VIII. AUTHORITY AND PERPETUITY OF THE LORD’S CHURCH
Subject:
Church authority.Theme: Church perpetuity.
Purpose: To prove that you cannot have perpetuity without succession.
Text: Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I. INTRODUCTION
(In Latter Times)A. "Some Shall Depart From The Faith."
1. Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit seeth expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2. This is not speaking of saving faith, it is not talking about your salvation.
3. Faith: That body of truth that was delivered to the saints of God by the
Apostles.(a).
(b).
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.4.
Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. I believe this to be talking mostly of preachers and teachers.B. Some Churches Will Not Endure (tolerate) Sound Doctrine.
1. 2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry
2. Many churches are today seeking Pastors and teachers that will make them feel good and preach the things that their ears just itch to hear.
3. Many people are seeking a church that does not teach Bible doctrines, those things "that only tend to separate and divide people."
C. The Latter Times Are Here.
1. Keep in mind when we say that a preacher or pastor has departed from the faith, we are talking about Baptist preachers.
(a). False prophets never had the truth to depart from.
(b). Preachers from other faiths have never had the entire truth to begin with.
2. When the Bible says that "they will not endure sound doctrine" and that "they shall turn away their ears from the truth."
(a). Keep in mind, churches of other faiths have never endured sound doctrine.
(b). Other faiths never could endure what Baptist preach.
3. That means what we are talking about are Baptist preachers & Baptist churches.
II. THE AUTHORITY TO BE A CHURCH.
A. Church Perpetuity.
1. Perpetuity: Continuing forever; without interruption.
2. This means that from the time Christ organized His church that there has been at least one of those churches in existence at all times and there will be until the Lord comes back.
3. Out of the material prepared by John the Baptist, Jesus organized and founded His church during the days of His personal ministry here on earth. We find Jesus proclaimed as the founder in Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (petros-- a stone), and upon this rock (petra-- a large boulder) I will build my church;...
4. Baptist Churches have continued from the time of Christ until the present.
5. They have been known by many different names throughout history.
(a). Montanist, Tertullianists, Novations, Donatists, Paterines
(b). And finally the "Ana" being dropped they became known simply as Baptist.
(c). These were names given to them by their enemies and was intended as a reproach.
6. I don't know of any Baptist who will tell you that the first churches were called by the Baptist name; they were simply call the church at Jerusalem, the church at Ephesus, etc.
B. Church Succession.
1. Succession: Following in order or in uninterrupted course.
2. The word perpetuity means continuing forever; without interruption & the word succession means following in an uninterrupted course.
(a). You cannot have something continuing forever without interruption, unless it follows an uninterrupted course.
(b). Once that course has been interrupted perpetuity goes out the window.
(c). Then it stands to reason that you cannot have perpetuity without succession.
3. Following the lineage of Abraham. (Let's give him the last name of Smith)
(a). Abraham Smith.
(b). Isaac Smith.
(c). Jacob Smith.
(d). Joseph Smith.
(e). Manasseh Smith.
4. If Isaac or any one of the others following him were to have been taken out, then that line (that succession) would have been broken, no other Smiths could possibly have existed after that.
(a). That's the law of genetics, one of God's own laws.
(b). The phrase "after his kind" is found fifteen times in the Bible.
5. Keep in mind that the church is "the body of Christ".
(a). Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
(b).
Col. 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:6. That means that the church is a living organism, a body, not simply an organization; it has to be "begotten." It has to have a mother.
C. Church Authority.
1. Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach (matheteuo/disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching (church capacity) them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(a). This commission is to make disciples and to make churches.
(b). Disciples beget disciples---
1Cor. 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. And these soul winning disciples are to be sent out under church authority--- Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! God calls men into the ministry, the church sends them out.(c). Churches beget churches---
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them (ordained), they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.(d). This commission was not given to the eleven as Apostles; if that were the case then the authority would have died with the last Apostle---
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.2. The authority to take the Gospel, baptize, and to start new churches was given to the eleven as constituting the Lord's church; therefore the authority was given to the church.
(a). Only one of the Lord's churches has the authority to take the Gospel.
(b). Only one of the Lord's churches has the authority to baptize.
(c). Only one of the Lord's churches has the authority to beget (organize) another church.
3. I know of no legitimate Baptist churches that do not hold to the doctrine of church authority.
III. CONCLUSION: Many of the heresies in the religious world today and at any given time in history is a direct result of having the wrong definition of a church or the wrong concept of what a church is.
A. The Effect On Other So-called Denominations.
1. If these organizations knew what the definition of a church is or knew what constituted a church, they would realize that they are not one of the Lord's Churches.
2. They are obviously confused on who the founder of the church must be--- Matt. 16:18 "...I will build my church;... "
3. They are obviously confused about who the head of the church is---
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.B.
Effects On Baptist Churches When Embracing This Heresy.1. They will accept Alien immersion.
2. They will accept Open communion.
3. They will refuse to practice Church discipline.
4. They will start Mission boards.
5. They will have to embrace the Universal church heresy.
6. They will become Ecumenical.
(a). Ministerial Associations.
(b). Promise keepers.
(c). Community services.
(d). Fellowshiping with organizations of different faiths.
7. They will rule the church by committee or Deacon Boards, etc.
8. They will have become Social Clubs instead of churches.
9. This list may not be syntactically correct, but it is none the less correct.