1 Marks of The One True Church Ephesians 4:1-6

2  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

3 Ephesians 4:1-6  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

4 The Body is the Church!  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Col. 1:18)

5 2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified. (NKJV)

6 2 John 9-11  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

7 Matthew 7:21-23  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘ (NKJV)

8 Mathew 15:13  “...Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted.”

9 Christ Is Its Founder!  He is the:  Purchaser - Acts 20:28  Builder - Matt. 16:18  Head - Col. 1:18  Lawgiver - Acts 2:36  Savior - Eph. 5:23. Did a man or Christ establish the church you are a member of?

10 Christ Is Its Foundation!  “Upon this rock” - Matt. 16:18  The “laid foundation” - 1 Cor. 3:11  The “tried” foundation - Isa. 28:16  The apostolic foundation - Eph. 2:20. Is Christ or a man the foundation of the church you are a member of?

11 It Begin in 33 AD in Jerusalem on Pentecost!  “the gates of hades shall not prevail against it”:  Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:31; cf. Lk. 23:43  During life of the apostles:  Mk. 9:1  When the H.S. came with power:  Mk. 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4  When the word of the Lord went forth from Jerusalem:  Isa. 2:2 & 3; Lk. 24:47. Did the church you are a member of begin at Jerusalem on Pentecost?

12 History of Man-made Churches TimePlaceFounderChurch 606 AD Rome Boniface III Roman Catholic 1520 AD Germany Martin Luther Lutheran 1534 AD England Henry VIII Episcopalian 1536 AD Switzerland John Calvin Presbyterian 1550 AD England Robert Brown Congregational 1607 AD Holland John Smythe Baptist 1739 AD England John Wesley Methodist 1830 AD America Joseph Smith Mormon 1830 AD America William Miller 7 th Day Adventist 1866 AD America Mary Baker Eddy Christian Scientist 1872 AD America Charles T. Russell Jehovah’s Witnesses WRONG: Time Place Founder Church

13 Its Designations  Christ called it:  “My church” - Matt. 16:18  “My kingdom” - Lk. 22:30; Jn. 18:36  “The kingdom of heaven” - Matt. 16:19  “The kingdom of God” - Jn. 3:5; Lk. 22:16

14 Its Designations  The apostles called it:  “The church” - Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22; 3:10; 5:22-23  “The church of the Lord” (ASV) - Acts 20:28  “The church of God” - 1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:13  “Churches of Christ” - Rom. 16:16  “The house of God” - 1 Tim. 3:15  “The household of God” - Eph. 2:19  “The household of faith” - Gal. 6:10  “The Kingdom of God” - Acts 28:23, 31  “The Kingdom of God’s dear Son” - Col. 1:13  “A Kingdom which cannot be shaken” - Heb. 12:28 Is the church you are a member of mentioned in the Bible by the apostles or Christ?

15 Who Are Its Members?  People who:  Hear the gospel - Rom. 10:17; Acts 18:8  Believe the gospel - Acts 18:8, 1 Cor. 1:2  Repent of their sins - Acts 2:38; 47  Confess Christ - Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10  Are baptized:  By a burial - Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12  In water - Acts 8:36-39; 10:47, 48  To wash away their sins - Acts 22:16  For the remission of sins - Acts 2:38  To be saved - 1 Pet. 3:21  Into Christ - Gal. 3:27  Into the one body, the church - 1 Cor. 12:13  Called “Christians” - Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16  Called “saints” - Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2, 4, 12, 26; Jude 3 Have you met all of these conditions and what are you called religiously?

16 Its Worship Is In Spirit & Truth!  Communion - 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:20-30; Acts 20:7  Singing - Eph. 5:18, 19; Col. 3:16  Prayer - Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 5:17, 25  Giving - 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:7  Teaching - Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 3:15 Does the church you are a member of worship in this way?

17 Its Work is Four-Fold!  To preach the gospel to the lost:  1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:14-18  To help its needy members:  Acts 4:34, 35; 6:1-7; 1 Tim. 5:16  To edify itself:  Eph. 4:11-16  To discipline wayward members:  1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6-16 Is the church you are a member of doing the works of God or men?

18 Its Doctrine is the N.T.  Christ is the lawgiver:  Eph. 4:1-7; 5:24  The Holy Spirit is the revelator:  1 Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:1-6; Gal. 1:11-12  The apostles teaching is its doctrine:  Acts 2:42; Eph. 2:20 Is the doctrine of the church you are a member of the words of Christ and His apostles or the words, creeds, doctrines and manuals of men?

19 Its Organization is Congregational  Autonomous, Independent of other churches.  Self-governing under the rule of Christ the Chief Bishop:  Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; 2:25; Phil 1:1  Bishops (elders, pastors, presbyters) who feed, tend, oversee and guide the flock among them:  Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:2-4; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Heb. 13:17  With deacons who serve:  1 Tim. 3:8-13  Members minister in word and deed:  1 Cor. 12:24-27 Does the church you are a member of have an organization larger than a local arrangement?

