Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THAT OLD TIME RELIGION

“Gimme that old time religion… it’s good enough for me.” go the lyrics of an old spiritual song. The problem is that when most folks talk about old time religion, theirs does not go back any further than early America. Others run theirs back to the Protestant Reformation nearly 500 years ago. Then the Romans and Greeks go back to the days of the Roman Empire, but none of these are old enough for acceptance. They were not good for father, mother, sister, brother, and they are not good enough for this writer. But there is an old time religion that is good enough. Think of it this way.

The faith once delivered to the saints is the core faith of the church of our Lord. It has come down through the centuries from the shores of Galilee when Jesus called out His Church, taught it, and subsequently commissioned it, and empowered it with Holy Spirit activity. He promised it perpetuity throughout all ages. Eph. 3:21, Matt.

28:18-20. Moreover, those He called out were His people of covenant whom He had come to redeem (remove) from that old covenant by fulfilling it, and nailing it to His cross. Those Jewish disciples that made up the first church were related in lineage and faith to Abraham with whom God made the great covenant of promise, and whose righteousness of life rested squarely on his belief in those promises of God. Paul explained this way to the churches of Galatia: “ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none

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