In this episode, we examine the significance of Christ’s church, a promise fulfilled as described in the New Testament. Discover how the narrative of Acts exemplifies God’s plan for salvation and the church’s pivotal role in guiding believers. From understanding repentance to the significance of baptism, we reaffirm the doctrines that define old-time religion according to the Bible’s teachings.
00:00:00 Introduction to Old-Time Religion Series Conclusion
Today, friends, we once again search the scriptures concerning old-time religion. And we’re going to wrap up this three-part series today from the International Gospel Hour back in a moment.
SPEAKER 01 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web. And greetings and hello everyone. Once again, thank you for joining us for our studies here from International Gospel Hour. We treasure each and every listener and we appreciate you tuning in. We’d like to ask a favor of you if you would not mind. Our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. would you call us and just tell us where you’re listening to our broadcast? You can just say, Hi, I’m listening to you on, and that’s all you have to say. We’d love to know where our listeners are listening to us from. We’d love to hear from you, and that’s all you need to do. Don’t need to leave your name or anything. Just call us and say, I heard you on, and just let us know the station. We would appreciate hearing from you, our listeners, and thank you because of you, we continue to press onward in studying the Word of God here through this avenue of where you are listening to us from. What we have been doing the past couple of episodes, we’ve been talking about old-time religion. You know, people used to talk about it, sing about it. And it’s an old song. And we’ve been talking about what we must believe if we believe in old time religion according to the Bible. We have affirmed that we must believe and respect the Bible. We must believe in the virgin birth of Christ and believe in the reality of sin and in the shed blood of Jesus Christ in order to forgive us. And how grateful we are for the saving blood of Christ. And now today we want to consider a couple of more additional points as we wrap up this study as we talk about old-time religion. But first… We want to share with you a free gift. We’ve offered this gift on a number of occasions, and maybe you have heard it, and maybe you have just failed to receive it, or maybe this time you’re thinking, you know, I want that. It’s a free booklet, as everything is free from International Gospel Hour. And here is our J-Web with a free giveaway just for you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Our popular free booklet, Something is Wrong, But the Bible is Right, is available once again. There is just too much confusion in the religious world, and this brief, concise study reminds us that the Bible is always right. Call us toll free at 855-444-6988. And leave your name and address and just say Bible Tract. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information. Name, address and type Bible Tract in the message box. You’ll receive it very soon from your friends at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Dear friends, if we’re going to believe in old-time religion, well, we need to believe that Christ established His church. You know, Jesus promised to build His church. We find that affirmed in Matthew 16 and verse 18, when He stated unto Peter that upon this rock, that is the foundation, He being the Son of God, He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He also said to Peter, I will give unto you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatsoever would be bound on earth would be bound in heaven. Whatsoever is loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And you know, when you look at Mark 9 and verse 1, Jesus told them that there would be some of them standing there that would not see death until they see the kingdom of God come with power. I find that a rather interesting statement in Mark 9 in verse 1 because, friends, I don’t see anybody 2,000 years old living on this earth today, do you? Now, I’m not trying to be funny, but Jesus told them that they would not see death until the kingdom would come. Well, friends, in Acts 1 and verse 8, we find where the apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon those apostles, Acts 2 and verse 4, and they began preaching the gospel of Christ, and for the first time people were added to the church when they obeyed the gospel. In Acts 2 verse 41, they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And in Acts 2 and verse 47, the Bible tells us that they were adding to the church daily such as should be saved. Those who believe in old-time religion, friends, must believe that Christ did indeed build His church. His church is still in existence today, and that is the church of which one should be a part. The kingdom of God, those that were added to the church, were also added to His kingdom. For in Colossians 1 and verse 14 we find how there were those who were added or translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love. They were placed there then. And when you think of Jesus being the head of His church, Ephesians 1, 22 and 