The Restoration Movement Ideals and Ideas

Review A falling away from truth as people turned from and changed the gospel plan –Though there always existed those who clung to the truth An attempt by many to reform the abuses fell short of returning to the truth The Restoration Movement began when individuals saw the need to give up everything not authorized in Scripture –The individuals were not important in themselves, but in that they sparked the minds of others and began a movement Spurring the movement forward were four concepts –Ideals and ideas for the church

1. An Appeal for Unity Ideal: No differing denominations in the NT –John 17:20-21; Eph 4:4-6 Ideal: Members of local churches were to be united –Eph 4:1-3; 1 Cor 1:10-13 Some struggled to balance the desire for unity with the importance of truth –Scott: Fellowship with one another should begin with a fellowship with God and accepting the truth (1Jn 1:3) –Unite all “believers?” –Can you be united with one who has never been baptized into Christ? Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-29 Idea: Let us love everyone, but we can only have fellowship in Christ with those in Christ

2. Emphasis on Scripture Ideal: A rejection of human wisdom and an appeal to search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) –Sought to start with a “blank paper” If the Scriptures were sufficient, what else could be needed? –Franklin: a creed is more, less, different than, or the same as the Bible If the same, then unneeded If more, less, or different, then unwanted –Passages like Rev 22:18-19 were stressed Idea: People were urged to use biblical speech and follow Biblical patterns / examples –“We do Bible things in Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible words”

3. Reason, Decency, and Order Ideal: God’s people are not to be without emotion, and all questions cannot be answered, but… –God has spoken words that can be read and understood by reason and logic Acts 17:10-11; Eph. 3:3-5 Idea: Any emotional appeal (Acts 2:36,40) must follow the presentation of the facts and be well-supported by those facts – logical reasoning (Acts 2:16-35) –Another example, 1 Cor 15 The facts of verses 1-11 lead to the logical reasoning of verses which form a foundation for the appeals of verses –The need for edification and not confusion was stressed (1 Cor 14:33, 40)

4. Plan of Salvation is Understandable Ideal: People want assurance of salvation In the 19 th century, salvation was an elusive, uncertain prospect –Might not be allowed it (if not elected by God) –Might not know if you had it Scott took men back to the book of Acts to look at conversions –The preaching of the gospel produced conversions (Rom 1:16) Idea: Man’s part is understandable and when man does his part, God promises to do His –Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16; Heb. 5:8-9; Rom 10:8-17; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16

Conclusion The men of the Restoration Movement did not invent a means of salvation –They merely saw what was plainly revealed in God’s word and taught it to others And those who heard and believed taught still others (2 Tim 2:2), etc. The plan is God’s plan, the church is God’s church –God’s word contains all we need for service and worship (2 Tim 3:16-17)