1. OSU CHURCH OF CHRIST BY BRO. ERIC DARKO

2.   Searching for the truth about the church  To find out whether there is approval fro God for Multiplicity of Churches  To reawaken the minds and thoughts of people for the restoration of Lord’s Church. Purpose of the Lesson

3.  THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE AND MULTIPLICITY OF CHURCHES INVESTIGATED PART I

4.   INTRODUCTION -The Church Defined - Denominationalism defined  Overview of Problem Statement  Christendom in a confused State  Disclaimer of the Godhead and the Apostles  Causes of the confusion  Urgent Need for Restoration

5.   In majority of the versions of our Bibles, church is a translation of the Greek word “Ecclesia”.  “Ecclesia is made up of two words: “ek” – out; and “Kaleo”- call.  Ecclesia was originally a select civil body, summoned for a particular purpose. THE CHURCH DEFINED

6.   It was a name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens by proper officers and possessing all political power including every juridical functions before the writing of the NT.  It was originally therefore an assembly called out by the magistrate or by legitimate authority.  In Acts 19:32, 39,41, ecclesia was a town council, a civil body in Ephesus which was stirred up by the Silversmith- Demetrius against Paul and his associates in Ephesus The Church

7.   Jesus Christ is the first to “adapt” the word “ecclesia” in the religious sense to build up His called out assembly in Matt 16:18  The translators intended to convey the original Greek meaning of the word: “ a body of Christians called out of the Roman and Judean system to come together into a separate civil community The church

8.   It means a politically autonomous body of Christians under no king but Jesus, under no other jurisdiction but that of Jesus.  No man ruled them! Only Christ  And that was the reason these same churches ran into trouble with kings and rulers, were arrested, crucified, and martyred.  They dropped Caesar as their king, and took CHRIST. (Acts 17:1-7) The Church

9.   However, to differentiate clearly the worldly pagan called out assemblies from that which belongs to the LORD JESUS, Jesus made an emphatic statement when He promised to BUILD HIS CHURCH in Matt. 16:18 The Church

10.  Another name for “multiplicity of churches” is “denominationalism”. DENOMINATIONALISM DEFINED

11.  Modern denominations include many local congregations, and they claim there is one universal church composed of all "saved" people. But they add something new - the denominations. All these "saved" people in all these local churches are now divided into denominations. Denominationalism

12.  The concept of a denomination, as commonly believed today, involves all the following elements: * Each denomination is an affiliation or confederation consisting of a number of local churches. * Each denomination has its own peculiar name, doctrine, organization, plan of worship, etc., which distinguishes it from other denominations. * Each denomination claims it is composed of Christians, but it does not claim to contain all faithful Christians. Denominationalism

13.  Each denomination believes there are faithful children of God in other denominations. "There are saved people in all the denominations." "We're all going to heaven, just by different routes." "One church is as good as another." It's just a matter of personal preference, like different kinds of cars, colors of clothes, etc. So "join the church of your choice." Denominationalism

14.  Ask any informed denominationalist, and he will confirm what we have said. Ask: "Are there saved Christians in your denomination?" He will say, "Yes." Ask: "Are there Christians in other denominations, who will go to heaven?" He will say, "Yes. " Ask: "Does one have to be a member of your denomination to go to heaven?" He will say, "No. " So each denomination claims to consist of some Christians, but not all Christians. Denominationalism

15.  Accepting Denominationalism;-(man-made churches) Using sectarian names and man-made traditions for the church; Accepting Non-Denominationalism;- Man-made churches sacrificing all beliefs that are necessary in order to maintain unity with other religious people) Unity Through Conformity; (Man-made churches conforming to all beliefs and opinions) More Confused State

16.  Overview of the Problem Statement CONFUSION IN THE CHRISTENDOM ABOUT THE CHURCH IS EVIDENT A generation born into a world where there are multiplicity of churches Each of these churches bear different names, various conflicting doctrine and practices Each claims power and authority from God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit Varying meeting days spanning from Fridays to Sundays compound the problem

