The Plea of the Church of Christ
1. Accept JESUS as LORD- Acts 2:36
a. Not the denominational concept of accepting Jesus as one’s personal savior.
i. Acts 2:22-24, 29-36
ii. Matthew 7:21 many act presumptuously in Jesus’ name, but will be REJECTED- cf. Luke 6:46
b. Accepting Jesus means we must DO what He SAYS. (Accepting the authority of parents, teachers, employers, govt)
c. John 12:48; We will be judged by Jesus’ WORDS
d. 2 Thes. 1:6-9 Failure to HEAR and OBEY Jesus’ words will result in our DESTRUCTION.
2. Accept the BIBLE as the Only Rule of FAITH
a. No one can know anything of the mind of God except through what He has revealed in the BIBLE.
b. Dt 4:2 do not add nor diminish ought from = keeping Rev 22:18-19
c. 2 Tim 3:16-17 God’s Word makes the man of God COMPLETE & furnishes him unto EVERY GOOD WORK.
d. 2 Peter 1:3 God’s Word provides ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE and GODLINESS.
e. God’s Word is not the source of religious division:
i. John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 14:40
ii. Can we all see the Bible alike? Is the God who created the universe incapable of producing an understandable book?
(1) 600 distinct Christian religions in Los Angeles, CA
(2) 1 Cor 1:10 “Now I beseech you brethren, in the name of our LJC, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be joined together in the same mind & in the same judgement.”
f. Ephesians 4:4-6 one faith — 35 references to the “one faith”
i. Hank Aaron- the career home run king, Nolan Ryan- the career strikeout king.
ii. These men are one of a kind – e.g., John the immerser.
iii. Note at bottom some passages referencing “the faith”
iv. Our plea with all men everywhere is to set aside the doctrines and creeds of men and embrace the one faith of the Bible.
3. Accept the CHURCH that Jesus built- Matt. 16:18
a. Acts 2:36-38, 41, 47
b. Acts 20:28
c. Ephesians 5:23-25
d. This is not a matter of choosing the Civitans over the Kiwanis.
e. We do not plead for “our church” over yours, but for all men to be a member of the one church built by Christ.
4. Accept God’s Conditions of SALVATION:
a. In so doing, we declare our FAITH in the PROMISE of God
b. Mark 4 parable of the sower All must HEAR God’s Word
c. John 20:30-31; Romans 10:17 HEARING the Word of God produces FAITH
d. Acts 17:30 God commands all men to REPENT
e. Romans 10:10 CONFESSION is made unto salvation
f. Mark 16:16 He who BELIEVES and is BAPTIZED . . .
g. 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism doth now also SAVE us.
h. Revelation 2:10 We must be FAITHFUL until DEATH.
5. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine and prove yourself
a. Do I accept the Lordship of Jesus?
b. Am I willing to take the Bible as my only rule of faith and practice?
c. Am I a member of the church that Jesus built?
d. Have I accepted and obeyed God’s conditions of salvation?
e. Do I love the Lord enough to do what He says? John 14:15, 23
f. Do I have the courage to obey His commands? Matt 10:32-39
Scriptures Pertaining to the ONE FAITH
Acts 6:7 “A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith
Acts 13:8 Elymas sought to turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith
Acts 14:22 the disciples were exhorted to continue in the faith
Acts 16:5 the churches were strengthened in the faith
Acts 24:24 Felix sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch and stand fast in the faith
2 Corinthians 13:5 “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith”
Ephesians 4:13 we are to come to the unity of the faith
Philippians 1:27 stand fast in one spirit and in one mind, striving together for the faith
Colossians 1:23 we are to continue in the faith
Colossians 2:7 we are to be established in the faith
1 Timothy 1:2 Timothy was a true son in the faith
1 Timothy 4:1 “the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter days some would depart from the faith”
1 Timothy 5:8 A man who will not provide for his family is worse than an infidel and has denied the faith.
1 Timothy 6:10 for the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course and I have kept the faith
Titus 1:13 the Cretans were liars, evil beasts and gluttons and were to be rebuked sharply that they may be sound in the faith
Jude 3 we must contend earnestly for the faith