Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
TAI3LE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . .
COLFNANT OF CHURCH MEPlBERSHIP . PART 1
I. Professing Our Faith . . . . 11. The Basis of Our Fdith . . .
The Object of Our Fa i th
IV. The Commitment of Our Faith
V . %e History of Our Fai th . .
PART 2
VI. The Dimension of Our Faith
VII. The Practice of Our Faith . 7111. The Witness of Our Faith .
Conclusion .
i-ii
iii-iv
Uhen Jeaus of Natareth b l k d to psaplo dur lng H i s e a r t h l y t h i r t y - t h r e e ycrarr, He b l k d i n t e n 8 o f the "Kingdom of Cod". T h i r way o f talking w r 8 n o t to g e t people 'a r t t e n t i o n , b u t r a t h e r J e s u s w l a r i a p l y put- t i n g t h i n g s t o g e t h e r l i k e they r u l l y u o .
The Colarado Sp r lng r R.P. Fe l lov rhbp oomprlnso r community of people o o m i t t d to Jeaua C h r i a t and ta t h e Caapel which He p r a ~ ~ h d . It ha8 b e n given to u s by J e a u s to make a l a u ta m y and a l l w h . t t h t Gospel is and its urgenay -- j u a t l i k e He d i d -- m d t o l i v e o u t be fo re t h e world t h e lifestyle of t h e Kingdom of Cnd. As we do t h e r e t h i w a , we have k e n aa8urd by J e s u s t h a t He w i l l be a t work to dmu other. to H i m - self and i n t o t h e f e l l o u s h i p of that KLngdno. It I6
Jesua t h e r e f o r e Uha both d m 8 urd r 6 c e i v e r parsons i n t o t h i s Kingdnm, m d hence the Colaradn Sp r ings R . P. F e l l n ~ s h i p simply s eeks ta be r e ~ p o n a b r e to H i s d irec t inna.
Uhen pbraons are led by J e s u to confaan H i m a8 Savior and Lnrd and to i d e n t V y w l t h a cang r sga t inn of H i s people w i th in t h e R e f n n a d R e a b y t e r h n Church, they a r e aaked t, respond t o seven ques t lone . I t unuhd s e e r , t h e m f o r e , that t h e . w i n g and l n t a n t of those ques t i ons , lf e x p L i n e d and oxrminal, can pro- v ide s s i a p l e and honaa t approach t o m y md dl who d e s i r e to look Fnto t h e u t t e r . The fo l l owing s tudy ha8 been pr6ptued w i t h thl6 objccctive i n mind.
f c a $ T 4 c s 4
k U O ¶ I L . o m a , e g o 'Y3Ee,ZS a 4 m
c " $ Z D " % ¶ J 4 h h a
4
r ~ c ) c ~ m u c - d m c @ ~ ) d C 0 3 .-I k d 4 & : m ( P U P ) a k
c . 4 e 3 c w S C E , r ( , P, E 2 % O r : d (1 C 3 4 h+, k 4 C k Z O 4 c c O h
0 0 0 0 4
d c a a 4 c
4 3 43-42 5
c ( 4 a w m m w 4 ~ .8c,5523 5", 1 0 k O Q a rn m h c r o a~
4 o o e 0 4 c r : 2 E 9 c 4 S ~ o d *
' O Z P O C ' a S a - + 4 h o o d o o r n u c c 4 b u h 4 0
d P > O c ' X r ( a CI 7 0 4 f a 4 @ O a F _ 3.
- + 3 r n o a , , E % m s C 3 0 b k u w 2 ° ~ ' - 2 : , 0 9 3 Z 5 c r c o a o 4 c
~ d c U g 8 w 5 . i l a o M O Q) 3 a a 0
o c a c r o ' Z c o c ( r : Q d 3 4 O k d d C 6 i +
k d r ( 0 m r ( c c r k d k
C c $
d - 4 c + A o m Ji.1 0
k - I J kc, 0 0 3. h . C d L'k
0 d '3 Pf.=CT)
+'Fa 3Q, - 0 4 3 C C I I :
5 0 h - 4 0 3 P
u ; Z ; 0 - g c , 'do C . A t o ( d
k I 063 J
4 a c c
U " U
2 3 2 2 c r o 6 4 4 k 0 - a
l e d . 0 . 4 dr: .
r # C d 1 Q a c 1 4 a Chc - c 5 " " 5 2 ,d 3 - 0 c C Q +2z O O O Q I - : A d , : 4 U 1 8 4 Cl + m c o r - E :
0 Yrc s k r c o a c o d k - c r x x t 4 O C 4 d Q Q
C 4 a r d ; d c c a a d c 4 P g u 4 v) I l L h d Q a ' z , C r c " C C C G - ; 3 n u LA+'+ ' 4 r c cn C d
d v E L d + - & ' d > d C X C ( d D
c -r " " 2 Z m c C
+'a c l n c c , s
o - a a r , L (Dm C 4 x a c 0 0 E L d d 3 4 $ 3 0 a d x O 4 5 nk a - 4 c Cld
4 kc, rl - a a c 4
c, -7 h o e a c o " Q C O d dCI r,wr.+CI 0 4 - 4 a
C c " c 0 4 44 W k Q.4 a a d a 3 C k L O d ~ O r c m 0 0
k r n k 4 c u 0 k O n s ' D c l a D
% U c d k 4 e n Z ) - I m 4 C ? 2 o a c 4 -
C -
e 4 C B a a C 3 2 4 , , c 4 4 rl O O O ~ : ~ ~ ~ C J
t c a m o - m -r- P RJ ecu o
A k E e , k , a s Q a
4 'D 4 d a 0 8 - c ' n ~ a 0 3 0 - - c a r o 3 3 4 . 4 0 7 d d o
ul k
3 + 4 m m r m m h &4d,48+L
A L c d L nrc
- c 'u
C O C Z c u
can
be
fou
nd
in
Act
s 2
01
28
. (I
f yo
u w
ant
to l
ea
rn
why
e
lde
rs a
re n
eces
sary
, th
en r
edd
a
Sew
v
ers
es
mor
e.)
In A
cts
21
42
, w
e re
ad o
f ti
le f
ou
r th
ing
s th
e N
ew Tes-
tam
ent
chu
rch
md
e I
ts c
on
eta
nt
con
cern
. U
hat
fo
ur
thir
rge
are
th
ese?
Th
e e
lde
rs (
or
ov
ers
ee
rs),
th
ere
fore
, h
ave
the
re
- sp
on
eib
illt
y t
o h
elp
th
e m
embe
r6 of
the
co
ng
reg
ati
on
gr
ow
In t
he
ir r
ela
tio
nsh
ip w
itt~
God
l tln
d tr
iric
e G
od
ha
8
ord
ain
ed s
uc
h l
ed
de
re,
He
de
sire
s th
e c
en~
ber
u to
po
w
tog
eth
er
un
der
th
eir
la
ad
er~
hiy
, l'
hiu
r
eh
tlo
nb
rlly
ca
n bu
seen
in
1 P
eter
51 1
-5,
Sum
nlar
y I
A "p
rofe
ssio
n
of
fait
h e
nd
p
urp
ose
",
the
refo
re,
mea
ns I
a) A
cn
mm
itm
ent
to J
esu
a C
hri
st a
e th
e s
up
rem
e a
uth
- n
rity
or
Kin
&,
snd
b
) A
pu
bll
c l
de
nti
flc
ati
on
ult
h H
i6 p
eop
le,
the
clt
- iz
en
s o
f C
od'a
K
ingd
om,
in t
he
uo
rld
. A
fin
al
co
na
ide
rat i
on
is
th
e, "
si-"
o
r l
mrk
of
tb
t p
rofe
ssio
n.
As
you
rw
d A
ct6
21
41
, w
l~a
t wou
ld
you
aay
it
is7
It
is t
he
refo
re i
n o
bed
ien
ce t
o C
hr
i~
t th
at
die
cip
les
are
to
re
ce
ive
th
ls m
ark
of
thu
ir p
rofe
ssio
n a
nd
of
the
ir i
de
nti
ty w
ith
Ch
rls
t'~
chur
ctr.
Qu
esti
nn
1 -
DQ y
nu
be
lie
ve
th
e S
cri
ptu
res
nf
the
Old
an
d N
an T
esta
men
ts to ba
the
Uor
d o
f Cn
d tt
ie 9
nly
in
fall
ible
ru
le o
f fa
ith
and
li
fe?
