The Church, the Falling Away, and the RestorationShepherd, J. W. (James Walton)
Religion
The Church, the Falling Away, and the Restoration
Shepherd, J. W. (James Walton)
Churches of Christ -- Doctrines; Disciples of Christ -- Controversial literature; Disciples of Christ -- Doctrines
The following significant contrast is drawn by the Apostle Paul: “Ye are
our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made
manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not
with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone,
but in tables that are hearts of flesh. And such confidence have we
through Christ to Godward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to
account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, who
also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the
letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth
life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven on stones,
came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look
steadfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which
glory was passing away: how shall not rather the ministration of the
spirit be with glory? For if the ministration of condemnation hath
glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in
glory. For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made
glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. For if
that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth
is in glory” (II Cor. 3:2-11). In this the Ten Commandments, written
upon the tables of stone, is contrasted with the law of Christ, written
in the hearts of God’s children. The law written on stones is called
“the letter” that “killeth.” It convicted of sin, but had no power to
deliver from it. The sins were rolled and rolled year by year until
Jesus came and shed blood, not only for our sins but for “the redemption
of the transgressions that were under the first covenant that they that
have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
The letter to the Hebrews was written to show the change from the old
covenant to the new, and to show the immense superiority of the new to
the old. To turn back from the spiritual law and the Church of Christ to
the fleshly law and institution of Judaism is called falling “away from
grace.” “Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the
law; ye are fallen away from grace” (Gal. 5:4).
Since it is so very evident that there is no ground whatever for infant
baptism based on the arguments on the analogy of circumcision and the
identity of the covenants it is quite appropriate to close this article
with quotations from two great pedobaptist scholars. Dr. Jacob Ditzler,
claimed to be the best debater the Methodist Church has produced, says:
I here express my conviction that the covenants of the Old Testament
have nothing to do with infant baptism. (Graves-Ditzler Debate, page
694).
Moses Stuart, Congregationalist, Professor of Sacred Literature in
Andover Theological Seminary, called “The Father of Biblical Literature
in America,” says:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account