“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

How do we come to God in worship and prayer? At times we feel that God should hear and answer our prayers because of all our efforts to obey Him and faithfully serve Him. We look around us and see so many who call themselves “Christians” but disobey God and disregard His Word. They are unfaithful! They have sinned and compromised their faith!

In contrast, we feel that God should certainly hear our prayers and accept our worship since we have been faithful to God’s Word and have given up much to follow Christ. We are not unfaithful as others are!

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican was told by Jesus to those “which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.”

When we feel that God will hear and answer our prayers or accept our worship because we have been faithful Christians and are not unfaithful as are so many others, we are praying in a similar fashion as the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable. Rather, we should come to God as did the humble tax collector who knew of his own sinfulness and unworthiness before God, for “this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

When we come to God in worship and prayer, we should come humbly, acknowledging our sin and unworthiness before God. With the publican, we join in praying: “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Since Christ has died for our sins and is risen again, we can also come before God with the assurance that He forgives our sins and hears and answers all our proper prayers (cf. 1 John 5:11-15). One might even say that we come to the LORD God in humble boldness — humble because we are unworthy sinners, but in boldness and in faith because Christ died for us and has redeemed us (cf. Heb. 10:19ff.).

Before Thee, God, who knowest all, with grief and shame I prostrate fall. I see my sins against Thee, Lord, the sins of thought, of deed, and word. They press me sore; I cry to Thee: O God, be merciful to me! O Jesus, let Thy precious blood be to my soul a cleansing flood. Turn not, O Lord, Thy guest away, but grant that justified I may go to my house at peace with Thee. O God, be merciful to me! Amen. (“Before Thee, God, Who Knowest All,” The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn # 318, Verses 1,3)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)….” Ephesians 2:4-5

It is an amazing thing to consider. Even while we were dead in our sins, God so loved us that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for us and pay in full for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

The Bible tells us in Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

And not only did God send His Son to die for us and redeem us to God; as He raised up Christ Jesus from the dead on the third day, so He has raised us (all believers) up from our spiritual darkness and death and made us alive together with Christ through faith (cf. John 5:24-26).

By His grace alone and by means of the message of the Gospel, He brought us to trust in Jesus and His cross and gave to us the assurance of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name. God, who is rich in mercy beyond all understanding, because of His great love for us in Christ Jesus, redeemed us and saved us from sin and eternal death by bringing us to know and trust in Messiah Jesus as our Savior.

It is as Paul writes a few verses later: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What a gracious blessing that is for all who believe!

O merciful God, we thank and praise You for Your great love toward us in sending Your Son to die for us and redeem us and for making us alive to You and Your grace by bringing us to know and trust in Your Son, Christ Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:1-3

What were we before God intervened and made us alive through faith in Jesus Christ? We were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. We were disobedient to God just like the rest of the people of this world and living contrary to His commandments. We followed the ways of this world and lived according to the suggestions of the devil, who rules over men’s hearts here in this world. Just like other people, we lived to fulfill our own sinful desires and passions, and we were from birth headed for the judgment and condemnation of God.

Since we were dead in our trespasses and sins, we were unable to know God or come to Him. Being blind and dead spiritually, we were lost and blindly living according to the ways and passions of our corrupted and sinful human nature and walking in the same way as other lost sinners in this world. We were under the sway and control of the devil, who first deceived Eve in the Garden and brought sin and death into this world.

This, of course, is what makes our salvation such a mighty miracle and working of God. He, in grace, brought us to know Him and His mercy in Christ Jesus. His Spirit raised us up from spiritual darkness and death and brought us to know and trust that, because of Jesus’ holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead – because of His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world – we are in Christ forgiven and accepted of God and have eternal life with Him in heaven.

We were lost but now are found. We were blind but now we see. We were dead but are now alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus.

We praise You, O God, for raising us up from spiritual darkness and death and making us alive to You in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Graciously preserve us in the true faith that we may live with You forever in heaven – all for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23

If one’s eyes are good and he can see that which is illumined by the light, his whole body and life are full of light. That person can see what is around him and where he is going. But, on the other hand, if one’s eyes are bad and he cannot see the light, his whole body is full of darkness. That person cannot see where he is going and he gropes in endless darkness.