I. Jesus C
hrl
st n
ur
1,nr
d te
lls
us
how
we
~h
ou
ld re
- y
ard
th
e U
il.11
$,
Un
til
the
tim
e Je
sus'
a
po
etl
ee
wro
te t
he
boo
ka
whi
ch r
ere
tn
bec
nme
the
Ne
r T
est
am
ent,
th
e "
Bib
le"
(o
r *
'tll
e ~
rl
tl
n~
s"
)
waa
th
e O
ld ~
ea
tam
en
fon
l~. J
esu
s nb
eyed
th
e O
ld T
esta
men
t a
a a
uth
ori
tati
ve
a8 a
vid
enca
d
by a) T
ha w
ay
lie
cam
e in
to t
he
wo
rld
- s
ee
Mat
thew
1
12
2-2
3 &
21
5-6
b)
His
re
snrt
irig
to
th
e U
ord
of
Cod
w
hen
He
was
te
mp
ted
- M
atth
ew
414-
11
c)
Whe
re H
e v
en
t to
min
iste
r - H
att
he
r 41
12-1
6 d
) T
he
pla
ce H
e
gav
e th
e U
nrd
uh
en H
e b
ug
ht -
Hat
thew
51
17-1
8 e
) H
ia m
etho
d n
f te
ac
hin
g -
Mat
thew
13
134-
35
f)
Th
e e
ve
nts
su
rro
un
din
g H
is c
ruc
ifix
ion
- M
atth
ew 27
18-i
n
30
it i
s c
nrr
ec
t tn
say
th
at
the
lif
a o
f Je
sus
Ch
rist
was
dir
ec
ted
by
the
Unr
d o
f C
od
. H
ow
do
es
Mat
then
26139 d
en
nn
stra
te t
hia
on
ce a
si
n?
Nnw
bf
this
was
Je
sus'
re
spo
nse
to
th
e O
ld T
est
a-
man
t as C
ad's
a
uth
ori
tati
ve
Uo
rd,
tha
n i
t is
no
uc~
ride
r His d
isc
iple
s e
ve
r si
nc
e h
ave
con
sid
ered
th
e b
lble
au
thn
riti
ati
ve
in
ut
te
rs
of
fait
h a
nd
1 ll
'e.
11,
'The
A
po
stle
s of
' J
es
~ls
Ch
rist
wro
te t
he
Hew 'resta-
men
t tn
c_o_
a
, W
hen
we
use
th
e w
ord
"au
tho
rita
tiv
e",
w
e m
aan
the
B
ible
is n
ot
snra
etfi
inp:
ex
tra
nr
in a
dd
itio
n t
o C
hri
st's
a
uth
nrl
ty,
bu
t t
ta
t C
t~ri
st e
xe
rcls
ea
Hia
au
thn
rity
by
titi
e H
rLtt
erls
Uo
rd,.
112hri6
;t'w
t'l
.ist
encl
rg;
mi%
&
this
in
Jo
hn
5
13
9-4
0.
Do
yo
u
Bee
ho
w?
Acc
ord
ing
to
2 P
ete
r 1
&2
0-2
1,
hou
wer
e th
e w
rite
rs
of
the
Old
Te
sta
me
nt
gu
ide
d t
o w
rite
th
ese
Bla
riy
and
v
ari
ed
b
oo
ks,
y
et
wit
h o
ne
oa
ntr
al
~e
ss
ag
e?
Uh
at
pro
mis
e d
id J
esu
s m
ake
to I
lls
ap
os
tle
s i
n J
oh
n
1412
5-26
to
assure
tha
t H
e w
ould
8
16
0 g
uid
e
them
?
Hav
ing
th
ere
fore
th
e s
ame
Ho
ly
Sp
irit
to
url
lock
t
o t
he
a C
od
t8 t
ruth
, th
e a
po
etl
ev
ta
ug
ht
and
w
rote
w
ith
th
e s
ame
au
tho
rity
as
Old
Tee
tam
ent
wri
ters
. A
nd
bec
auee
th
ese
pe
rso
ns
wa
re "
bo
rne
alo
ng
" a
s
it w
ere
by
the
Ho
ly S
pir
it,
the
bib
le,
tha
ref'
ore
, u
ae
in
fall
ibly
(U
i tt
rou t
err
or)
in
spir
ed
. B
ut
why
d
o w
e sa
y t
he
Blb
le i
s t
he
"o
nly
in
fall
ible
ru
le"
o
f fa
ith
an
d
pra
cti
ce
?
Or,
w
hy
do
we
no
t ex
- p
ec
t o
the
r w
riti
ng
e t
o b
e of
e
qu
nl
au
tho
rity
an
d
sig
nif
ica
nc
e?
a
) A
cco
rdin
g
to H
ebre
ws
11 1-
3,
thu
Old
T
est
am
en
t p
rop
l~e
cie
s of
a S
av
ior
hav
e h
iob
ori
ca
lly
b
een
fu
lfil
led
In
Je
su
s C
hri
st1
so
as a
b
asi
s o
f f
ait
h a
nd
li
fe,
no
furt
he
r w
ord
is n
eed
ed
fo
r
~n
'e
sa
lva
tio
n.
b)
Sin
ce
th
e N
ew
Tes
tam
ent
ie
th
e r
ec
ord
o
f th
at
fulf
illm
en
t w
orke
d o
ut
in h
isto
ry o
nce
an
d
fo
r a
ll,
the
Bib
le,
as
we
now
h
ave
it,
ha
s
beco
me
the
mea
sure
(o
r "c
an
on
")
t'ar
ju
dg
ing
an
y a
dd
itio
na
l w
?it
ing
o
r t
ea
ch
ing
. Y
ou
ca
n
se
e t
his
ill
us
tra
ted
in
Ga
latl
an
e 1
16
-9,
ae
w
ell
as
in
Re
ve
lati
on
22
11
8-1
9,
Sum
mar
y I
We,
th
ere
fore
, a
gre
e t
ha
t,w
e m
uat
, a
lon
g w
lttr
Je
su
s
and
His
pe
op
le,
sub
mit
to
th
e a
uth
ori
ty o
f th
e O
ld
Tes
tam
ent1
an
d
bec
ause
o
f Je
eus'
p
oe
itio
n
now
, w
e m
ust
ale
0 b
ub
mit
to
wh
at H
e d
ire
cte
d H
iu
am
atl
ee
to
wri
te,
ca
lle
d
the
New
Tes
tam
ent.
T
his
in
fall
-
lbly
in
spir
ed
B
ible
th
us
bec
on
es t
he
c~
clu
slv
e au
th-
nrl
ty f
nr
th
e f
ait
h a
nd
p
rac
tic
e o
f c
itiz
en
8 n
f C
od
's
KL
nydo
m
and
th
o C
hu
rch
,
I,nn
k a
t th
e s
umm
ary
In E
ph
esi
an
s 21
19-2
2.
Uho
is
th
e O
ne I
hn
ac
tua
lly
p
ut8
th
is c
nn
vlc
tio
n i
nto
th
ese
fe
llq
u-c
itiz
en
s?
An
Ad
dlt
iqn
al
Com
men
t t
Uu
est
lnn
1
sho
uld
NCY
r b
e in
terp
rete
d t
o m
eant
a) tt
ut
ttre
re is
no
oth
er
tru
th a
pa
rt f
ro&
th
e B
ible
, s
lnc
e a
ll
of
Cod
" c
rea
tio
n c
on
tain
a a
nd
u
nfo
lda
tru
th,
a3 Y
saln
19
bs
au
tilu
lly
de
cla
ree
. b
) n
or
ttu
t a
ll p
art
s o
f th
e B
ible
are
to
tm
rea
d
in e
xa
ctl
y
the
same w
nn
er,
e
hc
e s
ome
is
po
etr
y,
snm
e h
isto
ry,
som
e te
ac
hin
g,
an
d s
till
oth
er
pro
ph
ecy
, c
) nn
r th
ut
ev
ery
thin
g i
n t
he
Bib
le c
an
be
aa
eil
y
un
de
rstn
od
o
r i
s e
qu
all
y
pla
in.
d)
no
r th
at
oth
cr
bo
ok
8
ou
taid
e t
he B
ible
hav
e li
t-
tl
e o
r n
o s
pir
itu
al
va
lue
, n
or
can
the
y h
elp
us
un
de
rsta
nd
th
e B
ible
. e
) n
o?
tha
t th
e B
ible
is
on
ly c
on
cern
ed w
ith
id
ea
s an
d w
hat
w
e th
ink
, an
d
no
t co
nce
rned
wit
h o
ur
co
nd
uc
t an
d
wh
at
we
do,
Th
ere
1
s m
uch
mn
re
to h
e s
aid
ab
ut
th
e B
ible
, o
f c
nu
rse
, li
ke
hnw
it
is
pu
t to
ge
the
r,
the
gm
up
ing
nf
b
on
ks,
e
tc.,
b
ut
the
se n
ote
s a
re t
o h
elp
yo
u
ur~
de
rsta
nd
the
pla
in m
ean
ing
o
f q
ue
stio
n 1.
