Why I am a member of the church of Christ

Lesson # 1

Introductory Thoughts

Introduction

            Christians are constantly under attack by the enemy of Christ. Satan is like a roaring lion always seeking someone to devour. He has many tactics & methods to trip us up & we must continually be on guard. These lessons are designed to bolster our faith in Jesus & our commitment to be true to His teachings.

 

1. Reasons for this study

            a. Schemes used by Satan to turn us from Jesus

                        1) Atheism – denial of the existence of a divine being; to live life as if

there is no God.

                                    a) Causes pessimism & skepticism about spiritual things

                                    b) Idea – physical or material things are all there is

                                    c) Refuted by Christian evidences

                        2) Legalism – Justification by works; works based religion. Acceptable to

God because doing certain works or living up to a certain

standard.

                                    a) Produces doubt & a continual sense of guilt. 0

b) Never certain doing enough – always falling short & fearful

c) No joy or assurance of salvation

d) Refuted by the gospel

                        3) Liberalism – Truth is something that is abstract & uncertain.

                                    a) Everything is relative – depending upon circumstances

                                    b) No certainty concerning scriptures or salvation

                                    c) Allows unlimited change – Christianity evolves

                                    d) This study will attempt to defeat this philosophy

            b. Identifiable pattern to concept of the church

                        1) Greek word - Ekklesia – meaning the called out assembly

                                    a) A self governing democratic society whose members were

subject to a heavenly king

                                    b) A free society that was always conscious that their freedom

sprang from obedience to their king

                        2) First applied to Christianity by Jesus – Mt.16:18

                                    a) Used of the local congregation as well as the world wide body

of believers

                                    b) An assembly of believers who have fellowship with Jesus & one

another (the body of Christ)

 

2. Christianity has an identifiable pattern

            a. Concept of Pattern

                        1) Greek word – Tupos – pattern or form; a mold. When duplicated

certain characteristics will always be found.

a) Heb.8:5 – make according to the pattern shown you

b) Titus 2:7 – show self an example (pattern) of good works

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            b. Concept of pattern in NT

                        1) Pattern of belief to be adhered to

                                    a) Rom.6:17,18 – form of teaching delivered

                                    b) Jn.8:31,32 – certain body of truth sets you free

                                                1) Noah & flood are truth – not save

                                                2) 1 Pet.1:22 – purified souls in obedience to truth

                        2) Distinctiveness of the faith

                                    a) A distinctive unchanging body of truth

                                    b) The faith

                                                Gal.1:23 – preaching “the faith”

                                                Acts 6:7 – obedient to “the faith”

                                                Eph.4:4,5 – one faith

                                                Phil.1:27 – contending for “the faith of the gospel”

                                                Jude 3 – contend earnestly for “the faith”

                        3) Apostles taught pattern

                                    a) 1 Cor.1:10 – agree; no divisions; perfectly united

                                    b) 1 Cor.4:17 – my ways – I teach in every church

                                    c) 1 Cor.7:17 – the rule I lay down in all churches

                                    d) 1 Cor.14:33,34 – As in all the congregations

(Note - God not God of disorder)

                                    e) 1 Cor.16:1,2 – do what I told the Galatian churches

                                    f) 2 Tim.1:13 – keep as the pattern of sound teaching

                        4) Consequences when violate pattern

                                    a) Gal.1:6-9 - anathama

                                    b) 1 Cor.15:2 – hold firmly to gospel or believe in vain

 

3. Apostles teachings are important

            a. Some want only the red print – all-else up to interpretation

                        1) Only what Jesus says is really important

                        2) Whatever others say is just their opinion – accept or reject

            b. Apostles words are important too

                        1) Mt.10:40 – receive you = receives Me

                        2) Lk.10:16 – rejects you = rejects Me

                        3) 1 Cor.14:37 – what writing to you is Lord’s command

                        4) 2 Pet 3:1,2 – words of Lord spoken through apostles

            c. Scriptures are important too

                        1) 1 Cor.4:6 – do not go beyond what written

                        2) 2 Tim.3:16,17 – inspired of God & profitable

                        3) 2 Pet.1:3,4 – all need for life & godliness in knowing Jesus