Lost and Found sermon

 Lost and Found

BY the above heading we refer to things that have been all but lost in the

maze of denominationalism and sectarianism, but are found plainly revealed

upon the pages of the New Testament. I believe that a careful study of a few

of these things will prove beneficial.

The disciples of the Lord are called "Christians" in the New Testament;

in fact, we have a specific prophecy regarding this name in Isa. 62:2: "And the

Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be

called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." Just as soon

as the Gentiles had seen the righteousness of the Lord, this new name was

given. In Acts 10 we have an account of the conversion of the first Gentile,

Cornelius, and then in the very next chapter we have the new name: "And the

disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26.) Again we have

this name in Acts 26:28: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou

persuadest me to be a Christian." Well did this heathen king know that if he

obeyed the gospel which Paul preached he would be a Christian. He would

not be the only Christian, but he would be a Christian only. If we obey the

gospel as Paul and the other inspired preachers preached it, we, too, will be

Christians only. This word "Christian" is in the New Testament once more:

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him

glorify God on his behalf." (1 Pet. 4:16.)

Another thing that most religious people have lost is the fact that there is

but one body, or church. This is too serious a matter to take the word of any

man for it, but we must take the word of the Lord for it. In Eph. 4:4 we are

told in so many words, "there is one body." What is this body? Let us read the

answer: "And he is the head of the body, the church." (Col 1:18.)Once again: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the

head over all things to the church, which is his body." (Eph. 1:22, 23.) The

body of Christ is the church of Christ, and the church of Christ is the body of

Christ; and do not lose this fact: "But now are they many members, yet but

one body." (1 Cor. 12:20.)

Another "lost"' thing is that faith comes by hearing the word. This we are

told in Rom. 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word

of God." Faith not only comes by hearing, but by hearing the right thing, and

the right thing is "the word of God." The inspired John in his record of the

Gospel wrote it this way: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the

presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are

written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that

believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:30, 31.)

Upon one occasion Peter said this: "Men and brethren, ye know how that

a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth

should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." (Acts 15:7.) Thus it has been

and thus it is. We "hear the word of the gospel, and believe." Too many are

trying to "believe" in the absence of "the word of the gospel." This is an utter

impossibility.

Repentance is produced or brought about by godly sorrow. This we are

told in 2 Cor. 7:10: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to

be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Godly sorrow is

not repentance, but it worketh repentance. We must not lose the fact that we

must repent in order to be saved. Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye

repent, ye shall all likewise parish." (Luke 13:3, 5.) On the birthday of the

church, when men had been caused to believe by hearing the word of the

gospel, they cried out, asking Peter and the other apostles what they must do

to be saved. They were told to "repent, and be baptized . . for the remission

of sins." (Acts 2:37, 38). This made them Christians, members of the body of

Christ. It will make you the same thing.In becoming a Christian we must be buried by baptism. This is all but lost

in the religious world today. How anything could be lost that is so plainly

taught in the word is beyond my poor powers of comprehension. Jesus said:

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that

believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be

damned." (Mark 16:15, 16.) From such passages as Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; and

Heb. 10:22 we learn that baptism is a burial in water. These passages are too

plain to be misunderstood by an honest soul who is seeking the truth.

Another thing that is all but "lost" is the fact that Christians are to eat the

Lord's Supper on each Lord's day. Thus they did in the early days of the

church, and thus faithful Christians are to do until time shall be no more.

"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to

break bread, Paul preached unto them." (Acts 20:7.) What did these disciples

at Troas come together for? The record says that they "came together to break

bread."

The way to raise money to support New Testament religion has been lost

by very many. But this has not been lost because it is not taught in the New

Testament. The very first inspired statement about the church after it came

into being is this: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and

fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42.) We learn

that the church at Corinth was instructed this way: "Upon the first day of the

week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." (1

Cor. 16:2.) If all Christians will give as they have been prospered, we will have

the money with which to do the things that the Lord wants done. Of course

it could be possible that we might want to do something that the Lord does

not want done.

The kind of music God wants in the church has been lost sight of by very

many. Of course we would not know what kind of music the Lord wants if it

were not for the fact that he has told us. Men want certain things, and they

make these wants known by what they say. God wants certain things in thechurch, and he has made these known by what he has said. Men have wanted

for several hundred years instrumental music in the worship. God does not

want this. I know he does not want it. for at least two reasons: first, he has not

said that he wanted it; second, the early church, guided by inspired men, did

not have it. However, God does want vocal music. How do we know this?

There are two reasons: first, he says so (1 Cor. 14:15: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16):

second, vocal music was the kind, and the only kind, used by the early church.

Instrumental music is a comparatively modern innovation without one syllable

of authority from God's blessed Book.

Before closing this article I want to call attention to one more "lost" thing.

Many of "us'' have lost it. That thing is godly living. "For the grace of God that

bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying

ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,

in this present world." (Tit. 2:11, 12.) My dear reader, do these three adverbs

describe the way you are living? If God were giving your record, would he say

that you are living "soberly, righteously, and godly"? And please note that this

living is to be done now—"in this present world." "Now is the accepted time;

behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2.)