Our
pro
fess
inn
of
fa
ith
is n
ot
an
ex
pe
rie
nc
e u
nre
late
d
tn
the
fa
cts
. 'r
t~e
tru
th o
f th
e B
ible
re
all
y m
eas-
I
sures w
hat
ever
q
ne
ls
ex
pe
rie
nc
e i
a a
nd
wh
ath
er
on
e's
!
ex
~)e
rle
nc
e, h
is f
ait
h a
nd
p
rac
tic
e,
ca
n b
e b
eli
ev
ed
I
tn b
e a
ctu
all
y C
hri
sti
an
or
no
t.
Th
e C
olo
rad
o S
pri
ng
s H
efon
tled
ke
Ay t
eri
an
Fe
llo
wsh
ip b
ase
s it
s c
om
mit
men
t a
r~d
ll
fe
to
ge
the
r o
n
ttre
B
lble
, Cod's
Wor
d.
Th
e B
ible
Is t
he
LAU
in
th
e K
irq
do
n
of
Cod
.
STUDY
3 -
"Trl
E
OB
JEC
T OF'
OUH
FA
ITH
"
Qu
est
ion
2 - D
o yo
u b
eli
ev
e
in t
he
on
e li
vin
g a
nd
tr
ue
C
od --
Fa
the
r, S
on
, an
d t
loly
Sp
lrlt
, 8
3
rev
ea
led
in
th
e S
cri
ptu
res
?
I.
Th
e C
od
nf
the
Bib
lo C
laim
s E
xc
lusi
ve
H1
~h
b.
Uhe
n a
per
son
b
egin
e to
re
vd
th
e B
lble
, h
e is
in
th
e v
ery
fir
st
sen
ten
oe
s in
tro
du
ce
d
to or
info
rmed
o
f C
od,
Th
e B
ible
ia
th
e U
ord
of Cod.
Th
ere
fore
, w
e u
nd
ers
tan
d
to p
rofe
sa f
ait
h n
ean
a in
pri
nc
iple
to
ack
no
wle
dg
e an
d a
ub
it
to H
im a
s C
od.
Th
e C
od
of
the
Bib
le a
eeur
nee
the
au
tho
rity
to
ha
ve
fir
st
pla
ce
in
al
l t
l~ln
gs
, ve
ry o
bv
iou
sly
sta
ted
in
th
e f
irst
of
the
Ten
Com
man
dmen
ts
in E
xo
du
s 20
1 31
b
ut
in a
dd
itio
n,
ile
fnak
es
cla
ar
tha
t in
fa
ct
Ile
ia
th
e o
nly
Cod
th
ere
is1
N
oti
ce
Is
aia
h 4
31 10
-13
.
An
yti
me,
th
en
, th
e B
ibls
sp
ea
ks
of
any
oth
er
de
ity
o
r o
bje
ct
of
wo
mh
ip,
it i
a a
lwey
s ln
ta
ms
of
8
fals
e s
ub
sti
tute
, F
or
exam
ple
, id
ols
are
men
tio
ned
in
Psa
lm
11 5,
H
ow
are
. th
ey
de
scri
be
d?
U
hy are
the
y
ca
lle
d "
go
ds"
?
Th
is q
ue
stio
n a
bo
ve
mak
es
cle
ar
tha
t b
eli
ef
in t
he
C
od
of
the
Bib
le i
s n
ot
be
lie
f i
n "
a"
eod
. H
my
p
ers
on
a f
ind
th
is h
ard
to
ac
ce
pt
in our
da
y,
bu
t w
ha
t g
rou
nd
fo
r th
is c
laim
ca
n b
e fo
un
d
in t
he
tw
o fo
llo
win
g p
ass
ag
es?
-
8)
Is
aia
h 4
2 r 5
-8
b)
Re
ve
lati
on
41
11
Wh
ile
it is
ap
pa
ren
t fr
om
th
e w
ay
the
Blb
le h
as
bee
n w
ritt
en
, y
et
it i
o i
mp
ort
an
t to
un
de
rsta
nd
th
at
Cod
h
ss "
bei
ng
",
or
as
the
qu
est
ion
ab
ov
e p
ut8
it,
He
is "
liv
ing
".
And
s
inc
e w
e h
av
e
bee
n
mad
e in
H
is i
mag
e,
we
ca
n b
egin
to
gra
sp h
ow
ou
r b
ein
g o
r
pe
rso
na
lity
is r
efl
ec
tin
g s
om
eth
ing
o
f C
od
's
bei
ng
. A
s H
is c
rea
ture
s,
ho
wev
er,
we
sho
uld
ne
ve
r i
nt
er
pre
t th
is t
o m
ean
tha
t C
od Is
'lb H
is
cre
ati
on
, as
tila
par\- t
he
ls t
wo
uld
sa
y,
Han
'e
pe
rso
na
lity
re
vw
ile
n
ot
on
ly m
nn'a
w
ort
h,
bu
t th
e t
ran
sce
nd
en
t u
ort
h o
f G
nd
'a
Yer
son
l A
nd be
caus
e H
e is
llv
lng
an
d
tru
e,
man
cd
n a
ctu
all
y k
nou
Ilia
pa
rao
na
lly
. N
ote
hou
Jee
ue p
ut
iL
in
Jn
hn
1
71
3.
Sn
, th
e C
od of
the
Rlb
le c
laim
s e
xc
luiv
e r
igh
ta a
s1
a) ?
'he
nn
ly C
od
the
re i
s,
'fh
e o
ne
Whn
is
liv
ing
an
d
kn
nu
able
, and
Th
e O
na '
Aho
has
cre
ate
d a
ll t
hin
ge
.
11.
'fh
e C
qd
nf
the
13i
1)le
is
Ong
, Y
et
Ex
ists
in
Th
ree
l'
tits
nn
s.
'l'h
e "
my
ster
y"
of
the
Tri
nit
y i
s
bey
on
d
hu
an
co
r-
pre
he
nsl
nn
, n
ot
be
ca
use
it
do
esn
't
aak
e se
nse
, b
ut
be
c:a
~~
se
(;od
is
so m
uch
go
ate
r t
ha
n H
is c
rea
ture
s,
Ho
wev
er,
the
re a
re
so
lid
gro
un
d8
fo
r t
hia
de
ac
rip
ti
on
of
God
,
Lnn
k for e
xam
ple
at t
he
wo
rds
of
Jesu
s in
Hat
thew
9t
j1 lf
l-20
. H
nr
man
y '*
nam
es"
did
Je
sue
aay
wer
e to
bu
th
e
ba
sis
of
Ch
ris
tia
n b
apti
sm?
Hnu
man
y per
- so
ns?
1 -
.. i
L
k'u
rth
erm
ore
, a
t J
esu
s!
own
bapt
Lsr
n 5n
Mat
thew
3r
16-17, ho
w
p e
re all
thre
e P
asao
na
of
the
Tri
nit
y
In e
vid
ence
?
'Ch
is makes
cle
ar that
the
m i
s n
ot
on
e C
nd
wit
h
ttlr
et:
d
if t'
ere
nt
"n
an
ife
sta
tit~
ns
*, b
ut
rath
er
thre
e
dls
tin
ct
Yer
vn
ns all a
t th
e a
as
e
tim
e.
HOW
wo
uld
Jn
hn
1
73
5 a
dd
u
elg
ht tn
thia
?
He
turn
ln~
cven
to
Ge
ne
sis
ltl,
th
e word
fo
r C
od
in
the
Wab
reu
is i
n t
ho
plu
ral,
y
et
the
verb r
em
ain
s si
ng
ula
r.
Hnw
do
es
this
co
mp
ere
wit
h G
en
esi
s 1
12
67
Th
ere
are
man
y g
rou
ps
who
d
eny
th
e v
ali
dit
y o
f th
e
bib
le's
d
esc
rip
tio
n o
f th
e t
riu
ne
Cod
, b
ut
the
h
isto
ric
Ch
ris
tia
n v
iew
has
un
wav
erin
gly
bee
n
to
sta
te t
ha
t th
e B
ible
tsa
oh
es
ex
ac
tly
th
at$
Cod
le
th
ree P
ers
on
s in
One
.
