IDENTIFIABLE MARKS of the New Testament Church (part 1) These next two lessons are still fundamental to our denominational study. We will be looking at distinctive or identifiable marks of the New Testament Church. THIS WILL BE A LESSON FOR REMINDING YOU OF SOME OLD TRUTHS THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY KNOWN FOR GOOD WHILE IF YOU ARE IN THE CHURCH (2 Pet. 3:1; Jude v. 5)

Which standard of measurement? “HOUSE BUILDING” Which standard of measurement? ? If you want to build a house according to a specified blue print, would you bid out a contractor who uses a tape measure as the standard of measurement, one who believes that twelve inches equal a foot and three feet equal a yard? One who believes in and adheres to the blueprint pattern and dimensions? Or would you bid it out to one who rejects the tape measure as being outdated, too traditional, old fashioned and too rigid and judgmental. Would you bid it out to a contractor who looks at measuring things subjectively, that is, he just kind of “eyes” what it should be and believes that "12 inches equalling a foot" doctrine is just an opinion and ought not be followed and the blueprint with the specifications in them is useless. What kind of contractor would you want to have build your house? What about a third kind of contractor who believes in using the tape measure "sometimes" but then also believes in fellowshipping the “eyeing” of things too? What about one who sometimes will go by your blueprints and then other times ignore it?

Which standard of measurement? “FAITH BUILDING” Which standard of measurement? ? + What about “faith building?” If we understand that we would not want one’s subjectivism in measuring and building a house of wood and stone, why would we want a person’s subjective opinion in helping us build faith? Do we want preachers ministering to us the Bible as it is, or do we want ministers who repudiate the infallibility of the scriptures and endorses the opinions of man? Do we want a minister who will sometimes believe in the Bibles blueprint and at other times ignore it? These are the kind of faith builders that churches can choose from today. But when it is all said and done, "so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). bible + tradition + man’s word (Rom. 10:17) bible + nothing

? “CHURCH BUILDING” + Which standard of measurement? (Col. 3:17 People build churches (and I am not speaking of the physical structure that houses the church, but the congregation) the same way they are content to build their faith. It is either built being based upon the word of God alone, or a mixture of the word with man’s assumptions, man’s education, man’s thinking, man’s creeds, parents faith, grand-parents faith, popularity, proximity of the church building, likeability of the preacher, members, etc. You really need to ask yourself why do you worship where you worship? Is your faith something that you inherited or was it found through a diligent and personal study of scripture? When it comes to building a church, it is just “a church” if it is not built on the New Testament alone. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). Why does Paul tell us to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus? It is because Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18) and "Lord of lords and King of kings" (Rev. 17:14). That leaves none for Moses or David. The Law and the prophets pointed toward the Christ that we should believe on him and obey his word (cf. Deut. 18:18, 19; Acts 7:37). (Col. 3:17 Matt. 28:18) bible + tradition + creeds New Testament as Rule of Faith

1. The Church’s Rule: The New Covenant “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:24, NKJV) “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10, NKJV) “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law’ —to whom we gave no such commandment—” (Acts 15:24, NKJV) One mark of the first-century church is that they used the New Covenant as their rule of faith. [CLICK] Jesus is called “Mediator” that is, He is the “go between” of two people or companies. He stands between God and man to mediate and make peace. Note that this is done through the “New Covenant.” The New Covenant is therefore where peace between God and man fully exists. The New Testament is where Jesus mediates today. The Old Covenant pointed out sin but did not bring the remission of those sins. [CLICK] When some tried to run back to the Old Testament Law of Moses and bind circumcision upon the members of the church (Acts 15:1-5); it caused a big dispute which was settled by the Holy Spirit.

