IDENTIFIABLE MARKS of the New Testament Church

1
IDENTIFIABLE MARKS of the New Testament Church

• (part 2)

2
Lesson 1

• looked at how the Lords Church used the New
  Testament as their only rule of faith
• looked at how the Lords church had a distinct
  kind of worship in spirit and truth
• contribution
• Lords Supper
• praise a cappella
• prayer through Jesus name
• preaching/teaching

3
3. Is Organized the CorrectWay

• each local church is self-governing
• Autonomous
• able to make decisions and act on them as a free
  and independent body
• doesnt need authority from another congregation
  to act
• is never independent from the law of Christ

4
3. Is Organized the Correct Way

• each local church is self-governing
• Autonomous
• Elders (also called pastors and bishops) and
  deacons when men meet the qualifications of such
• uses scriptural terms in a scriptural way

LOCAL CONGREGATION
5
Acts 1423
So when they had appointed elders in every
church, and prayed with fasting, they commended
them to the Lord in whom they had believed (NKJV)

• there were appointed a plurality of elders in
  every single church!
• NOT one elder over one church
• NOT one elder over many churches
• NOT an eldership over many churches
• TWO OR MORE elders over one church

6
CHURCHES MAY BE

• 1) Scripturally Unorganized
• as the church at Lystra, Iconium and Antioch were
  previously (Acts 1421-23)
• 2) Scripturally Organized
• Philippi (Phil. 11).
• 3) Unscripturally Unorganized
• things were lacking (Titus 15)
• 4) Unscripturally Organized
• Diotrephes (3 Jn. 9, 10)

7
The Evolution of Apostasy

• establishing a monarchal bishop
• one elder elevated over others to be chairman
• became generally accept by 150 AD (Alexandar,
  Wallace, Introducing the Church of Christ, pp.
  73, 74)

8
The Evolution of Apostasy

• larger churches (e.g., Antioch, Rome, etc.)
  established other churches
• felt a paternal responsibility
• monarchal bishop of the larger churches wielded
  influence over these smaller newer churches

C
C
C
M. B.
C
9
The Evolution of Apostasy

• councils were created (i.e., Nicene Council 325
  AD)
• bishops met in synods no longer as
  representatives but as authorities to dictate
  rules to the churches
• ultimately the monarchal bishop of Rome was given
  authority over bishops of other churches (607 AD)

10
Boniface III, Pope
(607) Born probably Rome, c.550 died there. He
was sent as legate to Constantinople by Gregory
the Great. As pope he obtained from Emperor
Phocas a confirmation that Rome was the head of
all churches, and its bishop was Universal
Bishop. (http//www.catholic-forum.com)
11
The Evolution of Apostasy

• councils were created (i.e., Nicene Council 325
  AD)
• bishops met in synods no longer as
  representatives but as authorities to dictate
  rules to the churches
• ultimately the monarchal bishop of Rome was given
  authority over bishops of other churches (607 AD)
• doctrine of papal infallibility (Vatican Council,
  1870 AD)

12
Further Evolution of Apostasy
WHY NOT JUST RESPECT THE SIMPLE DIVINE DICTATE OF
SCRIPTURE? . . .appoint elders in every city as
I commanded you (Titus 15)

• Reformation Movement
• leaders wanted to reform the apostate church
• kept some/many of the aspects of its hierarchy

13
BEWARE of using scriptural terms in an
unscriptural way!

• elder Mormon elders (qualifications)
• be male
• be baptized within the Mormon Church
• have the Aaronic Priesthood conferred
• be ordained a priest
• live a relatively righteous life(click for
  reference)
• Scriptural References? NONE!

14
An Aaronic Melchizedekian Priesthood?

• Perfection was not under Aarons priesthood (Heb.
  711)
• Aarons priesthood was changed (Heb. 712)
• The Scriptures speak of only one who is of the
  Melchizedekian Priesthood
• Note another priest (Heb. 711 cf. Gal. 316)

15
How can some Mormons be in Melchizedeks Order?

• Have Mormons met Abraham (Heb. 71)?
• Are Mormons without father, mother, and genealogy
  (Heb. 73)?
• Is it true of some Mormons that they are having
  neither beginning of days nor end of life (Heb.
  73)?
• Are they, made like the Son of God, remains a
  priest continually (Heb. 73)?
• Did Abraham tithe to any Mormon (Heb. 74)?
• Is there a Mormon who has come, according to the
  power of an endless life (Heb. 716)?