In r
eel
lif
e,
the
co
nce
pt
of
"tr
init
y"
h
as
un
y
pa
rall
els
-- th
ls o
f c
ou
rse
Is
no
t hard
to u
nd
er
e
tan
d i
f
ind
eed
Cod
d
id c
rea
te t
he
un
ive
rse
s an
d
fill e
ve
ryth
ing
wit
h H
is g
lory
-- b
ut
the
ter
m
"un
ive
relt
y"
its
elf
sp
ea
ks
of
a u
nit
y w
ith
div
er-
s
ity
. tl
ow
ever
, in
th
e K
inbd
om
of
Cod
a
s r
ev
ea
led
by
ti
re B
ible
1 a
T
he
Fa
the
r le
Cod
b
Th
e S
on
is
Cod
c 1 The
Sp
irit
18 C
od
-- an
d as o
ne
Cod
, th
ey
are
eq
ua
l in
pou
er
and
glory.
Look
at
1 C
ori
nth
ian
6 8
14-6
,
One
fin
al
Lll
ust
rati
on
t h
ave
you
no
tic
ed
that
Ch
rist
La
n w
ors
hip
alw
ays
con
clu
des
wit
h
the
Len
e-
dic
tio
n i
n t
he
Nam
e o
f th
e T
rir~
lty
? T
his
ha
s co
me
to u
a re
wh
at
ia
kno
wn
as
the
"a
po
eti
lic
b
ened
ic-
tio
n",
a
nd
re
fle
cts
ag
ain
th
e a
uth
ori
ty o
f th
e
Bib
le.
You
ca
n f
ind
su
ch
B
be
ne
dic
tio
n
in 2
Co
r-
bn
thb
ns
138
14.
Su
mm
arya
U
hen
we
pro
fess
ou
r f
bit
h a
nd
p
urp
ose
, th
ere
fore
, w
e m
ake
pla
in t
ha
t our
Cod
is
th
e C
od
of
the
Bib
le,
just as H
e h
as
mad
e H
-im
self
kn
own.
W
e o
nly
ack
no
n-
led
ge
wh
at H
e h
a6 a
aid
ab
ou
t H
lmse
lfl
and
wh
ere
It
go
es b
eyon
d o
ur
ab
ilit
y t
o f
ull
y c
ocnp
rahe
nd
or
ex-
p
lain
, w
e hu
mbl
y bo
w
and
co
nfe
ss H
im as
ou
r C
od,
A3
we
grow
in
ow
Ch
rls
tla
n l
if
e a
nd
ex
pe
rie
nc
e,
we
ge
t to
kno
w H
im b
ett
er,
b
ut
we
sti
ll a
lway
s bo
w
to H
im a
s C
od.
STU
DY
4
- "T
LIE
CO
MIT
HW
T
OF
OU
R
FA
IIH
"
Qu
est
ion
3 -
-Do
yo
u r
ep
en
t of
y
ou
r s
tns
l c
on
fess
yo
ur
gu
ilt
and
he
lple
ssn
ess
as
8
sin
ne
r u
ga
ina
t C
ndr
prn
fess
Je
su
s C
hri
st,
So
n o
f C
od,
as y
ou
r S
av
ior
an11
Ir~ni~
and
du
dic
trte
yo
urs
elf
to
His
se
rvic
e?
D
o yo
u P
rom
ise
tha
t yo
u w
ill
end
eav
or
to f
ors
ak
e a
ll s
in,
and
to
co
nf'
orn
yo
ur
life
to
Ili
a te
ac
hin
g a
nd
ex
amp
le?
I.
J'm
fess
tn~
. o
ne
's f
alt
h
in J
es
us
Ch
rist
Qea
ns
ackn
ow-
Ic[l
p.~
nl?
a hndy nf
tru
th e
nd
~c
ce
pti
nu
it i
is
my
com-
mi
lrn
ent,
a)
In q
ue
stio
n 1 w
e m
ade
cle
at
this
bod
y of
tr
uth
h
as
bee
n
rev
ea
led
in
th
e B
ible
. R
emem
ber
Joh
n
171
17?
b
) Tn
q
~le
sti
nn
2 w
e re
co
gn
ize
d
the
Cod
o
f th
e B
ible
f
~r
uh
nm
He
Is,
and
6n
th
ls b
ndy
of
tru
th r
ea
lly
co
mes
frn
n H
im,
Loo
k a
t P
ul
a 3316-9.
It
is t
rue
, h
ox
ever
, th
at
the
Bib
le I
s n
ot
jus
t a
cn
lle
cti
on
of
ide
as
to b
e a
bs
tra
ctl
y l
oo
ked
at,
pnn
der-
4
,
de
ba
ted
, an
d t
he
n
jud
ged
. R
ath
er,
th
e B
ible
is
the
re
co
rd o
f C
od
'a
"pla
n
of
salv
ati
on
".
It
is t
he
re
co
rd
of
Co
d's
sa
nd
ing
111
3 S
on
Je
su
s i
nto
th
e w
orl
d
to s
av
e
a p
eop
le
fo
r H
is N
ame.
T
ha
t is
th
e e
ase
nc
s o
f Jo
hn
31
16.
Bu
t lo
ok
at
1 J
oh
n 5
19-1
2,
Ue
muv
t u
nd
ers
tan
d s
om
eth
ing
of
this
pla
n (
or
"co
v-
en
an
t")
by
wh
ich
Cod
has
he
n d
oin
g t
his
, in
ord
er
tn
mak
e o
ur
res
wn
se
on
tr
uth
, n
ot
jus
t fe
eli
ng
s.
Url
[&
?Ee
13
yo
u w
il
l f
ind
a
dia
gra
rn b
y w
hic
h
this
p
lan
or
co
ven
ant
can
be
vis
ua
liz
ed
to
ao
ae
d
eg
ree
.
Th
e q
ue
stin
n a
hv
e assumes
tha
t a
per
son
has
hs
ard
th
is e
xp
lan
ati
nn
of
the
Go
spel
an
d t
us
be
com
e per
- su
aded
by
th5
Hn,
ly S
pir
it t
ha
t it
Is
tru
e.
But
tlte
n C
nd
ca
lls t
ha
t p
erso
n t
n respond a
cc
ord
ing
ly.
~ - + i o & o Z m d.-I b . % C C r l J d
a 5 c !lac-=
ST
mY
5
- "T
lIE
HIS
TOR
Y
OF
OUR
FAIT
H"
Q~
lest
inn
4 -
Do
you
pr~
mis
e to
su
bm
it
in t
he
Lor
d to
th
e t
ea
ch
ing
an
d
qn
ver
nm
ent
of
this
ch
urc
h a
s b
ein
q b
ased
up
nn the S
cri
ptu
res
and
de
scri
b-
ed
in s
ub
stes
nce
in
th
e C
on
stit
utl
nn
of
the
Ref
orm
ed
Re
sb
ytc
rla
n C
hurc
h o
f N
.A.7
D
o yo
u re
co
gn
ize
yo
ur
resp
nn
sib
llit
y t
o u
ork
wit
h n
the
rs i
n t
he
ch
urc
h a
nd
do
you
p
rom
ise
to s
up
po
rt a
nd
en
cou
rag
e th
en
in t
he
ir
ae
rvic
e t
o t
he
Lor
d?
In c
ase
you
aho
uld
ne
ed
cn
rre
c-
tio
n i
n d
oc
trin
e o
r l
ife
do
you
p
rom
ise to r
esp
ec
t th
e
au
tho
rity
an
d d
isc
ipli
ne
of
the
ch
urc
h?
In o
rde
r to
lu
nd
ers
tan
d t
he
mea
ning
o
f th
is q
ue
stio
n,
ue
wil
l c
on
sid
er
it
in t
wo
par
ts8
the
his
tory
beh
ind
th
e R
efor
med
P
resb
yte
ria
n C
hu
rch
of
N .A
,,
and
th
e
sta
nd
ard
s c
ha
rac
teri
zin
g h
er
un
ite
d
pro
fess
inn
of
fa
ith
. S
tud
y 6
wil
l ta
ke
up
th
e s
ub
jec
t of
st
an
da
rde
, N
ow
let'
s
loo
k a
t t
he
his
tory
beh
ind
th
e C
olo
rad
o
Sp
rin
gs
Fe
llo
wsh
ip o
f th
e R s
PsC
aN .A
.
I. T
her
e is
a
Plo
w
of
His
tory
fo
r th
e P
eop
le o
f C@.
On
pag
es 2-3,
num
ber
2,
we
intr
od
uce
d t
he
ter
m
"ch
urc
h"
as
the
peo
ple
of
Cod
. S
inc
e C
od
f ir
at
mad
e th
e c
ov
enan
t p
rom
ise
in t
he
Gar
den
of
Ede
n (C
enes
ls 3
1 15
),
in e
ver
y a
ge
th
ere
has
ba
n a
"p
eop
le
of
Cod
".