With this simple parable or illustration, Jesus is teaching about much more than the effects of good vision and blindness; He is speaking of spiritual sight and understanding. If one’s eyes are opened so that he can see and understand the message of Scripture – if he can see himself as God sees him and see Jesus for who He really is, his life will be full of light. He will acknowledge and agree with God about his utter sinfulness and look to Jesus, God’s own dear Son, and to His sufferings, death and resurrection for life and eternal salvation! Then he will see and know the pathway of life and will not grope about in spiritual darkness.

But if one’s eye is bad – if he cannot grasp and understand the message of the Holy Scriptures and does not see and acknowledge his utter sinfulness and look to Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death for forgiveness and life everlasting – his whole life is full of darkness. He may live a normal life here in this world, but he doesn’t really see and know why he’s here, nor does he have any assurance about the hereafter!

Often it happens that “the light that is in you is darkness.” A person thinks he knows and understands the way to heaven, but he doesn’t because he has gotten his ideas from some other source than the Scriptures. Thus, people assume that they can get into God’s kingdom by their own works and deeds, that God will accept them if they try to please Him or that there is some other way to be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ and His blood shed upon the cross for mankind’s sin.

As Jesus says, “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” Those who think they know the way – who perhaps go to church and are active in various works – are often the hardest to reach with the truth of God’s Word. They see no need of it, for they are convinced that everything is OK with them. Thus they live their lives in darkness and don’t even realize it!

How can one’s eyes be opened that he might see? Only God can open the eyes of the blind. As Jesus opened the eyes of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46ff.), so He can open our eyes and give us light; for He Himself is “the Light of the World.” Those who follow Him “shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Through the hearing, reading and studying of God’s Word – the Bible – the Holy Spirit teaches us and opens our eyes that we might see the truth about ourselves and trust in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting. Through the Scriptures, the Spirit leads and guides us to see and know the way of God in truth!

Open our eyes, dear Lord Jesus, that we might see and know the truth and trust in You – and You alone – for life and salvation. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Since questions have been raised regarding our doctrine and practice related to church fellowship, I thought it best to clarify the teaching of Scripture on this subject with a number of statements so that all may know and understand where we must stand on these issues and avoid the sinful practices of syncretism (joining together in worship, prayer or religious activities with those of other religions and lodges who do not worship and serve the Triune God of the Bible or proclaim salvation by God’s grace alone and through faith alone in Jesus Christ) and of unionism (joining together in worship, prayer or religious activities with other churches and denominations which err in doctrine and do not teach in full accord with the Bible).

1. The Bible teaches that it is every Christian’s duty to do the following: a) “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15ff.); b) Mark and avoid those who cause divisions and offenses in the church by preaching false doctrine, advocating a sinful lifestyle or teaching and insisting on points not commanded in Scripture (Romans 16:17f.); c) Admonish and rebuke sin and error (Matthew 18:15ff.; Titus 3:9ff.; Ephesians 5:8-14); d) Refrain from joining together in fellowship (through prayer, worship, Communion, mission work, etc.) with those who persistently hold to false doctrine or live in open sin (Ephesians 5:8-14; 2 John 8-11).

2. It is a sin to add to the teaching of Scripture or take anything away from it. Thus, it is wrong to reject what the Bible clearly teaches, as many teachers and churches do even though they bear the name Christian, or to add to God’s Word and insist upon human views, interpretations or applications of Scripture, such as did the Jews with their traditions received from the elders (Deuteronomy 4:1ff.; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 15:1ff.; Mark 31ff.; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Revelation 22:18-19).

3. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed according to Christ’s institution with neither the elements or words changed nor the meaning of Christ’s words altered or changed. All who partake of the true Lord’s Supper receive not only bread and wine but also partake of Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world; that is, His body and blood which were given and shed for all for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:16ff. and 11:23ff.).

4. Since St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 admonishes believers to examine themselves before partaking of the Lord’s Supper and rebukes them for their abuses, Christians who wish to partake of the Sacrament are to be instructed in Biblical doctrine and in what is offered and given in the Lord’s Supper and are not to partake of the Lord’s Supper lightly but are to examine themselves before coming to the Lord’s Table, confess their sins to God and receive God’s absolution and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.

5. Since St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 plainly states that when we eat of the bread and drink of the cup we are one with the altar, partaking of the altar in the Lord’s Supper is a profession that we agree with what is being taught and offered and given from that altar. Christians are not to partake of the altar of the Lord and then also partake of the altar of devils by joining together in idolatry, false teaching or sinful worship (such as attending or partaking of the Lord’s Supper in churches which err in doctrine and often err also in the doctrine regarding the Lord’s Supper).

