1. Ecclesiasticism

2. What is it? “Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts.”

3. NT:1577 ekleesia 1. an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating: Acts 19:39 “If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly.” NIV

4. 2. the assembly of the Israelites Heb 2:12 NKJV "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." NT:1577 ekleesia

5. 3. the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; Matt 16:18 NIV 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. NT:1577 ekleesia

6. aa. those who anywhere, in city or village, constitute such a company and are united into one body: Acts 5:11 aa. those who anywhere, in city or village, constitute such a company and are united into one body: Acts 5:11 Matt 16:18 cc. the name is transferred to the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven: Heb 12:23 cc. the name is transferred to the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven: Heb 12:23 (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)

7. 4 th Volume Description Zenith of ecclesiasticism [Vol. 4,p. Page 168] Zenith of ecclesiasticism [Vol. 4,p. Page 168] “The church knows that the eyes of all the world are turned upon her; that somehow it has been discovered that, while she has claimed her commission to be to convert the world, the time has arrived when, if that be her mission, that work should be almost, if not fully, accomplished, and that really she differs little from the world, except in profession.”

8. 4 th Volume (continued) Having assumed this to be her present mission, she has lost sight of the real purpose of this Gospel age; viz., to "preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness to all nations," and to aid in the calling and preparing of a "little flock" to constitute (with the Lord) that Millennial Kingdom which shall then bless all the families of the earth. (Matt. 24:14; Acts 15:14-17) Having assumed this to be her present mission, she has lost sight of the real purpose of this Gospel age; viz., to "preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness to all nations," and to aid in the calling and preparing of a "little flock" to constitute (with the Lord) that Millennial Kingdom which shall then bless all the families of the earth. (Matt. 24:14; Acts 15:14-17)

9. Purpose? To learn how we can maintain “the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace” To learn how we can maintain “the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace” –By understanding why the false church divides and cannot unify –By understanding God’s instruction regarding the “unity of the spirit”

10. The Problems? Doctrines inconsistent with the Bible Doctrines inconsistent with the Bible –The people need the creeds to sustain their faith –The pastors are ashamed of the creeds and want to say as little about them as they can

11. The Problem (cont.) The internal conflicts are leading to further disunion and eventual downfall The internal conflicts are leading to further disunion and eventual downfall –Unity efforts are praised as growth in love and fellowship –But the motivation is really fear and the efforts are leading to a coming storm

12. The Proposed Solutions? Some desire to ignore differences and unite and cooperate in evangelism Some desire to ignore differences and unite and cooperate in evangelism But how in light of conflicting creeds? But how in light of conflicting creeds? –One proposal is to unite those most alike in creeds first –Another proposal seeks to ignore doctrinal differences and promote unity and fellowship amongst all morally disposed people (favored mostly by the young)

13. Where will it all lead? Rev 7:1, 3 (NIV) After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

14. Ecclesiasticism will fail The mother church (Catholicism) will be brought down with her daughters even though and possibly because of their attempts at unification. The mother church (Catholicism) will be brought down with her daughters even though and possibly because of their attempts at unification. This will happen when the four winds of Rev. 7 are released and a whirlwind of anarchy will result This will happen when the four winds of Rev. 7 are released and a whirlwind of anarchy will result

15. Why do efforts toward unity fail? The spirit of carnality The spirit of carnality 1 Cor 3:3, 4 (KJV) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

16. 1 Cor 1:11-13 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

17. The opposite of carnality? The Spirit of Christ The Spirit of Christ –Phil 2:1-15 –Matt 11:29-30 –Matt 20:26-28 –John 13:14-15 –Rom 14:15, 19

18. The Opposite of Carnality? The Spirit of Christ Phil 2:15 KJV The Spirit of Christ Phil 2:15 KJV “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