Pa
ah
22838-31
pro
mis
ea e
uch
fn
r e
ver
y g
ener
atio
n.
Whe
n a
per
son
p
uB
licl
y p
rofe
saee
h
is f
ait
h i
n J
esu
a
Ch
rlst
, h
e th
en
bec
omes
id
en
tifi
ed
wit
h t
his
gre
at
peo
ple
, a
*bod
yH w
hose
Hea
d i
s C
hri
st.
Th
le b
ody
-- th
e C
hurc
h --
epan
s se
e8 a
nd
na
tio
na
l b
ou
nd
arie
s.
And
E
ph
esia
ns
41
4 s
ay
s,
"Th
ere
Is
on
e bo
dy..
." S
o,
the
K
ingd
om
of
Ch
rie
t ca
nn
ot
be
llm
ltg
d t
o a
ny
ps
rtic
ula
r .
.
tim
e o
r p
lace
,
And
th
is m
eans
we
hav
e a
"co
nn
ecti
on
" b
oth
"it
-,
Ch
rist a
nd
wit
h a
ll o
f th
ose
who
a
re ~
1%
w
hic
h,
amo
n&
o
ther
th
in6
8t
mea
ns
tha
t h
isto
ry is
imp
ort
ant.
W
e st
an
d
as
It
were
88
li
nk
s i
n a
n h
isto
ric
al
ch
ain
, an
d a
ur
dren
a
re
th
e n
ex
t li
nk
, H
ebre
ws
11 ~
pe
~k
s
of
man
y o
f th
ese
Per
Bon
B w
ho
thro
ug
h h
isto
ry l
ived
- a
nd
die
d -
fait
h*
u
ha
t is
sig
nif
ican
t a
bo
ut
ve
rse
s 39
& 407
thin
e C
od has
giv
en u
s.
Pro
ve
rb 2
2128
.
Wh
ile
the
ch
urc
h i
s o
ne
and
is r
ule
d b
y o
ne
Hea
d,
Jesu
s C
hrl
st,
his
tori
ca
lly
th
e p
eop
le o
f God
hav
e er
nerg
ad ad
m
any
bra
nch
ea.
(We d
o n
ot
be
lie
ve
de-
n
on
inat
ion
alis
m i
s i
n i
tae
lf s g
ood
thin
g,
80
au
ch
s r
evie
w
sho
uld
no
t b
e in
tsr
pr
etd
aa
an
att
em
pt
to p
rolo
ng
div
isio
ns
wit
hin
th
e bod
y1 )
Whe
re t
hen
a
re t
he
"ro
ota
n
of
tho
R.P
.C*N
*A
a) I
n t
he
~p
oa
tle
s@d
oc
trL
na
of
the
New
T
eata
man
t.
Bes
ed o
n t
he
~p
lth
ori
ty of
the
Bib
le,
this
b
ran
ch o
f C
hri
st%
bod
y a
ain
tain
s w
ith
all
tru
e
Chri
stia
ns
the
co
nte
nt
of
the
his
tori
c C
hri
stia
n
fait
h.
Us a
gre
e w
ith
th
e ~
po
stl
rr
' Cre
ed.
b)
In t
he
Pro
test
an
t R
efo
rmat
ion
In
Eur
ope.
T
he
Chu
rch
his
tori
ca
lly
gre
w
bo
th E
ast an
d M
eat,
b
ut
a d
ivie
ion
dev
elo
ped
bet
wee
n u
ha
t h
aa
now
be
com
e kn
own
aa
th
e R
ors
n C
ath
oli
c a
nd
th
e &
ate
rn
Ort
ho
do
x b
ran
ches
.
Ger
tlran
y an
d Joh
n C
alv
in i
n B
uit
ze
rlm
d,
5 *
re--
fo
rmat
ion
M o
f th
e t
ru
Chw
ch W
p
h0
, &
3 1
6,
do
ctri
nb
-an
d
pra
ctic
e a
me
ag
ain
baa
me
hb
cd
ao
bb
' on
th
e B
ible
, an
d n
ot
on
men
's
or
the
pro
no
un
caae
nts
o
f a
-po
pe
e-~
his
mot s
how
a it
se
lf
in
"Ref
orm
ed"
in H
ePaC
sN .A
e
c)
In th
e R
evelopment
of P
resb
yte
rian
ism in
Sco
t- lan
d.
Ov
er 300 y
ea
rs agn
as th
e R
eform
ation
m
o3 ed
into
the
Britis
h Is
lee
, th
e p
eop
le of C
od th
ere
stru
~&
led
to obcy
the
Word
of C
ad. T
his
etr
ug
~le
inv
olv
ed n
bed
lence
to C
hrist in
win
- ta
inin
l: that H
e a
lon
e is
Head
nf
the
Ch
urch
, n
ot
the
pnpe as
in R
nm
n C
ath
~llc
lsm
) nor th
e k
ing
n
r q
ueen
a
s in
the
Me
stab
llshe
d" ch
urch
es). I
Fu
rtherm
ore,
the
se S
an
ttish C
hristia
ns reco
gn
iz- ed
Jesu
s Ch
rist as "K
ing n
f k
ing
3 an
d L
nn
l o
f lordsw, an
d th
ey
witn
esse
d d
urin
g p
erse
cutin
g
da
ys tn
Ch
rlst'e
sovere
ignty
nv
er a
ll nf life
, in
clu
din
g -- an
d p
artic
ula
rly in
tho
se d
ay
s -- g
ov
ernm
ent th
emselv
es, W
hen a
fte
r m
any y
ea
rs nf su
fferin
g o
pp
nrtu
nity
waa
giv
en
to "e
stab
lish"
pre
sby
teria
nism
in 3
co
tlan
d,
moat a
gre
ed
1 b
ut on
the
basis
of b
iblic
al p
rinc
iple
s nf
the
separa-
tion
of ch
urch
and
sta
te, R
eformed
Pre
sby
teria
ns
co
ntin
ue
d a
ga
inst sta
te c
on
trol o
ve
r the
chu
rch,
the
y d
id n
ot su
bm
it, b
ut a
ain
tain
ed
the
ir mot01
UF
nr C
hria
t'e
Crow
n and
Covenant",
d) In
the
Hove
to A
merica
fo
r R
ellg
lou
s Freedom
. U
hile
ce
rtain
ly n
ot th
e o
nly
on
es lea
vin
g E
uro
pe
becau
ee of p
erse
cu
tion
, R
eformed P
ree
by
teria
ne
w
ere in
vo
lved
in th
e m
igm
tlon
, L
ike o
the
r ear- ly
ee
ttlere
, th
ey
senaed
the
gro
win
g problem
be-
tween th
e C
olo
nie
s and k
gla
nd
l b
ut u
nlik
e o
the
rs th
ey
saw th
lng
s in th
e llg
ht o
f th
e C
ov
enan
ts nf
Sc
otla
nd
wh
ich bound
them t
o se
ek
Ch
rlet'e
ru
le
ab
ve
bo
th ch
ug
ch an
d sta
te.
In 1775 th
ey
sub
- sc
ribe
d tn
the
Heck
lenb
erg D
ec
lare
tion
in Char-
lotte
, Nn
rth C
arolin
a, w
hich lik
e th
e D
eclara- tio
n o
f In
dep
end
ence n
f 1776 d
i~e
olv
ed
sub
ord
in-
atin
n t
o th
e K
ing nf E
ng
land
. U
han th
e f
lre
t p
rea
by
tery
was
fina
lly e
stab
lishe
d in
17
98
in
Ph
ilad
elp
hia
, th
e co
ng
regatio
ne
lnv
nlv
ed renow
ed th
eir co
nm
itmen
t to se
ek
the
"crown
righ
tsu o
f Jeau
s in A
merica.
e)
In
the
U itn
ee
a o
f th
e G
osp
el to t ha W
orld. W
hile th
s m
ot8
of
the
R.P.C. to
ok
ahap
e in
So
otla
nd
, th
ey
epread
ou
t to Ire
lan
d w
here a e
ub
stan
tial ch
urch
live
s to
day
, T
hro
ueh
in-
tern
atio
na
l ex
ten
sion
roo
ta o
f th
e C
oap
el reach-
ed o
ut to
Ch
ina, S
yria
, L
ebanon, C
yp
rua,
Japan
, T
alwan,
Eth
iop
ia,
and
to L
ue
tralia
wh
ere a fu
lly o
rga
rlze
d S
ynod now
grows.
And
the
roo
ta
keep
on rea
ch
ing
ou
t Into
tod
ay'a
hia
tory
. O
ur ro
ots
are
entw
inted
with
the
pe
tition
"Thy K
ingdom
aome,
on
ea
rth a8
it is in
heaven."
