The Nature and History of New Testament
Christianity
Text: I Thes.
Introduction: How can we today distinguish between genuine New Testament Christianity and
apostate forms of Christianity or between orthodox and unorthodox?
I. New Testament Doctrine and Practice
is the Standard for Othodoxy
A. What is the
difference between Deviant and Genuine Christianity?
1. Dr. Walter Martin - A cult, then, is a group of people polarized around someone’s
interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations
from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the
Christian faith…[1] (emphasis mine)
2. Dr. Josh McDowell – A cult is a perversion, a distortion of Biblical Christianity and/or a
rejection of historic teachings of the Christian Church.[2]
3. James Sire - Any religious movement that is organizationally distinct and has
doctrines
and/or practices that contradict those of the Scriptures as interpreted by
traditional
Christianity as represented by the major Catholic and Protestant
denominations,
and as expressed in such statements as the Apostles Creed.[3]
Conclusion: All agree that deviant or cultic Christianity is a departure from Biblical Christianity
or what is referred to as “orthodox” Christianity.
B. The problem of defining “orthodox”
is well stated by John A. Silba
The first problem with the definition of a cult as an unorthodox
religious group is that it
leaves unsolved
the question of Christian orthodoxy. Sire’s definition seems to include all
traditional
Christianity (Catholic and Protestant) under the standard of orthodoxy, thereby
bypassing the
many debates that have split the Christian Church through he ages. The
narrower standard
proposed by Martin is that of evangelical Christianity, a criterion that
excludes several well established
Christian churches and sects which are judged to be
unorthodox and
hence liable to be called cults…Many…have at times referred to the
Catholic Church as a cult…[4]
CONCLUSION: Every conflicting denomination claims to be New Testament orthodoxy. Everyone has their personal opinion as to the definition of New Testament orthodoxy? Every denomination uses its own creed or articles of faith as the standard of New Testament orthodoxy. How can you or I tell what is New Testament orthodoxy? Is there a way to determine the essentials of New Testament Christianity? If not, then it is one denominations opinion versus another denominations opinion. This is the problem. Is there a clear and decisive solution to this problem?
II. Discovering the Biblical Standard
for Orthodoxy
Intro: The standard for orthodoxy can be easily discovered by the use of common sense principles
and common sense rules of interpretation.
A. Four Principles
for Discovering Biblical Orthodoxy: There are four clear reasonable and
Biblical principles that can be used to
define Biblical Orthodoxy. The principles are so clear
that no one can deny without being
irrational and unreasonable. These principles need no
interpretation as they are unambiguous and
clear.
Principle #1: Every doctrine and/or
practice that the Bible itself clearly states or necessarily
infers to be non-negotionable or absolutely essential must be regarded as
orthodox
example: One gospel – Gal. 1:6-9 – “if any man preach any other gospel….”
example: One God – Deut. 4:6; 13:1-5
example: One way to heaven – John 14:6 – “no man cometh to the Father but by me”
example: Necessity of new birth – John 3:3,5 – “ye must be born again”
example: grace cannot be mixed with works – Rom. 11:6
Principle #2: Every doctrine and practice
that is essential to distinguish Christianity from
other world religions
must be regarded as orthodox
The Bible as the authorized revealed will of God – Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Rev. 22:18-19
The Triune God of the Bible – Deut. 13:1-5; 2 Jn. 9-11; Jn. 17:3; Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:13
The
The One and Only God/man Savior – Jn. 1:1; 2 Jn. 9-11
The Resurrection of the Christ – I Cor. 15:1-20
The New Testament Church and its ordinances – Mt. 16:18; 28:19-20; I Cor. 11
Principle #3 - All doctrine and practice
that are essential to preserve essential N.T.