19. The Spirit of Christ –Phil 2:1-15 –Matt 11:29-30 –Matt 20:26-28 –John 13:14-15 –Rom 14:15, 19

20. The Spirit of Christ Matt 11:29-30 KJV “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

21. The Spirit of Christ –Phil 2:1-15 –Matt 11:29-30 –Matt 20:26-28 –John 13:14-15 –Rom 14:15, 19

22. The Spirit of Christ Matt 20:26-28 NIV “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

23. The Spirit of Christ –Phil 2:1-15 –Matt 11:29-30 –Matt 20:26-28 –John 13:14-15 –Rom 14:15, 19

24. The Spirit of Christ John 13:14-15 KJV “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:14-15 KJV “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

25. The Spirit of Christ Rom 14:15, 19 KJV “But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

26. “Ecclesiasticism” and the Spirit of Christ - Is it possible for the false church to have the Spirit of Christ? - NO ! Rom 8:14 KJV “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Rom 8:14 KJV “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” 1 John 3:1 KJV “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1 KJV “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

27. Are we also carnal? Do we have a carnal spirit in our ecclesiasticism? Do we have a carnal spirit in our ecclesiasticism? Do we follow the teachings and philosophies of a man or of men? Do we follow the teachings and philosophies of a man or of men? What are the teachings of the scriptures [the word of God] about what unites us? What are the teachings of the scriptures [the word of God] about what unites us? What are the teachings of the scriptures [the word of God] about what divides us? What are the teachings of the scriptures [the word of God] about what divides us?

28. What unites? (scripturally) The New Testament gives a clarion call: The New Testament gives a clarion call: –“love one another” [1 Jn 5:1] –“accept one another” [Rom 15:7] –“carry one another’s burdens” [Gal 6:2] –“put up with one another” [Col 3:13] –“endure one another in love” [Eph 4:2] God’s commandment regarding brotherly association is “LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” God’s commandment regarding brotherly association is “LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

29. What divides? [scripturally] Brethren who are evil [practice sin] Brethren who are evil [practice sin] 1 Cor 5:11 KJV “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

30. What divides? [scripturally] Brethren who divide Brethren who divide Rom 16:17 KJV “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

31. What divides? [scripturally] Brethren who deny that Jesus came in the flesh (i.e., the ransom) Brethren who deny that Jesus came in the flesh (i.e., the ransom) 2 John 7-11 KJV “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full rbbeward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

32. Put away those who practice sin 1 Cor 5:13 KJV “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”

33. Put away those who practice sin Matt 18:15-17 KJV “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

34. Brethren who divide Rom 16:17 KJV “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

35. Brethren who divide 2 Tim 3:1-7 KJV “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

36. Those who deny Jesus came in the flesh 2 John 7 and 10 KJV 2 John 7 and 10 KJV “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”

37. Those who deny Jesus came in the flesh Besides the overwhelming doctrinal implications this affects our own focus 1 Cor 2:2 KJV “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

38. Worship other than of God and Jesus is “idol worship.” Pharisees idolized the scriptures, but did not believe them because they did not accept Jesus of whom they testified Pharisees idolized the scriptures, but did not believe them because they did not accept Jesus of whom they testified Pharisees idolized their own rituals Pharisees idolized their own rituals Pharisees idolized men (Moses) Pharisees idolized men (Moses) Their idolatry blinded them to seeing the “word of God made flesh” – Jesus. Their idolatry blinded them to seeing the “word of God made flesh” – Jesus.

39. Whom or What do we worship? Idols? Idols? –Men –Words –Books (including the Bible [bibliolatry]) –Philosophies God God –Belief in Jesus [the way, the truth, the life] –The “word of God” – he and no other

40. What does following Jesus (obeying God) NOT look like? Put up with sin Put up with sin Idolizing the “knowledge” Idolizing the “knowledge” Love the brethren – in word and NOT deed Love the brethren – in word and NOT deed Proudly, dogmatically preaching our views Proudly, dogmatically preaching our views Spirit of unity that ignores unity of the spirit Spirit of unity that ignores unity of the spirit

41. What does following Jesus look like? Put a way sin Put a way sin Practice his word – don’t idolize it Practice his word – don’t idolize it Love the brethren – in word and deed Love the brethren – in word and deed Put on the mind of Christ Put on the mind of Christ Endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace

42. In Conclusion: Ps 19:14 KJV “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” The End