www.scatteredchristians.org
Another
Sermon for the Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide
Web
2007
- KJV Bible Believers Church in Touchet, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike
Paulson - 2007
Expounding
the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26
-
with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II
Timothy 2:15
|
Is the Antioch
church our model church for today?
Acts 10-19
Reading from VOICE, An Independent
Church Journal / July/August 2007, typical of the tons of mail I receive
about church programs, etc., I noticed an article that supported the Antioch
church to be the model church for an Independent Church. Pages 7-10,
written by Les Lofquist, executive director.
This 'strategy' was originated by
the Slavic Gospel Association - A Russian ministry.
-
Knowing what we know about the so-called
Great
Commission being taught in church after church - and in modern Bible
study program after Bible study program, to the point where other than
the title of the group, they are all teaching pretty much the same thing
- the teachings of Jesus through the gospels and early Acts! ...
-
Knowing the placement of the Great Commission
in the Bible and TO whom the commission was given! ...
-
Knowing the absolute rejection today
of any of Paul's teachings / Epistles by what seems to be by just about
everyone - even in the Independent Baptist churches, other than a few special
verses that everyone likes to use to show God's grace as the preachers
put the guilt on to the people...
-
Knowing the hatred 'all' people have
towards the KJ 1611 Bible.
-
They can not and will not see it as
a final authority with grace that it is!
-
They see 'gain' and the teachings of
their 'local church' as their final authority!
I can see where this Antioch church
model concept sure does fit the pattern of the false teachings that are
running rampant today in our churches - and in this case, the Independent
Local Church, many of which pride themselves in their Biblical approach.
The Teaching
It is taught in the Antioch Initiative
that the church in Antioch is the first Gentile church presented in the
New
Testament, thus this is the church that is our model church for us today!
Antioch is our model for today,
he claims!
In this article, Mr. Lofquist goes
verse by verse and shows that these are things that are to happen in our
churches today - and to not do so, will prove that your church needs to
consider the Antioch church for it's pattern - it's manner of life!
The Beginning - Cornelius
It is started with Cornelius 'getting
saved.' Acts 10:43-48
Read it all!
I encourage you to read Acts
10-19 to see the details of this church if it should be our
'model' or not.
Keep in mind...
-
As you read, keep in mind, I
Corinthians 13:8-12, but especially verse
10 - But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
-
Once again, we
see the seriousness and importance of the King James 1611 Bible.
-
It is the key
to the solution of this confusion of which church, if any, should
be our model today.
Reading
Acts
10-19, this is what you will find in detail:
-
The work of the Holy Spirit.
-
on it's own conviction and convincing
plan.
-
truly the work of the Holy Spirit, no
doubt,
-
but of course, there is no KJB yet!
-
Remission of sins
-
totally a Great Commission teaching
being carried on - See Luke 24:45-49; Acts 2:38,
etc.
-
Baptism following salvation
-
Acts 10:44-48
-
however, the Holy Ghost fell on
them as they heard the word
-
Acts 19:1-6
-
not receiving the Holy Ghost until after
the baptism and by Paul's own hands, too! (vs
6)
-
Acts 8:37
-
that is not our model for salvation
today - that was a gospel belief - believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
-
Receiving the word of God
-
of course, but remember, still no Bible
as of yet. See where I Corinthians 13:10
fits in?
-
Peter is the main character
-
Saul and Barnabas are secondary at first
-
Galatians 2:7,8-
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For
he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision,
the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
-
Peter, with John, are told to 'feed
the sheep,' meaning the Jews as the sheep.
-
"Christian' word first used - Acts
11:26
-
...as describing those who 'follow Jesus.'
-
Just as the Great Commission says in
Matthew
28:19,20; Mark 16:15-20, following Jesus' teachings.
-
Christians today are to follow Jesus'
teachings as He taught to Paul! Why is that so hard for folks, anyway.
Man!!!!!
-
Obedience as the goal of Bible teaching
-
obedience to what?
