Introduction

All histories are selective short accounts. The Bible itself is condensed narrative. In the bibliography are listed 47,618 pages of references used in writing the 381 pages of this book. The content that has been included, has been selected in order to lead the reader to follow the Pattern of Christ based upon the Word of God alone.

The perspective of this book is that there exists one unchanging Pattern for the church which is Christ Jesus Himself. In character and in method of ministry, He is the perfect example and standard for all who follow Him. All that He was and everything He did had the full approval of His Father in heaven.

No improvement can be or ought to be made upon this Pattern. Nothing is to be ignored or deleted. Likeness to Christ will always meet with the Father’s, “Well done.” Departure from Him will ever be encountered otherwise. All is to be evaluated and adjusted in light of the perfect Pattern of Christ according to His Word which cannot be broken [Jn.10:35].

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven [Ps.119:89]. This is the unchanging reference point for all things pertaining to life and godliness by which we become partakers of the divine nature[2 Pet.1:3,4]. It is this Word that abides forever [Isa.40:8], is right concerning everything [Ps.119:128], and apart from which, there is no light [Isa.8:20].

The very words of the Bible are inspired [Mt.5:18] and alone are authoritative for all believers in every generation and in every place [I Cor.1:2; 4:17; 14:37]. It is the Word of Christ that will judge one and all on the last day [Jn.12:48].

Therefore, nothing else is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness except the teaching that is according to the inspired Scriptures [2 Tim.3:16,17]. All else is worthless for godliness, and deadly to spiritual health and eternal well-being [Mk.7:5-9; Col.2:16-23]. This is the outlook from which this book has been written. The sincere prayer of the author is:

1. To stimulate the brethren to love and good deeds by reorienting our hearts and churches back to the only enduring foundation of Christ and His Word.
2. To encourage brethren who are being persecuted by prevailing institutional religions to endure all with patience and joy without compromise out of love for Christ.
3. To provide a biblical and historical frame of reference for Christian beliefs and practices among West African brethren especially.

Christ and His Word: All else will be swept away in an overflowing flood [Mt.7:24-27] and rise in disastrous smoke [I Cor.3:10-15]. May the Lord preserve us for Himself without spot or blemish or any such thing that we might become His devoted and loving bride [Eph.5:27]. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, both now, and unto all generations. Amen.

Test all things; hold fast what is good
I Thess.5:21

They received the Word with all eagerness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so
Acts 17:11

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Idioma

English

Autor

Steve Phillips

Temas

História da igreja

Dificuldades e sofrimento

Doctrine

A igreja