J.D. Tant
When the church was established and began to work, Paul wrote 14 letters to churches and preachers telling them how to live. James wrote one letter, Peter two, John three, and Jude one. These are all letters of church discipline and government, telling church members how to live.
The last book in the New Testament was written by John. The Revelation not only tells of the past and the present in the first century, but crosses the river of death and tells us of the future home God has prepared for those who love Him and do His commandments. He tells us that on the other side of the river of death there is no night, but one eternal day; no sickness, sorrow, pain, or death. The river of life and the tree of life are found there. So the New Testament—properly divided, read, understood, and obeyed—is a safe guide to lead us into the city whose Builder and Maker is God.
In summary, there are 27 books in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell me what I must believe in order to be saved. Acts of Apostles tells me what I must do to be saved. The 21 letters of Christian instruction that follow tell me how I must live and work after I am saved in order to finally reach the heavenly home we read about in the last book of the Bible.
My brethren are often condemned for preaching so much in Acts of Apostles, but this will be our leading book as long as we teach salvation to a dying world, for this is where we find the plan of salvation first taught by the apostles after they had Holy Ghost baptism which qualified them to preach the gospel to all the world. As long as we teach the same things the apostles taught them to do, we are sure we are teaching the word of God, and we are also sure we will be rewarded at the last day for so doing. So, let all be satisfied with the simple word of God, to teach and fight it out along that line, knowing that if we do this, heaven will be our home.