-
baptism?
-
faith?
-
Scriptures?
-
Word of God?
-
Pastor / Teacher / Professor?
-
music
-
no mention of obedience to anything
-
Paul mentions obedience to faith and
of faith, but not until well past the Antioch church - Romans
1:5; Romans 16:26
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Worship God
-
Paul reminds them
that they can not worship God as they were... Acts
17:24,25
-
Pentecostal
Talk - Charismatic flavour - modern tv evangelistic programs, etc.
-
all talking like
this more and more!
-
Acts 16:18
-
"I command
thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!
-
Acts 13:1-3;
14:23
-
Fasting with results
-
power of prayer
-
laying on of hands
-
Having faith
to be healed
-
False teachers
teaching confusion
-
now that, I can
agree with - they are doing a great job of confusing folks that don't know
how to rightly divide!
-
Church interdependence
-
no liberty and
church independence - in fact, from many of the brethren, we are to note
them, and have no company with him,
based on Paul's doctrine, too! .II Thessalonians
3:14
-
Word of God
as given to Paul and Barnabas
-
I Corinthians
13:10 comes
into play here - AGAIN!
-
Ordaining Elders
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Miracles and
wonders - even that the Gentiles see!
-
They even had
contention
-
Paul sees vision
Galatians
written around Acts 15
-
Jews involvement
still going on
-
the law was still
an issue
-
Acts 17:5
-
Acts 17:17
- disputing with the Jews, and others...
-
They even thought
they had killed Paul
Last Mention
of Antioch church
-
In their own article,
they make mention that Acts 18:22
is the LAST mention of the Antioch Church.
-
They also admit
that Ephesus gradually becomes the more important church
-
Acts 19:10;
20:31 for 2 - 3 years, he talked with
them
-
On to 'Gentiles
only' more and more!
-
Acts 18:7,
but also 13:46
- a slow turning to the Gentiles.
-
Paul was in no
hurry to leave the Jews.
-
Romans 10:1;
Acts 28:29-31
So, it is stated
that this all came from the Antioch church - the 'mother church.'
-
Do I see apostolic
succession concept here?
-
Mother church
as the holy church?
-
Baptist Briders?
They would
hope to see the Antioch Church 'strategy' grow in America.
-
Sure - as the
Great Commission is doing, the Antioch Initiative is just adding to the
obvious preparations today for the Anti-"Christ" to come in the name
of Jesus' teachings!
Watch the transition
through Acts - and watch how the early stuff does NOT match Paul's gospel,
and it must match, right?
-
Galatians 1:8,9
-
II Corinthians
11:1-4
...Or - see
the entire thing make sense for THEN, but NOT TO us TODAY!
-
See I
Corinthians 13:8-12
-
The King James
Bible from 1611 to us today!
The Model Church
is the 'design' set forth in Ephesians 4:11-16;
-
and then all the
verses that Paul talks about doing what he has taught us to do!
We
are to follow Paul - NOT Peter!
Certainly,
the Antioch church is NOT our model church for today!
We
are to go beyond Paul - beyond preaching - beyond the local church!
We
go to the King James Bible!
I Corinthians
4:16 - Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers
of me.
Philippians
4:9 - Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace
shall be with you.
I Corinthians
4:17 - For this cause have I sent unto
you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall
bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every
where in every church.
I Corinthians
11:1 - Be ye followers of me, even as I
also am of Christ.
Philippians
3:17 - Brethren, be followers together
of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
I Thessalonians
1:6 - And ye became followers of us, and
of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the
Holy Ghost:
II Thessalonians
3:7 - For yourselves know how ye ought
to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
II Thessalonians
3:9 - Not because we have not power, but
to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
I Timothy
6:11 - But thou, O man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.
II Timothy
2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out
of a pure heart.
Colossians
2:2 - That their hearts might be comforted,
being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance
of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of
the Father, and of Christ;
Romans 2:16
- In the day when God shall judge the secrets
of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Romans 16:25
-
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began,