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Why are there Different Churches of Christ?. Unity is a spiritual blessing. Does it matter with which church we have fellowship? May we extend fellowship to all churches? What enables or prevents us from having fellowship with a church of Christ?. Psa 133:1-3. Eph 1:3. Eph 4:4-6.
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Unity is a spiritual blessing • Does it matter with which church we have fellowship? • May we extend fellowship to all churches? • What enables or prevents us from having fellowship with a church of Christ? Psa 133:1-3 Eph 1:3 Eph 4:4-6 John 17:20-21 Rom 16:16 Gal 2:7-10 2
Christ and the ChurchesRevelation 2-3 • Sovereign, 1:10-11 • Walks among the churches, 1:13, 20; 2:1 • Knows, 2:2, 9, etc. • Does not have fellow-ship with sin and error, 2:5, 16; 3:1-3, 15-16 • How can we do such a thing and please Him? 2 Jno 9-11 3
Some Churches of Christ are Practicing Sin and Error, Rev 2:1, 4-5 • Corrupt organization, Acts 14:23 • Sponsoring churches corrupt independence • Unqualified elderships…weak & failing churches • Corrupt work, Acts 2:42; 4:34-35; 11:22 • General benevolence (1 Tim 5:16; Gal 6:10) • Support human organizations (Jas 1:27) • Social gospel (Rom 14:17) • Refuse to discipline the disorderly (2 Ths 3:6) 4
Some Churches of Christ are Practicing Sin and Error, Rev 2:1, 4-5 • Corrupt worship, 1 Cor 11:17 • In spirit but not in truth (Jno 4:24) • Instrumental music, women leaders, etc. • Corrupt morality, Eph 5:1-7 • Doctrines condone/don’t rebuke sin (Rom 6:1-2) • Doctrines accept adulterous remarriages, social drinking, dancing, immodest clothing, vulgar language, etc. 5
Some Churches of Christ Bind the Opinions of Men, Matthew 15:7-9 • These fail to distinguish liberties and commands, Romans 14:1-3 • These fracture into factions, 2 Tim 2:14, 23 • No Bible class and one cup (container) churches • Artificial covering in worship • No individual action through any organization except the local church 6
Some Churches of Christ will not Endure Sound Doctrine, Rev 2:14-16 • On how to establish and apply Bible authority, Acts 15:6-21 • On contending for the faith, Jude 3 • On preaching the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:27 (20) • Including not having fellowship with error 7
Some Churches of Christ are Extending Fellowship to those who Teach Error and Practice Sin • By accepting Christians who remain in sin, 1 Cor 5:1-2, 13 • By refusing faithful Christians who teach and live the truth, 3 Jno 8-10 • By tolerating error and refusing to rebuke it, Rev 2:20-23 8
Why are there different churches of Christ? • Some do not continue in the apostolic doctrine and fall away, 1 Tim 4:1; 1 Jno 2:19 • We must constantly examine ourselves and correct ourselves to conform to the will of Christ, because if we fall… • He will remove this church from His presence! Revelation 2:5 9