The Church of Christ with The Elijah Message
BELIEF AND FAITH (continued)
Paul urged Timothy to "'preach the word," for, said he, "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; and they shall
turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." II Tim. 4:3, 4.
Dear reader, on such an essential question as salvation can you afford to speculate by adopting a tradition of
men foreign to the plan set forth in the word of God? When forgiveness of sins and the new birth of water and
Spirit bring us into the kingdom of "God, let us be careful to follow the unalterable plan found in the gospel of
Christ.
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
Following the performance of Baptism we have the ordinance of the Laying on of hands by the ministry for the
gift of the Holy Ghost, or the birth of the Spirit, that ever abiding Comforter; thus bringing God's plan to
fulfillment, without which no man may enter the church or kingdom of God. This ordinance is equally as
important in The Church of Christ as is baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.
One may enter some church, kingdom, creed, or society of man without the birth of the Spirit, but by no means
may one enter the kingdom of God without it. If the birth of the water requires obedience to an ordinance of
God, why should not the birth of the Spirit necessitate obedience to an ordinance in compliance with the written
word of God? To suppose the birth of the Spirit may be obtained in any haphazard way is just as ridiculous as
to suppose one may be baptized in any way he chooses.
The kingdom of God is a Kingdom of order and the law of the kingdom is the gospel. God gave that law that
man might be saved through obedience to it.
"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through
laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money." Acts 8:17, 18.
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues
and prophesied."--Acts 19:6.
By these scriptures you see that the laying on of hands was practiced by the servants of Christ for the bestowal
of the Holy Ghost. Nowhere do we find a command for any other method for the giving of the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
It is one of the principles of the gospel and surely one cannot do without the very principle things of salvation.
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying
on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment."--Heb. 6:1, 2.
Baptism and the laying on of hands are here placed by Paul as the very central pillars in the gospel of Christ.
On the one side stand repentance and faith; and on the other, the resurrection and the judgment. If the center
pillars are unnecessary so also are the ones that support them on either hand.
The ordinance of the Laying on of Hands is also practiced in The Church of Christ for the blessing of little
children, for the healing of the sick, and for the ordination of those called of God to the ministry.
Ananias was sent to Saul:
"And putting his hands on him said, Bro. Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou
tamest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."--Acts 9:17.
FOR THE BLESSING OF LITTLE CHILDREN
"And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them."--Mark 10:16.
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid
his hands on them, and departed thence."--Matt. 19:14, 15.
Christ laid his hands on little children and blessed them, but never did he or his disciples baptize them.
God never authorized such a practice. Baptism is for those who believe.--Mark 16:16.
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them."--Isa. 8:20.
Let us see that our belief and teaching are in accord with the word of God.
FOR THE SICK
"They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."--Mark 16:18.
"And he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them."--Luke 4:40.
"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people."--Acts 5:12.
"To whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him."--Acts 28:8.
"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with
oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."--James
5:14, 15.
The Laying on of Hands is just as sacred an ordinance as any other given by God. Then why not believe and
obey it?
This sacred ordinance was also used in The Church of Christ for ordination of his ministry, as the following
scripture shows:
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed they laid their hands on them, and sent
them away."--Acts 13:2, 3.
A ministry called by the Holy Ghost and ordained by the power of God through the ordinance he has instituted
and placed in his church, is not only pleasing to God but profitable to us in obtaining salvation; for "he whom
God hath sent speaketh the words of God." (John 3:34.)
May God bless the reader of this tract with Belief and Faith to obey the gentle call.
The Midnight Cry is sounding. The Second Coming of Christ is near. He has sent His Messenger, John, to
prepare the way.
Belief And Faith (part 1)
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