Christianity
The Scriptures as the basis for faith and practice – Psa. 12:6-7; Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17
The Continuing Church Institution as the pillar and ground of truth – I Tim. 3:15; Mt. 16:18
The Age long Great Commission process of making disciples – Mt. 28:19-20
Principle #4 - All Doctrine and Practice
that distinguish N.T. Christianity from predicted
Apostate Christianity
The Bible clearly predicts such an apostasy? – I Tim. 4:1; 2 Thes. 2:3; Mt. 24:24-25; Jude 3
The Bible clearly lists some of the false doctrines? – I Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Jn. 9-11; Gal. 1:8-9
Apostate Christianity will deny or distort one or more of the above three principles
- It will deny non-negotionable doctrines that the Bible demands to be essential
- It will deny essentials that distinguish Christianity from other world religions
- It will deny essentials that preserve N.T. Christianity
CONCLUSION: These four reasonable and Biblical principles if applied will define every doctrine
and practice essential to Orthodox Christianity. Cultic or unorthodox Christianity are those
institutions or denominations that violate the above four principles.
B. Three Clear Biblical rules of Interpretation: However, it is one thing to identify the correct doctrines and practice and another thing to interpret them correctly. There are some denominations that profess to believe and practice these essentials but in reality they deny them by their distorted interpretation and practice. How does one determine the right interpretation of a specific doctrine and practice in order to identify orthodox Christianity from unorthodox Christianity? Just as there are four common sense principles that can be used to discover the essentials of orthodoxy there are three common sense rules of interpretation that none can deny without being unreasonable and irrational. All false doctrine is a result of failing to apply these principles. If these principles are applied truth will always be the result.
1. The Golden Rule of Interpretation: “When the plain sense of Scriptures makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic (self-evident) and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” Any doctrine that violates this golden rule should be rejected as error. All the below rules of interpretation are included in this golden rule.
2. The Rule of Interpreting the Unclear by the Clear: Common sense tells us that unclear, ambiguous and difficult passages should be interpreted by clear and unambiguous passages – NEVER THE REVERSE. Never should one accept interpretations that are based primarily upon parabolic, symbolic, allegorical or spiritualizations when such interpretations are in obvious contradiction to the plain sense of clear precepts and examples of Scripture. Always should doctrine be based upon clear precepts and teaching of Scriptures and then supported by parabolic, allegorical and symbolic portions of Scripture. All doctrine and practice that contradicts this common sense rule should be rejected as error.
Example: The clear precepts of the New Birth should not be interpreted by a spiritualized
Interpretation of Revelation 7:1-9 – JW’s
Example: The clear teachings on the
spiritualized Interpretation of Rev. 12-14 – Seventh Day Adventists
3. The Rule of Context: Every word, every text of Scripture should be interpreted according to its intended historical, grammatical and immediate context and then that interpretation should be compared to the overall Biblcal context dealing with that particular subject. Any interpretation or application of a text that violates or contradicts its original historical contextual intent is to be rejected as error. Any interpretation that violates the immediate and overall context should be rejected as error.
Example: The Open Window Method – (Jerking texts out of contexts)
- Judas went out and hanged himself
- Go thou and do likewise
- Whatsoever thou doest, do quickly
Example: The Subjective Methods
– “I feel…I think” – 2 Pet. 1:20-21; I Cor. 14:38
- “What truth God has for me in this text may not be a truth for you”
The Escape Assertion: “That is your interpretation” – Response: “Show me why my interpretation
is wrong – Let me show you why yours is wrong.” Put up or shut up.
III.
Does God’s Word Promise the
Uninterrupted Continuation
of Essential N.T. Christianity until
Jesus Comes Again?
A. The Clear Precepts of Scripture
1.
The clear promise of age long Existence – Mt. 28:19-20
a. The English text states it clearly– “I am with you always even unto the end of the world”
b. The Greek text clearly demands it – “I am with you all the days even unto the end of the age”
c. One of Protestants top Greek scholars translates the meaning
“I am with you day in and day out until the end of this age” – William Hendricksen
d. The necessary inference of a repeating ongoing cycle - go..baptize.teach….go…etc.
(1) The grammar demands it – one main verb modified by three participles
(2) The concluding participle necessarily infers it ‘Teaching them to observe all things”
e. The guiding precept restricts this to a reproductive cycle of like faith and order – “teaching
them all things whatsoever I HAVE COMMANDED.”
