ( Revelation 13:2) to overcome the saints (Revelation 13:7),- so great is the influence of evil to cause destruction if unchallenged.

These scriptures instruct us of the ever-present need to challenge the forces which would destroy the faith,- forces within the church,- and always to restore to them the faith once for all delivered unto the saints after our spiritual battle has been won for our Lord's glory.