WHAT RULE DOES THE CHURCH WHERE YOU ATTEND USE? The New Covenant “6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?” (2 Cor. 3:6-8) This passage clearly shows the different between the two covenants. Paul looked at himself and his comrades as ministers of the New Covenant. Why? [CLICK] He refers to the old covenant as being “the letter,” the ministry of death,” and identifies it as that which was written and engraved on stones. [CLICK] Paul’s sufficiency is in the New Covenant as the “Spirit” or “ministry of the Spirit.” The latter is more glorious than the former because it doesn’t kill but gives life. How does the Old Covenant become a letter of death? It simply shows that all are under sin (Rom. 3:23) and demands death for the transgressor. How does the New Testament become a ministry of life? It gives true pardon by removing the debt of sin. Don’t take what I am saying too far. The Old Testament was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4) and requires us to study, learn and apply it to our life today. Yet it is the New Covenant that is written for law and we cannot run to Old Testament worship and place that in the church because the church is under the New testament. [CLICK] WHAT RULE DOES THE CHURCH WHERE YOU ATTEND USE? Having said that, let us turn to the subject of worship and see some more identifiable marks. WHAT RULE DOES THE CHURCH WHERE YOU ATTEND USE?

2. WORSHIPS IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH “22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:22-24) Right One Right Way Right Mind Contextually, Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman. The Smaratians had a form of worship as the Jews did but it was wrong; It was not true worship. There is a wrong and a right religion. Jesus is looking toward the would be church soon to be built to worship God with the right attitude and in the right way. We should be impressed that Jesus said right worship is a must. [CLICK] Worship must be directed to the right object, with the right mind and in the right way! If it is not of such, it is rendered as “vain worship”

“Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans” (Matthew 15:9, GWV) Much of the praise offered today is “pointless” or “vain” because it has nothing at its origin than human precept and thought!

1. Giving in Spirit & Truth worship 1. Giving in Spirit & Truth with the right attitude – not grudgingly, freewill “. . .as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation” (2 Cor. 9:5, NKJV) “Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7, ESV) in truth – upon the 1st day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2) God has of course out-given all men, especially when he gave His only Son upon the cross. Yet He requires that we give back a portion and it must be done in spirit and truth. This giving is not so much for God’s benefit as it is for our own. The more we give, the more selfless we become. The more selfless we become, the more we are fit to be disciples of Christ for, “. . .whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:33). We do not like to forsake what we have. Our human tendency is to hoard things up for ourselves, to cast an iron clinch on our possessions. Unless those tendencies are crucified, we do not have to even be concerned that God will give us again the glories of heaven, because He will not. “"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mt. 16:24). [CLICK] It should be with the right attitude of generosity and cheerfulness. Ask yourself if you are happy to give or does it seem like a burden to you? Is this commandment any less important than any others? Does God see us as giving him the scraps and leftovers or one who is truly seeking first the kingdom of God? [CLICK] It is also to be in truth and must be done on the first day of the week as Paul set the pattern for in 1 Cor. 16:1, 2. When does the church that you are a member of want you to give? Are they following this example? If a church can take up a collection any day of the week, why then did Paul specify the first day of the week?

2. Communion In Spirit & Truth worship 2. Communion In Spirit & Truth not hungry, not wanting excess “For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk” (1 Cor. 11:21, cf. 11:34, NKJV) as a memorial “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (ibid. v. 24) with self-examination “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (ibid. v. 28) [CLICK] not hungry [CLICK] as a memorial. Was instituted by the Lord just prior to his crucifixion. This is the world’s greatest memorial of the world’s greatest act – the crucifixion of the Holy Son of God. [CLICK] with self-examination. The Lord’s Supper is not a time to be examining anyone else, but yourself.

2. Communion In Spirit & Truth worship 2. Communion In Spirit & Truth upon the 1st day of the week “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7, NKJV) not a common meal, “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?” (1 Cor. 11:22; Rom. 14:17) when did the disciples in the 1st century come together TO EAT? when do the members of the church where you attend come together TO EAT? This is the only table that a church can with authority gather around. A social meal table is not a part of the kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17). first day of the week [CLICK] Acts 20:7, [CLICK, CLICK, CLICK] There are 24 hours on the first day of the week and such should be done by Christians then. It matters not whether you do it on the morning or evening, the day of the week is bound, not the time of the day.

