Month: October 2026

Sub-Topic: The Forsaken Basic Doctrines Of The Christian Faith In Contemporary Times And The Consequences Which Follow

Isaiah 28:9-18, Jeremiah 7:1-11, 20-24

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18.)

As we continue with this series of study under the second sub-topic — The Forsaken Basic Doctrines Of The Christian Faith In Contemporary Times And The Consequences Which Follow — we can say that the opening text from the book of Romans vividly captures its essence.

Its essence is that Christendom has substituted the true doctrines of Jesus Christ with a totally different, self-serving set of teachings which gratifies the flesh, but not the spirit. As a result of this departure from God’s Word, the church has fallen from grace — except for a few remnants who are still standing by God’s mercy — and therefore has lost her true identity.

The fallen church today identifies more with the world than with Christ her Lord and Saviour: they dress like the world, live like the world, and also follow every trending path like the people of the world, instead of following the example Christ and His disciples set for those who would follow in their footsteps.

Prophet Isaiah wrote: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9.)

From the writings of the Prophet in Isaiah 28:9-18, we shall formulate three questions to help determine what God expects of us as His Church and how our failure to adhere to it has resulted in the sorry state that we have found ourselves in today. The questions are as follows:

1. What is the place of strict Bible-based doctrine teaching among both new and old converts in the church? (Isaiah 28:9-13.)

2. How faithfully have we aspired to truly and correctly teach those pure Bible doctrines to believers in Christ? (Isaiah 28:14-15.)

3. Is the state of the church today a blessing or a curse from God? (Isaiah 28:16-18.)

Let us explore the first question:
1. The place of strict Bible doctrine teaching in the church

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus Christ orders us to “Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.”

Whether we are dealing with the old and steadfast believer in Christ or with the newly saved believer, the place of strict Bible teaching can never be overemphasized in the Church because God’s Word, truly and purely taught, is the life of the soul. If you compromise it with just a little carnality, then you have only a church full of spiritually dead members.

It is remarkable to note what Jesus Christ said to Satan in Matthew 4:4: “….It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

We must understand that this statement is a cardinal doctrine of Jesus Christ, given to Him by God Himself, which is that God’s Word is the source of spiritual life and power that gives life to the believer.

Read also the following scriptures: John 6:63; 5:38-39; Romans 10:17.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

So, to rightly understand and to accurately teach the Word of God to the church is the secret of spiritual strength and of a warm relationship with God.

Therefore, any alteration to this delicate balance of knowledge of the Word and the accurate teaching of it falls short of the acceptable standards of sound Bible doctrine, and would definitely affect our ability to connect with God and draw from Him the power to live as His children.

The departure from sound Bible doctrine is one area where Satan exploits the church the most by raising up false teachers and/or preachers who distort the truth of the Holy Scriptures, because he knows how effective a false doctrine is in ruining a church’s (or individual’s) relationship with God.

However, to help us avoid this satanic pitfall, the Holy Spirit has already forewarned the church of this impending danger so that we are without any excuse if we decide to follow anyone who preaches what is not strictly in line with the doctrines of Jesus Christ and of His early followers, which are contained in the Holy Bible.

See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Matthew 24:24; Lamentations 2:14; 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

2 Peter 2:1-2 says:
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of”.

The best way to avoid being deceived by false prophets is to carefully and dutifully read, teach and cause to be committed to memory the basic doctrines of the Holy Scriptures in our local churches, in the careful and meticulous manner presented in Isaiah 28:9-13.

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…” (Verses 9-10).

Prophecy is good but it must be strictly judged by the written word of God in the Holy Bible to ascertain that it is truly of God.

We have to understand that prophecy is not just about the revealing of a hitherto hidden truth or a declaration of what shall happen in the future: even sorcerers do those things, so how can we tell a genuine prophet from a Bible-wielding sorcerer dressed like a preacher?

Let us bear in mind that the Bible’s standard is no longer strictly adhered to in some corrupt churches, so in those places anyone can just stand before the congregation and begin to say anything in the name of prophecy, which catches their fancy, knowing very well that their itching ears would compel them to flow along with it.

Probably, with this scenario in mind, God spoke in the book of Micah 2:11 just to show us how much more trust people have put in prophecies than in His written Word which is infallible. Thus:
“If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.”

This is an error!

But how can we tell a genuine prophecy from a false one?

Well, to avoid doubt, we must probe the prophecy deeper than just the obvious truth it seems to reveal, and rather dwell on what the prophecy aims at or seeks to achieve in the audience.

