I. CHRISTIANITY'S STUMBLING BLOCKS
PAID CLERGYToday, the best estimate is that there are over 40,000 different “Christian” denominations or sects. No one knows for sure because there is no organized data-base that identifies them all. Many are as small as a single congregation. The total number of...
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BIBLEOLATRYChristians universally claim that the canon of scripture is closed. According to the tradition, God finished revealing things and the single means of knowing God’s will, gaining authority, and obtaining salvation is fully documented in the scriptures. This is the sola...
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LOST CHRISTIAN BELIEFSThe debate over who was “speaking” the testimony of Jesus Christ in the beginning of the Gospel of John has been one of the longest-standing questions in Christianity. Heracleon addressed this at about 165 a.d. He was a Gnostic and from the school of...
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THE TRINITYThe term "Trinity" does not appear in scripture. It is a term coined by theologians to attempt to keep the Jewish tradition of monotheism alive within Christianity. The earliest form of Judaism was not monotheistic. The "Elohim" of the Old Testament was...
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TRINITARIAN IMPEDIMENTThe doctrine of the Trinity which was settled, if not created, in the Council of Nicea is an impediment, and not an advantage, to knowing God. If “life eternal” is to “know God” (as John declared–see John 17:3) then of what value is a doctrine that makes God...
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CHRIST'S BODYWhen Christ appeared to His disciples, after His resurrection, they thought He was a ghost (or spirit). He corrected their misunderstanding: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were...
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II. GOD SENDS ORDAINED MESSENGERS
REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATIONA joint accord has been reached by the Lutherans and Catholics on one issue that has divided them since Martin Luther. Luther, because he rejected Catholic authority claims, needed another basis for salvation. He identified God’s grace alone as the...
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JOHN THE BAPTISTJohn the Baptist was the last messenger sent by God in the dispensation of Moses. (John 1:6.) He represents the end of one dispensation and the beginning of another. He overthrew the kingdom of the Jews and wrested all the authority that remained with...
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A MODERN WITNESS
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III. GRACE & WORKS
GRACE OR WORKS?It is by grace we do the required works to be saved. As explained in Philipians 2:13: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.” As Paul explained in Romans 6:1-2 concerning those who are born again through Christ: “What shall we...
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FOLLOWING CHRIST REQUIRES WORKSThere exists an intolerant and anti-Christian view that rejects as un-Christian all those who think there is a necessary role for works in addition to faith. (See James 2:20 & 26: “Faith without works is dead”.) They ignore two verses penned by James. They...
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IV. NATURE OF GOD
ETERNAL LIFE: KNOWING GODChrist explained “eternal life” as knowing Him: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3.) The writers of the New Testament knew Christ. They were taught by Him or He appeared...
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GOD'S MYSTERIESThere is a great difference between recognizing the “signs of the times” and knowing the detail of how prophecy will be fulfilled. An example of the difference is found in Matthew. Matthew 2:1-18 tells of “wise men” who studied the scriptures, watched...
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V. APOSTASY & RESTORATION
CHRISTIAN APOSTASYIrenaeus lived approximately 130 a.d. to 202 a.d. The exact dates of his life are not known. Nor is the exact date he wrote his greatest work, a five-book series titled Against Heresies. His outline of heretical teachings is known to have been composed late in the...
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MORMON APOSTASYIf Christians were to examine the history of Mormonism, they would better understand how unclean spirits and false prophets overtook Christianity. (Rev. 16:13; also 2 Tim. 11:13-15.) Joseph Smith began Mormonism under the influence of...
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MORMON APOSTASY INFORMS CHRISTIANITYBetween the death of Christ’s apostles and the Council of Nicaea, Christianity changed dramatically. It is impossible to account for all that happened to cause the changes. Although some of the writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers (Christian leaders before...
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VI. EARLY CHRISTIANITY
EXPANSION OF EARLY CHRISTIANITYChrist originally sent twelve messengers to spread the news about Him. They organized congregations of believers throughout the Mediterranean World, the Indian sub-continent and beyond. These were diverse bodies of believers and depending on...
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EARLY CHRISTIAN MEETINGSJustin Martyr lived from 110-165 a.d. and wrote in the “sub-apostolic” age. His writings give a glimpse into how Christianity functioned in its earliest days.In his First Apology, he provides a description of Christian worship. They met in homes, having no church...
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