17.  CONFUSION!!!

18.   RESULTS; -UNBELIEF; -CONFUSION ABOUT THE RIGHT CHURCH; - NOT ATTENDING CHURCH AT ALL PROBLEM

19.  DISCLAIMER OF THE GODHEAD GOD I Corr. 14:33 Prov. 6: 14,16-19 JESUS Matt. 16:13-19 John 17:20-22 HS John 16:13-15 Eph. 4:1-6 (use speed, effort, prompt, earnest, diligence, labour, study) TO ENSURE ONENESS-UNITY

20.  DISCLAIMER OF THE APOSTLES I Corr. 1:10-16 I Corr. 4:17

21.  WHY THE CONFUSION?

22.   POWER AND FAME (MATT. 23:5-10; Mark 10:42-43)  MATERIAL GAINS (ROM. 16:17-18)  DUE TO LAZINESS (2 TIM.4:2-4)  FOLLOWING HUMAN TRADITIONS AND MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS BOOKS (MATT.15:2,3,7-9)  GOD’S PUNISHMENT FOR REJECTING THE TRUTH (ROM. 1:24-32) -(2 Thes. 2:1-17; I John 2:18-19) CAUSES OF MULTIPLICITY OF CHURCHES (WERE WE FORE- WARNED)?

23.   PERSONAL FEELINGS, EMOTIONS, OR THOUGHTS Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23  BELIEF OF MAJORITY OF MEN Matt. 7:13-14; Ex. 23:2  ZEAL OF MEN WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD Rom. 10:1-2;  FALSE DOCTRINE REFORMATION (GAL. 2:4-5); (2 JOHN 9-11) CAUSES OF DENOMINATIONALISM

24.  Reformation movements unfortunately, seek only to reform existing institution, not an old structure. Baggage of the past is always carried over into the new movement, calling for another reformation from themselves; Proclaimed restoration movements simply salvaged baggage out of worn out reformation movements, and collect scriptures to justify themselves as “biblical” but practice and behaving according to the reformation heritages from which they fled. There is nothing more blinding than a reformation that has disguised itself as a restoration. Denominationalism Causes

25.  PART II THE SOLUTION PART II

26.  Suppose we had a church that taught all the following things: * We follow the Bible as our sole guide in religion, but we also follow the Book of Mormon, the Catholic catechism, and Jehovah's Witness Watchtower publications as authority. * We believe that a child of God can so sin as to be eternally lost, but we also believe that it is impossible for a child of God to so sin as to be eternally lost. * We believe that immersion is the only true form of baptism, but we also practice sprinkling and pouring as valid forms of baptism. *We believe that one is saved after baptism, but we also believe that reciting a sinner’s prayer before baptism renders salvation. * We believe that we worship the God of the Bible as our only God and Jesus as our only Savior, but we also worship the sun, moon, stars, and Satan. RECAP OF PART I

27.  What would you think of a church that believed and practiced all these contradictory doctrines? "Ridiculous! Hypocritical!" Yes, but when different churches teach these contradictory doctrines, some people tell us it "does not matter" which we join. Isn't that also ridiculous and hypocritical? Consider what denominationalism says about Jesus. We are told that "you can find Jesus in any of the churches." And "there are people in all the denominations that are following Jesus." But if Jesus is found in all the churches, though they teach all these contradictory doctrines, doesn't that make Him a hypocrite? And if all the churches are following Jesus, yet they are going in opposite directions, doesn't that mean Jesus is leading people in opposite directions? When people try to justify denominations, they make Jesus ridiculous and hypocritical! What is the real problem with our imaginary church? The problem is that no one could believe all these contradictory doctrines because truth does not contradict itself! This is the real issue. Jesus teaches truth, and truth does not contradict itself. Denominations contradict one another. Therefore, they cannot all be teaching truth, and they cannot all be following Jesus! RECAP