A prophecy which is not relevant to the current heartbeat of God cannot be from Him. Prophecies move in line with the seasons of God’s move in the Church. Therefore, if while there is a need for a revival and a spiritual awakening — as we can now see is evident in the Church today — but a prophet, a preacher or a teacher of the word is busy sweating and spewing saliva, talking about prosperity or any other thing not in line with that spiritual need, it would be considered a prophecy out of season, and much doubt would be cast, not only on its validity, but also on its source.

Lamentations 2:14 says:
“Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.”

This is exactly what seems to be happening in the backslidden churches today: they do not talk to the people to warn them about the consequences of sin and how Jesus Christ can set them free from that bondage. All they like to do is to prophesy about the good things of life which they’re sure that their audiences are itching to hear, and this makes it seem as if God is more interested in splashing riches and wealth on people who don’t even know Him or have any desire to experience His saving grace. This is an error! A departure from the doctrine of the Holy Bible!

God’s primary concern is the salvation of sinners and the discipleship of believers. Whatever has the potential to deny them these (like the deceitfulness of riches, the vanity of fame and the idolatrous grip of wealth) He could withhold from them until such a time (if ever) when it could be proved that they cannot be lured by those temporal things of the world anymore.

God is more interested in the weightier matters of righteousness, holiness and truth, without which it is not possible for anyone to see or enter into His Kingdom, and every doctrine taught in any church, which pledges allegiance to Jesus Christ, must reflect this truth.

Jesus Christ emphasized this in Matthew 23:23 when He said:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

When the weightier doctrines of the Bible are shunned by the Church in favor of the lesser ones, the church suffers: her spiritual growth becomes stunted and backsliding becomes rife; spirituality gets sacrificed for materialism and the vision for heaven may, by and by, become replaced with the quest for financial and material survival.

This is what we see happening right now! It is what we must seek to address by reverting to the strict teachings of the basic doctrines of the Holy Bible. We (both the new and old believers) need it to be able to truly connect with the real power of God for a loyal walk with and a fruitful service to Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Let us now take on the second question:

2. The present role of Christendom in faithfully and correctly teaching the doctrines of Christ.

Isaiah 28:14-15: “Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men that rule this people which are in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves…”

I believe that if Christendom is called to question as to their role in faithfully and correctly teaching the doctrines of the Bible to believers in Christ (especially new converts), they’d no doubt be found to be wanting in this regard.

Just as the passage quoted from the book of Isaiah above says, some preachers have scorned the true God and have rather trusted in the lies of Satan, and have taught their adherents to follow in the same footsteps. What they teach is hardly reconcilable with the age-long sound doctrines of the Holy Bible, which only the upright in heart and true in spirit have labored to uphold and propagate all along. See: Titus 2:1-15.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, and sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things”.
Titus 2:1-4, 7, 10.

To what extent have we been seen to be carrying out the instructions of God’s Word in our churches today?
We have become so overly sensitive to just two prevailing needs. These are not even mentioned in the text above as part of the doctrines that we are supposed to teach, and they are:
A. The need to miraculously get rich and/or prosperous without breaking a sweat and,
B. The need to fight and wish death to all those who are perceived to be threats in the way of getting the prosperity we seek by miracles.

Christ didn’t even teach us that. He never fought any man, and His faithful followers didn’t either because they knew it was not a fight against “flesh and blood.” They only wrestled in prayer against “principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.”
They won their enemies to Christ through prayers and an exemplary service of love to the lost. That was their doctrine, bequeathed to them by Jesus Christ. It was a doctrine of nonviolence; a doctrine of tolerance and prayer for the adversary.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:17-20.)

Saul the persecutor and waster of the brethren was conquered that way; Elymas the sorcerer (Bar Jesus) was convicted and humbled that way; Simon, another sorcerer, was converted that way, the Macedonian Jailer was converted that way, too. The list goes on! That was their doctrine.
They sought the prosperity of the souls of men. They left people better than when they first met them.
What then can we say about today’s church and the brethren who fellowship therein? Are we sincerely desirous of walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and of His holy Apostles and Disciples? No. We fear such total and uncompromising commitment to spirituality might lead to poverty and ridicule before unbelievers. But how come we have such ideas? It’s simple to tell that it’s because we want to win the riches of the gentiles but not their souls; that’s the profane doctrine of the fallen churches of Christendom, who have received a commission of the Lord to win the lost, but who would rather covet their luxuries instead and hide the truth of the gospel or salvation from them.
“They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?”
(Isaiah 5:8-9.)

