• The establishment of the church . . .

• The apostasy . . .

• Attempt at reformation . . .

• Our effort to restore . . .

• The establishment of the church . . .

• The apostasy . . .

• Attempt at reformation . . .

• Our effort to restore . . .

An study of An study of church history church history

––

Jesus – Jesus – the head – the head –

Ep 1:22Ep 1:22

• The Body of Christ: Eph 1:22,23

• All Those IN Christ – Ep. 1:10, 2:16; 1 Cor. 12:12,13

• Saved Individuals – Acts 2:47; Rom. 12:5; Ep. 3:6; 5:23

Jesus – Jesus – the head – the head –

Ep 1:22Ep 1:22

• Christians in the same area joining together to do the Lord’s work - Ep. 1:1; Phili 1:1; 1 Cor 1:2

• Submitting to the head in organization, work & worship - Eph. 4:11; 1 Thes 1:8; 2:13,14; Col 3:16,17; John 4:24

• Catholic (606)• Lutheran (1517)• Presbyterian

(1560)• Baptist (1608)• Methodist

(1740)• Mormon (1830)• Pentecostal

(1898)

10 Pennies 3 Dimes 2 Nickels 2 Quarters

• Catholic (606)• Lutheran (1517)• Presbyterian

(1560)• Baptist (1608)• Methodist

(1740)• Mormon (1830)• Pentecostal

(1898)

Unscr

iptu

ral

Unscr

iptu

ral

•The Bible Alone

Mormon

Baptist

Methodist

Christian

“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)

Denominationalism necessitates different seeds!

•Bible + Methodist Discipline

•Bible + Baptist Manual

•Bible + Book of Mormon

Answer:

18“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth

will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18)

Birth of Christ 3-4 BC

Earthly Ministry –26-27 AD

Death, Burial & Resurrection –

29-30 AD(3 Years)

Death, Burial & Death, Burial & Resurrection – Resurrection –

29-30 AD29-30 AD

Ascension Ascension of Christ –of Christ –

Acts 1Acts 1

Day of Day of Pentecost Pentecost

Acts 2Acts 2

(40 Days)(40 Days) (10 Days)(10 Days)

• First gospel sermon – Acts 2:14-39

• Saved added to the church – Acts 2:41,47

• They continued steadfastly . . . Acts 2:42

The day of The day of PentecostPentecost

Acts 2Acts 2

Philippians Philippians Lydia & JailorLydia & Jailor

Acts 16Acts 16

Ethiopian Ethiopian NoblemanNobleman

Acts 8:26-39Acts 8:26-39

The The SamaritansSamaritansActs 8:4-13Acts 8:4-13

Saul of Saul of TarsusTarsus

Acts 9:1-18; 22:16Acts 9:1-18; 22:16

Cornelius & Cornelius & his householdhis household

Acts 10,11Acts 10,11Etc. Etc.

Acts 17 – Acts 17 – Thessalonica, Thessalonica,

BereaBereaActs 18 – Acts 18 – CorinthCorinthActs 19 - Acts 19 - EphesusEphesus

• Jesus commissioned & equipped the apostles: Mat 28:18,19; John 16:13;

• The apostles then revealed all truth –Acts 20:27; Eph 3:3-5

• The church was, (and is) to be governed by the Word of God – Luke 8:11; Eph 4:11-16; Jude 1:3; 2 Tim 3:16,17; Col 3:17

The church to be

subject to Christ

–Eph

1:22,23

Adam & Eve – Gen 3Adam & Eve – Gen 3 From Adam to Noah – Gen From Adam to Noah – Gen

6:7,12 6:7,12 Those delivered from Egypt Those delivered from Egypt

– Num 14:1-4, Heb 3:16-19– Num 14:1-4, Heb 3:16-19 The nation of Israel – The nation of Israel –

Divided – 928 BC.Divided – 928 BC. Northern 10 tribes fall –722 Northern 10 tribes fall –722

BC.BC. Judah falls – 589 BC.Judah falls – 589 BC.

The restoration – 535– 439 The restoration – 535– 439 BC. BC.

Biblical History:

Jesus warned of false Jesus warned of false teachers – Mat 7:15; teachers – Mat 7:15; 24:5,11,13,23-2624:5,11,13,23-26

Paul warned that an Paul warned that an apostasy was going to take apostasy was going to take place – Acts 20:28-32; 1 place – Acts 20:28-32; 1 Tim 4:1-5; 2 Tim 4:1-4; 2 Tim 4:1-5; 2 Tim 4:1-4; 2 Thes 2:1-12Thes 2:1-12

Peter mentioned the reality Peter mentioned the reality of false teachers – 2 Peter of false teachers – 2 Peter 2:1-32:1-3

As did John – 1 John 2:18; As did John – 1 John 2:18; 4:14:1

Biblical History:

The warning

s:

The presence of false The presence of false teaching – Acts 15; Gal 5:1-teaching – Acts 15; Gal 5:1-4; Col 24; Col 2

Division was condemned in Division was condemned in the church at Corinth – 1 the church at Corinth – 1 Cor 1:10-17; Cor 1:10-17;

There were those who There were those who possessed the “spirit of possessed the “spirit of preeminence” - 3 John 9,10 preeminence” - 3 John 9,10

Five of the seven churches Five of the seven churches of Asia had begun to travel of Asia had begun to travel the road of apostasy. – Rev the road of apostasy. – Rev 2,32,3

Biblical History:

The warning

s:

The signs:

Presiding EldersPresiding Elders Elder – Bishop Elder – Bishop

distinctiondistinction Metropolitan Metropolitan

Bishops –Bishops – Diocesan Bishop -Diocesan Bishop - Arch Bishops – Arch Bishops –

(Alexandria, (Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, & Constantinople, & Rome)Rome)

The Pope – (606 The Pope – (606 AD.)AD.)

