Title: Marks of The One True Church
1Marks of The One True Church
2Ephesians 41-6
- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith
ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body,
and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling 5 One Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all.
3Ephesians 41-6
- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith
ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body,
and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling 5 One Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all.
4The Body is the Church!
- And he is the head of the body, the church who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead
that in all things he might have the preeminence
(Col. 118)
52 Corinthians 135
- Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that
Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are
disqualified. (NKJV)
62 John 9-11
- Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth
in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed 11
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of
his evil deeds.
7Matthew 721-23
- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to
Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your
name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew
you depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness! (NKJV)
8Mathew 1513
- ...Every plant which My heavenly Father has not
planted shall be uprooted.
9Christ Is Its Founder!
- He is the
- Purchaser - Acts 2028
- Builder - Matt. 1618
- Head - Col. 118
- Lawgiver - Acts 236
- Savior - Eph. 523.
Did a man or Christ establish the church you are
a member of?
10Christ Is Its Foundation!
- Upon this rock - Matt. 1618
- The laid foundation - 1 Cor. 311
- The tried foundation - Isa. 2816
- The apostolic foundation - Eph. 220.
Is Christ or a man the foundation of the church
you are a member of?
11It Begin in 33 AD in Jerusalem on Pentecost!
- the gates of hades shall not prevail against
it - Matt. 1618 Acts 231 cf. Lk. 2343
- During life of the apostles
- Mk. 91
- When the H.S. came with power
- Mk. 91 Acts 18 21-4
- When the word of the Lord went forth from
Jerusalem - Isa. 22 3 Lk. 2447.
Did the church you are a member of begin at
Jerusalem on Pentecost?
12History of Man-made Churches
Time Place Founder Church
606 AD Rome Boniface III Roman Catholic
1520 AD Germany Martin Luther Lutheran
1534 AD England Henry VIII Episcopalian
1536 AD Switzerland John Calvin Presbyterian
1550 AD England Robert Brown Congregational
1607 AD Holland John Smythe Baptist
1739 AD England John Wesley Methodist
1830 AD America Joseph Smith Mormon
1830 AD America William Miller 7th Day Adventist
1866 AD America Mary Baker Eddy Christian Scientist
1872 AD America Charles T. Russell Jehovahs Witnesses
WRONG Time Place Founder Church
13Its Designations
- Christ called it
- My church - Matt. 1618
- My kingdom - Lk. 2230 Jn. 1836
- The kingdom of heaven - Matt. 1619
- The kingdom of God - Jn. 35 Lk. 2216
14Its Designations
- The apostles called it
- The church - Col. 118 Eph. 122 310
522-23 - The church of the Lord (ASV) - Acts 2028
- The church of God - 1 Cor. 12 Gal. 113
- Churches of Christ - Rom. 1616
- The house of God - 1 Tim. 315
- The household of God - Eph. 219
- The household of faith - Gal. 610
- The Kingdom of God - Acts 2823, 31
- The Kingdom of Gods dear Son - Col. 113
- A Kingdom which cannot be shaken - Heb. 1228
Is the church you are a member of mentioned in
the Bible by the apostles or Christ?
15Who Are Its Members?
- People who
- Hear the gospel - Rom. 1017 Acts 188
- Believe the gospel - Acts 188, 1 Cor. 12
- Repent of their sins - Acts 238 47
- Confess Christ - Acts 837 Rom. 1010
- Are baptized
- By a burial - Rom. 64 Col. 212
- In water - Acts 836-39 1047, 48
- To wash away their sins - Acts 2216
- For the remission of sins - Acts 238
- To be saved - 1 Pet. 321
- Into Christ - Gal. 327
- Into the one body, the church - 1 Cor. 1213
- Called Christians - Acts 1126 2628 1 Pet.
416 - Called saints - Phil. 11 Col. 12, 4, 12, 26
Jude 3
Have you met all of these conditions and what are
you called religiously?
16Its Worship Is In Spirit Truth!
- Communion - 1 Cor. 1016 1120-30 Acts 207
- Singing - Eph. 518, 19 Col. 316
- Prayer - Acts 242 1 Thess. 517, 25
- Giving - 1 Cor. 161 2 Cor. 97
- Teaching - Acts 242 1 Tim. 315
Does the church you are a member of worship in
this way?
17Its Work is Four-Fold!
- To preach the gospel to the lost
- 1 Thess. 18 2 Cor. 118 Phil. 414-18
- To help its needy members
- Acts 434, 35 61-7 1 Tim. 516
- To edify itself
- Eph. 411-16
- To discipline wayward members
- 1 Cor. 51-13 2 Thess. 36-16
Is the church you are a member of doing the works
of God or men?
18Its Doctrine is the N.T.
- Christ is the lawgiver
- Eph. 41-7 524
- The Holy Spirit is the revelator
- 1 Cor. 213 Eph. 31-6 Gal. 111-12
- The apostles teaching is its doctrine
- Acts 242 Eph. 220
Is the doctrine of the church you are a member of
the words of Christ and His apostles or the
words, creeds, doctrines and manuals of men?
19Its Organization is Congregational
- Autonomous, Independent of other churches.
- Self-governing under the rule of Christ the Chief
Bishop - Acts 1423 1 Pet. 51-4 225 Phil 11
- Bishops (elders, pastors, presbyters) who feed,
tend, oversee and guide the flock among them - Acts 2017, 28 1 Pet. 52-4 1 Tim. 31-7 Heb.
1317 - With deacons who serve
- 1 Tim. 38-13
- Members minister in word and deed
- 1 Cor. 1224-27
Does the church you are a member of have an
organization larger than a local arrangement?