No doubt we need to change this sorrowful narrative by seeking God’s intervention in bringing a person-to-person revival, until each Christian’s personal revival affects the person next to them.
We’ve prayed for far too long for a world-wide revival without any results to show for it, all because that’s not how a revival begins: A worldwide revival begins with one Christian relentlessly crying for a personal revival.

Hosea 10:12 says:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

But if we keep trusting in the deceptive, misleading and profane doctrines that the fallen churches have been spewing out on their congregations, while at the same time applauding our wealth and riches as a sign of the divine mercies of God (not minding the stark reality of the spiritually impoverished souls we see both on the pulpit and in the pew) then we must await the judgment of God which is reserved for the unrepentant. Whoever has eyes can clearly see the ominous signs of God’s judgment looming over the backslidden churches today.

“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” Jeremiah 5:21-23, 28-29.

May we truly repent and return to the teachings and practice of the truth of God’s Holy Word.

This leads us to the third question:

3. The state of the church today: A blessing or a curse from God.

Isaiah 28:16-17:
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgments also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”

Ask, if you will, any of the prosperity preachers who cruise around towns in limos and fly around the world in private jets, if the church is blessed, and they’ll say to you, “brother, the Lord has been good to us, hallelujah!”
However, the prosperity of the church is hardly the right yardstick for measuring how good God has been; it is the prosperity of the work which He has commissioned us to accomplish that actually is.

No doubt the church has seen tremendous increase in membership and sizes of its auditoriums in our times, but certainly not in the quality of spiritual life that its members boast of, because just a physical look at the attires of the people filing in or out of churches today will tell you where their treasures are.
They wear what the angels would be ashamed to look at.
These days the emphasis on dressing is on outward beauty, and it is not a secret any more that beauty is now judged by how daring a person is disposed to exposing their nakedness.
Tight fitting clothes which exposes the outline of the naked body, or some slits or generous necklines, which exposes certain sensitive parts of the body that are better covered with shamefacedness than exposed to the lustful eyes of whoever cares to look upon them. That’s the new definition of beauty.
Now, that’s what we can see outwardly: only God knows the level of depravity hidden within the heart. But suffice it to say that the level of carnality which we see outwardly is only a bit of the inner workings of the heart which contrived them.
Those are the people we are supposed to present to Jesus Christ as His bride when He returns to reap the fruit of His Labour in us. They are a people that have long forgotten the Biblical admonition to be modestly attired and beautified with godly virtues.

1 Peter 3:3-4 admonishes, thus:
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

The male folks are not spared this moral decadence either; for while they may easily escape this dress code scrutiny, they will not do so with regards to their weaknesses in terms of material possessions. We know how some of us would not dare come to church if our car breaks down because we shouldn’t be seen using a public vehicle as that would hurt our ego. Some might even change their local church because their aging vehicles have been outclassed by the much bigger and better ones brandished by their competitors.
Some would avoid fellowship for as flimsy an excuse as not having any money to offer when others would dance to the altar to do so. But does God really care after such things?
Of course not!
If there’s a prosperity that God delights in, more than any other, it is the prosperity of the souls of those for whom He gave the life of His Son in order to redeem them to Himself. That’s where all of a person’s effort should be directed at because that’s what counts more with God. As for the rest, God will add to whatever is lacking to us financially and materially to the proportion that our spiritual maturity to handle them allows.

Revelation 3:17-18:
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

God’s judgment is on the churches who have forsaken the doctrines of His word in favour of the world and its allurements.
Take a look at the world’s scenery and see how Satan has dominated almost everything to our shame and confusion. His servants rule over the affairs of our nations and make laws which are a slap to our claims of being “victors and conquerors”.

See how the church has been manipulated by Satan to support same sex marriages and some other shameful deeds which, only a decade or so ago, we never dreamed could ever happen.
All these are not blessings from God, but His judgment upon the backslidden church, and this because we have refused to hold onto the truth of His word. We need to return to God and repent wholeheartedly.

Joel 2:17:
“Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?”

