Author: the late William Henry Graham BA
The Way Back
—Part 2
Some years ago, an article for TRUTH IN LOVE was requested of my father Will Graham. In one of his notebooks, I found an article thought to be the one he intended for publication. It is here published as it was found, still in the final stages of preparation. In my father's last conversation with me, he charged me to preach all and only the truth of the scriptures. In these two instalments of his article, he tells us something of what that meant to him —RON GRAHAM SEPTEMBER, 1966.
THE WAY BACK (2) — By the late Will Graham
To be saved, sinners must go further on the Way of Salvation than Faith. "When they belived Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12).
It is vain to do what most denominationalists do and sprinkle or pour water on infants who cannot believe. This is one of many false practices of man-made churches and is contrary to Christ's teachings. "Baptize" is from the Greek word "Baptizo," which means to immerse or dip. Baptism is called burial. Only immersion can be burial.
Paul says, "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4).
Philip and the Ethiopian
In Acts 8:26-40, we have the Way of Salvation clearly shown. Phillip the evangelist was sent by God to the desert road. There he met an Ethiopian official returning from Jerusalem reading Isaiah 53, a prophecy concerning Christ.
Phillip explained this scripture and preached Jesus as Christ (that is, the Messiah or anointed Prophet, Priest and King for all men).
This official believed the good news, wished to turn to Christ, and said, "Here is water; what hinders me from being baptized?" Phillip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest" (Acts 8:36-37)
Then the African confessed his faith in Jesus as the Son of God. He went down into the water, was baptized into Christ, and came up from the water having put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
He went on his way happy for he had received God's Spirit and was now in the Way of Salvation. There may you be, dear reader, if you will do the same. Then you must go on loving Jesus, meeting with and loving those who love the Saviour, and keeping on to eternal life (Mark 10:29, 30).
The Church that Christ Built
Jesus said that they who endure unto the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13). Dear reader, come out of the sinful world, out of the false ways of man-made churches into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, into the church of Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6; Matthew 28:19 RV; 1Corinthians 1:11-17; Romans 16:16).
Christ built only one church His church (Matthew 16:18). He said, "I will build my church." It has no head but Christ; its headquarters are in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23). Synods, Conferences, man-titled clergy are inventions of men, forbidden by Christ. The church of the Lord therefore has no Doctors of Divinity or Reverends. All are brethren (Matthew 23:1-10).
The worship is simple and scriptural where such New Testament churches are found. No man is exalted in this worship. It centres in Christ. The brethren remember Him in the Lord's Supper, reading God's Word, praying, singing hymns, and giving to the church's needs (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19).
Unity in Love
In the church of Christ love must bring unity. Jesus said: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples; if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).
On the night before he was nailed to the cross, He prayed that his followers "might be one as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee: that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-21).
[On that note, my father ended his article on the true and living Way which we should all follow. I trust that in these two instalments of his article, you have been challenged to walk the Way Back to God —RON GRAHAM.]
William Henry Graham fell asleep in Jesus on 16 December 1961.