Preface

Vertical Divider

Preface

Vertical Divider

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

Rare is the individual that knows how to read the Bible as God intended. Instead, most read it for Him, naturally and therefore, legalistically. It is the equivalent of approaching God and His vital message for mankind from the extremely limited perspective of the old self under the rule of law.

Reading and studying the Bible from a natural, legalistic perspective is selfish. It allows for personal bias and the twisting of Scripture to meet individual expectations.

The selfish misinterpretation of the Bible has been the cause of innumerable problems, not the least of which is a worldly simulation of the New Testament church. The simulated church is often described as organized, institutional, traditional, cultural, religious, or temporal.

The distinct church of the New Testament church is not like the simulated church. God created it before the foundation of the world to accommodate His life on earth. From first to last, in doctrine and practice, the New Testament church was an act of divine grace.

In distinct contrast to reading and studying the Bible from a natural, legalistic perspective, God intended for mankind to read the Bible with Him, faithfully emphasizing His immediate presence within by His indwelling life. It is a selfless endeavor that serves to protect the sanctity of biblical interpretation.

Reading and studying the Bible with the living God is a gracious gift satisfied by the indwelling Spirit of Christ. “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him” (1 John 2:27; cf. John 14:26; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 16; 1 Thessalonians 4:9).

God has forever united the believer with Christ through spiritual birth. According to the Apostle John, the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Christ is the “anointing” that abides within.

The anointing presence of the Spirit of Christ abides within the believer. Moreover, the believer is commanded by God to “abide” in the indwelling Spirit of Christ. The mutual abiding of the believer in the Spirit, however, is not accomplished by self-effort. By grace alone, it is a restful activity satisfied only by active, dependent faith.

Abiding within the believer, the Spirit of Christ is a teacher. His anointing presence is the primary source for the illumination of Scriptural truth (1 Corinthians 2:11-16).

The believer abides in the Spirit of Christ by faith alone. He must faithfully cultivate sensitivity to the anointing presence of the indwelling Spirit. It is the fruit of consistently walking by the fullness of the Spirit in the context of intimate, spiritual community (Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Communal abiding in the Spirit of Christ further serves to protect the accuracy of biblical interpretation and preserve the purity of biblical doctrine in the church. It serves an integral role in the spiritual maturation of the church on earth (Hebrews 5:14).

Vertical Divider

Protecting and preserving the purity of doctrine by the indwelling Spirit of Christ requires patience. Therefore, rather than turning immediately to the thoughts and ideas given by God to others within the church body (i.e., Bible commentaries and other reference tools), wait faithfully and prayerfully for His gracious illumination of biblical truth. Thus, the essential biblical doctrine of grace through faith alone is protected, and the necessary foundation for understanding the word of God in proper context is preserved.

“The Distinct Church of the New Testament” serves to expose the worldly, simulated church for what it is, the product of Scriptural misinterpretation. In these last days, it is a call to return the church to New Testament standard so that it once again bears fruit in New Testament quality and quantity.

Learning to understand the church solely from a New Testament perspective has been a life-long process. Writing about it in the form of a book required faithful, prayerful dependence on God and thousands of hours over more than 20 years.

Please read “The Distinct Church of the New Testament” in the manner that it was written; prayerfully and dependently. As a consequence, I believe that you will be as blessed as I have been.