The consequences of abandoning the teachings of sound Bible doctrines in our churches are what we are observing in the churches of Christendom today and in the world at large.
There’s no doubt that the prosperity and motivational preachers have no voice beyond their congregations because out there in the world they are not respected any more. Some of them are on the wanted lists of security agencies not only for the more popular financial crimes associated with them or thier ministeries, but also for other crimes like ritual killings and promiscuous behaviors. They’re now seen more as deceivers and looters of people’s wealth than as preachers and soul winners.
Today only a very few men of God still command respect from the world.
Need we any more proof that we stand in danger of being completely abandoned by the very God we profess to serve? Are the present signs not ominous enough for us to know that we are losing His grace and favour?

These signs seem to be saying to us, as God once said to the fallen nation of Israel in Hosea 5:15:
“I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”

There’s the need for us to arise, like the prodigal son, and return to God in repentance and say:
“Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”?
Luke 15:18-19.

But will He accept the repentant soul? Of course He will. However, to begin with, we must first see beyond our illusion: all this living big and talking big about worldly achievements must first stop. God is interested only in a broken and contrite heart that’s deeply sorry for its prodigalities and willing to begin afresh to walk in His way, in Spirit and in Truth.
Let’s forget about the mad drive for fame, riches and wealth, and face the issues of holiness, truth and righteousness in the church and in our personal and private lives.

TO BE CONTINUED.

INTRODUCTION

Christianity is centred on the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour of all who believe in Him and live according to His teachings. In essence, no one can claim to be a practising Christian if they do not know the basic teachings of Jesus Christ well enough to be guided by them in their everyday lives. This fact becomes easily understandable when we realise that Christianity is supposed to be a way of life. The point here is that you cannot fully live a life you know little or nothing about.

It is with this view in mind that I feel the Lord is leading me to undertake the task of expounding the Holy Scriptures in this series of studies under the title _Understanding the Basics of the Christian Faith._ The sole aim is to help both those in the Church and those in the world at large who desire to know the ways of God more accurately, providing them with the opportunity to do just that through this series of doctrinal teachings, so that they may order their lives accordingly.

The study is going to be quite lengthy. Therefore, I have decided to break the series into subtitles to be taught piecemeal, in order to avoid discouraging those who may not be able to endure reading lengthy literature. Accordingly, I shall divide the study into three major subtitles, namely:

_1. A Brief History of the Teachings and Lifestyle of the Early Followers of Jesus Christ_

_2. The Forsaken Basic Doctrines of the Christian Faith in Contemporary Times and the Consequences That Follow_

_3. Revisiting the Basic Bible Doctrines of Jesus Christ Bequeathed to His Church_

Furthermore, each of the three major divisions of the study outlined above will be further subdivided into smaller parts, where necessary, to make the teachings easier to handle.

It is my hope and prayer that readers will find this study material immensely beneficial to their lives as they follow the study with open and unbiased minds, in Jesus Christ’s mighty name. Amen!

SUB-TOPIC 1: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TEACHINGS AND LIFESTYLE OF THE EARLY FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST

*Jeremiah 6:16*
_“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk therein.”_

This series of teachings, which we are beginning, has become very necessary for the Body of Christ, given the unfortunate turn of events in the ecclesiastical circle in these days.
Since the good old days of the early Church, the shift in emphasis from spiritual priorities to material interests has deeply marred the Christian faith, _“which was once delivered unto the saints”_ *(Jude 1:3).* So much so that what is mostly practised as Christianity today in some churches bears no resemblance at all to what we read in the Holy Bible, both in the accounts of the life and activities of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and in those of His first disciples and all the Bible saints in general.
The only resemblance we can point out without mistake is the use of the names of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, which have endured throughout the ages, from the creation of the earth until now.
But should this be a surprise to the true Christian? Has this not been foretold by the Holy Spirit since the early days of the Church, during the time of the holy apostles of Jesus Christ?
The only surprise for us is that these words are being fulfilled in our time, yet very few preachers care to draw their congregations’ attention to them. This is necessary to awaken believers to the reality of this sure prophecy and help them avoid being carried away by the tide of this evil end-time apostasy.
The Holy Scripture says:
*1 Timothy 4:1–3*
_“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in_ _hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”_
However, as the opening Scriptures of this study admonish us, God is calling us to turn away from the various forms of religious services and ceremonies that mortal men have multiplied for themselves in defiance of the only Way, who is Jesus Christ. He is also calling us to seek the old and enduring path which, if we faithfully follow it, will give rest to our souls. The only way to do this successfully is to return to the doctrines that Jesus Christ taught His early disciples and to imbibe the virtues of their simple yet deeply reverent and godly lives. These virtues characterised their daily lives and ministries and enabled them to serve God faithfully.
Of this exemplary life and Christian service, the Apostle Paul wrote in *1 Thessalonians 2:3–11,* thus:
_“For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth_ _our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been_ _burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the_ _gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”_
While it is clear to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that the pattern of sound doctrine and godly living portrayed in the Scripture above is almost non-existent today in most local churches, it is still—and indeed should be—the desire of all who truly want to live for God to keep searching for the true way to heaven among the many false ways that man has created for himself to compete with the only Way that God has revealed to the whole world. That Way is Jesus Christ, and there is just one feature that enables us to recognise whether we have truly found this Way: it gives rest to the soul, not to the flesh. See again *Jeremiah 6:16:* _“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”_

