2. CHRIST, CHURCH OR COUNCIL?

3. The Holy Spirit warned about departures from the one true faith. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.... you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15, 20) “… savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20: 29-30)

4. The Holy Spirit warned about departures from the one true faith. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods…” (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

5. The Holy Spirit warned about departures from the one true faith. “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” (2 Peter 2:1)

6. The Holy Spirit warned about departures from the one true faith. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)

7. Church hierarchies and councils do not have the authority to add laws. The nature of the inspired word of God: Deuteronomy 4:2 Proverbs 30:5-6 Revelation 22:18-19

8. Church hierarchies and councils do not have the authority to add laws. Councils of religious leaders have assembled to determine what is to be taught, what is to be believed and what is to be practiced. Church powers and rulers have no authority to change what the Lord Jesus has established, ordained, said and commanded.

9. Jesus has communicated His authority through the work of His apostles & prophets. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). Needed to be taught all things Needed to be remember all things that Jesus said (John 14:26).

10. Jesus has communicated His authority through the work of His apostles & prophets. Apostles’ authority bound and loosed what was already bound and loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:18; 18:18). Apostles and prophets wrote by revelation of the Spirit. The written message is the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 3:3-5).