A Historical Review of

Apostasy And the Origins of Today’s

Denominations

Acts 2:40-42, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers”;

Acts 2:46-47, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

But, men have their own ideas & soon departed from God’s original plan…

“Apostasy” = drifting away from the original standard

1. Immediately after the est. of the church, apostasy began (judaizing) Acts 15:5-11, but many other subjects as well

2. How did today’s religious world get the way we see it?

In time, man drifted from God’s will in the type of organization used for the church…

God’s pattern:1. Each church to be self-

ruled by leaders from that church

2. Plurality of elders to rule over every church

3. Bible to be the standard for belief, NOT MAN!

Man’s departure:1. No congregation to be

self-ruled; all subject to centralized rule

2. Ultimately, only one bishop in the main church ruling all

3. Pope now the ultimate spiritual authority, NOT GOD!

Europe – Militant Catholicism

The Historical Figures Who Have Shaped Religious Beliefs

Augustine – (354AD -430AD) “tolle lege” (“take up & read”) He thought this was God’s grace to him (Romans 13:13 - he must stop his sinful life) *His beliefs shaped Cath. doctrine all the way to the present day. Original Sin, Grace Only, Predestination, etc.

The Error of Augustine’s Main Doctrines

We are by nature sinners (Eph 2:3; Ps 51:5).  We all have sinned because sin entered the world through Adam:  "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Rom 5:12).

  Therefore, we are unable to do God's will (

Rom 6:16; 7:14).  We were affected by the fall of Adam, contrary to what Pelagius taught.

Pelagius

The “Pelagian Heresy”

1. Denied “Original Sin” (Ezek 18:4)

2. God expects humans to direct their own lives by “free will” if that will is guided by the Bible (Phil 2:12)

3. Grace does not interfere with “free will”

4. Urged return to Bible as the only spiritual guide & authority

Pelagius Excommunicated At the Hand of Augustine

Augustine remains to this day the most influential person in his teachings to the Catholic Church, other than the apostle Paul (“Confessions”)

Inventions in Technology Aided the Spread of the Protestant Movement

Johannes Gutenberg - German

1398-1468

*Invented moveable type print & printing press

**Europeans learned method to make paper from wood & cloth fiber from China

***First printed copies of the Bible are placed into the hands of scholars other than the Catholic Church

The Reformation Fathers

• John Knox• 1505-1572• Scottish

• John Calvin • 1509-1569 • French

• Martin Luther• 1483-1546• German

• Ulrich Zwingli• 1484-1531• Swiss

English King Henry VIII The Reluctant Protestant

Henry Tudor – 1491-1547

*Was declared “Defender of the Faith” by pope for his opposition to Luther & “Protestantism”• Authorized the first English language Bible

• Split with Catholic Church to found the Anglican Church (Not truly Protestant)

Renewed Debate in 16th Century John Calvin – (1509-1569)

Authored all the tenets of the “TULIP” which are simply re-digested ancient Greek philosophies along with strong influence of Augustine

James Arminius – (1560 -1609) Opposed Calvinism

Bible Only Authority:

a. External testimony of men

b. Arguments in Scriptures itself

c. The internal witness of God

Calvinism - T.U.L.I.P.

1. Total Depravity – Ezek 18:20, Mt 18:3-5

2. Unconditional Election - Acts 10: 34, 35; Jn 3:16

3. Limited Atonement – Heb 2:9, ITim 2: 3-6; Mt 7: 13, 14

4. Irresistible Grace - Rom 1: 16, Eph 3: 3 ff

5. Perseverance of the Saints - ICor 10:12; 2Pt 1: 5-11; Gal 5: 4

The Rise of Cartesian Thought

Rene Descarte – 1596-1650

“Methodological Scepticism”

“Cogito Ergo Sum” = “I doubt therefore I am”

*Conclusion: Beginning of the “Age of Reason”

**Rationalism & Deism now begin to lead in European thought

***No providential acts by God

Deism Rises From Cartesian Thought

1. Only one God2. God has perfect intellectual & moral nature3. There is no special providence4. Man has a rational nature which alone can let

him know what is real5. Universe operates w/o God’s special action6. All other religious beliefs or practices

conflicting with these tenets are to be regarded critically & with condescension

Catholicism Is Impetus For Apostasy

Error

1. Nicolaitans (?)

2. Augustine

3. Luther

4. Calvin

5. Knox

6. Zwingli

7. Henry VIII

8. Descarte

Truth

1. Christ (in Revelation)

2. Pelagius

3. Arminius

Historical Chain of Events1. CHURCH OF CHRIST, 34 AD (Origin

Recorded in Acts 2, Jerusalem)

****Departure From God’s Word Known As Apostasy Begins****

2. Roman Catholic Church, 606 AD (Rome) & Eastern Orthodox Church (Constantinople)

3. Lutheran Church, 1529 AD, (Augsburg, Germany) Martin Luther

4. Reformed Churches, 1530's,(All of Western Europe) Ulrich Zwingli & John Calvin

5. Presbyterian, 1530's, (Scotland) John Knox

6. Ana-Baptists, 1609, (Holland) John Smyth, Evolved into 27 Major denominations = Baptist Churches

7. Methodist Church, 1729, (England) John Wesley

8. Jehovah's Witnesses, 1909, (Brooklyn, NY) Pastor Charles Taze Russell

9. Church of God, Aug. 19, 1886, (Tennessee) Richard Spurling

10. Pentacostal & Assemb. of God Churches, 1919, (Hot Springs, Ark.)

11. Adventists, 1820's, (USA) William Miller

12. Disciples of Christ or Christian Churches, 1820's - 1870's, (USA) Thomas & Alexander Campbell (Campbellites)

The Church of Christ Today1. Mal 3:6, “For I am the

LORD, I change not” God cannot be pleased with trends in modern churches of Christ who reject Bible Authority – Many do!

2. We must be committed to retaining the original gospel of Christ w/o drifting – Acts 2:40-47; 20:7; 1Cor 15:58

We can’t plead ignorance because God knows we can understand His Word

Eph 5:17, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

1Jn 5:13-15, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Eph 1:18-23, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

How Does One Become A Christian?

1. Hear the Word (Gospel) – Rom 10:17

2. Believe the Gospel – Jn 20:30-31

3. Repent of Sin – Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30

4. Confess Christ – Mt 10:32; Rom 10:9-10

5. Be Immersed (Baptized) – Acts 2:38; 22:10-18

6. Be Faithful to Christ – 1Cor 15:58

All the Cases of Conversion are in the Book of Acts & ALL Were Baptized

1. The Jews – Acts 2:35-422. The Samaritans – Acts 8:5-123. Simon the Sorcerer – Acts 8:134. Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8:26-395. Saul of Tarsus – Acts 22:14-166. Cornelius – Acts 10:23-487. Lydia – Acts 16:11-158. Philippian Jailor – Acts 16:25-349. Crispus & the Corinthians – Acts 18:5-810. Ephesians – Acts 19:1-7

John 14:15, Jesus says…"If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Mt 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

And then…2Tim 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”