Robert F. Turner Articles

Posted on: January 20th, 2019

Would You? Check your heart, and I’ll check mine. A man/woman you have strong disagreement with is unaware of a car about to strike him. Would you put your life in danger to save that person? If the answer is “no”, then we are not getting the principle of love for all men and have no way of appreciating what Jesus did on the cross for us. What if you knew that the person in danger is someone who hates you? Would you still try to push them out of the path of the car?
What if they hurt you really badly with words that undermine your worth and treat you as worthless? Would you still love and value them enough to try to save them from danger? I am applying this test to you and me, and it is the test Jesus passed.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-9)
This is the test that Jesus is asking us to pass. Let’s think of various ways we can begin passing such a test today and every day. Amen?
<Robert F. Turner>

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WHAT WENT FORTH?

What “went forth” from Jerusalem? Well, Isaiah prophesied the “ways—paths—law—and word” of the Lord would “go forth” (2:3). Fulfillment, as recorded in Acts 2: vindicates the prediction. One searches in vain for Peter’s emphasis upon some institution that would save, or stand between God and man. Oh yes, the Lord’s “church” was established—for when people “gladly received” the word (that had “gone forth”) they became a part of that called-out body that belonged to Christ. But it is CHRIST who saves, via His ways, paths, etc.
Now, how does Christ’s church grow? An excellent example is found in Acts 11. Gospel teachers came to Antioch and preached “the Lord Jesus” (vs. 20). Preached the “church”? No, preached that which had gone forth from Jerusalem—the “ways, paths, law, and word” of the Lord. Verse 21 says, “a great number believed, and turned unto…” the “church”? No; “to the Lord.” Oh yes, in coming to the Lord they became a part of the Lord’s people, His “church;” but the record says, they “turned unto the Lord.”
Barnabas exhorted them to “cleave” (be faithful) “unto the Lord” (vs. 23). Why didn’t he tell them to be faithful to the church? I don’t know—it doesn’t say. but I do know what it says. And in the growth and development of this effort we are told “much people were added unto the LORD.” (rt)
We have discussed, to this point, the prophecy, coming into existence, and propagation of—what? Salvation in Christ! The product of this manifestation of grace—the called out people of God (1 Pet. 2:9)—are God’s FLOCK, or BODY, FAMILY, KINGDOM, etc. There are figurative designations, each emphasizing some special characteristic of these people. “CHURCH” is a collective noun (like “flock”) that is applied to these people—as a whole (Matt. 16:18), with geographic restrictions (Acts 9:31, A.S.), and as local organized groups (Phil. 1:1; 4:15).
But individuals may be cut off from the body of Christ (Rom. 11:20-22; 2 Pet. 2:2), and local churches may be no longer recognized—their “candlestick” removed (Rev. 2:1-5). This too, is determined on the basis of that which “went forth from Jerusalem.” Diotrephes could change the roster of men, but God’s roll counts for eternity (3 Jn. 8\9-10; 2 Tim. 2:16-19). Heeding “perverse things” (Acts 20:29-f), and “leaving thy first love”  (Christ) is what removes individuals and local groups from God’s favor.
Emphasis upon the institutional aspect of “the church” was one of the earliest steps to apostasy. The whole or universal body of people was seen as a corporate “society” which took precedence over the word of God. The “church” was soon regarded as authority for the word—“mother” of that which brought it into existence. The “infallible” church is an outgrowth of this earlier error. We quickly repudiate that fruit, but may plant its seed, if we forget that the WORD, not the “church,” will judge us eternally. <Robert F. Turner>