(1) the nature of the precept demands the principle of SAMENESS not DIFFERENCE
(a) going with the SAME gospel – Jn. 3:16,36
(b) administering the SAME baptism – Lk. 7:29-30; Jn. 4:1-2
(c) teaching the SAME faith and practice – Acts 2:42; Jude 3
(2) the nature of the commission requires the New Testament Church as the subject
(a) the plural “you”
(2) the necessity of assembling in order to obey commission
- all aspects require physical gathering together
- Mt. 18:15-17 cannot be taught apart from mutual church membership
f. The combination of promise, precept and necessary inferences require this text teaches clearly
the age long reproduction of churches of like faith and order.
2.
Gates of hades shall never prevail against it – Mt.
16:18
a. Same book same author same promise would infer it refers to the same kind of church as in
Matthew 28:19-20
b. Same author, same promise of the same keys infer the same church as in Mt. 18:15-18
3.
Continuity of Church through this age and into the eternal age – Eph. 3:21
4.
Conclusion: The precepts of Scripture clearly teach the uninterrupted
continuation of the Church that Jesus Built. The Great Commission provides not
only the promise of uninterrupted historical continuity but insures by
restricting missionary authority to the reproduction of like faith and order.
B. The Clear Practice of Scripture confirms the Great
Commission Promise – Acts
2:41-42
1.
The Great Commission in practice at the Church in
Same baptism
- Same doctrine and practice– Acts
2. The Grammatical Customary Practice – Paraphrastic construction (imperfect verb with
present to be verb) – “continued steadfastly” – Acts
a. Imperfect verb indicates continuous action in past time without beginning and ending points
b. Present tense linking verb indicates this is an ongoing action right up to point of writing
c. The inference is that this first obedience to the Great Commission is the customary continuing
practice right up to the close of the book of Acts.
(1) Any other practice would be contrary to the Great Commission command
(2) The beginning and ending points of this periphrastic construct are defined by Mt. 28:19-20
d. Added/Multiplied in the same customary manner spelled out in the beginning – Acts 2:44;
(1) Any other way of addition contradicts the precept, practice and grammar
(2) If we are going to assume anything we should assume according to the clear precepts and
practices
e. The practice
of the Church at
(1) Philip given as an example of an ordained man doing mission work – Acts 6:4;8:5
(2) Other ordained men “sent” out under authority to organize N.T. Churches – Acts 11:19
(a) Masculine pronouns used only
(“hoi” – Acts 8:4;
(b) Term for males only used “andres” – Acts 11:20
f. The practice of the church in regard to mission points – Acts 11:22-25
3.
The Customary Practice of the Church at
a. Through ordained representatives under church authority
(1) The term “sent” (Gr. Apostolos – sent out under authority)
(2)
Submission to church authority in doing missionary work – Acts 14:26; 15:2-3;
b. Reproduction of churches of like faith and order – Acts 14:22-23; Acts 16:3-4
d. Any other interpretation contradicts the Great Commission and the customary practice of Acts
C. The Clear Inferences of Scripture confirm the Great
Commission Promise of
Continuity
1. The Clear Precepts and Practices confirm historical continuity through the great Commission
2. Continuity of Church through this age inferred by Lord’s Supper Command – I Cor. 11:26
3. Continuity of Church through this age inferred by addressee of End of the Age book – Rev.
4. Continuity of Church through this age inferred by presentation at end – Eph. 5:26,27; Rev.
19:6-7
D. The Admissions of Church Historians, Scholars and
Scholarly works
By the
opponents of Baptists
1. The Great Lutheran
Historian – Mosheim
“Before
the rise of Luther and Calvin, there lay scattered in almost all the countries
of
2. Methodist Historian: The great Methodist Historian John Clark Ridpath, author of the monumental work “Ridpath’s History of the World” says in a letter to Dr. W.A. Jarrell,
“I should not readily admit
that there were Baptist churches as far back as A.D. 100, although without
doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were Baptists.”
3. Dutch Reformed Church Historians: Dr. Dermont, chaplain to the King of Holland, and Dr. Ypiej, professor of theology at Graningen, some years ago received a royal commission to prepare a history of the Reformed Dutch Church. This history, prepared under royal sanction, and officially published, contains the following manly and generous testimony to the antiquity and orthodoxy of historical Baptists.