111'. .T
he R
eformed P
resb
yte
rian
Ch
urch
Holds a
n H
ie to
r
ica
l Le
~a
ct,
Ina
tea
d o
f se
ein
g th
is b
rsnch
of C
hria
t'e
Ch
urch
as th
e w
ho
le body, an
d
the
refo
re fo
rev
er se
ek
ing
its
own
pre
serv
atio
n,
the
R.P.C
.H.A
. see8
itae
lf w
ith a
legacy
(a tru
st) from
Ch
rist to
sha
re w
ith
Ch
ristend
om
. H
e p
ray
for th
e tim
e when
div
ision
s w
ill ceaee, and
lon
g fo
r that tim
e, I
n th
e m
ean- tim
e, th
ere are
two o
ub
tan
din
g
iak
r ac
ca
nta
c
ha
rac
teriz
ing
the
R.P
.C.
legacy
; a
) A co
nm
itmsn
t to J
mu
a C
hriet a
s sov
are
ign
Lord
ov
er a
ll of C
od'a K
Lngdoa as a
tata
d in
Pa
ala
2, an
d
the
refo
re to
ba
aok
no
wled
ged
and
ob
eyed
by .
ind
ivid
ua
ls, fa
ailia
e,
and
chu
rchea
in ev
ery aa-
pect
of life
, b
ut p
rt
io
uh
rl
y e
nt
he
na
tion
s. N
ote P
ea
la 21 10-12.
b) A_n a
ttitud
q o
f co
mau
nity
comm
itment,
exp
ressed
in-terms-of
"cov
enan
tsn-o
r corpo:rats
bonde u
nit-
ing
ou
rselves
tog
eth
er.u
nd
er C
hrist f
or
the
f ulf ill1
1
of
His
will.
Histo
rica
lly R
eformed
Pre
eb
yte
rbn
a
were n
ick
wa
rd "C
ov
enan
tersn.
Th
e peo
ple of
Cod
are
to
live
in c
ola
un
ity o
r w
ve
mn
t.
It is
then the
mieelo
n o
f th
e R
.P.C.
to s
et fo
rth
the
wh
ole U
ord of C
od a
lon
g u
lth a
ll bran
ches of
the
true
Ch
urch
, an
d alao to
bear
witn
ese
to th
at
uh
ich
Ch
riat h
a8 p
rtbcu
larly
tsu
gh
t from
Hie W
ord in
histo
ry,
STU
DY
6 -
"THE D
IHW
SIO
H
OF
OUR
FAIT
H"
Qu
eeti
nn
4 -
Dn y
ou
prn
mia
e to
su
bm
it i
n t
he
hr
d t
o t
he
te
aahl
q:!
and
go
ver
nm
ent nf
thle
, ch
urc
h r
a
bei
ng
br8
d u
pon
the
So
rip
ture
a a
nd
de
scri
be
d i
n a
ub
- st
an
ce
in
th
e C
onst
itut
ion
of
the
R.P
.C.H
.A.?
D
o yo
u re
co
gn
ies
yn
ur
ree
po
nsi
bil
lty
to
wor
k w
ith
oth
ers
in
th
e
chu
rch
an
d d
o y
ou
pmim
iee
to m
uppo
rt
and
enco
ura
ge
them
in
th
eir
6e
rvlc
e to
the
hr
d?
In
ws
e y
ou
sho
uld
nee
d c
orr
ec
tio
n i
n d
oc
trin
e o
r l
ife
do
you
pro
mis
e to
re
rpe
ct
the
au
tho
rity
urd
dia
oip
lin
e o
f th
e c
hu
rch
?
Hav
ing
co
nsi
der
ed
the
hia
tory
beh
ind
th
ia q
ue
atl
on
, w
e no
w
loo
k a
t th
e s
ub
etan
oe
of it
, Y
e o
an d
o t
hla
by
con
- a
ide
rin
g t
hre
e g
en
sra
l a
re
a.
I,
Tha
Are
a ~
f D
oo
trin
a o
r T
each
inp
; In
2 T
l~
th
y
31 16
-17
Pa
ul
ata
tes
thst
th
e B
ible
co
nta
lne
f
irs
t o
f a1
1 "
taac
hin
g"
or
do
ctr
ine
. T
he
eyet
ern
of
do
c-
trin
e t
au
gh
t In
th
e S
ori
ptu
re h
aa
bee
n a
et
fort
h I
n
pri
nc
iple
in
th
e
, to
ge-
th
er
wit
h t
he
Lar
p,=
and
_S
ho
rter
Cgt
echl
erna
. T
hia
sta
te-
ne
nt
of
fait
h d
raw
n u
p d
uri
ng
th
e 1
7th
ce
ntu
ry o
ve
r a
7 y
ea
r p
ar
id n
f ti
me
oo
nc
lasl
y a
ets
fo
rth
ba
aic
Ch
rist
ian
t
~t
h,
AB
a *
cn
nfe
~sl
on
* (w
hic
h m
ean8
"tn
@by
th
e m
ame
thin
g s
aw
) it
see
ke
to s
ya
tera
tic
e w
hat
the
Bib
le t
each
- a8 a
bo
ut
ulv
ati
fin
in
Ch
rist
, T
his
pe
rsp
ec
tiv
e has
be-
co
me
know
n r
e t
he
"rd
om
ed
*
vle
np
nin
t.
- T
her
e a
re o
nly
th
ree
ba
sio
vie
up
oin
ts a
on
cern
ing
mn
'a
salv
ati
on
. O
ner
un a
oo
om
pli
ahea
it
by
hls
ow
n a
elf
- e
ffo
rt a
lon
e.
Tw
or
urn
can
no
t ac
oo
mp
lish
it
by
ae
lf-
eff
ort
aln
nm
, h
ence
lre
n
snd
Cod
U
coo
per
ate"
. T
hrs
e~
w
in,
tho
ug
h a
cti
ve
in
aa
lva
tlo
n,
la s
ctu
lly
he
lple
aa
an
d
tota
lly
dep
end
ant
upon
th
e g
r~c
iou
e ac
tio
n of
Cod
ah
na
. T
he
Uee
tmin
ater
Con
f e
seio
n o
f F
ait
h e
ata
fo
rth
th
e v
law
po
int
of
po
alt
ion
th
ree
. A
nd
this
ma
ne
th
at
aa
lva
tio
n L
a c
or
pl
~t
~l
y
the
un
mer
ltad
g
ut
of
Cod
, d
ork
ad i
n us
by
the
Ho
ly S
pir
it,
and
e
ff
sti
va
to
th
e
com
ple
te a
nd
ult
ila
te s
alv
ati
on
of
Co
de
r a
leo
t p
eop
le,
the
su
bje
atr
of
His
Kin
gdom
.
Uh
ila
th
e R
.P.C
.N
.A.
ho
ld
gst
he
r w
ith
my
oth
er
brr
no
hso
of
tho
Ch
urc
h,
it
has a
lao
tri
ed
to u
ea
ch g
ener
atio
n.
I to
be
such
a a
tate
ta
ie a
wlt
nee
e to
tru
th s
s @
*
do
fen
sen
or
pro
of.
f
or
exam
ple
, in
th
ir D
ec
lara
tio
n m
d T
ea
tiro
ny
on
e w
il
l
fln
d e
vid
ence
of
8
uit
ner
. to
Ch
ria
to8
mv
ere
ign
ty
ov
er
na
tio
ns
aa
us1
1 ss
ln
di
vi
du
l~
ad
the c
hu
rch
, r
wit
ne
sa w
hic
h g
rew
o
ut
of
his
tory
. T
he
Te
rtlm
ny
a
lao
ex
pra
ase
s s w
itn
ee
r w
rrn
ing
ag
ain
at
tzpa
cif ic
te
ac
hin
gs
and
ra
soo
iati
on
r u
hic
h t
end
to
dim
tra
ct
pre
on
e f
rom
a a
lm
r m
d
sir
ple
w~
lk wit
h J
oaur
r C
hri
st.
For
sx
aap
lo,
se
ore
t 08
th-b
ound
m
cie
tLe
8
uh
ich
bin
d p
erso
ns
tog
eth
sr u
nd
er o
ath
wit
h u
nbe-
li
ev
ers
rr
e c
on
sid
ere
d i
n t
hia
cat
mgo
xy.
An
oth
er
wit
ne
sa c
omes
in
th
e r
rso
of
wc
hl
pro
ble
ls,
Fo
r
exam
plo,
c
on
eid
er
the
pro
bls
. of
dru
nk
snn
sre
and
~
slc
oh
oli
ar.
