The Communion of the Saints Part 4 Equipping

The Communion of the Saints Part 4: Equipping the Church

n “A woman once wrote to me to say she thought Christianity was fine but, personally, she was ‘into Zen. ’ She liked to listen to Christian radio while she was driving because the music ‘soothed out her karma. ’ Occasionally, however, she would tune into one of the Bible-teaching ministries. In her opinion, all the preachers she heard were too narrow minded toward other religions, so she was writing several radio ministers to encourage them to be more broad-minded. ‘God doesn’t care what you believe, as long as you’re sincere, ’ she wrote. ‘All religions lead ultimately to the same reality. It doesn’t matter which road you take to get there, as long as you follow your chosen road faithfully. Don’t be critical of the alternative roads other people choose. ’” --John Mac. Arthur

Introduction n n 1 Timothy 3: 15: “the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. ” 1 Timothy 4: 6: “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. ”

The Marks of the Church The Right Doctrine of the Word of God The True Church The Right Administration of the Ordinances The Right Exercise of Church Discipline

The Purpose of the Church Exaltation Edification Education Evangelism

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Wayne Grudem defines the concept of Biblical doctrine as “what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic. ” q Doctrine refers to the content of belief.

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n n Biblical Doctrine begins with history Robert Duncan Culver says: “First, Christianity has been rendered what it is by what God did a long time ago. But the events of biblical salvation history have meaning. They must be interpreted, and are seminally interpreted, in the same Scriptures which report God’s acts. This interpretation of history is known as doctrine. ”

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH Three essential elements to Biblical doctrine: 1. Biblical doctrine is rooted in historical events 2. Biblical doctrine is given a meaning and a significance. 3. Biblical doctrine is interpreted for us by the Scriptures. n

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n J. Gresham Machen: “Christianity depends not upon a set of ideas, but upon an event— the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the beginning, the Christian gospel consisted of an account of something that happened. And when from the beginning, the meaning of the happening was set forth there was Christian doctrine. Christ died— that is history. Christ died for our sins—that is doctrine. ”

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Definition of Biblical Doctrine: q Doctrine is what the Bible teaches us to believe about the meaning and significance of historical Christian events

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n 1 Corinthians 15: 3 -4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ”

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n 1 Corinthians 15: 3 -4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ”

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n 1 Corinthians 15: 3 -4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ”

UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n 1 Corinthians 15: 3 -4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ”

GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Jude 3: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. ”

GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n “The faith” q q Not subjective faith but OBJECTIVE faith the body of Christian doctrine that we believe in order to be saved.

GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n n Galatians 1: 23: “He who once persecuted us is now preaching � the faith which he once � tried to destroy. ” Acts 20: 27: “the whole counsel of God” Romans 6: 17: “the standard teaching” 2 Timothy 1: 13: “pattern of the sound words. ”

GRASP THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n “contend earnestly” q q q “to struggle, to contest, to fight, to be in agony over. ” Doctrine is important! Everyone is indoctrinated in something: is your doctrine from the gospel or from the world?

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Ephesians 4: 11 -15: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming, 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ. ”

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Equipping means “to supply something that is lacking. ”

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n Building up q q “to the building up of the body of Christ, ” Paul uses metaphor of a building or temple The foundation: Ephesians 2: 20: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone. ” Building up: numerical growth and spiritual growth

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n “Unity” q q q “until we all attain to the unity of the faith. ” The faith = doctrine The faith refers to the accuracy of our knowledge of Christ

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n “Knowledge” q q “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” “Knowledge” = epignosis in Greek, refers to the intimacy of our knowledge of Christ “Gnosis” = facts and information “Epignosis” = experiential, personal knowledge

EMBRACE THE PURPOSES OF DOCTRINE FOR THE TRUE CHURCH n “Maturity” q q verse 13: to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. verse 14: we are no longer to be children verse 15: “we are to grow up. ” Refers to doctrinal and spiritual stability

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH n What makes up a cult? q q 1. Wrong view of the Bible 2. Wrong view of God 3. Wrong view of salvation 4. Erroneous beginning

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH n The Four Major Cults q q Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witnesses Seventh Day Adventism

Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witness 7 th Day Adventism View of Scripture Bible + Science Bible + Book New World Bible + and Health of Mormon Translation is only Writings of true Bible Ellen White View of God -Denies Jesus human nature -Denies Resurrection Denies Trinity -Denies physical resurrection Post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ View of Salvation -Denies Atonement 1. Faith 2. Baptism 3. Laying on of hands 1. Faith 2. Association with Jehovah’s Witness 3. Obedience to rules -Rebaptism -Denial of hell Origin Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 Founded by Joseph Smith 1838 Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1879 Founded by William Miller 1844

Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witness 7 th Day Adventism View of Scripture Bible + Science Bible + Book New World Bible + and Health of Mormon Translation is only Writings of true Bible Ellen White View of God -Denies Jesus human nature -Denies Resurrection Denies Trinity -Denies physical resurrection Post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ View of Salvation -Denies Atonement 1. Faith 2. Baptism 3. Laying on of hands 1. Faith 2. Association with Jehovah’s Witness 3. Obedience to rules -Rebaptism -Denial of hell Origin Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 Founded by Joseph Smith 1838 Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1879 Founded by William Miller 1844