“We have now seen that the Baptists, who were formerly called Anabaptists…were the original Waldenses, and have long in the history of the Church received the honor of that origin. On this account, The Baptists may be considered the only Christian community which has stood since the Apostles, and as a Christian society which has preserved pure the doctrines of the Gospel through all ages.”
4. Roman Catholic Cardinal:
“If the truth of religion were to be judged by the readiness and boldness of which a man of any sect shows in suffering, then the opinion and persuasion of no sect can be truer and surer than that of the Anabaptists since there have been none for these TWELVE HUNDRED YEARS PAST, that have been more generally punished or that have more cheerfully and steadfastly undergone, and even offered themselves to the most cruel sorts of punishment than these people.”
This high ranking Roman Catholic official dates the Anabaptists back to at least A.D. 350. Since this council was called in part to condemn Anabaptists this should be considered to be a very reliable witness to their antiquity.
5. Founder of Disciples of Christ: Alexander Campbell, founder of the
“Christian” church or “
“I would engage to show that baptism as viewed and practiced by the Baptists, had its advocates in every century of the Christian era…and independent of whose existence (the German Anabaptists), clouds of witnesses attest the fact, that before the Reformation from popery, and from the apostolic age, to the present time, the sentiments of Baptists, and the practice of baptism have had a continued chain of advocates, and public monuments of their existence in every century can be produced.”
6. World’s Greatest Scientist: Sir Isaac Newton considered by many the greatest scientist that ever lived and unquestionably a great student says of the Baptists:
“The Baptists are the only body of known Christians that have never symbolized with Rome.”
7. Religious Denominational Scholar: Joseph Belcher, the author of “Religious Denominations” says of the Baptists;
“It will be seen that the Baptists claim the high antiquity of the commencement of the Christian Church. They can trace a succession of those who have believed the same doctrine and administered the same ordinances directly, up to the Apostolic Age.”
8. Protestant Reformer: Another famous reformed Catholic priest writes of the Anabaptists in A.D. 1525:
“The institution of Anabaptism is no novelty, but for THIRTEEN HUNDRED YEARS have caused great disturbance in the church [Roman church], and has acquired such strength that the attempt in this age to contend with it appears futile for a time.” - Zwingli
9.
The Great Quaker Historian – Robert Barclay
“We
shall afterwards show the rise of the Anabaptists took place prior to the
Reformation of the Church of England, and there are also reasons for believing
that on the continent of Europe small hidden Christian societies, who have held
many of the opinions of the Anabaptists, have existed from the times of the
apostles. In the sense of the direct transmission of the Divine Truth, and the
true nature of spiritual religion, it seems probable that these churches have a
lineage or succession more ancient than that of the Roman Church.”
10. Edinburg
Encyclopedia says of the Baptists,
“It must have already occurred to our readers that the Baptists are
the same sect of Christians that were formerly described as Anabaptists. Indeed
this seems to have been their leading principle from the time of Tertullian to the present time.”
11. “Crossing the Centuries” edited by William C. King,
having as associate editors and contributors as Cardinal Gibbons, President
Theodore Roosevelt and many more says,
“Of the Baptists it may be said that they were not Reformers. These
people, comprising bodies of Christian believers, known under various names in
different countries, are entirely independent of and distinct from the Greek
and Roman churches, and have an unbroken continuity from apostolic days down
through the centuries. Throughout this long period they were bitterly
persecuted for heresy, driven from country to country, disfranchised, deprived
of their property, imprisoned, tortured and slain by the thousands; yet they
swerved not from the New Testament Faith, doctrine and practice.”
E. You do not have to know all Biblical Truth in order
to detect unorthodox
churches
and Denominations. There is a skeleton of truth the Bible places
great
emphasis on. These are the ultimate essentials to try the spirits – I Jn.
4:1-6
1. Justification before God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone WITHOUT
YOUR WORKS of righteousness as the true content of the gospel – Rom. 4; 11:6; Gal.
1:8-9; Eph.
