In the Lord’s longsuffering and patience this world is ushered into another year of the patience of Christ. Those who have the light of God’s Word for their guidance, see plainly the signs that tell them the end of the present order of things is near. The floating bits of debris, the seaweed, the vegetation, the flocks of unknown birds, all told Columbus that land was near and that his long and perilous journey was at an end. With ever increasing eagerness he peered out into the horizon until the cry of “Land ahead!” brought every man on deck, So the heaving unrest of the world, the rapid spread of evil doctrines, the awful rapidity in apostacy of professing Christians, and the giving up of the inspired Word of God, all tell the Christian that our redemption draweth nigh, that very soon the shout shall be given, “Come up hither,” and we shall rise to meet the blessed Lord in the air.
One of the marks of the last days is the refusal of the professing church to endorse sound doctrine, and the heaping to themselves (professed Christians) of teachers who will preach what suits their unregenerate hearts (2 Tim. 4:3-43For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3‑4)). The result of this is the ever increasing confusion in Christendom, until the present condition of things could be called little less than a Babel. With divisions and schisms on every hand, with many claiming the right of independent judgment in matters of religion, what is the refuge of the truly earnest godly soul? The Scriptures answer the query for us: “I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:3232And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)).
It is in view of bringing before our hearts the truth of the Scriptures with respect to the Church of God that we purpose, with the Lord’s help, to take up a series of studies on the origin, history, practice, conduct and ‘discipline of the Church of God as found in the Scriptures. May the Lord bless the study to the soul of each who shall follow the questions through the year.