Magyar Egyház, 1984 (63. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1984-09-01 / 4. szám
4. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD “and there will be one fold and one shepherd.’ John 10:1-16 Let us rise above the gloom and dark rlouds of every day life and receive inspiration from those, who lived and showed us what truth, justice and righteousness are. If we think about our text, we must admit, that the illustration used by Jesus in the Bible, is a striking and symbolic example. The Lord knew the simple life of countrymen, who were shephers tending their sheep. To protect a sheep, they built sheepfolds sorrounded with stone walls, where they kept watch over the flock by day and night that neither wolf nor thief may take them away. Shepherds usually sleep on the field, taking terms to watch over the flock. Using this picturesque discription of the parable, the Lord Jesus likened Himself to the GOOD SHEPHERD, who is willing to give His life for His sheep. We are all members of His flock and there are constant temptations and evil powers trying to steel the faithful people from the fold of God. Let us see, that we have a good shepherd, the shepherd of souls, and although there are various denominations in the world, the CHURCH OF GOD IS ONE. and according to the Bible, the times shall come, when THERE WILL BE ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD. I. The unity of mankind always was the dream of world conquerors and dictators. Modern leaders and generals of the Leage of Nations, try to unite the nations but fail. The United Nations today has this very same purpose. Mussolini. Hitler. Stalin — all former leaders of our century: writers, poets, and politicians all have had dreams of uniting the people of the world. Those who built the tower of Babel, and others who established great world powers, at one time or another: the Mongols, the Chinese, the Greeks and Romans: the French under Napoleon, and all the modern dictators were possessed with this aim TO UNITE THE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM ONE. But all human efforts, no matter how great, have failed. We know from the Bible, that after building the TOWER OF BABEL, the people were more scattered than ever before. To unite people by force and weapons and fear is impossible. Who can force a country to unite with another country, without the consent and will of the people? Can anyone intimidate you to pray-in a particular church, or to fold your hands in a prescribed manner? Can anyone keep the soul down in the dusty dungeons, where the greatest martyrs of Christianity suffered for their faith? No dear brothers when the blood of martyrs flowed, the church of Cod grew even in the uttermost ends of the world. During the Reformation, the Bibles were burned . . . and more hi hies were printed . . . True believers of Christ were persecuted and more people stepped into the foreground ol martyrs. There was no power on earth able to stop the great reformation movement. When the pilgrim fathers were expelled from England. Holland, France and other countries, they came here to a strange new land and established churches making provisions lor those, who were persecuted, founding a nation, where all men may find refuge from RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PERSECUTION. II. Unity in Jesus Christ: We all know, that there are countless divisions among people, due to their political, social and national differences hut we must also take into consideration, that there are many different denominations in the world, and CHRISTIANS ARE NOT UNITED. We must remember, that Martin Luther, John Calvin and the other forerunners of the reformation were loyal sons of the Church, who never wanted to separate themselves from the Church of Cod. It was “only” the purification of the Church that they advocated. They all proclaimed, what the Bible says: that SALVATION IS BY FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. These reformers preached against all human and man-made laws and traditions that crept into the church throughout the centuries. They spoke out against the many superstitions in the church. Not one of them had any intention of forming a new church, they only wished to see the Church of Cod purified, from those practices which were contrary to the Bible. They advocated that every individual must give an account to COD ALONE of his sins, and he will be judged by Him alone, and not by man. Jesus Christ is the only UNITY of MANKIND. This unity in the Lord is not an outward but rather an inward unity, when all who are the children of Cod will be one in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many colors in the fields, when the summer flowers they are in bloom. Also, there are many hues in the sunset, but they all belong to the same sun. There are many fruits in the autumn, but they all bespeak of the Creator. There are many nations, and many races and millions of people all around the world, but we have only ONE HEAVENLY FATHER AND ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WHO IS OUR SHEPHERD. In Jesus Chri st we are all children of God. He died for all the sins of the world. Yes, Jesus' cross is the center, where all differences and barriers disappear. Rulers, dictators and nations trembled, millions died, and kings were dethroned, but Jesus Christ remains the same, yesterday, today and for ever. His church is invisible, and all who believe in Him are members of that one universal church is united for ever. This is the only hope for all Christians. Let us pray, that as children of Cod, we may profess Him Lord of all: ONE FOLD, ONE SHEPHERD... Until then, we must continually pray for Cod to protect our church, that we may be one in Christ, with all other Christians, and He should he our only shepherd. D.A. llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll PILGRIMAGE TO THE BIBLE LANDS March 18-29, 1985 FROM NEW YORK CITY $1,419.00 FROM DETROIT $1.569.00 REGISTER NOW. CALL OR WRITE FOR INFORMATION REV. DEZSŐ AND MARGARET ABRAHAM 18700 MIDWAY AVENUE ALLEN PARK. MI 48101 TELEPHONE: 813-381-8400 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiii mu.........