2:8-9 – without true salvation there can be no true
2. The true nature
of Baptism- without baptism there can be no
a. Immersion only – Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; I Pet. 3:21
b. Performed in the singular name of the Triune God – Mt. 28:19
c. Administered to believers only – Acts 2:41
d. Administered as a symbol for identification with the Christ and His church
(1) the
symbolism stated – I Pet. 3:21;
(2) the way to be “added” to the church – Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41
e.
Administered by an authorized representative of the
F. The Clear application of the above precepts,
principles, promises and
inferences
Eliminate all denominations but those that can meet the essentials of
the Great
Commission: - Bulls Eye with two
outer circle example
1. Orthodox Christianity is restricted to those churches that identify with the SAMENESS
principle found in the Great Commission in regard to at least the gospel and baptism
a. SAME gospel excludes all but evangelical Christianity – Gal 1:8; Jn. 5:24; Eph. 2:8-9;
Rm.11:6;
b. SAME
baptism excludes all but Evangelical Baptistic Christianity
– Lk. 7:29-30;
2. The Precept and Practice of the historical reproductive cycle of reproduction of like faith and
order eliminate all denominations that originate later than the personal ministry of Christ or
originate outside the
a. Excludes and condemns as unorthodox all churches that self-originate apart from this age long
cycle of reproductive sameness
b. Includes as orthodox only those churches that originate from churches of like faith and order
found within this historical reproductive cycle.
Conclusion: New
Testament churches DO NOT EVOLVE. They are MADE
through the Great
Commission reproductive cycle from a previous
existing church of like
faith and order – like begets like. They
are
made either directly by a
previous church of like faith and order or
indirectly through such a
church’s ordained representative. (early
American Baptists called
this “regular church order”). Only such
New Testament Churches
represent ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY today.
Review of Last
Lesson: The book of Acts is divided into three main sections (1) The
V. The Completion of Apostolic Doctrine &
Authority
A. The Faith was “once delivered” for all time - Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and
exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3
1. aorist passive tense paradoqeish (“delivered”) – a completed point of action in the past
2. apax
(“once”) – Heb. 10:10 “once for all”
3. Something already completed
before New Testament was finished
4. Refers to the exact point
in time Christ gave the first officers of the church the commission
“Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I HAVE COMMANDED you…” – this is the
historical point
of completed action Jude has in mind
B. The Apostles delivered or handed down this same completed faith
and defended it as error
arose – The Inspired
oral and written teachings of the Apostles were called “the traditions”
“And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine” – Acts
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith” – Acts
“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were
ordained of the apostles and elders which were at
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. – 2 Tim. 2:1-2
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have received and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” Rom. 16:17-18
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions (Gr. Paradosis – things handed
down) which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle” – 2 Thes.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition (Gr. Paradosis – things handed down) which he received of us.” – 2 Thes. 3:6
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. – 2 Thes. 3:6
C. The Apostolic Tradition of oral and written doctrine became known
as the New Testament
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – I Thes.
“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16As also in ALL his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures” – 2 Pet. 3:15-16
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him
acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be
ignorant, let him be ignorant.” – I Cor. 14:37-38
E. This completed Apostolic faith and defense was predicted by the
Prophets and by Christ
“Sanctify the LORD
of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but
for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence [Unto you therefore which believe he is
precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders
disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a
rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” – I Pet. 2:7-8] to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble, and
fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
[For I testify
unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy
of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall
take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book.- Rev. 22:18-19] 17And I will wait upon the LORD,
that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I
will look for him. 18Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath
given me [Saying, I will declare thy name unto my
brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13And
again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which
God hath given me” – Heb.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth…” – Jn.
F. The Apostles acknowledged they were completing the Inspired
Cannon
“And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him
hath written unto you; 16As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures” – 2 Pet.
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” – I Cor. 14:37-38
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – I Thes.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word,
or OUR epistle” – 2 Thes.
