DISCOVERING THE AXIOMS, PROMISES & VOICES OF CHRIST S CHURCH

Transcription

1 DISCOVERING THE AXIOMS, PROMISES & VOICES OF CHRIST S CHURCH Dr. Marc S. Blackwell Sr, Cape Church Ministries Institute CHURCH HISTORY S SEVEN AXIOMS. HOLY SCRIPTURES SEVEN PROMISES. THE REMNANTS VOICES OF REPENTANCE!

2 Chart from the Herald Of Hope - Australia

3 Charts from the Herald Of Hope - Australia

4 1. The Church at Ephesus Rev. 2:1-7 AD CHURCH HISTORY S FIRST AXIOM.The New Covenant mandates new Regenerated Relationships of Spiritual Love & Unity. [Eph. 2: 15b, 16...in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross... our access in one Spirit to the Father. Gal 3:7... be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you.[gen. 12:3; Isa 42:1; Ezek 36:26,27; 37:14 ] SCRIPTURES FIRST PROMISE 2:7b To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. [Gen. 2:9; 3:24. Rev 22:2, have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 19 ] REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE! I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Rev. 1:9

5 2. The Church at Smyrna Rev. 2:8-11 A D CHURCH HISTORY S SECOND AXIOM.The New Covenant provides freedom and a crown of life for firmly facing trails through our Soul s Liberty and the Grace of our Lord. I Cor 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves... but our adequacy is from God, 6 Who also made us competent as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. Gal 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (5:13) Soul Liberty: A free relationship with God without outside interference, mediation or proxy. 2 Tim 2:1 SCRIPTURES SECOND PROMISE. Rev. 2:10b. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE!Ten great persecutions: under Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian. Polycarp-Smyrna, Irenaeus-Lyons. Martyrdom of the Tens of Thousands! Ministering during the 2nd-century Quadratus is known for his teaching against paganism and Judaism and his Letter to Diognetus, related to accounts of early Christian martyrs! Quadratus' Apology was edited by E.J. Goodspeed, Die ältesten Apologeten (1914; The Oldest Apologists )

6 3. The Church at Pergamum Rev. 2:12-17 AD CHURCH HISTORY S THIRD AXIOM. The New Testament teaches that congregations were to be independent from all hierarchal interference. THE NESTORIAN, EASTERN OR SYRIAN CHURCH. ST THOMAS (900) The ROMAN AND GREEK hierarchies: Councils, Metropolitan Bishops, Bishops, Diaconate. Ordines Minores: Readers, Acolyths, Exorcists, and Precentors. The Nestorians much debated God-and-man doctrine of Christology (in contrast to the orthodox doctrine which held that while in Christ two natures existed, these were moulded into one person). It protested all deification of the Virgin Mary. With a focus on devotional (Monastic styled) spirituality rather than theological or doctrinal formation - its approach to the Gospel message spread to every part of the world of that day. SCRIPTURES THIRD PROMISE. Rev 2:17 To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it. [Isa. 62:2.] Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE!2:13b...you live - a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst--where Satan dwells. Hippolytus, , Portus (Tiber). Athanasius - of Nicea 325. Edessa.

7 3. The Church at Pergamum Rev. 2:12-17 AD The three primary organized forms of Christianity (Matthew 13 and Revelation 2, 3) were focused on three different interpretive concepts of Christian worship. The Two Surviving forms of Hierarchal Christianity were: (1st ) the Roman ( or Western) form organized around structure established on a creedal format; (2nd ) Then the, now shattered, Eastern (or Nestorian or Syrian) form of Christianity was focused on a more simple expression of their Faith and it gave great attention to personal devotion to Christ as The Divine. Academies Speaking Greek - in Alexandria, Antioch and Speaking syriac in Nisibis were focused on training church leaders and on the interpretation, copying and translation of Scriptures. In Nisibis many texts were translated there from Greek into Syriac. When the school moved to Edessa in 363, the Syriac tradition moved with it. The split-off of Coptic Christians came twenty years later, after the Council of Chalcedon (451) over a variant of the Nestorian heresy, monophysitism. It held that Christ was a single person with a single nature, both divine. (3rd) The Greek or Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine) Church was to separate from Rome in an initiation led by Photius ( ), the Patriarch of Constantinople. He taught that the Holy Spirit arose from the Father. Highly organized around a Liturgical and Thematic format base. the Greek or Easter Orthodox also disapproved of Leo III s crowning of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor and openly criticized clerical celibacy. Note: The Roman Catholic Church asserted, at the Fourth Council of Constantinople ( ), that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque, in the Latin of the Nicene Creed, thus this word became the name of the controversy). The Fourth Council set the stage for what is known as the Great Schism in 1054 when Michael Cerularius, shut down Latin churches in Constantinople; he was excommunicated by Leo IV, and the split became history.