Mormonism n View of Scripture: q q q Bible + Book of Mormon Articles of Faith Article 8: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. ” Also: Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price

Mormonism n Denies the Trinity q Joseph Smith in 1844: “I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three gods. ”

Mormonism n View of Salvation q Articles 3 and 4 of the Articles of Faith: “ 3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, be obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. ”

Mormonism n View of Salvation q Smith defines salvation as: “that which man merits through his own acts through life and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. ”

Mormonism n Origin q q q Starting in 1820, Joseph Smith saw visions Second vision: Angel of Moroni appeared with 2 golden plates Golden plates later translated into the Book of Mormon

Angel of Moroni West LA Salt Lake City Mexico City Hong Kong

Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witness 7 th Day Adventism View of Scripture Bible + Science Bible + Book New World Bible + and Health of Mormon Translation is only Writings of true Bible Ellen White View of God -Denies Jesus human nature -Denies Resurrection Denies Trinity -Denies physical resurrection Post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ View of Salvation -Denies Atonement 1. Faith 2. Baptism 3. Laying on of hands 1. Faith 2. Association with Jehovah’s Witness 3. Obedience to rules -Rebaptism -Denial of hell Origin Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 Founded by Joseph Smith 1838 Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1879 Founded by William Miller 1844

Jehovah’s Witnesses n n Called Witnesses based off Isaiah 43: 10: “You are my witnesses, ” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen” Also called the Watchtower Society

Jehovah’s Witnesses n View of Scripture: q Their translation, the New World Translation, is the only true Bible

Jehovah’s Witnesses n View of God: Deny the Trinity q q Believe the Father, Jehovah, is the only true God Jesus n n n Is a lesser God Before Jesus came to earth, Jesus was Michael the Archangel Jesus “received divinity’ after he resurrected

Jehovah’s Witnesses n New World Translation: John 1: 1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. ” q n Deny Jesus’ physical resurrection Holy Spirit q An impersonal force, not a person, not God

Jehovah’s Witnesses n View of Salvation q q q n faith in Christ association with God’s organization obedience to its rules Deny the existence of hell q Believe in annihilationism

Jehovah’s Witnesses n Origin: q q q Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1874: Believed Christ returned secretly 1914: God destroyed the Gentile Kingdoms and realized the final Kingdom of God: Jehovah’s Witnesses No patriotism No churches but “kingdom halls”

Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witness 7 th Day Adventism View of Scripture Bible + Science Bible + Book New World Bible + and Health of Mormon Translation is only Writings of true Bible Ellen White View of God -Denies Jesus human nature -Denies Resurrection Denies Trinity -Denies physical resurrection Post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ View of Salvation -Denies Atonement 1. Faith 2. Baptism 3. Laying on of hands 1. Faith 2. Association with Jehovah’s Witness 3. Obedience to rules -Rebaptism -Denial of hell Origin Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 Founded by Joseph Smith 1838 Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1879 Founded by William Miller 1844

7 th Day Adventism n n Worship on the 7 th Day (Saturday) Trying to return to a Prefall state

7 th Day Adventism n View of Scripture q Believed in an inspired prophetess, Ellen White

7 th Day Adventism n View of God: q “post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ. ”

7 th Day Adventism n View of Salvation q q Rebaptism Annihilationism

7 th Day Adventism n Current View of Scripture: q “The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. . . Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as the only source of our beliefs. We consider our movement to be the result of the Protestant conviction Sola Scriptura. ”

7 th Day Adventism n Current View of God q “There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. ”

7 th Day Adventism n Current View of Salvation q “In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life. ”

7 th Day Adventism n Origin: q q Founded by William Miller “Great Disappointment” in 1844 n n Predicted the return of Christ When Christ did not come physically, they believed He came spiritually and invisibly

Christian Science Mormonism Jehovah’s Witness 7 th Day Adventism View of Scripture Bible + Science Bible + Book New World Bible + and Health of Mormon Translation is only Writings of true Bible Ellen White View of God -Denies Jesus human nature -Denies Resurrection Denies Trinity -Denies physical resurrection Post-fall human nature of Jesus Christ View of Salvation Denies Atonement 1. Faith 2. Baptism 3. Laying on of hands 1. Faith 2. Association with Jehovah’s Witness 3. Obedience to rules -Rebaptism -Denial of hell Origin Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 Founded by Joseph Smith 1838 Founded by Charles Taze Russell 1879 Founded by William Miller 1844

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH Roman Catholicism View of Scripture Apocrypha View of God Idol Worship Mary is “Mother of God” Veneration of Saints View of Salvation Faith + Works Origin Departed from the true catholic (lower case c) church

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH Roman Catholicism View of Scripture Apocrypha View of God Idol Worship Mary is “Mother of God” Veneration of Saints View of Salvation Faith + Works Origin Departed from the true catholic (lower case c) church • Roman Catholicism is an Apostate Church • Apostate means: “one who has departed from the faith. ”

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH

RECOGNIZE VARIATIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE FALSE CHURCH