IDENTIFYING THE CHURCH

Introduction:
     1. Matt. 16:13-20 -- Will build MY church
     2. 1 Cor. 12:20 -- All baptized into ONE body.
     3. Eph. 4:4 -- ONE body, Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18
     4. Rom. 16:16 -- Plural demands a singular.
     5. Indeed, Jesus did establish His body, the church, the
        called out, the saved. Acts 2:47, a reality.

Body:
  I. BUT WHAT HAPPENED? Let us look at a brief study of Church
     History: (Draw a time line across board, enter dates)
     1. 64 A.D. -- Nero, extreme persecution of Christians under
                 Roman Rule. cf. Acts 8
     2. 90 A.D -- Domitian -- Even more severe persecution. John
                 writes the Revelation letter to encourage
                 Christians to remain steadfast. Jehovah is still
                 on the throne. The battle will be won.
     3. 311 A.D. -- Edict of Toleration. Christianity accepted.
     4. 325 A.D. -- Nicean Creed. Preachers and Bishops began to be
                 pampered. A Human creed was adopted and
                 Christianity received approval of Roman Government
     5. 606 A.D. -- Boniface III claimed title and Power of first
                 universal or world wide (Catholic) Head of the
                 church, The Pope (Papa).
     6. 1000 years of the Dark Ages. Church became very corrupt.
     7. 1517 A.D. -- Luther posted his 95 Theses (objections)
     8. 1530 A.D. -- Lutherian church began.
     9. 1534 A.D. -- King Henry VIII of England assumed authority
                 of the church in England; thus, Church of England
                 began. Very similar to Catholic church.
    10. 1609 A.D. -- Episcopal church came out of Church of Eng.
    11. 1739 A.D. -- Methodist church founded by John Wesley. Came
                 out of the Episcopal church.
    12. Latter 1800 A.D. -- Pentecostal churches came from the
                 Methodist churches.
    13. 1536 A.D. -- John Calvin established Presbyterian church.
    14. 1611 A.D. -- John Smyth formed the Baptist church (Objected
                 to sprinkling.
    15. Since then many differing groups have been formed, each
        with something distinct and different from those before.
    16. Until today, there are hundreds of differing churches.

 II. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE WHICH IS RIGHT???
     1. John 17:20-21 -- Jesus prayed that His disciples be ONE.
     2. 1 Cor 1:10 -- Paul condemned religious division.
     3. Eph 4:1-6 -- Holy Spirit demanded UNITY.
     4. Luke 8:11 -- Plant the same seed and the same results will
                 occur. If not, why not???
     5. Rev. 22:18-19 -- Not to add to, nor take away from.
     6. 2 John 9 -- Do not go beyond the teachings of Christ.

III. MARKS OF IDENTITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH:
     1. NAME -- Rom. 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:12; Acts 4:12.

     2. ORGANIZATION-- Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5.
        Elders in every church. Independent from each other.

     3. WORSHIP -- Sing -- Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
                   Pray -- 1 Thess. 5:17, Early disciples prayed
                   Lord's Supper -- Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11:23-30
                   Give -- l Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8 & 9.
                   Teach -- Matt. 28:20; Found on almost every page
                            of God's Book.

     4. WORK -- Eph. 4:13
                Evangelize -- preach to the lost.
                Edification -- Build up the saved.
                Benevolence -- Limited to poor saints. Rom. 15:26

     5. GOD'S PLAN TO SAVE --
               Hear the gospel -- Rom. 10:17
               Believe in Christ -- Rom. 10:10
               Repent of sins -- Acts 2:39
               Confess faith in Christ -- Rom. 10:10
               Baptized into Christ -- Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38;
                   Matt. 28:18-20.  Buried with Him, Rom. 6:3-4.

CONCLUSION:
   1. Can we find the Church that Christ established? I believe we
      can.
   2. Is it present today? I believe that it is.
   3. How would we determine which is truly the right one? By
      examining its marks of identify. Does it do the same things
      that they did in the first century?
   4. Are you in the Body founded by Christ? You can be, you know.

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