Does the Scripture in Acts 20:7 reveal that Paul's custom was to observe Sunday as the day he worshipped God each week, rather than the seventh day Sabbath.

Acts 20:7 reads: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” This Scripture does not say Paul observed Sunday, the first day of the week, as a day of worship. If this were an example for us today, we would be starting the service on Saturday night – not on Sunday morning. Verse 7 shows Paul preached to them until midnight. Also services would have to continue till dawn (verse 11).

Next, we realize that the breaking of bread was not a religious service, but merely the eating of a meal. Acts 27:33-38 proves this. Notice Paul’s situation. He was a Roman prisoner in the midst of many Gentiles on board a ship (Acts 27:1-2). Obviously Paul was not holding a religious service. The men ate for their health (verses 33-34).

Acts 20:7 does not describe a regular service. Notice the context. Paul was en route from Greece to Jerusalem (Acts 20:2-3, 16). Since he did not know when he would see the brethren again, he wanted to teach them as much as possible. The people were more than willing to listen. So, after the Sabbath Paul remained behind teaching the brethren, while his ship sailed around the peninsula (verse 13). He remained talking with them till midnight and continued after a short meal until daybreak (Verse 11). Then after Paul had stayed as long as he could, he left them to walk across the peninsula to meet the boat (verses 13-14). He worked on that Sunday by taking this long walk of some 19 miles!

There is nothing in the above Scripture to indicate it was Paul’s custom to observe Sunday. In fact, all through the book of Acts we see it was Paul’s custom to observe the Sabbath (Acts 17:2; 13:14-15; 42-44). We also note in reading Acts 20:6 that Paul was traveling after having observed the Days of Unleavened Bread. He continued to observe the annual holy days as well as the weekly Sabbath years after Christ had died as He remained faithful to the commands of God.

Don't Become Negligent With God's Truth

On Saturday, June 26, 2004, J. Edwin Pope will be giving the sermon titled, “Do Not Become Negligent With God’s Truth!”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

From the wording of Matthew 5:19, it appears that even those who both break the commandments of God and then teach disobedience will actually be part of the Kingdom of God. Can you explain what this verse means?

This verse must be considered in light of other Scriptures in the Bible. Knowing that it is impossible for God to lie (Compare Titus 1:2), we know that the Bible does not contradict itself–that is, God hasn’t inspired teachings that differ. With that view in mind, let’s consider the verse in the context of Matthew 5 along with applicable principles in God’s Word.

Matthew 5:19 states, ” ‘Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ ” It is vital to read the continuation of this statement from Jesus in verse 20: ” ‘For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.’ “

In verses 17 and 18 of Matthew 5, Jesus taught that He had not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. His whole existence and purpose as a man was prophesied in detail in both the Law and the Prophets. Note John 5:39 in Christ’s own words: ” ‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and THESE TESTIFY OF ME.’ ” He also explains His additional role that expands on what we now call the Old Testament: ” ‘The law and the prophets were until John, Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.’ “

We know that “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and SIN IS LAWLESSNESS” (1 John 3:4). Matthew 5:19 speaks of those who both break the law–that is, sin–and also teach such a manner of living. That is what Satan and his ministers do (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan will certainly not be a part of God’s future Kingdom–not even a “least” part of it (Please refer to our booklet:”Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”)! Neither will sinners be a “least” part of God’s Kingdom!

Paul showed that “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Sinning and teaching others that it is alright to compromise with and break God’s laws does not end up having eternal life as its reward. Utter destruction is the end result for those who practice such things: ” ‘But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the SECOND DEATH’ ” (Revelation 21:8).

The Bible consistently teaches that sinners will NOT be in God’s future spiritual realm: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

What exactly is meant in Matthew 5:19, and who are these “least”? The very next verse of 1 Corinthians 6 shows us the key: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (verse 11). Paul is reminding these Christians that they were formerly sinners, but they had repented and were now living in a new way (Compare Galatians 2:20).

We also find this statement: “for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Since we have all sinned, and since we are ALL TO REPENT (2 Peter 3:9), we must look to the further explanations that have been given about the Kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Jesus also showed that the Judgment would involve rendering to each person the consequences of their own ways of living: ” ‘But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you [the “you” being some of those of His own generation who did not repent at His teachings]” (Matthew 11:24; also, Compare Matthew 25:31-46). Consider, too, what Peter says: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not OBEY the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear’ ” (1 Peter 4:17-18)?

Daniel 12:2: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.”

We know from God’s immutable Word that those who repent and overcome will be given eternal life. This is not to say that we are immediately disqualified if and when we slip and sin. We know that we all still do sin, even after conversion. But we are told that when we sin, we need to confess our sin to God, in repentance, and that God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrigtheousness (1 John 1:8-9). We also know that there will be different rewards within the family of God. That plan begins to unfold in the first resurrection and continues on as God brings to pass His awesome plan of salvation. Note this further statement from Jesus: ” ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is LEAST in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ ” (Matthew 11:11).