As
a C
hri
mtb
n c
ou
un
lty
, th
e R
efor
med
R
seb
yte
rLa
n C
hu
rch
hm
aw
ard
to r
ofr
rin
fro
m
the
U
BB
, sa
le,
and
aa
nu
fao
tura
of
slc
oh
oli
o b
evar
agea
, w
hic
h c
au
se a
o m
any
to r
turb
le.
Th
e p
oin
t o
f o
ur
Tes
tim
on
y is
th
at
ou
r w
ltn
ea
s as
a C
hri
stia
n c
or-
.u
nit
y
be
po
ait
ive
and
ut
iv
o i
n a
ny
giv
en t
ime
in
his
tory
. -Y
ou
sh
all
be
Hy v
itn
~r
ae
~."
k k 0 PI
4 m 13 rl MIL: 4 I+ I-i
0 z a cr s
5 S Z? c
I - i m A > A G 8 a a r c OD .n O Q
!m 0 a A 5 b
cr M Q C 4 fa r. 4 rl
" 8 5& si lr -
-37.5 I C - bp 4-
: G s @
I a t a x 5 ! o h m c r l 9
4l-4 C 4J
C O r c 0 W
church governmentc t h e a p i s c o p s l and t h o congrega- t i o n a l s y r t a ~ r , I n t h e f i r s t , t h e r e a r e a ~ e r i e s of grdd o f f i c e s With on0 peraon ho ld ing th. t a p pos i t i on . l o r example, t h e pope l a t o p i n t h e h i - e r a r chy of t h e R o m system, C o n g r s g a t i o n r l i s a g i v e s t h e ponrr to t h e people i n t h e oongrega t ion , Au tho r i t y l ie6 under C h r i s t i n t h o v o t e of t h s people. And each oongregs t ion u i t h i n a g iven group or "confarenoem r a y act independent ly ,
R e s b y t s r l m s s o m a h a t o u t ~ c r o 4 s t h e two o f these. I n S c r i p t u r e t h e o o n g e g a t i o n c h o ~ a a t h e i r leaders, baaed on S c r i p t u r a l q u n l U i c a t i c l n a , But t heaa e l d e r s ruled on t h o ban la of S c r i p t u r e . Also , they P a r t i c l p a t a d i n W h a t r e o u l i k e " m u p e r h r c o u r t s M when a o r e I s a u e t r oub l ed the whole church, and t h e i r cnnc lus iona ca r r id a u t h o r i t y , You ss rembar C h r l a t @avo Hie churuh a u t h o r i t y ? Sea Hatthew 161 18-19. 30 there is B c o r m r a t e r u t h n r i t y under C h r l a t t h e Head, Chosen o f f i c e r s r u s t ru le , b u t c ang roga t i ons r e t a i n t hoae powerr given the. by C h r i a t . Officera m y be deponed if they f a i l to mast t h a i r r e s p o n a i b i l i t i e e , and d o c t r i n a l i a s u e e rsgulrs t h e v o t e of each c o n g r e g a t i o n ' s e l d e r s .
I n t h i s regard, it should be noted that Chrimt h e i nve s t ed i n Hie C h m h t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o d i e - c l p l i n e t h e menborn w b .ay be i n noad of it. Cod c h s a t e n s uhom He laves, acco rd ing t o Hebrawe 121 5-8. I n the s t e p are o u t l i n e d f o r t h e d u t i e s m d limits i n p roce s s ing ouch d i a c l p l i n s . There are f i v e kind6 of d i s o i p l i n a M C ~ lore marioual rdtnonl t lon, rebuke, muepansion, d i s p o e i t i o n , m d f i n a l l y sxoomnunicatlnn. U h i l e you m y n o t have h a d of such p r a o t i c e , J e sua d e clear h o w grimvancss a r e t o ba handled which r s y wise wi th C h r i a t i a n a , N n t e h t t h e u 18115-20.
P o a i t i v e l y speak ing , ohuroh d i s c i p l i n e beco~es a tremendnua r u p p o r t t o t h e weak, and a r e e t r a i n t on t h e e t rnng , M f i o e r a AB well .a metabera, t h e r o f o r o ,
have r e a p o n a l b l l i t y t o prem~mfm the holy md l o v i n g tsstlmony of t h e people of Cod to t h e r o r l d . There
l a a n o r d e r l l n e a a to Cod'. Yingdor which He d a a i r e a , and uh lch prove8 a g r a n t blessing t o tho.. who r r ~ p s c t it. Church d i a o l p l i n e , therefore, I 8 ~ 0 . 8 -
t h i n g to be oncoubgod ud p r a c t i a d .
Sunwry Thiu r a t h e r a h o r t q u e a t l o n , t h e n f o r e , Produa
ad s o n s rather oxtended axp tion@' noraver@ It 1. n o t expected that p e n o m u k i n g p r o f e m i o n 01 fa i th underatand b11 of the d e t a i l . of the.. t h i n g s . But they should have ruaomble ~ O ~ U U I C O that the congroga t ion w i t h u N o h they l d o n t l l y be bas ing i t a fa i th and p r a c t i c e on t h o Yord of Cod. T h t is the
i n t e n t of the a x p r e r ~ l o n i n the q u e s t i o n "ba~od u p n the Sa r lp tu r ea . " They e h o u U d m k n o w 80me-
t h i n g of t h a t c o u l t . e n t of tho.. o f f l c e r a under whose l e d e r a h i p they e x p o t t o h.sr the Y o ~ d of Cod expounded .nd ~ y y l l e d , For t h i a r u n o n r a t h e r
extended exp l ane t l ona have r o o o ~ p m l d this oeo- t l o n in our etudy. 3 u b . i ~ a l o n to t h e c h m h n u s t
be done i n t h o Lord, bu t there m u t ba s u b . i a ~ l o n t o walk t o g e t h e r u C d o a p o p l o . ( ~ s b r e w a 131 17) 'And where t h o S p i r i t of C o d is, thrn I8 l l h r t ~ . ~
STUDY 7 - "THE PRACTICE QP WR FAITH"
Q u e s t l n n 5 - To t h e end that you may grow i n t h e C h r i a - t h n lFfe, do you p r o b i e e that you w i l l
d i l i g e n t l y r e a d t h e B i b l e , engage i n p r i v a t e p r a y e r , keep t h e Lord'. Day, r e g u l a r l y a t t e n d t h e w o r s h i p am- v l c e s , nbse rve t h e a p p o l n t d saoraments , and g i v e t o t h e Lord 'a work r s He a h a l l p r o r p e r you?
T h a n is aomethlng mpontaneoue a b o u t t h e C h r i s t i a n l l f e . T h a t is, j u s t as t h m Holy S p i r i t iaparts l i f e c a u a i n g a person to be "born w i n w , DO t h a t a s a e Holy S p i r i t no- t l v a t e a t h e t r u e C h r i s t i a n t o f o l l o u C h x i e t , Look 6% A o m s 8114. The C h r i s t i u z c o u u n i t y , t h e r e f o r e , g i v e s thsmea lve r i n d i v l d u s l l y md o o r p a r a t e l y to obey ing C h r i s t , b u t p s r t l o u l a r l y to t h o a e "&ban$' by which C h r i s t g r a c i n u a l y l o t i v a t m , L n s t r u c t a , and guides. You w i l l n o t i c e t h e n tbt t h e q u e s t i o n above concentrates on such *.-no of grcce", rs they h v e been c a l l e d . That is t h e . w i n g of t h e s x p r a s s i n n " t o t h e end t h a t you way grou..," kt ' s l o o k a t t h e e 6 Barn8 and h o w t h e y h e l p ur grow i n C h r i s t .
I. Acaoding to t h e f o l l o w i n g , what d o e s t h e B i b l e do
for us? a) Actr 20132 -
c ) John 1517 -
T h e r e f o r e , i t ha8 been t h e c o n c e r n of t h e C h r l s t l e n c o u u n i t y t h a t paraona be a b l e t n rsad t h e Bib le1 and to a s s i o t I n t h h , past e f f o r t h a been expen- d& t o put the B l b l e i n t o t h e l anguage of t h e common people , Christians u s t o t a k e per-
s o w 1 t ime t o l i s t e n to W 8 a U o d -*to the erd that they my POW ." 11,
A P a o o r o l l a r y to l i r b n h g to Cod, F r y e r ( o r t r l k l n g t o cod) p o v i d e a the o t h e r of our com-
@ u n l c a t i o n w i t h our Lord, U b t m p t o f prayor ia ~ t r e a s s d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g r
a) Hat thau 616 -
d) John 141 14 - Now p r a y e r bwomea r d i f f i c u l t t h i n g f o r w y to do s l m p l y bemause it doe. F ~ U ~ O P a l t h e Purtherrore, p r a o n a muat br taught how to prry. But u ue ex-
por lenca Cod" g r w i o r u u u u m , we s o u i n o u r C h r i a t i u r l i f e ,
, t h e *Sabbathn w a s In-
8 t i t u t d a t C r e a t i o n , and h.s b u i l t i n t o Codgr
ordsr of t h i n g s for Hi. LLFngdom. The P h r r i r e e s
dur ing J a s u r 8 r r r t h l y l i f e o f t e n a r i t i u l c d Jerua f o r Hla uoe of t h e S a b b a t h , b u t t h e y t h o u g h t of t h o day l e g n l i a t i ~ a l l y , - n t h = thrn *rwemberir# i t *r a ;ay of honor ing Cod ud r assru of pros.