20It Is The Gift of Gods Love!
- Gave the Lambs body for a sacrifice
- Heb. 926-28
- Gave the Lambs blood for an atonement
- Heb 914
- Gives the Great High Priest to intercede for us
- Heb. 721-28
- Gave the Prophet to teach
- Heb. 11, 2 Acts 322, 23
- Gave the King to rule
- 1 Tim. 615
- Gives the Judge to reward
- Matt. 2531-46
- Gives heaven as its hope
- 1 Cor. 1519 1 Pet. 13-5
Does the church you are a member of look to Jesus
as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
21Its Destiny is Heaven!
- By heavens wisdom it was purposed
- Eph. 310, 11
- By heavens love it was purchased
- Eph. 525 Acts 2028
- By heavens grace it is kept in store
- Rom. 52 Eph. 17 Heb. 416
- For the glory of heaven it hopes
- 2 Tim. 210 Heb. 210 1 Pet. 51, 10
- To heaven it will ascend
- 1 Pet. 14 Col. 15 1 Thess. 414-18
- In heaven it will remain eternally
- 1 Thess. 417 1 Cor. 1524
- In heaven it will find rest
- Heb 48-11
Is heaven or a 1000 year reign on earth the hope
and destiny of the church you are a member of?
22Its Scope is Universal!
- The commission of it is world-wide
- Matt. 2818-19
- Its appeal is to every race
- Mk. 1615-16
- Its invitation is to all mankind
- Rev. 2217
- Its duration is age lasting
- 1 Cor. 1523-26
- Its fellowship is only toward the obedient
- 1 Jn. 17
- Its benefits are spiritual and eternal
- 2 Pet 110, 11 Rev. 222
Is the church you are a member of universal in
membership and scope?
23Its Government is An Absolute Monarchy!
- In heaven resides its Head
- Eph. 119-21 48-10
- From heaven came its law
- Eph. 122 411-16 Rom. 82
- Under heaven it serves
- Eph. 523, 24
- Toward heaven it worships
- Jno. 424 Acts 125
Is the government of the church you are a member
of from heaven or from men?
24Monarchy Defined
- 1.a state or nation in which the supreme power is
actually or nominally lodged in a monarch. - 2.supreme power or sovereignty held by a single
person. - Dictionary.com
25Its Message Is The Gospel!
- Facts to be believed
- Death of Christ - 1 Cor. 151-3
- Burial of Christ - 1 Cor. 154
- Resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor. 154-9
- Commands to obey
- Believe in Christ - Mk. 1616 Acts 1631
- Repent of sins - Acts 1731 238
- Be baptized into Christ - Mk. 1616 Acts 238
2216 - Live a moral faithful life till death - 1 Cor.
69-10 Rev. 210 - Promises to receive
- Remission of sins - Acts 238 319
- Communion of the Holy Spirit - 2 Cor. 1314
- Eternal life - Rev 210 2214
Does the church you are a member of preach the
pure gospel of Christ?
26Its Unity is Undenominational
- Jesus prayed for it - Jn.1720, 21
- The apostles plead for it - 1 Cor. 110
- The apostles gave the plan for it - Eph. 41-6
- BODY Organization - Rom. 124-5 1 Cor. 1212-27
- SPIRIT Source of revelation - Rom. 814 Eph.
31-5 1 Cor. 29-13 - HOPE Desire - Col. 15, 23
- LORD Authority - Matt. 2818-19
- FAITH Doctrine - 2 Jn. 9-11
- BAPTISM Practice - Acts 238 Rom. 64-5 Col.
212 - GOD Service, Love - Rom. 616 Matt. 2237
1
27Bible Baptism - One Baptism
- The subjects - Believers!
- Acts 812
- The action - Burial in water!
- Col. 212 Rom. 64 Acts 838 cf. Jn. 323
- The design - for the remission of sins
- 1 Pet. 321 Acts 2216 Mk. 1616 Acts 238
Does the church you are a member practice the
ONE baptism? (Eph. 45)
28Its Life!
- Is the word of Christ
- As the eternal word Matt. 2435 1 Pet. 125
- As the inspired word - 2 Tim. 316 1 Cor. 213
- As the life giving word - Matt. 44 Jn. 824
Rom. 813 - As the infallible word - Ps. 119160
- As the complete word - 2 Tim. 316-17
- As the sufficient word - Jude 3 Jn. 2030, 31
- As the powerful word - Heb. 412 Rom. 116
- As the comforting word - 1 Thess. 414-18
- As the final word - Jn. 1248
Is the church you are a member of devoted to the
word of Christ or the word of men?
29Its Devotion!
- To the example of Christ - 1 Pet. 221
- Toward His family - Lk. 251 Jn. 1926-27
- Toward His father - Jn. 530 638 829 Lk.
2242 - Toward civil government - Matt. 2215-22
- Toward His enemies - Matt. 543-48 Lk. 2334
- Toward the lost - Matt. 1811 Lk. 15
- Toward the church - Eph 525
Is the church you are a member of devoted to the
example of Christ?
30The One True Church
- Its is founded by Christ!
- Christ is its foundation!
- It began in Jerusalem on Pentecost in 33 AD !
- Its designations!
- The obedient are its members!
- Its worship is in spirit and in truth!
- Its work is four-fold!
- Its doctrine is the N.T.!
- Its organization is congregational!
- It is the gift of Gods love!
- Its destiny is heaven!
- Its scope is universal!
- Its government is an absolute monarchy!
- Its message is the gospel of Christ!
- Its unity is non-denominational!
- Its practice is the ONE baptism!
- Its life is the word of Christ!
- Its devotion is to the example of Christ!
Are You A Member of This Church?