Will History Repeat Itself?

Lord’sChurch

1840

1950

1850

Lord’sChurch

ChristianChurch

ChristianChurch

Lord’s Church

Liberal Church

2000

ChristianChurch

Lord’s Church

Liberal Church

•History Does Repeat Itself

•Advantageous Study

•Understand Causes of Religious Division

•Unity Must Be Maintained

•Recognize Early Departures From Standard

•Self-examination Is Difficult

•Hard To See Own Faults

•Motives Sincere

Lessons:

•The New Testament Church

•The Falling Away Predicted

•The Apostasy – Rise of Catholicism

•The Reformation – Rise of Denominationalism

•The Restoration

•Apostasies Following the Restoration

•Hear the Gospel – Mk. 16:15; Rom. 10:17

•Believe the Gospel – Mk. 16:15-16; Jn. 8:24

•Confess Faith in Christ – Matt. 10:32

•Repent – Lk. 13:3

•Be Baptized for Remission of Sins – Acts 2:38

•Faithful Service – 1 Jn. 2:3-6; Rev. 2:10

MEMBERSHIP

Saved By Blood Saved By Baptism

What When

Rev. 1:5

Heb. 9:14

Matt. 26:28

Rom. 5:9

Acts 22:16

1 Pet. 3:21

Acts 2:38

Rom. 6:3-5, 17-18

Washed

Consc. Clean

Sins Remitted

Made Free

Blood of Christ Saves When We ObeyGod’s Command To Be Baptized!

BIBLETEACHES

MEMBERSHIP

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:13-14).

MEMBERSHIP

ORGANIZATION•Universal Body – No Earthly Organization•Local Body of Christ

Elders (Acts 14:23)- Plurality in every church (Acts 20:17; Ti. 1:5)- Limited Oversight (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet.5:1-4)- Equality in Eldership (1 Pet. 5:1-4)

Deacons (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13)- Perform special services (Acts 6:1-7)

Members (Phil. 1:1) Evangelists (Eph. 4:11)

•Pray (Acts 2:42)

•Give As Prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

•Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26; 20:7)

•Preach Gospel (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 3:15)

•Sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15)

WORSHIP

•Teach Gospel (1 Tim. 3:15)

•Care for Needy Saints (Rom. 15:25-26)

•Edify the Saints (Eph. 4:11-12)

•Mission is NOT:- Social- Recreational- Money-making- Political

MISSION - WORK

•Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Baptism

MEMBERSHIP

ORGANIZATION•Elders, Deacons, Saints, Evangelist

WORSHIP•Pray, Give, Sing, Preach, Communion

•Preach Gospel, Edify Saints, Help Needy Saints

MISSION - WORK

CONCLUSION•Lord’s Church Is Sufficient

- Has Complete Revelation (Jude 3)

- Designed by God (Eph. 3:8-11)

- Built by Christ (Matt. 16:18)

•Any supposed improvement must come from someone wiser than God!

- 1 Cor. 1:25-31

- Isa. 55:8-9