T h e r e are great b l e o s i n g r bound up i n t h e proper ua. of t h l s b y - i n - a s v a n , d t h e f o l l o w i n g ~ h s u s o a s t h i n g of t h i s , V h a t rrra th@ b l e r a i n m ?
r ) h o d u 316 16-17 - b) Deuteronomy j t 12-15 - c ) Iaa5.n.h 9113-14 -
I n t h e Ncu T e s t s r e n t , b r l i a v u u bw to mcnt on tho
- 27 -
04
rod
ZQ
,X
A
a
h
b05
P
C c
4 4
These u e only a few of t h e promise6 which g iv ing ChrietLans l e m by experience come t m e . However,
t he p r a c t i c e of t i t h i n g (g iv ing a t e n t h ) shoua up e a r l y i n t h e Old Testament, and has ss rvad 8 8 a guide f o r C h r i s t i a n s over t h e yaara, T i t h i n g .BB a p r a c t i c e should only serve as a guide, and not ec- l i p a e t h e f a c t thst ue axe r eepons ib l e atewards of t en t en ths . And t h e p r i n c i p l e hold81 he th t mows bnunt i fu l ly a l e o rwpe boun t i fu l ly ,
S ummry I These p r a a t i c e a then u e no t n e c e s s a r i l y aigna of
one ' s being 8 Chsbr t ian , The s i g n of discipleship 1 4 lnye f n r t h e b ro the r s and a l a t e r e , eccord lng t o John 13134-35. On t h e o t h e r hand, C h r i r t i a n r pnrc- tic@ these th inge t h a t they m y grow. Like t h e in- f a n t who must be a u g h t c e r t a i n t h i n g s i n o r d e r to keep hin8el.f fad m d hea l thy , t h e s e d i a c i p l i n e s a r e not end8 i n t h a m e l v e e , b u t &man8 tD becoming C h r i s t l i k e , and thue r s f l e c t i n g t h e glory of Cod. Sn j u s t rs C h r i s t ohallenged H i s f irst d i e c i p l e e t o "*bideu i n H i m , ao Hia dirrciplee today a r e chal leneed and instructed i n t h e name May. Ae a
pereon exe rc i se s himself i n theae th inge by t h e power of t h e Holy S p i r i t , he w i l l grow i n t h e f a i t h becoming hsrdy and robuat , Hie l F f e s t y l e w i l l d e m n a t r u t e both h i s dependence upon, and h i s love f o r , h i s King,
STUDY 8 ,'- UniE UITNP;SS OF OUR FAITH*
Quest ion 6 - Do you purpose to Beak f h t t h e Kingdoc Cod and H F . r i @ t . o u n a r a i n a11 r e l a t l o n - s h i p r of l l f e , f ' r i t h fu l ly t o perform your
whole duty as a t r u e s t of J e r u Chrirt, uad @ask t o u in o t h e r s to Him?
M a now d h w t o u r r t t a n t i a n t o t h e l i f r e t y l e of t h e o i t l e e n of t h e Kingdom of Cod. I n g iv ing H i s f i n a l words t o Hie d i s a i p l e s , J eeus u o d r, p r r t i c u b r t a m i n Acts 118, Uhet d id He oay they would b? U here? How uould they be a b l e t o do t h i a ? I n p r ino ip lu then J o a u d h e c t a His d i sc ip l emW a t t e n - t i o n t o tho- r i s e i o n . Thelr ~ i r a i o n i n t h e world determined t h e i r l i f e s t y l e , A n d t h a t is r e a l l y t h e focus of t h i a quest ion.
I, which we eeek, Perhaps t h i s i r t h e m a t distinguishing f a a t w e of
t h e C h r i a t h n ' s svarydsy l l f . 8 He seeks t h e goa l of t h e Kingdom of Cod. Look up Hatthew 6133 t o f i n d t h e expreeslon "aaek f i r s t t h e Klngdor of Cod m d Hia r ighteouenass" . How look a t varaes 31-N. How doe8 t h e C h r i s t i a n compare wi th C e n t i l e a (unba l i eve ra )?
Thie d i f f e r e n o e of purpose shows i t a e l f & thouaand uays a dayl I t ' a t r u e wo a r e buf fe ted by opposite preseures , and we f h d ouroe1v.a o f t a n g iv ing i n to the.. But t h i s bo the r s t h e t r u e C h r i a t i u r , f o r it cu t8 ac roes t h e r o o t p r i n o i p l a now having begun t o grow i n h i s l i f e . How does Hobreur 1189-10 d o e c r i b s Abnrhar'r l i i e r t y l e ?
Now cons ider two i r p l i c a t i o m af t h i s ob jec t ive . A ) Uhen u e *.seek f i r s t the Kingdom of CodM, we a r e
t h ink ing about o u r long range hape and expec ta t ion , no t j u s t our own paraonal s o a p U r h . r n t , I n o t h e r
r(
3
C4
c( to"
00 t
e
;2 F4
ra
zd
A
" c
0
g'd 2
ol:*
a
$4
m
0
kL
:-dS
r; Q
"0
.g
a=
gM
r
l3
d
am
0 0 3 04
-'2 @
m
+
"o z24 a
4 +r "
s' @
3$
%
2.0
23
. -
zrc03
c
0,
5
3
~~
23
2
a2 a
zu
.A
- "
2%
0d
d
":$
::;3
COG
a-4
SdSZ45
0 d 4
rH
h
k c-4-
5::
2: a
C
A m
r 1
dd
0
,7022"' e :
a4 .i
CrmhIPd
33
4A
3.
a
EO
a'
a~
~
1
d " oooea3=
oar o 0
43
a
+'"Zk+r
0 2
Eo
m
25
3 3 P
d
0
5:
bo
lo
5 b
d
co
rn
5
k"
c
It E
k"3 & 0
0
qt"
:,i
5:
hd
Ue t h e r e f o r e encourage you as you complete t h i s s e r i e e of s t u d i e e t o t
a) Revleu your p o s i t i o n before Cod, r e c o m i z e Hia c a l l upon your l i fe , end o o ~ i t yourself unre- se rved ly t o Christ,
b) Hake your p ro fe s s ion p l b l i c l y , i d e n t i f y wi th s congregat ion of Cod's penple, and s d - i t wi th t h e a s c m r e n t of baptisn.
c ) E n t r u s t your m u t h and f u t u r e i n t o C h r i s t ' a hands, g i v i n g your se l f t o l s a r n i n g His w i l l and obeying it, rro~ent by w ~ e n t , day by day,
d ) Review any probleee you b e l i e v e m y b prevent- ing you from rak ing such a p ro fe s s ion , m d w k o bn appointment w i th t h e e ldere /aesa ion t o d i s - c u s s them i n t h e l i g h t of S a r i p t u r e ,
e) Requeat s copy of t h e CONSTITVTIOH OF THE RE- FORnEIl PRBBYThXIU( CHURCH OF NOKIYf AHERICA M you need t o make a d d i t i o n a l s tudy . The Colora- do Spr inge R.P. Pe l louah ip w i l l o f f e r c l a a e s s t o f i t your n o d s t h a t you might s tudy with C o d ' @ people, s h a r e w h a t H i 8 Uord =ye to ue, and t o grow t o g e t h e r M w e ' 8b~rr0h it toge the r .
The Colorado Sp r lngs R r P . F e l l o u e h i p is committed to he lp ing and s n o o m g i n g o t h e r 8 t o e n t e r t h e King- dom of C h r l e t and j o i n them in s a w i n g t h e i r King. If Gnd led you t o recognize t h i s rn H i s c a l l f o r you, then we urge you to be p r o m p t t o obey H i m . ",.,Behold, now i r t h e aocep tab l e t ime, behold, now i e t h e day of s a l v a t i o n , , .I' 2 CorinthFsna 612.
