“CONCERNING THIS SECT: IT IS EVERYWHERE SPOKEN AGAINST” Introduction: A. Acts 28:16-29 - Exegete 1. Paul is speaking to one of the mainstream religions of his day. 2. They thought Christians were a sect of Judaism. B. Today we are still being pigeonholed as a denomination. Bethany College tours 1. And many still aren’t listening. 2. Some of us are unprepared to answer as well. 3. Can you defend the Lord’s Church when the denominational world speaks against it? 1Peter 3:15 C. Drop the persecution complex and speak up - Matt. 5:11. 1. “Woe is me; they think we are fanatics; ignorant; conceited, etc.” 2. Rather, feel compassion for their lack of understanding and defend the Lord’s body. 3. Phil 1:17 - Get set for the defense of the gospel. I. “ALEXANDER CAMPBELL FOUNDED YOUR CHURCH.” A. Stock answer: “Jesus founded it, but Alexander Campbell just restored it.” 1. Some brethren really believe that the Church died out after the first century and was restored in Bethany, perhaps because they don’t read about it in secular history. 2. We don’t have to read about it in history; we can read about the Church throughout all of past history and look into the future as well. a. Dan. 2:44 B. It has always been. 1. They were the ones: a. Who didn’t go to the council of Nicea? b. Who were tortured and killed as heretics during the Middle Ages c. Who were still faithful to the Lord when Luther, Calvin, and other reformation men began their work? d. Who were still meeting and worshipping when Campbell was only considering leaving the denomination he was affiliated with? e. Who are still meeting today? f. And will continue to be faithful until the Lord returns in spite of how many digressions occur in local congregations. C. Alexander Campbell founded the Church like Ben Franklin invented electricity. 1. He only discovered it for himself. II. “YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE THE ONLY CHRISTIANS GOING TO HEAVEN.” A. Stock answer: “Only members of The Church of Christ are going to heaven.” 1. And some brethren really believe that, too. 2. Have forgotten about faithful patriarchs, faithful under the Law of Moses, children who have died before reaching the age of accountability, the faithful Gentiles who were a law unto themselves before Christ (Rom. 2:14-15), and the thief on the cross. B. But for those who are sinners in this dispensation, the gospel is the only power that will gain one admission to heaven. 1. Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16; John 14:6; Matt.7:21; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19 C. Variation on that theme: “You think the Church of Christ is the only one a person can belong to.” 1. Stock answer: “It’s the only one named in the Bible.” 2. What of Church of God, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Christ, Church of the Firstborn, Body of Christ, Assembly of the Saints, Kingdom of Heaven? a. All of those scriptural names describe one body. Are you a member of that one body? b. Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18 III. “YOU ARE NARROW-MINDED, INTOLERANT, AND SELFISH.” A. Stock answer: “That’s because the way is narrow.” 1. Feels like we are members of some kind of odd cult rather than the most powerful kingdom in heaven or on earth. a. We are following the perfect law of liberty that frees us from: 1) Sin and its guilt 2) Sin and its consequences 3) Sinful creeds of men B. Narrow-minded? - The church accepts everyone and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, occupation, wealth, social status, or former religions or creeds. Anyone can become a member who obeys the gospel of Christ. C. Selfish? As a percentage of their income, members of the church have given more to needy saints than any denominational budget has ever provided. IV. “YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SALVATION.” A. Stock answer: “Jesus saves; the Spirit doesn’t have anything to do with it.” 1. Just as ignorant of the work of the Spirit in our salvation as the person making the accusation. 2. Two extreme positions: One believes that the Spirit saves and the other believes that the Spirit does nothing. B. Who was instrumental in revealing the first command to be baptized - Acts 2:38? 1. Who gave the first gospel sermon to man using Peter as the mouthpiece? 2. Who moved the writers of the Bible to consistently inform us of salvation and faithful service to God? 3. Whose visible manifestations convinced multitudes that the apostles were preaching truth? 4. Whose efforts gave us the perfect word of God that is the only present access to the mind of God? C. The efforts of the Holy Spirit in our salvation are as vital as the Blood of Christ and the Grace of God. Without the Spirit, how would we know about either? V. “YOU BELIEVE IN WATER SALVATION.” A. Stock answer: “We are saved by immersion in water.” 1. Hence the birth of the saying: “Only three things are born of water: frogs, mosquitoes and Campbellites.” B. We believe in Blood salvation. 1. Heb. 9:11-14; 1Peter 1:2, 18-19 C. That Blood salvation is contacted in the waters of baptism. 1. Col. 1:14, 2:12-13, 1Peter 3:18-21 VI. “YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN HEARTFELT RELIGION.” A. Stock answer: “If I get a feeling in my heart, I would go to a doctor,” Or, “Salvation has nothing to do with a feeling in your heart.” 1. And some of members of the church believe that! I believe that a Christian who says that he didn’t feel anything in his heart when he was converted had better re-examine himself. B. Conversion begins in the heart - Rom. 2:28-29, 6:17 1. The heart thinks: Matt. 9:4 - “Why think ye evil in your hearts?” 2. The heart understands: Acts 28:27 - must come before conversion. 3. The heart believes: Rom. 10:10 - “For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness.” 4. The heart loves: Matt. 22:37 -“love God with all of your heart” 5. Salvation must begin with a heart that feels remorse for sin and a longing for release from it. C. Seems like a lot of activity going on in the heart. Too much for us to be saying that a feeling in the heart has nothing to do with salvation. D. I submit that one who did not feel these things when he was converted had better re-examine his heart and present standing before God. 1. Mechanically practicing salvation avails as much as the mechanical service of the prayer wheel. Conclusion: A. Are you part of the body of the saved; the sect that is everywhere spoken against? 1. I ask you to examine the church with which you worship in the light of God’s revealed word. If it differs from the church Christ purchased with His blood and governs with His word, then it and all of its members will stand condemned before God on Judgment Day. 2. Matt. 15:13 – “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.” B. Are you a member of the one true church? Is your heart right with God?