Allegiance To God Introduction: I m not a very polished speaker, but years ago a guy said I do have the gift of gab. Neither am I a scholarly preacher, but hopefully some of my learning and experiences are worth something. And I certainly am not very handsome, but Irma seems to find me handy. So if anything good comes from this sermon, then it has to be God...it sure can't be me. Pause And that is the way it ought to be. Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: God has provided leaders for those engaged in His eternal plan of Christ. God desires human authorities among men in all kinds of ways. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars servants, submit to your masters wives, respect your husbands leadership children obey your parents and yes, church submit to your elders. But, their leadership must never supersede the Lord s. Regarding civil/religious authorities, Peter says in Acts 5, we must obey God, rather than men. A wife named Sapphira (Acts 5) was given opportunity to not conspire with her husband, Ananias sin, but she didn t come clean and she died just as he did. Diotrophes (III John) was a preeminent leader in a church and John said to Gaius, don t follow his evil ways. Allegiance to God trumps everything and everyone every- TIME! God made no mistake in setting up in His church with leaders, fallible church leaders, but we must make absolutely certain that in our following them, they are following the Lord.
I Corinthians 1:11-13 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? As you can see, this problem of following man too much has always been a problem. It is good to follow the examples of others, but ONLY if those setting the examples are following the CORRECT standard themselves. The apostle Paul says, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (I Cor. 11:1). Note that he says following another (him) must always be with the greater view of following Christ. To follow the example of others, without being aware of what standard they themselves are following, is the height of folly. Let us ultimately always set our spiritual clocks by the Lord, not man so that we have the right time. Imagine yourself on a deserted island, without anyone else to influence you religiously, and only a Bible to guide you. What would you be after reading, studying, and then obeying it? A Hindu? Of course not. A Buddhist? A Muslim? NO! Well, what would you be? You would be SIMPLY A CHRISTIAN! But, keep going And of what church would you be a member? Catholic? Methodist? Mormon? Lutheran? Nope. None of those and many others like them are not found in the pages of the Holy Bible and are creations of men which came into existence much later in history long after the bible was completed. You would simply be a member of the Lord s church the ONE body of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 4 The ONE faith mentioned in Ephesians 4 Following the ONE Lord mentioned in Ephesians 4. Our allegiance must be totally in the unity of the Spirit revealed to us in Scripture and that alone. To go onward and not to abide in the doctrine of Christ is to not have God. See II John 9 if you doubt me on that. Allow me to illustrate What does the BIBLE + METHODIST DISCIPLINE equal? Methodist (not Baptist)
BIBLE + CATHOLIC CATECHISM AND TRADITION = Catholic (not Mormon) BIBLE + BAPTIST MANUAL = Baptist BIBLE + BOOK OF MORMON = Mormon BIBLE + MISCELLANEOUS CREED BOOKS OF MEN = Man s version of Christianity BIBLE ALONE = TRUE CHRISTIANS - Jn. 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. Brethren and friends, we do not need the bible plus anything. Our allegiance must be only to the Lord and King Jesus. No man is the vicar of Christ on earth no matter how many titles are bestowed on him. Whether seated on the throne or not he has no infallibility virtue within him. No man is a prophet of God to speak latter day revelations. No council or synod or convention of human persons can speak for God beyond what is written not with His blessing. But, that is exactly what men have done and continue to do write manuals, disciplines, catechisms and creeds vote in their conferences and conventions about church stances on women preachers, or their church view of homosexuality (one prominent denomination doing so just a week or so ago) or any number of issues. Allegiance must be with the Lord, not men. I Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of GOD; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which GOD giveth: that GOD in all things may be glorified through JESUS CHRIST, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Matthew 23:8-10 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
Though the Lord has ordained teachers, He has put strict restrictions on them and on us regarding them. The bible says, don t many of you be teachers for greater judgment is coming. Apostle Paul says in I Cor. 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. Pastors are expressly told not to lord over the flock (I Peter 5). And Jesus says in so many words, don t regard any man above Me. Do not give him any title or elevated position that will not help him or you. Allegiance must be ultimately to Christ and not by just a little. And what about local congregation fellowship? Who should a Christian, seeking allegiance to Christ above men join with? The Lord certainly commands that we do. It is not optional for those so inclined to need a support group or who just like fellowship for some reason or the other. Nope. Local church membership is not optional. So, then back to the question who do we join up with to fulfill the Lord s will for collective activities? Well, it s simple. A Christian who is seeking allegiance to Christ above men, will seek out a church that is seeking to be the same to be in alliance with Jesus instructions for local churches, demonstrating their allegiance to the Lord in corporate worship, edification and mission. Oh, it won t be a perfect church. You might as well quit looking for a perfect church. If you found one, you couldn t be a member of it anyway. Ha! And what sort of thing will we be looking for to help decide >One that holds up the name of Christ, not men >One that is a pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15 but if I tarry long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
>One that is organized Scripturally, with elders and deacons, teachers and evangelists and is autonomous, not affiliated with any man-made conglomeration. >One which in Worship follows the owner s manual Prayers, Lord s Supper, Hymn Singing, Preaching and Giving >On that in Work is doing what Jesus set up churches to do to Proclaim the gospel, to edify the members, to relieve needy Christians, to discipline members. I truly hope that we here in this location ARE doing and will CONTINUE doing what it is Jesus said he wanted His churches to be and do. May God help us. May He help our allegiance to be to Christ and Christ only. Amen? Please pray with me Great Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ hallowed be Thy name. Lord God, help each one of us individually to truly pledge allegiance to Christ, high above any other, in every concern of life, including our religious concerns. And help this band of brothers and sisters that comprise this church to truly pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ, the blessed head of the church assembled here today and at other times week to week. We wish to be one of your lampstands, one of the candlesticks that Jesus the Lamb walks among. We never want to have our candlestick removed. Please continue to walk among us and know our faith and works. We will try our best to never forsake our professed pledge of allegiance to you and we will try to maintain our first love, our first loyalty and our first commitment to You. Chastise us if you think it necessary to keep us in the way everlasting. We solemnly promise our sincere allegiance always. Love us dear Savior. Amen.