Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
up mangled into nothing, far away down yonder over the white,
turbulent foam. "One was saved upon the cross," as the old
divines used to tell us, "that none might despair, and only one,
that none might presume." Alex. Maclaren.
RESTORATION PLEA
737. Sectarianism in the Christian world, so called, is the
growth of centuries. Sects have multiplied, for the most part,
I believe, from a sincere desire to get nearer to, and to follow
more closely and faithfully, the teachings of the Scriptures. All
such efforts are commendable; but their fault and failure in
the past have been in closing the gates, so to speak, which should
have been left wide open. The sects have been formed by being
content with partial reformations. Reformations are unnecessary.
The religion of Christ as we find it in the only place
where it is divinely exhibited—in the New Testament— is perfect.
It was unfolded and perfected by the instrumentality of
the apostles, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit (John 14 : 26
16:13-15). What is needed, therefore, is a full and unfettered
restoration of the religion of Christ as we find it in the New
Testament. Creeds, confessions of faith, human formulas, must
all be swept aside and the New Testament alone become the
standard of appeal and the basis of our faith and practice.
It is quite certain that for the first hundred years, at least,
the early church was exclusively and absolutely dependent upon
Christ's inspired messengers for all that it required to know in
order to its perfection in the Christian life. Thus it was kept
united as "one body," and by its zeal in "good works" it showed
forth the praises of Him who had called His people out of
darkness into His glorious light.
Let the whole body of believers throughout the world solemnly
pledge itself to the guidance of the New Testament alone, for
all that it needs to do the will of God. There may be variations
in administration, but. the foundation principle being one, the
unity of the Christian world must soon become an accomplished
fact.
738. The plea of churches of Christ is, in a word, the restoration
of New Testament. Christianity and the union of all Chris-
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