The rest referred to here is not necessarily freedom from physical labour, life’s challenges, or the responsibilities that come with living in this world. Rather, it is the spiritual rest that comes from finding and following God’s way. It is the peace, assurance, and inward satisfaction that come from a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This rest must not be confused with the pursuit of worldly comfort, material possessions, personal gratification, or human recognition. While these things may provide temporary pleasure, they cannot take the place of the spiritual rest that God offers to those who walk in His way.
As the Holy Spirit clearly foretold in the last sentence of the Scripture above, man has consistently declined to follow God’s chosen way to eternal life and rest in Christ Jesus.
But for those who are willing to follow the good way, we must search for it in the Holy Bible and see how the early Christians lived and served God acceptably.
In doing this, however, we would first do well to ask ourselves some questions so that we may have a clear point of reference in our search for the acceptable way of serving God today.
The questions are:
How did the early saints of God and the disciples of Jesus Christ serve God?
What did they do differently from what we are doing in our own time today?
Are we better off or worse off in comparison with their exploits for the Kingdom of God?
These are the questions we will seek to address in this first phase of the study. Below are some points to consider in answering them.

1. Their Way of Life and Service to God

In answer to the first question, the account of the Holy Bible shows that the early Christians lived simple but very focused, godly, Christ-like lives.
Although they mingled with the people of the world when and where they had to, it was clear that they had no time for the pursuit of the world and its ungodly values.
Their relationship with the people around them did not mean that they adopted the ungodly attitudes, values, or practices of the world. Rather, they lived among others while seeking to maintain their commitment to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Their example shows the distinction between living in the world and allowing the ungodly values of the world to determine one’s conduct and priorities.
Thus, their interaction with people was not an excuse to compromise their faith. Instead, they were expected to remain faithful to God while conducting themselves in ways that reflected the godly character and teachings of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Their commitment to heralding the coming Kingdom of God and the salvation of His Christ, Jesus, the righteous Saviour, meant that they had little or no time to compete for or struggle to achieve dominance in any affair of a less noble cause than that of God’s heavenly Kingdom.

*Galatians 2:20*
_“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”_
There were rich Christians *(1 Timothy 6:17; Colossians 4:1; Acts 10:14–15),* but the riches they possessed had no chokehold on their lives, quite unlike what we see today among some wealthy people in Christendom, some of whom would even deny their faith in Christ for financial or material gains.
But it was not so with the early Christians. For instance, Joses was a rich man who used his money so generously in God’s work that the apostles gave him the surname Barnabas, which means son of consolation *(Acts 4:36–37).* We can only imagine how much consolation and encouragement he brought to God’s people through the use of his wealth and riches, thus demonstrating the character reflected in the name given to him by the apostles.
Again, Onesiphorus was another faithful Christian who showed great care for Paul while he was in prison, using his resources to minister to him *(2 Timothy 1:16).*
Also, Philemon was a man of substance who personally cared for the needs of the saints of God *(Philemon 1:7).*
Similarly, Dorcas (or Tabitha) was a woman of substance who made garments for widows and cared for those in need *(Acts 9:36, 39).*
There were also educated Christians among the ranks of Christ’s early followers, such as Paul the Apostle, Zenas, and Luke. Zenas was identified as a lawyer *(Titus 3:13),* while Luke was a physician *(Colossians 4:14).*
Paul, on the other hand, received his education under Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Jewish law *(Acts 22:3).* Although this passage does not expressly identify Paul as a lawyer, his training under Gamaliel gave him a thorough grounding in Jewish law and its interpretation. In this sense, his education may be understood as comparable to legal training, although it should be distinguished from the modern profession of law.
These are just a few examples of people whose abilities, resources, and personal achievements could be put to use in the service of God.
We can clearly observe that these Christians were not commended merely for the things they possessed or for their personal achievements. Rather, their lives were characterised by good works through which they used their resources, abilities, and achievements to serve others and bring glory and honour to God.
Self-seeking and self-glory were not the focal points around which their lives revolved. Rather, they pursued holy and peaceful lives through faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrating good works among men as evidence of the new life they had received from God.
Scriptural references: *2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews* *12:14–17; 1 Peter 1:13–17; Philippians 2:3–7; 3:7–11.*