Since we know that unrepentant sinners, who refuse to repent, will not be in God’s Kingdom, the “least” of Matthew 6 are not those who are unrepentant sinners. Rather, these “least” are those who actually repent and are granted entrance into God’s eternal Kingdom, but they do not bear the fruit of righteousness to the extent that some others do. Regardless of what “position” any may attain in God’s government of the future, to be given the unparalleled gift of eternal life with both the Father and Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment for everyone. Paul, who indeed did at one time fight against Christ and those who followed Him, also bitterly repented and went on to live out his life in service to God with this goal: “if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:11).

Better Before

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There are many times when we read the Bible and we understand the things that God commands us to do or at least we think so. Then there are the times when we read the Bible and we DON’T understand the things that God commands us to do.

In the latter case should we wait until we understand why God has commanded us in a specific way before we take action or should we act on the commands of God before we understand fully?

The answer is that OBEDIENCE should come before UNDERSTANDING.

We can see the necessity for this when we look at the parent-child relationship. A child lacks knowledge, wisdom, and judgment that experience may bring in the future. Because of this absence it is imperative that the child listen to and obey the parent who has the child’s best interest in mind.

If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God then we need to be able to step out in faith and DO as God has commanded. In the same way that a child needs to obey the parents BEFORE they UNDERSTAND, we need to obey the “mysteries” of God and His Word before we understand.

The “Father of the Faithful,” as Abraham is called, left behind a sterling example of obedience before understanding. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac after God had promised to perpetuate Abraham’s lineage through Isaac (Genesis 21:12). Did Abraham understand why God was asking him to do this? How could Abraham sacrifice his only son and still have descendants as the sand of the sea? How did this fit into God’s plans? Surely Abraham came up with a lot of good questions on his 3 day walk to Mt Moriah and no real good answers. But he knew without a doubt that God would still somehow keep His promise to him (compare Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham was obedient to God even before he understood (Hebrews 11:8). He had learned the lesson through the course of his life that keeping the law of God was the most important thing he could and should do. This time was no different. Though he didn’t understand what God was doing he did it any way and in the end it worked out.

The ramifications of Abraham’s obedience can be seen in the immense blessings of his heirs even until today because God said, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

When we are faced with whether to follow God’s way or man’s way … choose God’s … no matter what!

The Truth – Part III

On Saturday, June 19. 2004, Edwin Pope will be giving the sermon which is entitled, “The Truth–Part III.” The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

You teach that the ministry of the Church has received authority from God to excommunicate or disfellowship Church members for their unrepentant public sinful conduct. Doesn't Matthew 18:17 give this authority to the entire Church membership, and not to the ministry?

In order to properly understand the passage in Matthew 18:17, we need to review all the Scriptures to see whom God has entrusted with the administration of the Church of God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19). It is He who leads and directs the Church, the building of God the Father (1 Corinthians 3:9). He adds those to the Church whom He wants (Acts 2:47). He is composing the body — the Church (1 Corinthians 12:18, 24). He is the One who places members in certain positions and appoints the ministry (1 Corinthians 12:28). He uses appointed ministers to appoint others to the ministry (Titus 1:5; compare Acts 14:23) by, among other things, the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 5:22).

Christ gives the ministry certain responsibilities and the “authority” to carry out these functions and duties. Christ gives the Church the ministry for edification of the Church membership (Ephesians 4:11-16), and with that ministerial responsibility comes authority (2 Corinthians 13:10: “… lest being present I should use sharpness according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification.” Compare 2 Corinthians 10:7-8). Although this might not sound good in the ears of some who have developed an attitude not unlike that of ancient Korah (Numbers 16:1-3), God has given His ministers “rule” over the members (Hebrews 13:7; compare Titus 2:15). God expects the members to follow that “rule” and obey the faithful ministers, unless their instructions or commands violate God’s Word (1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:10-11; 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 6:17). God expects that the members submit to the administration of His faithful ministers (1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:17). God’s ministers are to conduct themselves in such a way, of course, that the membership CAN follow their (good) example (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Corinthians 4:16-17; Philippians 3:17; 4:9).

The ministers are to teach the membership the Word of God (Romans 10:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:8; John 17:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2). The administration of the Church includes the proclamation and preservation of sound doctrine. When doctrinal decisions have to be made, they are to be made through the ministry. In Acts 15:6, the apostles and elders came together in Jerusalem to consider a doctrinal matter. After the apostles had spoken, James announced the decision (Acts 15:19) that had been “determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem” (Acts 16:4). The entire Headquarter church, including the membership, agreed with it (Acts 15:22-23), but the lay members did not participate in the decision-making process (compare again Acts 15:6). Christ gave Peter and subsequently all of the apostles, and by extension, His leading ministers the authority to bind and loose — that authority was not given to all of the members (compare Update Number 127, dated January 23, 2004, Q&A, “Power to Bind and Loose”). That authority includes the responsibility of the leading ministers to determine, with the help and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, whether or not somebody has repented of his or her sins (John 20:22-23).

