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The people of God are defined by a living faith.

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Title: The people of God are defined by a living faith.


1
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • When one trusts God they are motivated by the
    presence and sight of God. (1 Tim 612-14)

2
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 1 Timothy 612-14 - Fight the good fight of
    faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you
    were also called and have confessed the good
    confession in the presence of many witnesses.

3
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life
    to all things, and before Christ Jesus who
    witnessed the good confession before Pontius
    Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment
    without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus
    Christ's appearing,

4
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • When men know and fear the living God they will
    be filled with zeal.

5
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • When men know and fear the living God they will
    be filled with zeal.
  • These people do not look to get by or to let
    others do their work.

6
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • As we studied last lesson, it the grace of God
    moves us. (Titus 211-14)

7
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Titus 211-14 - For the grace of God that
    brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12
    teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
    lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
    godly in the present age, 13 looking for the
    blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great
    God and Savior Jesus Christ,

8
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
    us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself
    His own special people, zealous for good works.

9
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • We are challenged to maintain that faith over
    time and over generations.

10
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • We are challenged to maintain that faith over
    time and over generations.
  • The church at Ephesus started with great zeal and
    sacrifice. (Acts 198-10, 17-20)

11
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Acts 198-10 - And he went into the synagogue
    and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and
    persuading concerning the things of the kingdom
    of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did
    not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the
    multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the
    disciples, reasoning daily in the school of
    Tyrannus.

12
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 10 And this continued for two years, so that all
    who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord
    Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

13
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Acts 1917-20 - This became known both to all
    Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus and fear
    fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus
    was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came
    confessing and telling their deeds.

14
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic
    brought their books together and burned them in
    the sight of all. And they counted up the value
    of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of
    silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily
    and prevailed.

15
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Paul later warned the Elders about the future.
    (Acts 2028-30)

16
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Acts 2028-30 - "Therefore take heed to
    yourselves and to 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. 29 "For I know this, that after my
    departure savage wolves will come in among you,
    not sparing the flock.

17
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up,
    speaking perverse things, to draw away the
    disciples after themselves.

18
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Many years later we begin to see the first steps
    away from God. (Rev 21-5)

19
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • Revelation 21-5 "To the angel of the church of
    Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds
    the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in
    the midst of the seven golden lampstands 2 "I
    know your works, your labor, your patience, and
    that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you
    have tested those who say they are apostles and
    are not, and have found them liars

20
The people of God are defined by a living faith.
  • 3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and
    have labored for My name's sake and have not
    become weary. 4 "Nevertheless I have this
    against you, that you have left your first love.
    5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen
    repent and do the first works, or else I will
    come to you quickly and remove your lampstand
    from its place -- unless you repent.

21
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Church - (1) in a general sense, as a gathering
    of citizens assembly, meeting (AC 19.32) (3)
    as the assembled Christian community church,
    congregation, meeting (RO 16.5) (5) as
    the universal body of believers church (EP 1.22)

22
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The common meaning of the word translated
    church is an assembly.

23
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The common meaning of the word translated
    church is an assembly.
  • The Greek word ekklesia is from two words ek
    out and kaleo to call.

24
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • When you read the word church in the Bible
    always think of people!

25
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • When you read the word church in the Bible
    always think of people!
  • The Lord Himself established one church. (Mt
    1618)

26
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Matthew 1618 - "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.

27
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • He is head of this church and there is but one.
    (Eph 122-23 44-6)

28
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Ephesians 122-23 - And He put all things under
    His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things
    to the church, 23 which is His body, the
    fullness of Him who fills all in all.

29
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Ephesians 44-6 - There is one body and one
    Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of
    your calling 5 one Lord, one faith, one
    baptism 6 one God and Father of all, who is
    above all, and through all, and in you all.

30
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • What is the one true church? Is it a local
    church? No!

31
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • What is the one true church? Is it a local
    church? No!
  • This one true church is a relationship between
    Jesus and every individual Christian. Baptism
    is the final step into the one body. (1 Cor 1213)

32
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • 1 Corinthians 1213 - For by one Spirit we were
    all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or
    Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all
    been made to drink into one Spirit.

33
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • This one church is not a functional body it is
    comprised only of individuals.

34
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • This one church is not a functional body it is
    comprised only of individuals.
  • Where is the headquarters of the church of
    Christ? Where is our head?