*Philippians 3:8–9*
_“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”_

2. Their Expectation of the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ

In answer to the second question, concerning what the early Christians did differently from what we are doing today, we do not have much to say, because the Scriptures clearly show that the early Christians genuinely expected the imminent return of Jesus Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. This expectation shaped their daily lives and made them sober, watchful, and vigilant in their Christian faith.
However, in contrast to the Christians of our own era, it is unfortunate that we have largely lost that expectation of Jesus Chtist’s imminent return for the Church and have consequently become overtaken by the cares of this life. This is the direct consequence of taking our eyes off Jesus Christ.
We have allowed ourselves to be carried away by our own sense of timing, reasoning that two thousand years of waiting for Christ’s return is far too long. This erroneous reasoning has weakened the faith of many today, causing them to become less watchful and less vigilant than they used to be. But it would be a grave mistake for a Christian to consider it wiser to stop waiting patiently for Christ because of the length of time involved. To do so could lead to becoming lukewarm, backslidden, and eventually cast into hellfire, where such people would pine away for eternity, continually awaiting a deliverance that would never come.

*Revelation 14:11–12*
_“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”_

This passage highlights the seriousness of remaining faithful to God in the face of spiritual deception and opposition. It contrasts the fate of those who worship the beast and receive its mark with the patience and faithfulness of God’s people, who keep His commandments and maintain their faith in Jesus.
Although the passage specifically addresses the worship of the beast and the reception of its mark, its emphasis on the patience and perseverance of the saints reinforces the importance of remaining steadfast in our faith. In the context of this study, it serves as a reminder that Christians must not allow prolonged waiting, worldly distractions, or spiritual complacency to weaken their commitment to God.
The expectation of Christ’s return should therefore be reflected not merely in what we profess to believe about the future, but also in how we live today. It should inspire holiness, faithfulness, vigilance, and perseverance, regardless of how long we may have to wait.

Preachers now encourage members of their local churches to settle down and compete with the people of the world in acquiring whatever portion of the world their fancy catches, much to the detriment of their faith in Christ’s imminent return.
Nothing brings this sad development more forcefully to light than the celebration of temporary worldly achievements above spiritual ones. People throw parties when they build houses, buy cars, get promoted, win big contracts, or graduate from college. Yet, it is rare to see such celebrations held for spiritual achievements, such as when a person is born again or achieves victory over a longstanding battle with a besetting sin.

*1 John 2:15–17*
_“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”_

This imbalance in what we celebrate calls for a reassessment of our spiritual priorities. There is nothing inherently wrong with rejoicing over legitimate achievements such as graduation, marriage, employment, or the acquisition of a house. These may be occasions for gratitude to God. The problem arises when material accomplishments receive greater recognition than spiritual growth and godly living.
Christian families and congregations should therefore learn to recognise and celebrate spiritual milestones as well. These may include genuine repentance, reconciliation between estranged believers, victory over sinful habits, growth in Christ-like character, commitment to prayer and the Word of God, and faithful service to others.
Such recognition should not be intended to glorify individuals or encourage spiritual pride. Rather, it should give thanks to God for His transforming work in people’s lives and encourage others to pursue spiritual maturity. In this way, the Church can help restore the proper balance between appreciating God’s blessings in our earthly lives and valuing the eternal realities of His Kingdom.
We can also see this misplaced emphasis in the use of God’s tithes and offerings to purchase luxury cars and private jets for ministers and to build vast church auditoriums, sometimes while hungry people and lost souls remain neglected. Although church buildings, transport, and other ministry facilities may serve legitimate purposes, the expenditure of church resources should be guided by wisdom, moderation, accountability, and the priorities of God’s Kingdom.
Where excessive spending on luxury or unnecessary projects takes precedence over the needs of the congregation and the wider community, the Church must seriously reconsider its stewardship. Some of the money spent on such things could instead be used to support evangelism, care for the needy, and meet the immediate needs of poor foot soldiers of the Cross, whose personal and family needs, if adequately addressed, could enable them to serve God more effectively and reach more souls.
The issue, therefore, is not simply whether a church owns an impressive building or provides its ministers with necessary facilities. Rather, it is whether the resources God has entrusted to the Church are being used responsibly and in a manner consistent with the Gospel it proclaims.
Church leaders must remember that financial resources entrusted to them are not merely for the advancement of personal comfort or prestige, but also for the fulfilment of their spiritual responsibilities. Sound stewardship requires that the needs of the congregation, the welfare of the poor, the work of evangelism, and the teaching of God’s Word receive appropriate attention.
Looking away from the imminent return of Christ has contributed to this sorry state of affairs in the Church. Anyone who fails to recognise the danger of allowing worldly interests to overshadow spiritual priorities risks becoming blind to important spiritual realities concerning God’s Kingdom.

