1 Timothy 4:1-3

“Church” mentioned only twice in the gospels Both times the word is used by Jesus Himself 1st time used, He speaks as an architect: “…on this rock I will build My church” [Mt 16:18] Both times, He hands the “keys” to the apostles: “…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 16:19; cp. Mt 18:17-18] These “keys” only work in accordance with God’s will cp. 2 Thess 2:13-14; Gal 1:6-9 The architect entrusted His master work to men’s hands! cp. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:14-15, 20 It is only the architect’s work if it follows HIS plan… cp. Mt 7:21-23 [Lk 6:46]; 1 Pet 4:11 [1 Cor 4:6]

“Church” mentioned only twice in the gospels Both times the word is used by Jesus Himself Jesus is both “Son of David” & “Son of God” 1st time used, He speaks as an architect: See Romans 1:1-4 “…on this rock I will build My church” [Mt 16:18] Both times, He hands the “keys” to the apostles: Building His church, “the house of God” [1 Tm 3:15], Jesus fulfills the desire of God and of David “…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 16:19; cp. Mt 18:17-18] See 2 Sam 7:1-2, 8-16; 2 Cor 6:16-18 The Son of David was not building an institution for: feeding/housing, marrying, teaching, entertaining, physical curing, employing, etc. [a DEEPER need!] These “keys” only work in accordance with God’s will cp. 2 Thess 2:13-14; Gal 1:6-9 The architect entrusted His master work to men’s hands! cp. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:14-15, 20 It is only the architect’s work if it follows HIS plan… cp. Mt 7:21-23 [Lk 6:46]; 1 Pet 4:11 [1 Cor 4:6]

Apostasy from it and return to it

Apostasy from it and return to it

Roots of Apostasy: The 1st Century A.D.

Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call; cp. Acts 2:39; 2 Thess 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9 Always refers to a meeting of people This is the fundamental misunderstanding behind the error of institutionalism 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” 29 AD Jn 19:30 – “it is finished”; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 47 “about 3,000 souls were added to them” [Acts 2:41, NKJV]; “the Lord added to the church daily” [Acts 2:47, NKJV] cp. Acts 11:24 – “a great many people were added to the Lord” The Lord adds the saved to Himself and to each other: cp. Ephesians 2:19-22  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” 29 AD Jn 19:30 – “it is finished”; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 47 ca. 35 AD Ac 9:31 – “churches…had peace…were edified…multiplied”  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” 29 AD Jn 19:30 – “it is finished”; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 47 ca. 35 AD Ac 9:31 – “churches…had peace…were edified…multiplied” ca. 43 AD Ac 11:26 – “they assembled with the church” [“Christians”]  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” 29 AD Jn 19:30 – “it is finished”; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 47 ca. 35 AD Ac 9:31 – “churches…had peace…were edified…multiplied” ca. 43 AD Ac 11:26 – “they assembled with the church” [“Christians”] ca. 48 AD Ac 14:23 – “they…appointed elders in every church”  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 THE “JERUSALEM COUNCIL” 28 AD Mt 16:18 – “I will build My church…” 29 AD Jn 19:30 – “it is finished”; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 47 “Some who went out from us have troubled you with words… saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law’ - to whom we gave no such commandment” [Acts 15:24] ca. 35 AD Ac 9:31 – “churches…had peace…were edified…multiplied” ca. 43 AD Ac 11:26 – “they assembled with the church” [“Christians”] ca. 48 AD Ac 14:23 – “they…appointed elders in every church” ca. 49 AD Acts 15 – The “Jerusalem Council” Error: “Judaizers”! For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit…to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. Acts 15:28-29  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 49 AD Acts 15 – The “Jerusalem Council” Error: “Judaizers”! ca. 49 AD Acts 16:4-5 – “churches were strengthened…increased…”  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 49 AD Acts 15 – The “Jerusalem Council” Error: “Judaizers”! ca. 49 AD Acts 16:4-5 – “churches were strengthened…increased…” ca. 53 AD Gal 1:6-7; 3:1; 5:4 – “I marvel that you are turning away…” “Judaizers” had reached Galatia with their “different gospel” [Galatians 1:6-9] Galatians were being “bewitched” [Gl 3:1] Galatians were in danger of becoming estranged and “falling from grace” [Gl 5:4]  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 49 AD Acts 15 – The “Jerusalem Council” Error: “Judaizers”! ca. 49 AD Acts 16:4-5 – “churches were strengthened…increased…” ca. 53 AD Gal 1:6-7; 3:1; 5:4 – “I marvel that you are turning away…” ca. 58 AD Acts 20:17-32 – “men will rise up, speaking perverse things” characterized as “savage wolves” by perverting truth, will try to “draw away the disciples after themselves”  God, His word their only real hope 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 49 AD Acts 15 – The “Jerusalem Council” Error: “Judaizers”! ca. 49 AD Acts 16:4-5 – “churches were strengthened…increased…” ca. 53 AD Gal 1:6-7; 3:1; 5:4 – “I marvel that you are turning away…” ca. 58 AD Acts 20:17-32 – “men will rise up, speaking perverse things” ca. 61 AD Col 2:6-10 – “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead”; 2 Pet 2:1-2 – “there will be false teachers among you…” Error: “Judaizers” and Gnostics!  “denying the Lord who bought them” 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 61 AD Col 2:6-10; 2 Pet 2:1-2 Error: “Judaizers” and Gnostics! ca. 63 AD 1 Tm 4:1-3 – “in latter times some will depart from the faith” “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” “speaking lies in hypocrisy” cp. the very similar language of 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 knowledge of and love for the truth is only hope for escape  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 61 AD Col 2:6-10; 2 Pet 2:1-2 Error: “Judaizers” and Gnostics! ca. 63 AD 1 Tm 4:1-3 – “in latter times some will depart from the faith” 70+ AD Jude 3-4 – “certain men have crept in unnoticed…” cp. Peter’s warning they were coming [2 Pt 2]; they are now established less than 10 yrs. later “necessary to write…exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith” – truth requires battle they “deny the only Lord God and…Jesus Christ”  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 61 AD Col 2:6-10; 2 Pet 2:1-2 Error: “Judaizers” and Gnostics! ca. 63 AD 1 Tm 4:1-3 – “in latter times some will depart from the faith” 70+ AD Jude 3-4 – “certain men have crept in unnoticed…” 80+ AD 1 Jn 4:1-3 – “many false prophets have gone into the world” “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” [cp. 1 Tm 4] “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God…” [the Gnostic error, heresy] “the spirit of the Antichrist…is now already in the world”  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 ca. 61 AD Col 2:6-10; 2 Pet 2:1-2 Error: “Judaizers” and Gnostics! ca. 63 AD 1 Tm 4:1-3 – “in latter times some will depart from the faith” 70+ AD Jude 3-4 – “certain men have crept in unnoticed…” 80+ AD 1 Jn 4:1-3 – “many false prophets have gone into the world” ca. 96 AD Rev 2:4, 14-15, 20-22; etc. – “you have left your first love” “you have…those who hold the doctrine of Balaam…to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality”; “…doctrine of the Nicolaitans”  “you allow…Jezebel…to teach and to seduce My servants…” 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 Overwhelmingly, the common factor in apostasy in 1st century: Acts 15:24 “have troubled you with words” Gal 1:6 “you are turning away to a different gospel” Gal 3:1 “…bewitched you that you should not obey the truth” Acts 20:30 “speaking perverse things” Acts 20:32 “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace” Col 2:8 “…cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit” 2 Pt 2:1-2 “false teachers…secretly bring in destructive heresies”  1 Tm 4:1 “giving heed to deceiving spirits…doctrines of demons” Jude 3 “necessary to write…to contend earnestly for the faith” 20 1 John 4:1 “do not believe every spirit…many false prophets” 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Rev 2:14 “you have…those who hold the doctrine of Balaam” Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Rev 2:20 “you allow…Jezebel…to teach and seduce” Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint “some will depart from the faith” - 1 Tm 4:1 Even those Christians in the 1st century, who had the blessing of being taught by the apostles or even of being guided directly by the Holy Spirit, unless they held fast to the word, fell into apostasy! “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work” - 2 Thess 2:7 Lord willing, next week we will look at the history of error that gave birth to institutionalism and denominationalism  20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Roots of Apostasy: 1st Century A.D. Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18

“I will build My church” The Lord’s desire for you is that you should be saved from your sins and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Timothy 2:1-4 He has made this possible through His Son John 3:16; Hebrews 5:9 But you must repent and be converted to Him Acts 17:30-31; 2:37-41 [Colossians 1:13-14] Following the Master’s Blueprint Matthew 16:18