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” – I Jn. 4:6
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”.- Rev. 22:18-19
G. The Bible claims to be God’s final authority for faith and
practice
1. Old Testament claim – 20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” – Isa. 8:20
2. New Testament claim – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” – 2 Tim. 3:16-17
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” – I Jn. 4:6
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” – 2 Thes. 3:6
And if any man obey
not our word by this epistle, note
that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. – 2 Thes.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have received and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of
the simple” Rom. 16:17-18
CONCLUSION: The above scriptures not only claim divine inspiration for all the writings of the Apostles but they claim to be the FINAL AUTHORITY for doctrine and practice for all Christians (“any man” or “every brother”). Notice that the test of ORTHODOXY is submission to their writings (“he that knoweth God heareth US”) and the test of UNORTHODOXY is to question, deny or reject what they say as final authority in doctrine and practice (“mark them…avoid them” “have no company with” “he that is not of God heareth not us” “withdraw from”).
Application of Completed Apostolic
Doctrine to Church Demoniations
Any demonination that denies the Scriptures are
the final authority for faith and practice cannot be New Testament Christianity
– I Jn. 4:6; Isa.
8:20; Any denomination that developed
its doctrine and practice over a period of time AFTER the writing of the New
Testament cannot be the Church that Jesus built and committed a completed faith
and practice to – Jude 3
Example: Post-Apostolic development of Roman
Catholic Doctrine –
·
1. Prayers for the dead. (AD 300) 983:
·
2. Making the sign of the cross. (300)
·
3. Veneration of angels and dead saints, and use of images. (375)
·
4. The worship and exaltation of Mary and use of term "Mother
of God"(431) -The name/term Theotokos
(Greek for 'Mother of God') was applied to Mary by the Council of
·
5. Priests begin to dress differently
from laity. (500)
·
6. Extreme unction. (526)
·
7. The doctrine of purgatory,
instituted by Gregory I. (593)
·
8. Prayers directed to Mary, dead saints and angels. (600)
·
9.
Title of "Pope" or "universal bishop" first given to
Boniface III.(607) Evidence suggests
that the term papas (anglicized as "pope') was a term applied to
ALL bishops from the time of the early church. It gradually came to be applied
specifically to the bishop of
·
10. Worship of the cross, image,
and relics authorized in (786).
·
11. Holy water, mixed with a pinch of
salt and blessed by a priest. (850)
·
12. Worship of
·
13. College of Cardinals
established. (927)
·
14. Canonization of dead saints, first
by Pope John XV. (99)
·
15. Celibacy of the priesthood, decreed
by Pope Gregory VII. (1079)
·
16. The rosary, used in prayer. (1090)
·
17. The Inquisition, instituted by the
Council of Verona. (1184)
·
18.
·
19.
Transubstantiation, proclaimed by Pope Innocent III. (1215) Actually, Pope Alexander III was the first
to use the term "transubstantiation," in 1140. And it WAS
"proclaimed" in 1215, by the Fourth Lateran Council.
·
20. Adoration of wafer (Host), decreed
by Pope Honorius III. (1220)
·
21. Bible forbidden to laymen and placed on Index of Forbidden
Books by Council of
·
22. Cup forbidden to the people at communion by Council of
Constance. (1414)
·
23. Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma by Council of Florence. (1439)
·
24. Tradition declared to be of equal authority with the Bible by
Council of Trent. (1545)
·
25. Immaculate Conception
of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX. (1854)
·
26. Syllabus of Errors, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX and ratified by
the Vatican Council; condemned freedom of religion, conscience, speech, press,
and scientific discoveries which are disapproved by the Roman Church;
reasserted the Pope's temporal authority over all civil rulers. (1864)
·
27. Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals
proclaimed by the Vatican Council. (1870) - further development
- Pope is infallible like the counsel -1950: Pope is infallible without the counsel - 1978: Pope
is lord over counsel
·
28.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after
her death), proclaimed by Pope XII. (1950)
·
29.
Mary proclaimed mother of the Church by Pope Paul VI. (1965)
[1] Walter Martin, The Rise of Cults, (Santa Ana, CA., Vision House Pub. 1997), p. 12
[2] Josh McDowell, Handbook of Today’s Religions. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992) p. 17
[3] James Sire, Scripture Twisting; 20 Ways Cults Misread the Bible. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1980), p. 20
[4]
John A. Silba, Understanding New Religious
Movements. (