Why are there
so many churches?
There is one body and one Spirit,
just as also you were called in one
hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in
all.
-- Ephesians 4: 4-6
Let’s
begin with Jesus’ promises:
•
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this
rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will
not overpower it.” -- Matthew 16:18
• But when He,
the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He
will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and
He will disclose to you what is to come. -- John
16:13
40
days after Christ’s death…
The first account I composed,
Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He
was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the
apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after
His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of
forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
40
days after Christ’s death…
Gathering them together, He
commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had
promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now." So when they had come together, they were asking Him,
saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to
Israel?"
40
days after Christ’s death…
He said to them, "It is not
for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own
authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
-- Acts 1: 1-8
…the
promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.
When the day of Pentecost had
come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven
a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they
were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing
themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
was giving them utterance.
…the
promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.
And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in
common,
…the
promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.
and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate
their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor
with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were
being saved.
To which church were they added ?
There
was only one –
the one Christ promised
“The
Ancient / Present Church”
“… back to a time in the far
distant past. Back, way back, to the supernatural, mystical, polytheistic world
that gave birth to Christianity – back to the first few centuries A.D. A
form of Christianity is emerging that has not been seen since Constantine
legitimized the church and the ensuing councils completed the task of
institutionalizing and domesticating Christianity.” -- William M. Easum, Net Results March ‘04
So, during what time do we find the
church’s roots?
Church Began
Constantine
33
A.D. è ______
ç 325 A.D.
The
Historical Environment in 33 A.D.
•
Tiberius (14 AD –
37 AD)
•
Caligula (37 AD –
41 AD)
•
Nero (54 AD – 58
AD)
W A R N I N G !
Change is Coming!
"Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "I know
that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. -- Acts 20:28-30
W A R N I N G !
Change is Coming!
But the Spirit explicitly says
that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to
deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of
liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid
marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be
gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. -- 1
Tim 4:1-3
Almost 300 years with only the word
from the apostles and inspired men.
Then came…
Constantine (306AD
– 337AD)
Constantine
Introduced:
• Edict of
Milan (312AD):
§
Christianity given legal status.
• Nicene
Creed (325AD):
§
Trinity
• Imposed
Organization
§
Arch-Bishops è
Bishops è Elders
§
First Pope appointed in 606 AD.
How
the pattern arose:
Consequences
of Constantine’s Actions:
“When Constantine offered temporal
inducements to the profession of Christianity, he not only brought multitudes
of un-regenerate people into churches, but he also aided in making it a part of
public opinion to regard the profession of Christianity as a mere form, and to
attach a magical significance to the ordinances…”
Consequences
of Constantine’s Actions:
“Christianity was secularized. The
doors of the church were thrown open so wide, that the distinction between Christianity
and the world was obliterated.”
A Manual of Church History
Albert H. Newman
Examples
of Changes Introduced:
• 120 AD –
Holy water.
• 250 AD –
Infant Baptism.
• 251 AD –
Sprinkling/Pouring for Baptism.
• 350 AD –
Mass.
• 390 AD –
Confessionals.
• 588 AD –
Last rites.
• 593 AD –
Purgatory.
• 1015 AD –
Priests may not marry.
• 1870 AD –
Infallibility of the Pope.
Battle
of the Bishops
Rome versus Constantinople
Division – 1050 AD
Sin
for Sale
• In 1516,
Johann Tetzel sells indulgences in order to aid the construction of St. Peter's
at Rome.
• “As soon
as the gold in the casket rings The rescued soul to heaven springs” --
attributed to Tetzel
Martin
Luther Attempts Reform – 1517
• “The great
central doctrine of the gospel is that one is saved by faith alone without
works”
Luther’s
Catechism p112
• Lutheran
Church – 1530 AD
Your
Choices:
Luther
“Saved
by
faith
alone”
James
2:24
“Not
by
faith
alone”
Church
of England - 1534
• “We are
accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that
we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of
comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.”
Article
#11 from The 39 Articles of Religion of the Church of England
Presbyterian
- 1536
• Westminster
Confession of Faith (1646)
• Chapter
3: Of God’s Eternal Decree
“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels
are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting
death.”
Presbyterian
– 1536 (continued)
“These angels and men, thus
predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and
their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or
diminished.”
Remember:
33
AD – Jesus’ Church
Baptists
- 1607
“We believe that the great Gospel
blessing which Christ secures to those that believe in Him, is Justification;
this justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life,
on principles of righteousness; that this Justification is bestowed, not in
consideration of any works of righteousness that we have done, but solely
through faith in the Redeemer's Blood.” --
Standard Manual for Baptist Churches
Baptists
- 1607
• First
regularly organized Baptist Church was founded in London in 1607 by a Mr.
Smyth.”
David
Benedict – History of the Baptist
Remember:
33
AD – Jesus’ Church
Methodist
- 1739
•
Article 9—Of the Justification of Man
“We are accounted righteous before
God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not
for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith,
only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
The
25 Articles of Religion Methodist
Questions
& Thoughts
What
have we learned?
Questions
& Thoughts
• From where
did all the churches come?
• Not from the
teachings of Christ through His apostles!
• Can we
carefully examine the teachings of all the churches?
• Something
existed in 33 AD.
• To which
religious group did they belong?
• Could we be
the same?
The
Seed Principle
“Now the parable is this: The seed
is the word of God.”
– Luke 8:11
What
do we find in the beginning?
•
Name: “Christian” – Acts
11:26
•
God’s Design: “Elders” –
Acts 14:23
• In the
Assembly:
• “Singing &
praying” – 1 Corinthians 14:15
• “Lord’s supper” – Acts 20:7
•
“Teaching” – Acts 20:7
•
In Service:
•
“Preaching” – 1
Thessalonians 1:8
•
“Relief for the saints” –
1 Timothy 5:16
• “Support the
efforts” – 1 Corinthians 16:2
Teaching
on Salvation
•
Jesus said…
“He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
-- Mark
16:16
•
They did…
“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and
each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” -- Acts 2:38
The
Bible teaches…
• Believe,
• Repent,
• & Be baptized.
Bible
Examples of Salvation – Acts 16:25
When they had struck them with many blows,
they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and
he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were
praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to
them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of
the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and
everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison
doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that
the prisoners had escaped.
Bible
Examples of Salvation – Acts 16:25
But Paul cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!" And he
called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before
Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the
word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took
them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he
was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and
set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his
whole household.
Bible
Examples of Salvation – Acts 8:35-38
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he
preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and
the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he
answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And
he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip
as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him,
but went on his way rejoicing.
“I believe
that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God.”
Can you say…
Christ
Prayed for One Church
“I do not ask on behalf of these
alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may
all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be
in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
What a powerful effect on
mankind if all those professing
Jesus were united and
presenting the same message!