2. Communion In Spirit & Truth worship 2. Communion In Spirit & Truth with two elements unleavened bread (Matt. 26:17; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8) fruit of the vine (Matt. 26:29; Lk. 22:18)

worship 3. Song in Truth & Spirit “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15, NKJV) what is the sacrifice of praise “to God”? THIS IS THE ONLY “KIND” OF PRAISE THAT IS AUTHORIZED IN THE NT!

3. Song in Truth & Spirit worship “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19, NKJV) who are we supposed to speak to? what are we supposed to speak? how are we supposed to speak it? what are we to make melody in? where is authority for playing an instrument as worship in the New Testament?

You can find several verses to authorize a cappella music in the New Testament, but none for mechanical, none for humming and none for dancing. The fact that some find mechanical instruments in the Old Testament system doesn’t help them authorize it anymore than finding burning incense, Sabbath-keeping, and animal sacrifices under the Old Testament would authorize one to place such in the New Testament church TODAY. Some respond, “But Jesus took animal sacrifices away with His own sacrifice.” The Bible doesn’t say that he just took animal sacrifices away. He took the whole kit and cabudal away. Hebrews 7:18, 19, “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Heb 8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— Heb 8:9 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. Heb 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Heb 10:9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second." It is because of the silence of God on allowing instrumental music that the church did not practice praise with such for the first 700 years after Christ. Jas. 5:13, ". . .Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." Heb. 2:12, "In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." Rom. 15:9, "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name." Col. 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Matt. 26:30, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 1 Cor. 14:15, ". . .I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."

Are Not the “Psalms” To Be PLAYED?

4. Prayer in Truth & Spirit worship 4. Prayer in Truth & Spirit prayer is through the power of Jesus name John 16:23, 24 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” [CLICK, CLICK] We are therefore taught to go through Jesus name. Does the church where you go teach that you can pray through a saint (e.g. Mary)?

5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit worship 5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit preaching/teaching was to be done within the authority of Christ Titus 2:15, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you” (NKJV) 1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. . . .” (NKJV) [CLICK, CLICK, CLICK]

5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit worship 5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit preaching/teaching was to be tested by the listeners “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1, NKJV) [CLICK, CLICK] Does the preacher at the church where you attend encourage the members to test his preaching with the word, or does he claim to have all authority?

5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit worship 5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit preaching/teaching over the church was to be handled by faithful men “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Tim. 2:12, NKJV) Does the church where you are a member have or tolerate women preachers? If so, what do they do with the scripture here? I saw on the News where some woman preacher was caught in a sex scandal with her female lover. Now here is a woman who is in the wrong place. She is residing as a minister which violates this passage, and she is a lesbian which violates Romans 1:26, 27. One has just as much right to violate God's law of gender in marriage as one does God's law of gender for preachers! If you find yourself tolerating one, you can just as easily tolerate both!

5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit worship 5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit How are preachers to preach? fully, “. . . I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19, NKJV) beneficially, “and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace” (Acts 18:27, NKJV) vigorously, “for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28, NKJV) [CLICK] [CLICK] A part of what a preacher is to be is to be beneficial, not destructive. When preachers preach the false doctrine of unconditional forgiveness, they don't help the church, etc., Apollos was beneficial because he engaged in debate with those who were enemies of the Christ and showed that Jesus was the Christ from the scriptures (v. 28). see next click.

5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit worship 5. Preaching/Teaching in Truth & Spirit How are preachers to preach? with simplicity, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3, NKJV) boldly, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13, NKJV) with love, “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—” (Eph. 4:15, NKJV) [CLICK] [CLICK] DO PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS IN STUDY?