WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

But, let us just take another glance at these people, and just ask a few questions as to how this life, this wonderful unity, this wonderful life, shows itself. The first way in which it always shows itself is this - that they have a love of the same doctrine always: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine". Doctrine before fellowship, doctrine before breaking of bread, doctrine before prayer. It is the reverse today, is it not? Fellowship is the greatest thing. "Let us all get together; let us all pray together." No, no! Doctrine first. Why? Well, this is inevitable. A man who has got something of the life of God in his soul is always the man who desires to know the teaching and doctrine. Peter uses this as a comparison: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." How do you know that that little child that has been born is a live child and not a dead birth? The answer is, the live child makes for the milk, every young animal does the same; it makes for the food. Its nature demands it, cries out for it. And the man who is born again is a man who wants teaching.

I want to ask some plain questions here tonight - I am addressing evangelical people. Do you enjoy doctrine? Are you interested in teaching? I sometimes hear from my brethren that they visit churches where a limit is put on the length of their sermon, and indeed on the content of their sermon. The people say they can't follow doctrine, they are bored by doctrine. The want entertainment, they want more singing, they want more "happiness", they say – and they do not want doctrine.

Now I am free to admit that a man may preach doctrine in such a dull manner that it really is boring. I am making no defence of that. But I am here to say this, that unless you have got a desire within you to know of this precious blessed Truth, you cannot be a child of God: it is impossible. The child craves for it, as the babe always makes for the milk.

How vitally important this is for us in every department of our lives. Do you not see the dangers? Look at the false teachings round about us. How can I be safe with regard to these unless I have got an objective standard? Take all this emphasis upon experience. People say "I don't care what you believe as long as you have had an experience, or your life has been changed, or you are a good and a kind man", and so on. But, my dear friends, the cults can talk like that, and they do talk like that. How do you know that you are right and that that man who is selling you those books at your front door is not right? How do you prove it? It is no use saying, "Well, I have had an experience." He says he has had one. It is no use saying, "I am zealous in my church." He is. He gives up watching football on Saturday afternoons to go round from house to house to sell his books. He is very zealous, probably more than you are. How do you tell whether a man is right or wrong? You cannot in terms of zeal and enthusiasm or experience. There is only one ultimate test – objective Truth. The teaching! The doctrine! So this is the thing that is put first.

And then you come to fellowship; but you cannot have fellowship unless you are agreed. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" How can you ever have real fellowship with a man when you know that he does not believe in the Deity of Christ and His atoning sacrifice? It is impossible. Fellowship is based upon Truth.

"Breaking of bread." What are we commemorating in our Communion Service? Is it the death of a pacifist? Is it a tragedy that once took place? You cannot partake truly at the Table with a man who holds such views. Doctrine is essential in fellowship and breaking of bread.

And to prayer. They say, "We can all pray together. We do not agree perhaps, but we can all pray together." But you cannot. What is prayer? How do you get access to God? One man says that all you need to do is to sit on a comfortable chair and relax and start listening to God. My friends there is only one way to enter into the holiest of all, there is only one way to pray - it is "by the blood of Jesus." … … …. and there we see them "continuing stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.

"Take away a toy from a child and give him another, and he is satisfied; but if he be hungry, no toy will do. As newborn babes, true believers, desire the sincere milk of the word".

John Newton