Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)


2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)

lit., "to cut straight" (orthos, "straight," temno, "to cut"), is found in 2 Tim 2:15, KJV, "rightly dividing," RV, "handling aright" (the word of truth); the

meaning passed from the idea of cutting or "dividing," to the more general sense of "rightly dealing with a thing." What is intended here is not

"dividing" Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately.Vine’s Dictionary


2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)

In our teaching the word of truth, we need to be as accurate as possible:Words/phrases: vehicles that convey correct thoughts

Visual illustrations: accurate representations of concepts

Upon this rock I will build my

churchMatthew 16:18

What did Jesus establish?

Because of what is said about it in the NT, it is vital that our concept of this church be as accurate as possible and that we speak of it and visually illustrated it in terms that are scripturally accurate.


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The church that Jesus built:What it is NOT


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NOT some “institution” into which the lost are placed.

The Church of Christ

lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost


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lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost


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saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved

This concept makes “the church” some “thing” other than the saved

and is an unscriptural concept.

This is not an accurate illustration of what the word of truth teaches

about the church.


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NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored.

Mormons

The gospel revealed by the Holy Spirit became corrupted in the past and needed restored.

Joseph Smith was God’s restoration agent


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Joseph Smith didn’t restore the gospel because nothing ever happened to it that caused it to need to be restored and Mormons who claim it needed restored are wrong.


churchMatthew 16:18



Some “church of Christ people”

The church Jesus built apostatized in the past and needed restored.

Alexander Campbell was God’s restoration agent


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“For about two hundred years the church was true to apostolic teaching. But the church of the first century began to drift into apostasy... Centuries of ignorance and superstition led to the birth of the apostate church…


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…men like Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and John Smith. The aim of these men, and others like them, was to do things just as the Apostles had taught,…These restorers held up the Bible as their only guide in religious matters and restored the church of Christ.”


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Alexander Campbell didn’t restore the church because nothing ever happened to it that caused it to need to be restored and “Church of Christ people” who claim it apostatized and needed restored are just as wrong as the Mormons.

“The apostasy and restoration of the church” does not reflect accurate understanding of the church Jesus built


churchMatthew 16:18


NOT some “institution” that is composed of local churches


Local church Local church

Local church Local church Local church



We aren’t handling the word of truth accurately when we think and speak about “congregations of the Church

of Christ”/“sister congregations”


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NOT some religious organization

On Facebook we’ve got “Church of Christ radio” on which we have “Church of Christ preachers” where we can listen to “Church of Christ radio music” and “Church of Christ radio sermons”.

This language reflects denominational thinking; it is not reflective of anything found in the word of truth


churchMatthew 16:18


NOT some religious organization

Was Paul a “Church of Christ preacher”? Did he go on “Church of Christ preaching/missionary tours” in Acts?Were his letters “Church of Christ epistles”? Did he appoint “Church of Christ elders”? Were the various sermons in Acts, “Church of Christ sermons”? Did Peter preach a “Church of Christ sermon” on Pentecost?Did Paul help to start “Church of Christ churches”?


churchMatthew 16:18


The church that Jesus built:What it IS

Ephesians 2:11Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called " Uncircumcision" by the so-called " Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands—


churchMatthew 16:18


Ephesians 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.


churchMatthew 16:18


GODThe Father The Son The Holy Spirit

G E N T I L E S J E W S

Sin Sin

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.


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G E N T I L E S J E W S

Sin Sin

Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,


G E N T I L E S J E W SLaw


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Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,


G E N T I L E S J E W SLaw


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G E J N T E I W L S E S


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Ephesians 2:16-17 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;




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Ephesians 2:18-19 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,




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Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,




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Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.




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He established a relationship in which it is possible for all men of whatever race to have fellowship with Him as their sins are forgiven in obedience to His will.


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Heb.12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,




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Heb.12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,




churchMatthew 16:18


Heb.12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,




churchMatthew 16:18

Are you in fellowship with God?

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Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)