*Revelation 3:17*
_“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”_

This lack of vigilance today has set our era far apart from that of the early Christian Church, just as the prudence of the five wise virgins set them far apart from the five foolish virgins and their indiscretion *(Matthew 25:1–13).*
The urgent call to the Church today is to awake from our slumber and divorce ourselves from the illicit romance we have been having with the world. The salvation of our souls should matter more to us than our fleshly comfort if we are truly as wise as the early Christians. At the very least, this should be one sterling quality that we exhibit, but which today’s Church clearly lacks, notwithstanding our false claims to superior spiritual and academic enlightenment.

*Luke 21:34–35*
_“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”_

*Luke 21:36*
_“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”_

May God deliver today’s Church from its woeful spiritual state, in Jesus’ name.

3. Are We Better Off or Worse Off Than the Early Church?

Lastly, in answering the third question concerning whether the present-day Church is better off or worse off than the early Church, do we need to look any further than the wealth of evidence we have already presented in answering the first two questions?
The majority of our local Churches in which we take so much pride have been backslidden for a long time. Both their leaders and their members are deceiving one another and being deceived by the devil.
The distorted views held by many church leaders and members today clearly testify that we are not truly serving the same God as the early Christians did, despite our constant claims that we are walking in their footsteps. I am sure they would cry out in alarm in the streets of God’s heavenly city if our blasphemous claims were ever allowed to reach their holy ears.
There is nothing being done in some churches today that even resembles what was done in the early Christian Church. The only thing that clearly links some of today’s churches with the early Church is the name of Jesus Christ, which both call upon. Even in this, however, there is a clear distinction: the early Christians called upon the name of Jesus with true and pure hearts, whereas many Christians today do so with hypocritical hearts.
*2 Peter 2:1–5*
_“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction._
_And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of._
_And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not._
_For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly… “_

WE ARE WORSE OFF!
We have missed the purpose of our calling in Christ!
We must return to the Lord Jesus in repentance and thereafter learn the elementary principles of repentance from dead works, faith in God, and good works in everyday life. This has become necessary because we seem to have lost all these.
The Scriptures remind us that repentance from dead works and faith towards God are among the foundational principles of the Christian faith. These principles must not be neglected if we are to return to the acceptable way of serving God.

*Hebrews 6:1–2*
_“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”_

This passage identifies repentance from dead works and faith towards God as foundational Christian teachings. However, the purpose of laying this foundation is not for believers to remain at the elementary stage of their faith, but to progress towards spiritual maturity.
Therefore, if we have departed from the teachings and practices that characterised the lives of the early Christians, we must return to the Lord in genuine repentance and renew our commitment to the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. This renewal should be evident not merely in our words or religious activities, but also in our daily conduct, our service to God, and our relationships with others.

*Hosea 6:1–2*
_“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”_

The call to return to the Lord in this passage provides an important lesson for the Church today. When we recognise that we have departed from God’s ways, we must not remain content with merely acknowledging our spiritual condition. We must respond with sincere repentance and a renewed determination to know and obey Him.
Returning to the Lord involves more than expressing regret over our failures. It requires a genuine change of heart and direction, demonstrated by a renewed commitment to His Word and a willingness to walk in His ways.
The promise of healing and restoration in this passage also reminds us that spiritual decline need not be the end of our story. When we turn to God sincerely, we place ourselves in the position of seeking His mercy, correction, and restoration.
Therefore, the Church must return to the Lord Jesus Christ, recover the foundational truths of the Christian faith, and renew its commitment to the godly principles exemplified by the early followers of Christ.

_TO BE CONTINUED._

A Message for Both Christian Ministers and Church Members

2 CHRONICLES 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).

Our spiritual standing with God is proportionate to our prosperity in the economy of heaven, and it must be assessed based on how willing (or otherwise) we are to allow His work of redemption to be fulfilled in our lives.