Biblical History:

The warning

s:

The signs:

Post Biblical History:

A gradual A gradual departure departure from God’s from God’s

WordWord

Elders

A gradual A gradual departure departure from God’s from God’s

WordWord

Original

Step #1Presiding elder

Step #2Elder – Bishop

distinction

Step #3Metropolitan

Bishops –

Step #4 Diocesan Bishop -

Step #5Arch Bishops –

Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders

Step #6Step #6POPE –POPE –

Boniface IIIBoniface III606 AD606 AD

Council of Nicea (325 A.D.)Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) Latin Mass (394 A.D.)Latin Mass (394 A.D.) Purgatory (593 A.D.) Purgatory (593 A.D.) Transubstantiation (1000 Transubstantiation (1000

A.D.)A.D.) Celibacy of Priest (1015 Celibacy of Priest (1015

A.D.)A.D.) Indulgences – (1192 A.D.)Indulgences – (1192 A.D.) Auricular Confession (1215 Auricular Confession (1215

A.D.)A.D.) Sprinkling (1311 A.D.)Sprinkling (1311 A.D.)

Biblical History:

The warning

s:

The signs:

Post Biblical History:

October 31, 1517 nailed his 95 October 31, 1517 nailed his 95 theses to the door of the “All theses to the door of the “All

Saints Church” in WhittenbergSaints Church” in Whittenberg

His goal was to “Change” the His goal was to “Change” the traditions of the Catholic church.traditions of the Catholic church.

““Whatever is not against Whatever is not against scripture is for scripture, and scripture is for scripture, and

scripture for it” scripture for it” [Handbook of Denominations, pg. 132][Handbook of Denominations, pg. 132]1483-15461483-1546

““What the Bible does not What the Bible does not command we may not do,”command we may not do,”

Gave up images, crosses, Gave up images, crosses, indulgences, observing the mass, indulgences, observing the mass, and the practice of celibacy, and and the practice of celibacy, and the use of organs in the church.the use of organs in the church.

In 1522, mounted a protest In 1522, mounted a protest against the fast at Lent, a against the fast at Lent, a

standard Catholic practice. standard Catholic practice. 1484-15311484-1531

Martin Martin Luther – Luther –

(1517)(1517)

John CalvinJohn CalvinPresbyterianPresbyterian

(1560)(1560)

Augsburg Augsburg ConfessionConfession

(1530) (1530)

John SmythJohn SmythBaptistBaptist(1608)(1608)

John Wesley John Wesley MethodistMethodist

(1737)(1737)

Church of Church of EnglandEngland(1534)(1534)

Ellen G. WhiteEllen G. WhiteAdventismAdventism

(1844)(1844)

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith MormonMormon

(1830)(1830)

Over 3,000 mainline churches

Three Proposed ways to Three Proposed ways to obtain unity:obtain unity:CatholicismCatholicism – – Accept the Accept the

authority of the Roman Catholic authority of the Roman Catholic Church – Church – even though there is even though there is very little resemblance to what very little resemblance to what we find in the NT.we find in the NT.

InterdenominationalismInterdenominationalism – – Unity in the absence of following Unity in the absence of following a divine pattern of organization, a divine pattern of organization, doctrine, and worship.doctrine, and worship.

RestorationRestoration – – Returning to the Returning to the divine pattern revealed in the NT divine pattern revealed in the NT – in organization, doctrine, and – in organization, doctrine, and worship.worship.

Most everyone

is in agreemen

t that such a

state of division is not good!But what can be done

about it?

•The Bible Alone

Mormon

Baptist

Methodist

Christian

“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)

Denominationalism necessitates different seeds!

•Bible + Methodist Discipline

•Bible + Baptist Manual

•Bible + Book of Mormon

Answer:

Division exist contrary to the prayer and Division exist contrary to the prayer and teaching of Jesus Christ – teaching of Jesus Christ – (Jn 17:20,21; (Jn 17:20,21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13)1 Cor. 1:10-13)

Men departed from the scriptures - Men departed from the scriptures - and brought into existence and brought into existence CatholicismCatholicism – –

Men tried to reform the apostate Men tried to reform the apostate church church - which resulted in - which resulted in denominationalismdenominationalism – –

Division is not good – Division is not good – but how can but how can we go about restoring the unity for we go about restoring the unity for which Jesus prayed for and which Jesus prayed for and demandsdemands??

Our plea is for a complete return to Our plea is for a complete return to the pattern revealed in the New the pattern revealed in the New

Testament:Testament:Book Chapter & VerseBook Chapter & VerseEverything the scriptures Everything the scriptures

teachteachNothing the scriptures do Nothing the scriptures do

not authorizenot authorizeCall Bible things by Bible Call Bible things by Bible

namesnamesDo Bible things in Bible Do Bible things in Bible

wayswaysBack to the BibleBack to the Bible

You can be a member of the Lord’s You can be a member of the Lord’s church!church!

Not by submitting to the Not by submitting to the Pope -Pope -

Not by submitting to the Not by submitting to the doctrines & doctrines &

commandments of men - commandments of men - But by submitting to the But by submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ – Mark Lord Jesus Christ – Mark

16:1616:16