Christ charged His ministry to protect the flock from false teachers or ravenous wolves (Acts 20:17-38). The purpose is for the edification of the body of Christ, that is, to prevent, that false teachings overthrow the faith of some and draw them away from the simplicity which is in Christ. Paul admonished Timothy to instruct the brethren in the right way of life, and to protect them from wrong teachings (1 Timothy 4:1-7). He admonished the members in the letter of Hebrews not to be carried about with various and strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:9). He told the Church membership to hold on to what Paul had taught them (compare 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15).

The Church was told to “note” a person that would be disobedient to the instructions contained in the letter (2 Thessalonians 3:14). At the same time, he instructed Timothy not to receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). So, it is Timothy who is to receive an accusation against an elder — not the entire church membership — to deal with the situation. We read in 1 Timothy 5:20 that Timothy is to rebuke a sinning and unrepentant elder in the presence of all — again, it is Timothy who is to administer this situation, after he has heard the charges. This example shows how Christ’s command in Matthew 18:17 was understood by the Church: The offended member and two witnesses were to bring an accusation against another person, including a minister, to the MINISTRY of the Church — NOT to all the Church members — as the MINISTRY was understood to deal with the situation and render a decision. If the decision was to disfellowship the unrepentant and stubbornly rebellious person, then this would be announced to all the Church — or at least to the local congregation. (We should also mention that Christ expects His ministry to administer situations involving sinning members or ministers with MERCY and LOVE. When Jesus saw the repentant attitude of the woman caught in adultery, He did not condemn her, compare John 8:11. Jude 20-23 encourages all of us to have a merciful and compassionate attitude toward others, as we ourselves are waiting for God’s mercy.)

Returning to the passage in Matthew 18:17, we are told that the offended brother is to bring the matter involving unrepentant sinful conduct of a Church member, along with two witnesses, to the Church, and if the offender does not hear the Church, he is to be looked at as a tax collector or heathen. The word for Church is ekklesia in the Greek, which is also used in Matthew 16:18-19. Although it most certainly can refer to the entire Church membership or the membership of a local congregation, it can also refer to the leadership of the universal or local Church. In Matthew 18:17, it clearly refers to the Church leadership or ministry, as the following verse, verse 18, addresses the LEADERSHIP or MINISTRY of the Church, giving THEM the binding and loosing authority, as discussed earlier. The meaning of Matthew 18:17 is that if the offender does not even hear the leadership of the Church, the entire congregation needs to be involved, by sharing in the ministry’s decision to treat the offender as a heathen or tax collector. Once the person comes to repentance, as determined by the ministry, he is to be invited and received back into the fold (compare 2 Timothy 2:24-26; 2 Corinthians 2:6-11).

We should also remember that the Bible uses, for instance, the words for “king” and “kingdom” interchangeably (Daniel 2:37, 39). The word “kingdom” refers at times to the king, the leader or representative of the kingdom. Likewise, the word “God” can refer to God the Father; to Jesus Christ the Son; or even to all of us — when considering our future as sons and daughters of God the Father and members of the God Family. Still, the Father will always be the highest in the Family of God, followed by Jesus Christ. The point is that also the word “Church” can refer to the entirety of the Church membership, as well as to the leadership or leading ministers, depending upon the context.

If one wants to teach that the entire Church, or at least the local Church congregation, needs to be involved in the decision-making process of excommunication, imagine the problems to be encountered if the congregation consists of 400 or 500 members. On what basis would a “decision” be reached — especially, if some of the brethren would not want to participate in the “voting” system?

The Bible does not teach that God’s Church be ruled by democracy. Rather, God’s government is that of a hierarchy — with God the Father above all. God’s Church is administered by His ministers, with love and mercy, but with the authority to rebuke and correct, if need be. Local “Church” groups which have disassociated themselves from the ministry to “rule” themselves and to independently administer their own affairs are in clear violation of God’s command that His Church be administered through His ministry. This is also true for those “Church” groups that are being “administered” by self-proclaimed or “elected” ministers, not approved by God (compare 2 Timothy 4:3-5; 3 John 9-10). In extreme cases, God’s ministry may even have to excommunicate someone from spiritual fellowship with His people, to protect the flock, and to, at the same time, motivate and encourage the offender to come to repentance, so that he or she can be restored to God’s fold.

How Do You Know

On Saturday, June 12, 2004, Dave Harris will be giving the sermon, titled, “How Do You Know?” The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

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