What difference does it make? Deuteronomy 5:23-33

Have you ever? Served in the military? Got caught speeding? In these examples did you break the rules and answer your boss, commanding officer, or the police by saying: What difference does it make? Worked a job that supplied you with a uniform? Or expected a dress code? Worked a job that supplied you with a uniform? Or expected a dress code?

We dont normally question authority. We understand that certain people have the power/authority to tell us what to do. Even most children recognize the authority of a parent and seek boundaries. Pharisees asked a question of Jesus because they didnt recognize His authority: Matthew 21:23 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? (ASV)

Why dont we recognize the authority of God? Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Isaiah 29:15-16 Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and that say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?

Deuteronomy 5: But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

The simple oneness of the bible There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your call- ing; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all –Ep.4:4-7 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all –Ep.1:22-23

Mt.16:18 My church Local churches Phil.1:1

The Lords church in Jerusalem, Acts 2 StandardStandard: Word, 14; 22; 29, 33; 40, 41 BasisBasis: Jesus life, death, resurrection, , Exalted, 34-36, 38, 42 ConditionsConditions: repent, be baptized, 38, 41 ResultsResults: added saved together, 47 Didnt add to church w/o saving them Didnt save w/o adding to church The church in Jerusalem (Ac.5:11; 8:1) This church was not a denomination

Denominational Practices: change with the times and no differing denom- inations existed baptismwas Now, it is different It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and no differing denom- inations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, baptism was the door into the church. Now, it is different... – Hiscox, Manual for Baptist Churches, p. 22

Lords church in Jerusalem Church in Jerusalem Presbyterian Church R. Catholic Church Methodist Church Baptist Church What makes them denominational? (now it is different) They joined (now it is different) They followed something besides NT Lords church is not a denomination though separate from other groups

1.Where will you say AMEN and agree with the prayers? 2.Where will you entrust your teaching and learning that is according to God and teaches God's doctrine? 3.Where will you associate with like-minded people? 4.Where will you sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord? 5.Where will you partake of the Lord's supper EVERY first day of the week? 6.And where will you do the work of the Lord and be pleasing to Him?

What is the difference? 1.Look at the Seed 2.Look at the doctrine 3.Look at organization 4.What does worship look like? 5.Work of church 6.Terminology

1. Establishment: seed 1. Establishment: seed Lk.8:…11 One productOne crop Preach gospelSow wheat 300 preachers300 farmers

Seed always produces after its kind (Gn.1:11, 24; Lk.6:44; Ja.3:12) Baptist preacher uses Baptist doctrine to produce a Baptist, never a Methodist If a gospel preacher uses only the gospel, what will it produce? (Ac.2, 8, 18) It did not produce Baptists… (Hiscox) Mt.13:24-28

2. Doctrine: gospel 2. Doctrine: gospel Ac.2:42 (Mk.16:15-16) It is not enough, therefore, simply to throw out the name of Church, but judgment must be used to ascertain which is the true Church, and what is the nature of its unity… Our adversar- ies, therefore, if they would persuade us that they are the true Church must, first of all, show that the true doctrine of God is among them… since Paul declares (Eph.2:20) that the Church is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, it necessarily follows that any church not resting on this foundation must immediately fall – Calvin, Schaffs History…VIII, 454

3. Organization: congregation Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons –Phil.1:1 (4:15) No larger organization found in NT Do denominations look like this?

4.Worship: spiritual 4. Worship: spiritual Ac.2:42; 20:7 The custom of organ accompaniment did not become general until the eighteenth century –Schaff-Herzog VIII, 258 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord – Ep.5:19

But they listened to Paul, and he worked miracles Lk.16:29-31 Ep.4:11 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him – Ac.13:27

5. Work Jerusalem, Ac.2 1. Evangelism, 41, Edification, Benevolence, 44f. Antioch, Ac Evangelism, Edification, 23, Benevolence, 27ff

6. Terminology: oracles of God UniversalCatholicsUniversal church, but not Catholics BaptismBaptistBaptism, but not Baptist church MethodsMethodistMethods, but not Methodist Church BishopsEpiscopaliansBishops, but not Episcopalians EldersPresbyteriansElders, but not Presbyterians PentecostPentecostalsPentecost, but not Pentecostals HolinessHolinessHoliness, but not Holiness Church Last daysLatter Day SaintsLast days, but not Latter Day Saints Ac.11:26-27

Pharisees Sadducees Essenes Philosophers Judaizers New Testament

Roman Catholicism Lutheran Anglican Baptist Methodist New Testament

Are you a Christian, according to the bible? Matthew 28:18-20, Become Jesus disciple Acts 2:38, Repent and be baptized for remission of sins. Acts 2:41, Receive Gods word and be added to Christs body.