16
Bible Elder VS Mormon Elder

• N.T. Elder
• be blameless (Titus 16)
• be the husband of one wife (Titus 16)
• having faithful or believing children (Titus 16)

• Mormon Elder
• relatively righteous
• be male, doesnt have to be married
• doesnt have to have children
• be baptized in Mormon Church

Scriptural Term Unscriptural Usage
17
BIBLE TERMS, FALSE USES

• ELDER
• NOT A MORMON ELDER
• TOO YOUNG
• NO CHILDREN

• BISHOP
• NOT A CATHOLIC BISHOP
• NOT MARRIED
• NO CHILDREN
• OVER TOO MANY CHURCHES
• NO ELDERSHIP

• PASTOR
• NOT A PROTESTANT PASTOR
• TOO MUCH POWER
• NO ELDERSHIP

18
1 Pet. 51-4

• elder Gk. presbuteros
• pastor Gk. poimaino
• bishop GK. episkopeo

(NKJV)

• 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am
  a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of
  Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
  will be revealed 2 Shepherd the flock of God
  which is among you, serving as overseers, not by
  compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain
  but eagerly 3 nor as being lords over those
  entrusted to you, but being examples to the
  flock 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears,
  you will receive the crown of glory that does not
  fade away.

19
4. Members Wear Scriptural Designations
Ac 1126, And when he had found him, he brought
him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year
they assembled with the church and taught a great
many people. And the disciples were first called
Christians in Antioch (NKJV)

• not Baptists
• not Catholics
• not Presbyterians
• not Pentecostals
• not Lutherans
• just Christians

20
Acts 2628

• Then Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade
  me to become a Christian (NKJV)
• CAN WE PERSUADE YOU TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN TODAY?

21
5. Teaches the True Plan of Salvation

• what did first-century gospel preachers say that
  one MUST do to be saved?
• compare these to what your preacher says?

22
(Power Point Lessons Link)
BE BAPTIZED
SALVATION
CONFESS
REPENT
BELIEVE
HEAR
Acts 1730
Rom. 1010
Acts 237, 38
Rom. 1010
Rom. 1017
23
Some May Ask

• Why didnt Peter preach confession in Acts 2?
• Why didnt Paul preach baptism in Romans 10?

The entirety of Your word is truth, And every
one of Your righteous judgments endures forever
(Ps. 119160, NKJV)
24
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD IN ROMANS
For whoeverCALLSon the name of the LORD shall
be saved.
ROMANS 1013
CALLS ON THE NAME SAVED!
25
CALLS (Strongs 1941)

• Can be used regarding a surname (Mt. 103 Lk.
  223 Acts 123 etc.)
• Can be used of prayer (Acts 759 1 Pet. 117)
• Can be used to invoke another
• Caesar (Acts 2511, 12, 21, 25 2632 2819)
• God as witness (1 Cor. 123)
• Can be used of appealing to God in baptism (Acts
  2216 221, cf. vv. 37, 38)

26
ROMANS 1014
How then shall they CALL on Him in whom they
have not BELIEVED? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not HEARD? And how shall
they hear without a PREACHER?
A PROGRESSION



PREACHING
BELIEF
HEAR
CALL

SALVATION
27
ROMANS 1014
How then shall they CALL on Him in whom they
have not BELIEVED? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not HEARD? And how shall
they hear without a PREACHER?
OBSERVATIONS
'BELIEVING' IS NOT 'HEARING'
'CALLING' IS NOT 'BELIEVING'
28
For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall
be saved. How then shall they call on Him in
whom they have not believed? And how shall they
believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And
how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom.
1013, 14)
CALL
HEAR
BELIEVE



SAVED
BAPTISM
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. He who believes and is baptized
will be saved. . . (Mk. 1615, 16)
Jesus and Paul are teaching the same thing!
29
QUESTIONS

• DID JESUS TEACH THE SAME THING THAT PAUL TAUGHT
  REGARDING SALVATION?
• ARE MARK 16 AND ROMANS 10 COMPLEMENTARY OR
  CONTRADICTORY?

30
The Blood and Baptism
CHRIST
Eph. 17
Gal. 327
CHURCH
Eph. 216
1 Cor. 1213
KINGDOM
Col. 113, 14
Jn. 33, 5
31
The Lords Church

• built at the right time
• built in the right place Jerusalem
• built by the right person Jesus
• uses the right rule New Testament
• worships correctly spirit and truth
• is organized the right way
• members wear scriptural designations
• teaches the true plan of salvation