The Church Of Christ Is Different 1

One Church 2 Mt. 16:18-19 One Church in the first century Acts 2

Apostasy 3 Lutheran World religions Baptist Community churches Roman Catholic Christian church Pentecostal Adventist Presbyterian Methodist

Popular View of the “church”: 4 Catholic Baptist Pentecostal Methodist Christian church Etc. Church

How Many View The “Church”: 5 Catholic Baptist Pentecostal Methodist Christian church Muslim Hindu Jewish Church of Christ Pluralism

The Biblical View 6 Catholic Baptist Pentecostal Methodist Christian church Muslim Hindu Jewish Church of Christ or Christ’s church 1 Church

The Biblical View 7 “It is not possible to uphold and live by the teachings of Christ as to both religion and morals without being different” David R. Pharr

The Biblical View “The message of the gospel is unique and unchangeable. Its presentation cannot avoid controversy against every false way” David R. Pharr 8

The Biblical View Jn. 12:42-43 JN. 17: Jn. 2:15 Acts 2:47; 4:21 Jn. 15:

The Biblical View As New Testament Christians we need to strive to be known as people whose strong beliefs and convictions are taught and defended in love 10

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 1. We accept Christ as the only head of the church Col. 1:18 Mt. 28:18 No Pope, no councils, no head bishop, 11

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 2. We use the Bible as our only guide No manual, discipline, articles of faith, etc. 2 Pet. 1:3 12

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 3. Every person in the church is permitted – yea commanded – to study the Bible for himself No creed or official interpretation is required 13

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different People come into the church because the learn, understand and obey what God requires Acts 17:11 14

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 4. Authority for what we practice is determined by command, example and necessary inference 1 Cor. 4:17 1 Cor. 16:1 15

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 5. We respect the silence of the Scriptures Things which are not authorized in the Scriptures are simply not authorized 16

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 1 Th. 5:21 Heb. 7:14 17

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 6. We have fellowship with brethren of “like common faith” Titus 1:4 1 Cor. 1:2 18

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 7. We recognize that there was a great apostasy from the original pattern for the church – (The patter as revealed by the apostles) There have been many divisions 19

Biblical Teaching Which Makes The Church of Christ Different 2 Tim. 4:3-4 1 Tim. 4:1-3 20

The only way to unity and purity of teaching/doctrine is to restore the original church by following what the apostles taught and practiced 21

Points taken from Spiritual Sword, Vol. 43, No. 1 22

Graphics for Scriptures 23