20 It Is The Gift of God’s Love!  Gave the Lamb’s body for a sacrifice:  Heb. 9:26-28  Gave the Lamb’s blood for an atonement:  Heb 9:14  Gives the Great High Priest to intercede for us:  Heb. 7:21-28  Gave the Prophet to teach:  Heb. 1:1, 2; Acts 3:22, 23  Gave the King to rule:  1 Tim. 6:15  Gives the Judge to reward:  Matt. 25:31-46  Gives heaven as its hope:  1 Cor. 15:19; 1 Pet. 1:3-5 Does the church you are a member of look to Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

21 Its Destiny is Heaven!  By heaven’s wisdom it was purposed:  Eph. 3:10, 11  By heaven’s love it was purchased:  Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28  By heaven’s grace it is kept in store:  Rom. 5:2; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 4:16  For the glory of heaven it hopes:  2 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10  To heaven it will ascend:  1 Pet. 1:4; Col. 1:5; 1 Thess. 4:14-18  In heaven it will remain eternally:  1 Thess. 4:17; 1 Cor. 15:24  In heaven it will find rest:  Heb 4:8-11 Is heaven or a 1000 year reign on earth the hope and destiny of the church you are a member of?

22 Its Scope is Universal!  The commission of it is world-wide:  Matt. 28:18-19  Its appeal is to every race:  Mk. 16:15-16  Its invitation is to all mankind:  Rev. 22:17  Its duration is age lasting:  1 Cor. 15:23-26  Its fellowship is only toward the obedient:  1 Jn. 1:7  Its benefits are spiritual and eternal:  2 Pet 1:10, 11; Rev. 22:2 Is the church you are a member of universal in membership and scope?

23 Its Government is An Absolute Monarchy!  In heaven resides its Head:  Eph. 1:19-21; 4:8-10  From heaven came its law:  Eph. 1:22; 4:11-16; Rom. 8:2  Under heaven it serves:  Eph. 5:23, 24  Toward heaven it worships:  Jno. 4:24; Acts 12:5 Is the government of the church you are a member of from heaven or from men?

24 Monarchy Defined  1.a state or nation in which the supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in a monarch.  2.supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person.  Dictionary.com

25 Its Message Is The Gospel!  Facts to be believed:  Death of Christ - 1 Cor. 15:1-3  Burial of Christ - 1 Cor. 15:4  Resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor. 15:4-9  Commands to obey:  Believe in Christ - Mk. 16:16; Acts 16:31  Repent of sins - Acts 17:31; 2:38  Be baptized into Christ - Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16  Live a moral & faithful life till death - 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 2:10  Promises to receive:  Remission of sins - Acts 2:38; 3:19  Communion of the Holy Spirit - 2 Cor. 13:14  Eternal life - Rev 2:10; 22:14 Does the church you are a member of preach the pure gospel of Christ?

26 Its Unity is Undenominational  Jesus prayed for it - Jn.17:20, 21  The apostles plead for it - 1 Cor. 1:10  The apostles gave the plan for it - Eph. 4:1-6  BODY: Organization - Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27  SPIRIT: Source of revelation - Rom. 8:14; Eph. 3:1-5; 1 Cor. 2:9-13  HOPE: Desire - Col. 1:5, 23  LORD: Authority - Matt. 28:18-19  FAITH: Doctrine - 2 Jn  BAPTISM: Practice - Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:4-5; Col. 2:12  GOD: Service, & Love - Rom. 6:16; Matt. 22:37

27 Bible Baptism - One Baptism  The subjects - Believers!  Acts 8:12  The action - Burial in water!  Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4; Acts 8:38; cf. Jn. 3:23  The design - “for the remission of sins”  1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 22:16; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38 Does the church you are a member practice the “ONE baptism?” (Eph. 4:5)

28 Its Life!  Is the word of Christ:  As the eternal word – Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:25  As the inspired word - 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 2:13  As the life giving word - Matt. 4:4; Jn. 8:24; Rom. 8:13  As the infallible word - Ps. 119:160  As the complete word - 2 Tim. 3:16-17  As the sufficient word - Jude 3; Jn. 20:30, 31  As the powerful word - Heb. 4:12; Rom. 1:16  As the comforting word - 1 Thess. 4:14-18  As the final word - Jn. 12:48 Is the church you are a member of devoted to the word of Christ or the word of men?

29 Its Devotion!  To the example of Christ - 1 Pet. 2:21  Toward His family - Lk. 2:51; Jn. 19:26-27  Toward His father - Jn. 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; Lk. 22:42  Toward civil government - Matt. 22:15-22  Toward His enemies - Matt. 5:43-48; Lk. 23:34  Toward the lost - Matt. 18:11; Lk. 15  Toward the church - Eph: 5:25 Is the church you are a member of devoted to the example of Christ?

30 The One True Church  Its is founded by Christ!  Christ is its foundation!  It began in Jerusalem on Pentecost in 33 AD !  It’s designations!  The obedient are its members!  Its worship is “in spirit and in truth!”  Its work is four-fold!  Its doctrine is the N.T.!  Its organization is congregational!  It is the gift of God’s love!  Its destiny is heaven!  Its scope is universal!  Its government is an absolute monarchy!  Its message is the gospel of Christ!  Its unity is non-denominational!  Its practice is the ONE baptism!  Its life is the word of Christ!  Its devotion is to the example of Christ! Are You A Member of This Church?