23, and He is affirmed as the King of kings and Lord of lords in 1 Timothy 6 and verse 15, to be a king you have to have a kingdom. And friends, our glory goes unto the Christ to be a part of His church we read of in the New Testament. Dear friends, from our broadcast here at International Gospel Hour, we’re not going to ask for your money. We’re not going to plead with you to be a member of a man-made church or a denominational body. We will take the Word of God and the Word of God alone, and we will strive to point ourselves back to be a member of the church we read of in the Bible. Isn’t that a beautiful thought? And friends, when you do that, you understand what old-time religion truly is. It’s tested and tried. Here’s the final thought. Old-time religion lets believe in God’s plan for saving the alien sinner. You know, God’s one plan was revealed in the first century throughout the book of Acts. And you know, life’s most important question was asked and answered three times in that book. In Acts 2 and verse 37, Men and brethren, what shall we do? In Acts 9 and verse 6, Saul looks up unto Christ and says, What would thou have me to do, Lord? And in Acts 16 and verse 30, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And each and every time they were told what to do in order to be saved. In Acts 2 and verse 38, Peter told them to repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And then in Acts 8 and verse 37 we find where the eunuch made the confession that Jesus was the Son of God. Should others also make that confession that Jesus is the Son of God to confess their faith in Christ? When Paul went into the city and was told what to do, asked Saul… He tells the account again in Acts 22 in verse 16 that Ananias, when he came to him, told him, Saul, why do you tarry? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And what did they tell the jailer? They told the jailer to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved and all his house. But then we find they continued to teach him what he needed to believe. And that same hour of the night, based upon his faith, he was baptized into Christ. Friends, God’s plan for saving an alien sinner, for one to come unto Christ must believe that he is Christ, John 8, 24, must believe in the command of repentance to change one’s life and change one’s decision. I find it of interest sometimes when people will say, the only thing you have to do is believe, but then they’ll say, and also repent. Well, now, wait a minute. Only means one thing. If the only thing one has to do is believe, then why are you adding something else? Let’s call this thing biblically correct, friends. If we are to believe in Christ, we believe in what Christ taught, true or false. That’s true. And when Jesus teaches us the command of repentance, and the command of confession in Matthew 10, 32, and the command of baptism in Mark 16, 16, well, friends, those who believe in old-time religion will believe and obey God’s plan for saving alien sinners. Friends, it’s necessary for us to have old-time religion if we want to be saved. But we must make certain it’s the old-time religion according to the Scriptures, for it has stood the test of time, while the new things have not. Friend, what kind of religion do we really want? We want the religion that pleases God. Let’s believe and respect the Bible and obey it. Believe in the virgin birth of Christ and His shed blood that saved us. in the reality of sin, and to believe in His church where the saved can be placed, and God’s plan for saving alien sinners. Let’s pause for a moment. We have a very special free online study just for you. And here is our J-Web with the details.
SPEAKER 01 :
Does It Matter? is a free online video study. The most important question in all the world is, where will you go when you die? God has provided from the Bible all that one must know. Any questions about salvation, sin, and the church, they will be addressed from God’s Word. May we send you the link and give it a try? Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say, Does it matter? Again, call toll-free at 855-444-6988, and please leave your name, email, and just say, Does it matter? You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Does it matter in the message blank. We will send the link right out to you.
SPEAKER 02 :
And friends, we hope that you will find that study of great advantage. And we also offer other studies as well. Our free home Bible study, well, we do that one by mail. If you call us at 855-444-6988, we will mail that to you as well. All we need is your name and address and just say home study. I want to thank my friend Phil Leonard and the gift, 60 Years in the Pulpit. That’s a book about his late father, Charles Leonard, whom I was privileged to know. Brother Leonard preached for, again, 60 years from Michigan to Mississippi, and we’ve been using his material, studying about old-time religion according to the Bible. So we appreciate and we are honored to use Brother Leonard’s work here on International Gospel Hour. And friends, we’re out of time today, but we’re going to continue these studies together at another time, Lord willing. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory. God be with you till we meet again.
