Religion or Christianity ?
By Rev. W. B. Pearson* ertheless living, for it is not he who lives but Christ, who is the Author of the new life within him (Gal. 2:20). The Origin of the Christian Life is the New Birth Jesus said, “ Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God . . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 6, 7 ). “ Therefore if any man be in .Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). In the new birth, old things disappear, all things are renewed because the be liever has passed from death, has be come a new creature in Christ Jesus, has received a new nature and has entered into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. There is a new voice of authority for him, “ Marvel not that I said unto thee.” It is Christ Jesus who now speaks to the believer—not any longer the voice of self. Therefore it becomes an entirely new life—not just a form of living. This New Life Must be Maintained “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out o f the mouth of God” (Matt. 4 :4 ). “ I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Here is the recipe for maintaining the Christian life, for Christian living: par taking o f spiritual food through study of the Bible, and learning more about the Lord Jesus, thus feeding upon the literal Word, and the Living Word. R. A. Torrey once stated, “ We study not about the Bible, but the Bible itself.” He suggested intelligent, definite and sys tematic methods of Bible study, such as by chapter, by synthesis, by topics or by individual books. Many people have fol lowed this advice, and have discovered food for their souls. This Life Can be Developed “ Speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15). “ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2 :2 ). “ But grow in grace, and in the knowl edge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). What a delight it is to parents to see their babies begin to develop and grow. It is also a pleasure to see the babes in Christ, being nourished on the milk of (Continued on Page 15) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
T HE Lord Jesus came, not to start a religion; there was plenty of that in the world. He came to give spiritual life. Paul at Athens said that the men of Athens were very superstitious (reli gious). Religion may be only a form of godliness, with no power thereof; just going through outward formal rites, without inner spiritual life. Many churches today have a form of worship, but is it a worship in spirit and in truth? Prayers are repeated weekly, the same Scriptures are read year after year. All are vain repetitions. Enter many churches today, and the congre gation’s part consists o f two hymns, often with a verse omitted from the last one, but the worshipers are always per mitted to have a share in the offering. What o f the sermon? Is it a message to awaken the dead in trespasses and sins? Does the trumpet give forth an uncer tain sound, so that man may prepare himself for battle? Messages deny the virgin birth and the deity of our Lord. Is it not also true that many churches have no evening services, and that the mid-week prayer meeting has been aban doned? Why all of this falling away? Because there is a form of godliness and *Pastor o f the First Baptist Church, Gordon, Texas.
a denial of the power thereof—too much religion and not enough Christianity— Christ living in the hearts of His people. There is a remedy for all of this: to accept the Bible as the Word o f God and to take God at His Word, for therein has He shown us the way to a Chris tian life which really makes life worth while, and brings victory every day. Christ is the Author of the Christian Life “ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). “ For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will” (John 5:21). “ In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1 :4 ). “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These are statements from God’s Word showing that Jesus is the Author of the Christian life. Even though a per son has natural life; yet he is dead in trespasses and sins. Only Jesus could call Lazarus back to life from the tomb; so only Jesus can call the sinner back from his tomb of death unto life everlasting. Truly He is the life of the Christian. The believer is crucified with Christ, nev-
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