35
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The Lord also ordained local churches. (1 Cor
    12 Rom 1616 Gal 12)

36
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • 1 Corinthians 12 - To the church of God which
    is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in
    Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who
    in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ
    our Lord, both theirs and ours

37
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Romans 1616 - Greet one another with a holy
    kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

38
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Galatians 12 - and all the brethren who are
    with me, To the churches of Galatia

39
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • How can there be but one church and there be
    churches of Christ at the same time? Even
    though the same word is used (church) the context
    shows we are talking about 2 very different
    things!

40
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The local church is a functional body that has a
    beginning and over time an end.

41
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The local church is a functional body that has a
    beginning and over time an end.
  • The assembly of Christians is also called
    church or churches.

42
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • The local church is a functional body that has a
    beginning and over time an end.
  • The assembly of Christians is also called
    church or churches.
  • Sometimes it can refer to a mob of
    non-Christians. (Acts 1932)

43
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • Acts 1932 - Some therefore cried one thing and
    some another, for the assembly was confused, and
    most of them did not know why they had come
    together.

44
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • It can mean a specific kind of gathering of
    Christians. (1 Cor 1433-37)

45
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • 1 Corinthians 1433-37 - For God is not the
    author of confusion but of peace, as in all the
    churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep
    silent in the churches, for they are not
    permitted to speak but they are to be
    submissive, as the law also says.

46
God has given us the local church for Christians
to work together
  • 35 And if they want to learn something, let them
    ask their own husbands at home for it is
    shameful for women to speak in church. 36 Or did
    the word of God come originally from you? Or was
    it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks
    himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him
    acknowledge that the things which I write to you
    are the commandments of the Lord.

47
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • The local church is the only organization that
    God has given us to work together.
    (Phil 11 Acts 1423 1 Tim 31, 8 1 Pt 51-2)

48
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Philippians 11 - Paul and Timothy, bondservants
    of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ
    Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and
    deacons

49
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Acts 1423 - So when they had appointed elders
    in every church, and prayed with fasting, they
    commended them to the Lord in whom they had
    believed.

50
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 1 Timothy 31 - This is a faithful saying If a
    man desires the position of a bishop, he desires
    a good work.

51
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 1 Timothy 38 - Likewise deacons must be
    reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much
    wine, not greedy for money,

52
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 1 Peter 51-2 - The elders who are among you I
    exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of
    the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of
    the glory that will be revealed 2 Shepherd the
    flock of God which is among you, serving as
    overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not
    for dishonest gain but eagerly

53
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Men have tried to make the universal church a
    functional body.

54
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Consider the progression of Catholicism to
    eventually having a pope in 606 AD.

55
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Consider the progression of Catholicism to
    eventually having a pope in 606 AD.
  • In the 1800s brethren tried a partial effort to
    supplant the local church in the missionary
    society.

56
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Consider the progression of Catholicism to
    eventually having a pope in 606 AD.
  • In the 1800s brethren tried a partial effort to
    supplant the local church in the missionary
    society.
  • Those that opposed these things were
    quarantined and labeled as anti.

57
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • In the 1900s another effort was made through the
    sponsoring church arrangement.

58
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Brethren took passages where churches sent money
    to another church during a temporary famine and
    then use theses example for a permanent work.

59
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • In the scriptures churches sending money to
    another was always on a temporary basis for the
    purpose of relieving needy Christians. (Acts
    1127-20 1 Cor 161-3 2 Cor 812-15)

60
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Acts 1127-30 - And in these days prophets came
    from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them,
    named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit
    that there was going to be a great famine
    throughout all the world, which also happened in
    the days of Claudius Caesar.

61
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 29 Then the disciples, each according to his
    ability, determined to send relief to the
    brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also
    did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
    Barnabas and Saul.

62
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 1 Corinthians 161-4 - Now concerning the
    collection for the saints, as I have given orders
    to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also
    2 On the first day of the week let each one of
    you lay something aside, storing up as he may
    prosper, that there be no collections when I
    come.

63
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your
    letters I will send to bear your gift to
    Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go
    also, they will go with me.

64
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 2 Corinthians 812-15 - For if there is first a
    willing mind, it is accepted according to what
    one has, and not according to what he does not
    have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be
    eased and you burdened 14 but by an equality,
    that now at this time your abundance may supply
    their lack, that their abundance also may supply
    your lack -- that there may be equality.

