Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become SILENT about THINGS THAT MATTER!” I'd like to take that principle and say that "the Apostolic Church will begin to end the day we become SILENT about THINGS THAT MATTER!"
Let me begin by saying that there are some THINGS that STILL MATTER and I refuse to be SILENT about them! Regardless of the century or the culture, there are some "rules" that still apply to the people of God and some "things" that we're commanded to do and some "things" we're commanded NOT to do.
(Philippians 3:16-19/ KJV) says, “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. This scripture begins with making it clear that after we have “attained,” meaning after we’ve been Born Again, “let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
(Ephesians 4:5/ KJV) says that there’s “ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism.”
That means there’s ONLY ONE Lord and His name is Jesus! There’s ONLY ONE Faith! There’s NOT two or three different “faiths” out there that are each acceptable. There’s ONLY ONE! There’s ONLY ONE baptism (of water and Spirit)!
(Galatians 1:6-9/ KJV) says it like this, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
There’s ONLY ONE GOSPEL! There’s NOT “another gospel!” There’s ONLY ONE WAY! There’s NOT a “truth” for me and another “truth” for you! There’s not a “white gospel,” or a “black gospel,” or a “Hispanic gospel”, or a Jamaican gospel,” or a “Russian gospel!” There’s JUST ONE GOSPEL for EVERYONE ONE to OBEY! We are to live by the “SAME RULE” and the “SAME THING!”
The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is applied to our lives when we OBEY (Acts 2:38) by repenting of our sins, being baptized in water in the Name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in other tongues!
(Ephesians 4:11-24) went on to say, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ...
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true HOLINESS.”
(Hebrews 12:14/ KJV) says, “Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
The necessity of being BORN AGAIN and “perfecting HOLINESS in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1) STILL MATTER so I refuse to stay silent! We MUST ALL “walk by the SAME RULE and mind the SAME THING!”