6. Based on 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, Christian churches and their pastors have a duty to practice close communion (as opposed to open communion in which everyone is invited to come forward), and only those who profess the true and Biblical doctrine and who have examined themselves in accord to God’s Word are to be invited and welcomed to the Lord’s Table. Those known to be living in open sin and impenitent or who are spreading false doctrine or supporting the spread of false doctrine (often by membership and contributions to churches which err in doctrine) must be denied the privilege of partaking of Christ’s Supper unless and until they repent.

SUMMARY

In summary, this means that God, for our own good, commands that we hold to the true and faithful teaching of His Word and reject what is false. That we join together with those who hold to and teach the truth of God’s Word and that we take note of and avoid those who persist in doctrinal errors or live in open and impenitent sin.

We go to church and join together in worship and prayer, the hearing of God’s Word, and in the reception of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper only in those churches which faithfully adhere to God’s Word and rightly administer the Sacraments. We take note of and avoid those teachers and churches which preach false doctrine or mix human errors and opinion with the truth because we realize that every error has its origins in the lies of the devil, who seeks to lead us away from Christ and the comfort and assurance of the Gospel (cf. John 8:44).

To help explain this teaching of Scripture, I will include below my signature the short and hopefully simple explanation of this article of faith from my book, A Simple Explanation of Christian Doctrine. I also ask any who have questions or concerns to contact me.

Pastor Moll

How should we practice church fellowship?

Since Jesus commanded us to disciple the nations by going, baptizing in the name of the Triune God and teaching them to observe all which Jesus taught and commanded (Matthew 28:18-20), and since Jesus warns against false prophets who come to us in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-23), we, as Christians, are to discriminate between churches and teachers which are faithful to Christ and that which is taught in His Word (orthodox churches and teachers) and those which are not faithful to Christ and His Word (false and heterodox churches and teachers) and to practice church fellowship (joining together in those things which one would do with fellow believers, such as worship, prayer, reception of the Lord’s Supper, evangelism, mission work, etc.) only with those who are faithful to Christ and His holy Word.

Jesus said: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). For this reason, the early church “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

That we not be led astray from the truth, the apostle Paul warned: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Thus, we see that we are commanded to continue in Jesus’ word and doctrine – the teaching of Holy Scripture – and to avoid and withdraw from those who teach otherwise and do not consent to the words of our Lord Jesus and the teaching of the Word of God.

So serious is the threat of false doctrine and the deception of the devil, God’s Word warns us: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1); “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11); “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18); “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18); “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11); and “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us … And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:6,14).

Christians, like the believers at Berea (Acts 17:11), compare what is taught with the Word of God and reject those churches and teachers who remain unfaithful to the Word. They condemn as sin the unionistic practices of our day in which church fellowship is practiced and church union is sought without regard for full adherence to the Scriptural Doctrine.

And, a church’s faithfulness to Christ and His Word is to be judged, not only by its acceptance of and subscription to an orthodox creed or confession but by what is actually taught and practiced in the church.

As the apostle Paul warned, errors in both doctrine and practice will continue to trouble churches in this world (Acts 20:28-32; 1 Corinthians 11:19). But those churches which are faithful to Christ and His Word will, through Scriptural admonition and discipline, continue to combat and remove such error from among themselves and be faithful to Christ (Matthew 18:15-18; 2 Timothy 3:13-17; 4:1-5; Titus 3:10-11).

Christians remember that every lie and false teaching is of the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), and the devil’s intent is to mislead God’s elect and weaken or destroy their faith in Christ Jesus. Therefore, Christians cannot and do not view doctrinal errors and teaching which is not in full agreement with the Bible as a trivial thing which can be ignored or overlooked. They use God’s Word to expose it, reprove it and remove it. And, if a church or teacher rejects the sound teaching of God’s Word on a matter, Christians are commanded to reject and avoid the church or teacher until there is repentance and a return to the truth. And not to do so could even give the devil the opportunity he seeks to lead people away from faith in Christ and destroy their souls.

This is a most serious matter and yet many laugh and scoff and say it’s only a little thing, a minor point. But, how many of you would drink water from a well which was poisoned even if the amount was small? What might not immediately kill you could do damage over time. So also with false doctrine; it is never harmless and, over time, it will weaken or destroy faith.