Olsen Park Church of Christ


“Ask for the Old Paths”

Introduction. Before the Lord allowed Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and carry off her people to exile God rebuked the people (Jer. 6:9-17). In verse 16 note he called the people to restoration—“ask for the old paths, where the good way is.”

A. The plea for restoration is not new. Nor is it recent.

1. Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” to a wicked world (2 Peter 2:5).

2. Ezra called the people after the exile to return to faithfulness to the Lord (Neh. 8:1-8).

3. John the baptist, even before his birth was foretold to bring restoration (Luke 1:13-17).

B. Restoration is a constant need, a regular part of all preaching - 1 Peter 4:11; Jeremiah 6:14-16

C. Therefore, what does it mean to return to the old paths?

I. Restoration is a Scriptural Ideal (Deut. 32:7; Rev. 2:1-5).

A. Restoration denotes: the state of something being restored to its former good and proper condition.

B. Faith in Christ begins with the ratification of the New Testament.

1. Every group has the need of some document to give reason for its existence.

2. Today's religious groups have conventions to make new laws and enforce what they have before decided.

a. These documents have the force of a creed.

b. They are policy statements that not only identify sects, but promote them.

c. They are divisive and serve to affirm mars of division.

3. However, God's word demand something much different—It demands unity of doctrine and practice (1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-5).

C. To restore the New Testament as the only source of authority in religion, means we must return to preaching that appeals to Scriptural authority for what we teach—“Book, chapter, and verse preaching.”

1. It means we must earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3).

2. It means not only that we will accept no more than God's word, but that we will accept no less.

3. It means we will tolerate no substitution for the revealed word of God (Gal. 1:6-9).

D. Restoration to the “old paths” of true faith is the good way (Jer. 6:16).

E. Let’s look at what restoring the NT as the only rule of faith and practice will do.

II. It restores God's law of pardon.

A. Think about that! No more differences in how people are told to "accept Christ."

1. If we follow the gospel, there will be not more call to the mourner's bench, a call to the alter in another, a call to pray through, or a call to merely “accept Jesus as your personal savior” in another.

B. People would do what was done in the Acts of the Apostles!

1. People were taught about Jesus. Philip taught “Christ” (Acts 8:5).

a. Those who believed were called upon to repent of their sins, confess their faith and be baptized (cf. Acts 8:12).

C. There would no longer be any “hyphenated” Christians, just Christians, followers of God's word.

III. It restores the purity of worship.

A. People today seem to think that any action extended as worship to God is acceptable to Him. It is not so.

1. No matter how sincere people are, the worship they extend to God must have His approval. Jesus taught that God seeks worship in “spirit” and “truth” (John 4:23-24).

B. The New Testament church worshipped using only those acts approved by God in His word.

1. They sang praises to God (Eph. 5:19); they prayed (Acts 2:47); they gave of their means (1 Cor. 16:1-2); they observed the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7); they studied together (Acts 20:7).

C. Would it not be a wonderful thing if everyone worshipped God in the way that pleases Him?

IV. It restores the local church.

A. There is no record in the New Testament of the kind of organization present in most religious denominations today.

1. There was no central organization, no headquarters, no regional offices, no metropolitan overseers.

B. In the NT, each congregation was autonomous (self-governing).

1. Each congregation appointed elders and deacons (Phil. 1:1).

2. Operated by itself in the interest of its own membership.

C. No eldership was given more jurisdiction than the local congregation (1 Peter 5:2).

D. No local church had power over any other local church, but each functioned under the headship of Christ in accordance with the will of God (Eph. 1:22-23).

E. Their work was spiritual and not carnal. Division is carnal or “fleshly” (1 Cor. 3:1-5).

Conclusion.

A. It is not merely idealistic to call for a return to the New Testament order, it is an absolute necessity (1 Peter 4:11).

1. This is sometimes a challenging thing. Restoration and unity is not an easy process. Have you ever sat in a Bible class and heard (what seemed to be) people bickering over a small point? Let me challenge you to think about something...

2. First, as Christians we need to be very careful to be kind in religious discussions. We live a world that is so turned off by harsh argumentation that even if the issue is true they often will not listen because of what they consider to be “hateful” attitudes.

3. Second, why do people even “contend” for a position of Scripture?—“They are just argumentative!” Perhaps...but that should not be the motive.—People “contend” for things they care about! Which is better to have people that care about God’s word (but may struggle with how to stand up for it with gentleness) or people that don’t care at all?

4. Third, “asking for the old paths” demands some caution, some patience, and some respect for conscience. We have received some flack over the fact that we have not called this Summer Bible Study a “Vacation Bible School.” Why? VBS is not a Biblical name, but some of our deacons felt even if we called it “Vacation Bible Study” if might give the impression that we are going to do the kind of non-Scriptural, entertainment kind of practices the denominations do.

         Is that a silly concern? You might think so, but it is born out of a desire to “ask for the old paths.”

         We must work together through such things—not get frustrated with each other over them.

B. Salvation is a restoration to a relationship with God.

1. Are you in need of restoration in your life?

Kyle Pope 2014
Modified from a lesson
by Randy Cavender

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