The Restoration Plea

Introduction In the early 1800’s – preachers of different denominations went into the frontier settlements to teach the Bible They were not able to worship together

IT WAS NOT THE BIBLE THAT DIVIDED THEM! They found that their religious names, organizations, doctrines and traditions, were the cause of their division

Many determined to re-study the Bible and eliminate from their teaching and preaching – all things that could not be authorized by the Word of God!

They determined to be just Christians, members of the body of Christ This has been and still is the plea of the churches of Christ --- THE RESTORATION OF N.T. CHRISTIANITY!

I. Is it possible to be a member of the body or church Jesus promised to build?

Mt. 16:18 [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Can people living in the 21st century become members of the church that the apostles were members of in the 1st century? YES!!!

If the Bible only would make Christians only in the 1st century does it not have the same power in the 21st century?

Rom. 1:16-17 [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Acts 2:37-41 [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

If some followed these commands 20 years after they were preached in Acts 2, would they become a Christian? YES What if they obeyed these commands 200 years or 2000 years after they were preached?

They would become Christians just as those souls did in Acts 2 Members of the church of Christ believe it is possible to be just Christians, members of the body of Christ without being in a denomination

“This concept or idea is almost impossible to fathom for many in the religious world.”

II. Some say we cannot go back to the Bible because they say the Bible is a dead letter

Heb. 4:12 [12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)

Rom. 1:16 [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE BIBLE IS NOT A DEAD LETTER!

III. Many will not accept the authority of the Bible

Since they do not accept the Bible’s authority they do not believe we can restore 1st century Christianity

They have added their traditions Some are so strong on their traditions that they take them over the Bible What did Jesus say about human traditions?

Mt. 15:9 [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

If one loves Jesus they will obey what He commands Jn. 14:23 “[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:”

Mt. 7:26-27 26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jn. 12:47-48 [47] And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day

“The problem with our society is that many think almost anything is acceptable if that is what they want to do. They do not seek to see if their practices are acceptable to God; they demand that God pamper and indulge them! Man seeks to be the master of God rather than God being his master.”

IV. The word of God --- The seed of the kingdom

Lk. 8:11-12 [11] Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Plant God’s word in the heart of man by teaching him, & he will be saved if he obeys

Rom. 10:17 [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Heb. 5:9 [9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The seed will produce a child of God – 1 Pet. 1:23 [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

That child is a Christian & glorifies God in that name -1 Pet. 4:16 [16] Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

God adds him to the saved who make up the church – Acts 2:47 [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

He is in Christ – Gal. 3:26-27 [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

He does not need to join anything nor belong to anything else – What God has provided is sufficient

If you follow the Bible you will restore N.T. Christianity We want to point people back to the Bible We wish to restore the teachings God gave to man in the 1st century.

Once the church is restored in a particular area or congregation – we must work to keep the church pure

It is our desire to be Christians and Christians only, members of no other body or church than the one Jesus founded and to which the apostles belonged. We believe that the restoration of the New Testament church is not an impossible dream