65
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had
    nothing left over, and he who gathered little had
    no lack.

66
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • Churches began assuming works beyond their means
    to accomplish. One church decided to oversee
    all the preaching in Germany while another
    assumed the work of preaching on national
    radio and TV (Herald of Truth broadcast).

67
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • What would you tell one that assumed the work
    of giving beyond his means?

68
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • What would you tell one that assumed the work
    of giving beyond his means?
  • After decades of debate colleges started by
    Christians began to demand that churches support
    them.

69
The historic first steps in apostasy occur in
organization
  • What would you tell one that assumed the work
    of giving beyond his means?
  • After decades of debate colleges started by
    Christians began to demand that churches support
    them.
  • Preachers and churches that did not go along were
    marked and avoided.

70
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • It takes away from the work and oversight of
    local churches.

71
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • It takes away from the work and oversight of
    local churches.
  • When all a church does is give money then it has
    surrendered its work.

72
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • It takes away from the work and oversight of
    local churches.
  • When all a church does is give money then it has
    surrendered its work.
  • We can in a local church let another man or men
    do our work as well.

73
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • It takes away from the work and oversight of
    local churches.
  • When all a church does is give money then it has
    surrendered its work.
  • We can in a local church let another man or men
    do our work as well.
  • Human institutions come to control local
    churches. When the institution changes so
    do the churches.

74
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • There is no accountability to local churches.

75
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • There is no accountability to local churches.
  • Men of power often rise to positions of power. It
    becomes a place to undermine.

76
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • There is no accountability to local churches.
  • Men of power often rise to positions of power. It
    becomes a place to undermine.
  • How many want a man to preach that is trained by
    a church college?

77
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • There is no accountability to local churches.
  • Men of power often rise to positions of power. It
    becomes a place to undermine.
  • How many want a man to preach that is trained by
    a church college?
  • What has happened to every college set up by
    brethren after 100 years?

78
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • How many preachers have been fired because of a
    college? Consider the symbiotic
    relationship between local church and a college
    in the same town.

79
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • How many preachers have been fired because of a
    college? Consider the symbiotic
    relationship between local church and a college
    in the same town.
  • It always is the beginning of decline.

80
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Which is more powerful, one good preacher or an
    entire church filled with faith? (Acts 83-4
    Acts 176 Col 123)

81
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Acts 83-4 - As for Saul, he made havoc of the
    church, entering every house, and dragging off
    men and women, committing them to prison. 4
    Therefore those who were scattered went
    everywhere preaching the word.

82
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Acts 176 - But when they did not find them,
    they dragged Jason and some brethren to the
    rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have
    turned the world upside down have come here too.

83
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Colossians 123 - if indeed you continue in the
    faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved
    away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
    which was preached to every creature under
    heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

84
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • It is very wasteful. Consider the cost of a
    typical institution that can only exist by
    successful fund raising. (Ex. Member who gave a
    dollar and then a dime)

85
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Local churches unencumbered by human institutions
    and loyal to them can more effectively work
    together and make needed changes without outside
    interference.

86
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Local churches unencumbered by human institutions
    and loyal to them can more effectively work
    together and make needed changes without outside
    interference.
  • Consider the Sponsoring churches of the 1950s
    and the colleges that sought church
    support in the 1950s. Where are they now?

87
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Questions to Consider

88
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Questions to Consider
  • 1. What happened to the church in Ephesus over
    time? What happens when we lose our first
    love for the Lord?

89
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Questions to Consider
  • 1. What happened to the church in Ephesus over
    time? What happens when we lose our first
    love for the Lord?
  • 2. Name some differences between a local church
    and the body of Christ.

90
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • Questions to Consider
  • 1. What happened to the church in Ephesus over
    time? What happens when we lose our first
    love for the Lord?
  • 2. Name some differences between a local church
    and the body of Christ.
  • 3. Why does apostasy often occur in the
    organization of the church?

91
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • 4. Did the early church spread the gospel to the
    whole world with just local churches?

92
The fruit of compromises in organization
  • 4. Did the early church spread the gospel to the
    whole world with just local churches?
  • 5. Why is dependence upon human institutions a
    sure sign of decay in faith?
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