Foundational Scriptures
The Church at Gloriavale is founded upon the practical
application of God’s word. In attempting to follow the
New Testament model of the Church in the
Book of Acts, we found many scriptures which
gave us guidance to live a holy, sacrificial
life in the will of God.
The following selection of scriptures is not exhaustive,
but it does give the main Biblical foundation
of our life together.
- 1 -
The infallible word of God
Without a sure foundation, nothing can be built. For Christians, that foundation is the Bible. Quite apart from its historical reputation as a source of all the wisdom needed for this life, the scriptures themselves testify to their reliability. We have no time for arguments that the Bible is inaccurate or based upon Jewish myths and legends. We have proven it ourselves to be God’s infallible guide to finding His will in this life. When questions arise about doctrine or individual revelations, we go back to the written word for confirmation. It is our guide for everything we do in the Church.
Many prayerful years of study of the scripture have led us to study every aspect of a topic to find the will of God. Religious groups that seize upon the “truth” of only one or two scriptures may easily fall into error by ignoring other perspectives on the same topic. This does not mean that God’s word is full of contradictions, but that He has revealed certain things to certain people at different times.It is up to the reader to prayerfully search the scriptures to find God’s will. Now that we have the blessing of the complete set of scriptures, let us take advantage of God’s full revelation to us.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: -2 Timothy 3:16
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the wordofGod.
- Romans 10:17
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth ofGod. - Matthew 4:4
Salvation from sin and conversion to Christ
Many people think that humans are physical beings who sometimes have a “spiritual experience” while on this earth. When you consider that the soul is eternal, humans are really spiritual beings who have a short “earthly experience” before they are judged on how well they handled it. Salvation from sin must be part of our earthly experience if we are to be in the right place for the rest of eternity. What does the scripture say about this vital part of our life?
… for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
- Romans 3:23
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. - Acts 2:38
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
- Romans 6:22
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he isanewcreature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be bornagain, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- John 3:3
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:33
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up hiscrossdaily, and follow me.
- Luke 9:23
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: - Romans 5:1
Living in faith
Does our heavenly Father want us to trust Him? Can we trust Him? Should we trust Him? Yes, yes and yes. The practical Christian life demands a total acceptance of God’s will in our life, and the peace that comes with casting our natural burdens upon Him, for He does care for our physical needs as well as our spiritual.
Now the just shall livebyfaith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. - Hebrew 10:38
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: - Romans 13:8a
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, - Matthew 6:19a
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
- Matthew 6:31-34
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 7:21
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. - James 2:26
Living in holiness
There is no room in the Christian life for wilful sin. As we strive to be more like Jesus, the desire grows to live a more holy, sanctified life that is pleasing to God. While living under the New Testament means that we are blessed by God’s grace, it does not mean that we should abuse that privilege by deliberately committing sin and expecting that it will simply glossed over. God expects His people to live by His standards.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? - Romans 6:1,2
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1 John 5:18
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. I Thessalonians 4:7
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; … even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Romans 6:19
… teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:12
But above all things, my brethren, swearnot, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12
The Sharing Life of Love
Our testimony as the Children of God is related directly to how well we love one another,not with sentiment and feeling, but in practical, sacrificial ways. In the community life, sharing possessions and finances is only the beginning. How about sacrificing selfishness and pride to sharing time and abilities with people who need those things? How about living close to each other so we can see and meet each others’ daily needs?
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13: 34,35
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Acts 2:42,44,45
And when they did mete it with an omer, hethatgathered much had nothing over, and hethatgathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. Exodus 16:18
… as it is written, Hethathadgathered much had nothing over; and hethathadgathered little had no lack. 2 Corinthians 8:15
… but byanequality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 2 Corinthians 8:14
but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth bythestuff: they shall part alike. 1 Samuel 30:24
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Family Life
The practical Christian life must naturally involve family issues. How then does the Christian family function? The New Testament speaks plainly of the roles expected by men, women, young and old. No matter our relationships within the family, our commitment to God must come first. For instance, the commandment that wives should be in submission to their husbands must be considered with other scriptures, namely this one:
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:29-31
And this one:
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obeyGodrather than men. Acts 5:29
A wife is not bound to submit herself to her husband if he requires her to act against God’s word. Her first duty in the marriage relationship is to God, and then to her husband, as he submits himself to the Church. Note the expression below “as it is fit in the Lord”.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:18-20
Where the marriage relationship is in order, with the husband taking his role properly before God, the other scriptures take their place:
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:22, 23
Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 1 Timothy 2:15
Note also the responsibilities of the husband before God:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5: 25-33
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also. Genesis 38:9,10
Lo, childrenare an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:2,3
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.- 1 Timothy 2:9,10
Our relationship with the world
One of the biggest sources of contention and criticism of Christians concerns our relationship with the world. While God expects His people
to be in the world so they can be witnesses of His kingdom, they should not be of the world, carried along with its fashions and customs. The scriptures give enough clear guidance on this issue to help us set boundaries on what to do in issues of modesty, entertainment, fellowhip, sport, and a range of activities which can easily lead people into ungodly behaviour and sin.
Ye are the salt of the earth … Ye are the light of the world … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and whatcommunion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
Wherefore come out from among them, and beyeseparate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you … 2 Corinthians 6:17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:11
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. -Revelation 18:4(speaking of the false church known as Babylon the Great.)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4
Church Discipline
Church discipline is a necessary part of the Church’s responsibility to uphold holiness before the Lord. As New Testament Christians, we do not follow the law of the Old Testament, but can look to it as a guide to what God expects in moral issues, and how he has set examples of His judgments on people who broke His laws. There was no room for wilful disobedience of the law. Likewise, in the New Testament era, some issues must be dealt with so that the Church is ready for the return of Christ as a pure and spotless bride. Church discipline is exercised when necessary to prevent individuals affecting other people and creating more sin. It is not an area to be taken lightly, but it cannot be ignored.
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:15-18
… to deliver such an one untoSatan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:5
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Titus 3:10
Order in the Church
Any organisation requires good management. Rather than run the Church as a business, or as a social club, it is organised by God’s rules, for they come from the highest source of wisdom there is.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:4