Our ecclesiastical callings or duties in the church, or outside it, do not automatically mean that we have a good relationship with the Godhead. However, our commitment to living a sin-free life is a more reliable indication of such a relationship.

Romans 14:17: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men” (NKJV).

Though identified as God’s people in the Scripture above, the Israelites were nevertheless admonished to turn from their wicked ways and seek God. This might mean that they had, at one time or another, gone astray and that God’s admonition had therefore become necessary to restore them to fellowship with Him.

Sin, no matter how small, can cause a serious breach in a Christian’s relationship with God. A person may still retain their religious titles or public recognition but lose their standing with God unless they repent and turn away from that sin.

It is not uncommon to find some children of God falling into sin and then making futile attempts to cover it up, but to no avail. Whatever is concealed from people cannot be concealed from God and may eventually be exposed.

Matthew 10:26: “… For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (NKJV).

To such persons comes God’s admonition to turn away from their wicked ways, seek His forgiveness, and obtain His mercy.

1. WHY REPENTANCE?

«”Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” (Isaiah 52:11).»

If we must continue the Lord’s ministry of calling the lost to repentance, whether from the pulpit or through our personal Christian lives, then we too must have repented of all sins. Carrying on this work without a proven testimony of genuine repentance could prove fatal in the end.

«”Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devil? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).»

Our love for God, our ministry, and the people among whom we live should move us to turn away from every sin so that they will not be deceived.

A thorough spiritual breakthrough can come about only when sin is gotten rid of. A holy life will lead to a spiritual breakthrough, as seen in the following Scriptures: Acts 2:41; Acts 8:6; 2:6, 7; 12:3, 4; 3:7; 6:7b; 19:17.

Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (NKJV).

Sin brings reproach to the life of anyone who lives with it. No godly ministry can thrive while tolerating even the least sinful act, just as no personal relationship with God can flourish in sin.

«”He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”»

2. WHAT SHOULD WE REPENT OF?

The greatest hypocrite is the one who knows their sin yet pretends not to.

Judas was an apostle, but he was covetous. Eli was a priest, but he tolerated the sins of his sons. Like Achan, some people take things consecrated to the Lord and convert them for their personal use, such as church money and property.

Some people can be as envious and rebellious as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Others backbite against God’s servants, as Aaron and Miriam did. Some are as greedy for gain as the prophet Balaam, who, for the sake of money, taught King Balak how to entice the Israelites into immorality. Some tell lies like Brother Ananias and his wife, Sister Sapphira. These are some of the sins we should look out for in our lives and repent of wherever they are found.

Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (NKJV).

We cannot be so good at recognising and condemning sin in others yet fail to see it in our own lives, unless we simply do not want to see it!

«”Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3).»

There are other areas of our lives, particularly concerning our Christian duties, that call for close scrutiny today. This is especially important because our personal ambitions sometimes tend to overshadow our primary calling and duties as Christians.

We need to repent of our reluctance to preach the Gospel publicly and of forsaking our first love and passion for the lost!

Nowadays, some of us think it is old-fashioned to witness for Christ publicly to the lost, but it is not! Pride is what keeps many Christians from doing so.

Proverbs 24:11–12: “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (NKJV).

3. WHEN SHOULD WE REPENT?

«(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

(2 Corinthians 6:2)»

After acknowledging sin, one should repent immediately. Any delay might be fatal, for “now is the accepted time … of salvation.”

For fear of imminent death, Peter denied Jesus Christ right in His presence without shame. However, when he realised the gravity of his sin, he turned back to God in repentance and sought forgiveness. If we also make it a habit to repent immediately and forsake any sin into which we may have fallen, God will forgive us and renew our spiritual strength.

However, when we reluctantly or deliberately postpone repentance to some other convenient time, without considering the great sorrow and grief this causes God, we may be unconsciously demonstrating our love for sin or our fear that our secrets will be exposed through confession. Whichever the case, it only shows how unworthy of God’s love we are proving ourselves to be!

John 14:23–24: “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (NKJV).

Repentance is proof of man’s love for God, just as His work of redemption is proof of His love for mankind. Therefore, those who sincerely and honestly repent of their sins prove that they still love God, but those who keep themselves from committing sin prove that they are truly living in the love of God.
May we receive God’s abundant grace to enable us live in love with Him by the demonstration of a pure and holy life. Amen.