From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Editor's Note: The 80th Annual Convention of the American Council of Christian Churches met in Monroeville, New Jersey from October 19-21, 2021. The convention approved several resolutions on critical issues confronting Christians and the church in our time, including the one below. We present it for the edification and encouragement of God's people. - Dr. Paul Elliott [1]

American Council of Christian Churches
80th Anniversary Convention, October 19-21, 2021
Hardingville Bible Church, Monroeville, New Jersey
Resolution on the Convention Theme, "Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever"

Bible believers face challenges and changes at an accelerated pace today. The world gleefully dives into the deep end of depravity. Heresy, apostasy, and compromise continue their cancerous spread, infecting, debilitating, and distracting lives and bringing spiritual death. Many men and ministries that once were valiant for truth and the separatist cause have adopted the course of appeasement and conciliation. Faithful saints have been called home to glory or are no longer able to be heavily engaged in the "good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). Such circumstances can cause discouragement and loneliness.

Christians in the first century who came out of Judaism experienced difficult circumstances, especially as persecution increased. The temptation to go back to the more comfortable and "safe" position of Judaism was significant. The Epistle to the Hebrews encouraged these believers to continue faithfully in the Lord Jesus Christ, at every point showing that He was better than Judaism. The last chapter of Hebrews has several practical exhortations. In the middle of those admonitions is a statement that encouraged them, and Christians ever since, to persevere zealously in the faith: "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Christ is unchanging in His person, promises, and commands. Because He never changes, Christians have the brightest hope, the surest support, and the strongest position.

The unchanging Christ is the reason his Church continues. He is the reason the American Council of Christian Churches began in 1941 and continues today. The basis of Christ's Church is neither human reflections on religious themes nor the adaptation of Christ's truths to depraved human culture, but Christ's unchanging truths as given in Holy Scripture. Christ hones our consideration of evaluating men and movements - we must simply find where Christ stands on an issue and stand there with Him. Christ's unchanging truth enables the right assessment of any issue, individual, institution, or movement.

Unlike many "fundamental," "evangelical," or "progressive" Christian religious organizations that accommodate Christianity to the culture, the true Christ of Holy Scripture never changes. Christ gives steadfast hope to continue, no matter how many may attack or defect. Christ gives motivation to persevere in the darkest times. The scriptural truths of Christ's unchanging life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and ascension have been, are, and always will be true. Sinners' only hope always has been, is now, and always will be Christ alone. Christ's heavenly intercession will continue. The promise of His glorious coming in power was true in New Testament times, is true now, and always will be unto its fulfillment.

Therefore, the American Council of Christian Churches at its 80th Anniversary, October 19-21, 2021, at Hardingville Bible Church in Monroeville, NJ, resolves to rest and persevere zealously in our unchanging Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Following their faith, we thank the Lord for those who have gone before us in the ACCC (Hebrews 6:12). We will strive by God's grace to be valiant for truth and the separatist cause, earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 3). We will believe, obey, and proclaim Christ's truth. We will not yield to the siren song of worldly culture or seek to appease popular assessment. We will adhere to Christ's eternal truth given in Holy Scripture. Our motivation is the settled hope that Jesus Christ will come in power and great glory.

References:

1. Dr. Elliott is a member of the Executive Committee of the ACCC.

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