8 4. The Church at Thyatira Rev. 2:18-29 AD CHURCH HISTORY S FOURTH AXIOM.The New Testament demands a regenerated assembly & submission to Scripture s authority alone. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The Donatists, like the earlier Paulicians, Montanists and Novations, and Waldensians focused on the Scriptures and admitted no unbeleivers to their congregations. The Cathari - the pure, also known as Bogomiles led the way across Europe for the Albigensians dissent and dissident theology. John Wycliff (Oxford), Jan Hus (Prague) & Girolamo Savanarola (Florence) followed. SCRIPTURES FOURTH PROMISE. 2:26...to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. (Also See 1 Cor. 6:1-11) REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE!... all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts... Tenchdyn os Antwerp Peter of Bruis along the Rhone. 60,000 Albigensians killed in Beziers

9 5. The Church at Sardis Rev. 3:1-6 AD CHURCH HISTORY S FIFTH AXIOM.The New Testament calls for New Birth, Personal Holiness and the Sufficiency of Scripture rather than submission to an incomplete Sacramentalism! Rev. 3: 1b I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. (exa. Luther, Zwingli & Calvin) SCRIPTURES FIFTH PROMISE. Rev. 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE!Biblical Anabaptists: By 1525 thousands were being re-baptised by the new Swiss Biblical Anabaptists. In Zürich the City Council banished the Anabaptists. Manz was put to death by drowning, Blaurock (their Second Paul ) was beaten in the streets and driven from Zürich. Grebel would be known as the Swiss Anabaptist s greatest preacher and leader. St Gaul s Uolimann, Hockrűtiner, Roggenacher, Eberle; and Schaffhausen s Wilhem Reublin, Doctor Hofmeister and Hans Brötli of Zillion. Michael Sattler was martyred on May 21, 1527 in Rottenburg.

10 6. The Church at Philadelphia Rev. 3:7-13 AD s CHURCH HISTORY S SIXTH AXIOM.The New Testament s commission regarding our collective responsibility to share the Gospel to all is recognised. Go therefore and make disciples of call the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Evangelism, Translation of Scriptures, Discipleship, Church Planting, Educational and Social Ministries. SCRIPTURES SIXTH PROMISE. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. REMNANT VOICES OF REPENTANCE! Moravians - Moffit - Livingstone - Judson Taylor - Spurgeon s Men - The London Missionary Society - Scottish Missionary Society - Brethren -American Board of Missions - German Bund, and so many more! 1 Pet. 5:4 CROWN OF GLORY

11 7. The Church at Laodicea Rev. 3:14-22 AD 1850-Rapture CHURCH HISTORY S SEVENTH AXIOM.The recognition that the New Covenant as Scriptural Truth depends upon a literal interpretation of God s Word. Philosophic Humanism - Neo-Orthodox - Modernism - Liberalism - Ecumenism - World Council of Churches - Neo-Evangelicalism - Philosophic Post-Modernism - The Charismatic & Word of Faith Movements - A Reformed Movement s Resurgance and an Emergent Church Conservative Evangelicalism / Fundamentalism. Zelousness in Evangelism, Literal Biblical Teaching, End-Times Bible Conferences. ( Hot battles Cold! ) REMNANT VOICES OF SCRIPTURES SEVENTH PROMISE. Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. REPENTANCE!The Biblical Literalists and Fundamentalists of the Faith. Ecclesiastical Seperation from Compromise The Dispenstational Interpretation of God s Word. The Rapture as a Pre-Tribulational and Premillennial fulfillment of Christ s promise to His bride. The Millennial Kingdom established by the Messiah for believing Israel and all who have believed in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

12 These brethren were a select believing remnent - a portion protected by the overshadowing providence of God. CALLED: Paulicians, Novatians, Priscillianists, Thonraks, Cathars, Puritans, Bulgarians, patarenes, Albigenses, Nestorians Petorbrussians, Henricians, Good Men, Poor Men of Lyions, Waldenses, Vaoudois, Evangelic, Spirituali, Passagini, Josephini, Arnaldistae, Speronistae, Weavers, Beghards, Beghines, Brethren, Schwestrionen, The Poor, Hussites, Taborites, utraquists, Calixtienes, Bohemian, Brethren, Jednota Bratrska, Unitas Fratrum, Anabaptists, Mennonites, Mennonite Brethren, Lollards, Wycliffites, Picards,, Deceivers, Heretics, Free Churches, Sectaries, Hutists, Gospellers, Independents, Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers, Friends, Pietists, Quietists, Moravians, Stundists, Evangelical Christians, Plymouth Brethren Exclusives, open Brethren, Fundamentalists, Independent Baptists, Community Churches, Non-denominationalists. And More!

13 DISCOVERING THE AXIOMS, PROMISES AND VOICES OF CHRIST S CHURCH CHURCH HISTORY S SEVEN AXIOMS. THE NEW TESTAMENT teaches:1. New Regenerated Relationships of Spiritual Love & Unity provides freedom, a crown of life for facing trails through our Soul s Liberty and the Grace of our Lord congregations were to be independent from all hierarchal interference A regenerated assembly & submission to Scripture s authority alone New Birth, Personal Holiness and the Sufficiency of Scripture rather than submission to Sacramentalism! - 6. The responsibility to share the Gospel to all is recognised The Literal Interpretation of God s Word. HOLY SCRIPTURES SEVEN PROMISES. CHRIST will: 1. Grant to eat of the tree of life, - 2. Give the crown of life and not be hurt by the second death To eat of the manna and given a white stone with a new name - 4. Give authority over the nations and the morning star White garments; will not erase his name, will confess his name - 6. Make a pillar, write upon him the name of my God, the name of the city, my new name will sup with him, sit beside Me on My throne. THE REMNANTS VOICES OF REPENTANCE! THE FAITHFUL are: 1. The Apostles, fellow partakers in the tribulation... because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Polycarp-Smyrna, Irenaeus- Lyons) Martyrdom of the Tens of Thousands; and Quadratus - 3. Hippolytus, , Portus (Tiber), Athanasius - Council of Nicea Tenchdyn os Antwerp, Peter of Bruis along the Rhone, 60,000 Albigensians killed in Beziers Manz, Blaurock, Grebel, Eberle; Reublin, Hofmeister, Brötli, Sattler and thousands who followed The Pioneer Missionaries - 7. The Biblical Literalists, Fundamentalists and Dispenstationalists.