THE APOSTLES’ CREED – 3 RD ARTICLE RECOGNIZING A TRUE VISIZBLE CHURCH Lesson 43 Faith Foundations Course One

HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE A TRUE VISIBLE CHURCH?

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 1.Recall the words Jesus spoke to the believing Jews in John 8:31,32. he told them that true disciples hold to his teaching. What does that mean? True disciples believe his Word, teach it faithfully to others, and out of thankfulness do what it says.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 2.Read Revelation 22:18,19. What strong warning does Jesus give about God’s Word? We must not add to his Word or take away from it.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 3.Natalie’s pastor said it doesn’t matter whether or not we believe that Jesus is true God or that he rose from the dead. What matters is Jesus’ example to love others. How is that an example of what God was warning against in Revelation 22? Natalie’s pastor was taking away from God’s Word by denying what the Bible says about Jesus and saying that it doesn’t matter.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 4.Churches that teach their own ideas are teaching false doctrine. Why is that very dangerous? They are leading people away from the truth or at least leading them to question the truth that Jesus is their Savior.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 5.Read Isaiah 55:11. Why will there be true believers even in churches that teach false doctrine? Even though the church or teacher may deny certain things that the Word says, the Holy Spirit will still bring some to faith through the Word of God they hear.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 6.Read 1 John 4:11. God tells us that we are to test those who teach to see if their message comes from God. Recall John 8:31,32. How will we test them? To see if they are teaching God’s Word in truth.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 7.Read 2 Timothy 4:3,4. Evaluate this statement: We are living in the times Paul spoke about in these words. It seems so.

LISTEN TO ITS TEACHINGS 8.Read the scenario in your textbook and evaluate this statement: Sheena is an example of the kind of people Paul was speaking about in 2 Timothy 4:3,4. Exactly.

KEY POINT #1 A true visible church teaches God’s Word in truth.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 9. Matthew 28:19,20 is called our Lord’s “Great Commission” to the church. He commissioned us to go into all nations to make disciples. What are two ways we do that? We baptize them in the name of the triune God and teach them God’s Word.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 10.Read John 3:5 and Acts 22:16. Evaluate this statement: Baptism is not simply a ceremony we observe to show that we want to be a member of a certain church. We don’t do anything in Baptism. God uses Baptism to plant faith in our hearts and forgive our sins.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 11.“Is it right to baptize babies?” Whitney asked her friend. “Shouldn’t we wait until people are old enough to decide whether they want to be baptized?” How would you answer Whitney? God commands us to baptize all nations and says that the blessing is for us and our children.

WHAT IS A SACRAMENT? A sacred act… 1. instituted by Christ 2. uses earthly elements & God’s Word 3. forgives sins

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 12.Read Matthew 26: What other sacrament did Christ institute on the night before his suffering and death? Holy Communion.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 13.As Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine, what did he say they were receiving? His own body and blood.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 14.Evaluate this statement: When we celebrate Holy Communion, the bread and wine are memorials. They are like pictures that we use to remind ourselves and others about Jesus’ sacrifice. It is not just a picture of Jesus’ body and blood, we truly receive it for the forgiveness of sins.

WATCH FOR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST 15.Evaluate this statement: To recognize a true visible church, we can look to see what the church teaches about Baptism and Holy Communion and how it uses the two sacraments. Correct.

KEY POINT #2 A true visible church uses the sacraments as Christ instituted them.

HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE A TRUE VISIBLE CHURCH? 1.A true visible church teaches God’s Word in truth. 2.A true visible church uses the sacraments as Christ instituted them. SUMMARY A true visible church teaches God’s Word in truth and uses the sacraments as Christ instituted them.

Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

The 3 rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The 3 rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own thinking and choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

The 3 rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.