28.  A true restoration does not remold old norms but an attempt to refocus twisted scriptures which started in the 21 st century unlike all the earlier centuries from the second century. Comparing counterfeit with original money or counterfeit against counterfeit. No history books from which to direct its course; Adherents often do not know where they are going, other than with their faith that will direct them to God, being directed only by His Word. Seeking to step outside the box of orthodoxy to walk by faith according to the word of God. SOLUTION- THE URGENT NEED FOR A TRUE RESTORATION THEREFORE

29.  True restoration is identified by unity not divisionTrue restoration calls people to Jesus through His WordThe call for restoration identifies God’s peopleRestoration is a plea to individualsIt is about one’s personal relationship with JesusIn restoration, we do not recruit people to “our church”In restoration, we do not think we have established an ideal Restoration

30.  Restoration is a call to people who are in apostasyRestoration is a call for freedom from misguided religiosityChristianity is not a union of organized denominations True restoration does not submit to earthly authorities where we are cloned after legal rules of some man or group of men (enthroning the opinion of any man, council, or synod) It is a call that is founded upon the fundamental principle of the final authority of Christ in all things that pertain to the Christians’ faith Restoration

31.  We are not seeking to restore the behaviour of the church of Corinth, a church with many divisions; (I Corr. 1:10) We are not seeking to restore the church in Laodicea which was known for her laziness (Rev. 3:15-16); Nor are we seeking to restore the church in Sardis that was dead (Rev. 3:1); We are seeking to call sincere believers to the Word of God in order that we discover again the roots of our faith; Restoration Plea

32.  To be part of one universal church of Christ that functions as servants for Christ in communities throughout the world. A call for restoration simply means that people are now reading their Bibles RESTORATION PLEA

33.  Belief in a final Authority in matters of faith 2 Thes. 2:9-12; John 17:17 Belief that God’s Revelation is understandable (with due diligence study) Eph. 3:4; 2 Tim. 2:15 Belief that God’s word (Apostles’ writings) has been preserved for all men (2 Tim. 3:16)Belief that God’s Word is all sufficient ( I Pet. 1:23,25;Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 6:45) Belief that man’s religious laws and traditions are not binding as standards by which we will be judged (Mk 7:1-90) Belief that the Word of God will produce Unity among believers (I Corr. 1:12,13) FOUNDATION FOR RESTORATION

34.  Reject all groups that believe the denominational concept. Refuse to be part of any group that claims to be a denomination, or which excuses, justifies, or condones denominationalism. Recognize that all such groups are apostasies, departures from God's way. 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 - Come out from among them and be separate. Ephesians 5:11 - Have no fellowship with the works of darkness, but reprove them. [See also Rom. 16:17; 2 John 9-11; Matt. 15:1-14; Tit. 3:10,11.] RESTORATION

35.  Accept and obey only the word of God in its purity and simplicity. Luke 8:11 - The Word of God is the seed of the kingdom. 1 Peter 1:22-25 - We purify our souls and are born again into God's family by obeying truth (not error). Acts 2:38,47 - Repent and be baptized for remission of sins and God will then add you to His true church. Then find a faithful local church that follows God's true word and is not part of any denomination. In the first century, obeying Jesus' true gospel made people members of Jesus' one true church. It did not make them members of any denomination. That gospel can have the same effect in your life as it did in theirs, for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 2:39; 10:34,35; Mk. 16:15,16). The seed of the kingdom will produce the same result today as it did in the first century (Gal. 6:8). If you avoid man-made doctrines and obey just the true gospel, you too will become a member of Jesus' true body of all saved people, but you will not be a member of any denomination. This will put you in fellowship with all others who have truly obeyed that gospel. Those who do not so teach, are not the Lord's true church. RESTORATION

36.   INTRODUCTION -The Church Defined - Denominationalism defined  Overview of Problem Statement  Christendom in a confused State  Disclaimer of the Godhead and the Apostles  Causes of the confusion  Urgent Need for Restoration CONCLUSION