Church History: The Reformation vs the Restoration “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.” (Mat 16:18) “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” (Rom 16:16)

Jesus promises to build His church (Mat 16:18) Men saved by the gospel (Rom 1:16) First gospel sermon (Acts 2:22-36) Church established; saved added to IT (Acts 2:38-41; 47) Disciples continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42) 40 days 10 days Jesus would build His church Mat 16 Ascension of Christ Acts 1 Day of Pentecost – Church of Christ established Acts 2 The New Testament Church Death, burial, & resurrection of Christ Mat 27, 28

New Testament Conversions Day of Pentecost Acts 2 Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8 Cornelius & His Household Acts 10 Samaritans Acts 8 Saul of Tarsus Acts 9 Philippian Jailor Acts 16 Hear (Acts 2:22)Confess (Acts 8:37) Believe (Acts 8:37) Be Baptized (Acts 2:38, 41) Repent (Acts 2:38)

New Testament Church Organization “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Tit 1:5-9) Evangelists – Acts 21:8; 2 Tim 4:5 Elders – 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Heb 13:17 Deacons – 1 Tim 3:8-13

Apostasy Foretold Acts 20:17, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” Acts 20:28-31, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Apostasy Foretold 1 Tim 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Gal 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Presiding Elder Bishop Diocese Council of Bishops Country Bishops Arch Bishops Universal Bishop “The Pope” (606 A.D.) Pope Pius IX Gradual Departure from the Word of God What is the problem with these changes?

Scriptural Authority Mat 21:23-25, “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?” Mat 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Heb 13:9, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines…”

Holy Water (120 A.D.) Infant Baptism (175 A.D.) Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) Latin Mass (394 A.D.) Purgatory (593 A.D.) Kissing the Pope’s Toe (709 A.D.) Transubstantiation (1000 A.D.) Celibacy of Priests (1015 A.D.) Indulgences (1192 A.D.) Auricular Confession (1215 A.D.) Sprinkling (1311 A.D.) Kissing the Pope’s Toe Departure Brought “Strange Doctrines”

Protestant Reformation Martin Luther 1517 Church of England 1534 Baptist 1608 Presbyterian 1560 Mormon 1830 Adventist 1830 Methodist 1740 Over 3,000 mainline churches TODAY 1 Cor 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Church of Christ (Acts 2); One church (Eph 4:4) 33 AD Catholic church 606 AD Jehovah’s Witnesses 1830

Reformation vs Restoration Reform – 1. to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses 2. to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action 3. to induce or cause to abandon evil ways. Restore – to bring back to or put back into a former or original state. Restoration - something that is restored; especially : a representation or reconstruction of the original form.

Restoration or “Return” Movement Mistakenly, the beginnings of the churches of Christ have been attributed to Alexander Campbell in This has led opponents of the Lord’s church to refer to members as “Campbellites.” Nonetheless, churches of Christ have always traced their origin to the first century church identified in the New Testament (Acts 2). The “Return” Movement within the United States does acknowledge the contributions of men like James O’Kelley, Elias Smith, Abner Jones, John Mulkey, Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott…as these men recognized a need to return to pure New Testament Christianity when all were Christians and Christians only (Acts 11:26).

The Seed of the Kingdom The Seed is the word of God (Luk 8:11) The Bible, when left alone, will produce Christians and Christians only. Denominations result when men mess with the seed! Bible Alone Christians Bible + Catholic Catechism Catholics Bible + Methodist Discipline Methodists Bible + Baptist Manual Baptists Bible + Book of Mormon Mormons

Restoration or “Return” Movement The Principles of Restoration: Recognition of Christ as the supreme authority in religion. Recognition of the New Testament as the only rule of faith and practice. This naturally does away with creeds and man- made authority. A proper distinction between the Old and New Testament. Recognition of the New Testament pattern for the church. The autonomy of the local church. The unity of all Christians.

Book, Chapter, & Verse Everything the Scriptures Teach, Nothing the Scriptures do not Teach Call Bible Things by Bible Names Do Bible Things in Bible Ways Bible as Sole Source of Authority Back to the Bible Our Plea is for a “Return” to New Testament Christianity