The Bible Chapel
Alfred P. Gibbs
|
The Bible Chapel is the meeting place of a company of Christians who
gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. They have
learned from the New Testament scriptures that denominationalism is not
only unknown in its pages, but its very idea is unsparingly condemned. See
1 Corinthians 3:1-7. In view of this fact, they meet together, simply as
believers in the Son of God, entirely apart from any denomination or
organized federation, nor do they have any sympathy with the many false and
fanatical sects which are so prevalent in these days.
Seeing that the division of Christians into various parties, or denominations,
is not in accordance with the Word of God, they therefore seek to meet, in
scriptural simplicity, as Christians who have already been joined, by the
Spirit of God, to the body of Christ, the Church, of which the Lord Jesus
Christ is the sole Head, and every regenerated person a member. See I
Corinthians 12:13; 6:17.
In the light of this scriptural truth concerning the Church, they seek to
recognize and act on this revelation of the unity of the body of Christ. They
have no desire to separate from other believers, but only from those things
which are contrary to the revealed will of God, as found in His holy Word. See
Ephesians 4:1-6.
The existence of this Chapel does not represent another denomination of
Christians, who are separated from other believers by humanly constructed
barriers in the form of creeds, government or books of discipline, etc., but is
the meeting place of a company of Christians who refuse to recognize either
denominationalism or interdenominational, and are sincerely endeavoring
to "keep the unity of the Spirit (which God has already made) in the bond of
peace" Ephesians 4:3.
It logically follows that all true Christians who are sound in the fundamentals
of the faith and morally clean in their lives, will be warmly welcomed to enjoy
Christian fellowship with them on no other condition than that they "belong to
Christ" (Mark 9:41).
Seeing that the New Testament describes but one body, the Church, to
which every believer has already been united by the Spirit of God, and that
there is but one Head to that body, the Lord Jesus Christ, there can therefore
be no room in the world for many bodies with many heads such as we see
in Christendom today. Thus such expressions as: "My own Church
preference," or "The Church of my choice," is entirely foreign to Scripture.
It will also be observed that, in the New Testament, all the titles given to
believers are common to and inclusive of all who have been united to the
Son of God. Such names as "Christians," (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16);
"Believers," (Acts 5:14; 1 Timothy 4:12); "Children of God," (Galatians 1:2) are
thus seen to be inclusive of every true Christian on the face of the earth. The
man-given titles, such as are commonly used today to distinguish the
various denominations, are not inclusive of all believers, and consequently
must be viewed as being unscriptural.
Perhaps a word may be in order as to the ordinances observed. An
ordinance, to be valid for the believer, should meet a threefold test. First, it
must be definitely commanded by the Lord Jesus, as recorded in the Bibles.
Second, it must be practiced by the apostles, as described in the Acts. Third,
its spiritual significance must be clearly expounded in the Epistles. Only two
ordinances meet this threefold test: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Baptism, which is by immersion in water, is for believers only, and should
follow conversion to Christ. It is the God-given figure, or illustration, of the
Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection,
and constitutes his confession to others of this fact. It has no saving value,
but is an act of obedience to the Lord who commanded it. See Matthew
28:18-20; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-6.
The Lord's Supper was instituted by the Lord Jesus on the night of His
betrayal and exists for the purpose of remembering Him. The bread is the
Divinely appointed symbol of His holy body given for us, and the cup is the
symbol of His precious blood, by which He secured our eternal redemption.
See Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24. Again, there is no
saving virtue in this ordinance. It is the privilege of all the Lord's people, who
are sound in life and doctrine, to thus "show the Lord's death until He come"
(1 Corinthians 11:26).
The gospel of the grace of God is also taught and preached in the Chapel,
both in the Sunday School and in the Bible service. All who come will hear a
clear presentation of the sinner's need of salvation; God's wonderful
provision for that need in the love gift of His beloved Son; Christ's
substitutionary sacrifice of Himself, by which He accomplished all the work
needed for the salvation of every sinner who will trust Him as his own
personal Savior, and confess Him as the supreme Lord of his life. See John
3:14-19; Romans 3:10-26;10: 9-10.
At such Bible services no collections of money are taken. Our Lord's words
are taken literally: "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8; 1
Corinthians 9:18). The Bible teaches that the Lord's work should be
supported by the Lord's people alone. Needless to say, all are most cordially
invited and will be warmly welcomed to both the Sunday School and the
Bible meeting. Should any desire to be visited in their homes, it will be
considered a privilege, and all such requests will be honored promptly.
The following fundamental truths of the holy Scriptures are held and taught
by those who meet at the Chapel.
1 The Divine trinity of the eternal Godhead, consisting of Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Not three Gods, but one Godhead subsisting in three Persons,
each equal and eternal with, each other. See Matthew 28:19; John 15:26;
Hebrews 9:13-14; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
2 The essential and eternal Deity pf the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Ris virgin birth, sinless humanity, substitutionary sacrifice for our
redemption, bodily resurrection, ascension, glorification, present ministry at
the right hand of God, and His literal and personal second coming. See
Hebrews 1:8; Luke 1:26-35; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 Corinthians
15:34; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 1:6-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18.
3. The Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit, Who inspired the writing of the
Bible, Who convicts the sinner of his lost and guilty state before God and, on
the sinner's acceptance of Christ as his own personal Savior and Lord,
regenerates, in-dwells and empowers him to live a godly life and effectually
serve the Lord Jesus on earth. See 2 Peter 1:19-21; John 16:7-15;
Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
4 The Bible is the Divinely inspired, authentic and authoritative Word of God,
and is therefore the Christian's complete guide on all manners of faith and
practice. See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Matthew 24-25; Psalms 119:11,89, 105.
5. The salvation from sin's penalty, secured at the infinite cost of the
precious blood of Christ, has been provided for every sinner who will avail
himself of it. This salvation Is wholly of grace, and therefore entirely apart
from human merit in any shape or form. It is conditioned by simple faith in
Christ's finished work of redemption, which He accomplished on the cross,
acceptance of Him as one's own personal Savior and confession of Him as
the Lord of the life. See John 3:14-18; 5:24; 10:9; 14:6; Romans 10:9-10;
Ephesians 2:8,9 :Romans 4:15; I John 5:13.
6 Each regenerated believer Is not only eternally secure in Christ, but, by the
Holy Spirit, has been united to the body of Christ, the Church, of which Christ
is the Head, and every believer a member. See John 10:27-30; 1 Corinthians
12:12-27; Ephesians 1:15-23.
7 The eternal retribution of God upon all who die in their sins, either
rejecting, despising or neglecting the great salvation provided by the
redemptive sacrifice of the Son of God. See John 3:36; 8:21-24; 2
Thessalonians 1:7-10, Hebrews 2:3; Revelation 20:11-15. Such, in brief, is
the explanation for the presence of the Bible Chapel at the address
indicated. To its preaching services you are most cordially invited to attend.
In the words of another, they too would say: "Come thou with us, and we will
do thee good" (Numbers 10:29)
|
|
