320 – The Counterfeiting of the Church

SEMESTER 2

320 – The Counterfeiting of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY II LESSON # 20
THE COUNTERFEITING OF THE CHURCH

Read carefully Acts 19:13-17, Acts 8:9-25, Heb. 5:1-4.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Satan, as mentioned in the previous lesson, is the great counter­feiter.

i. He spoke as if for man’s benefit in the garden.
ii. His magicians duplicated Moses in Egypt.
iii. He has mocked the New Testament Church in areas of spiritual gifts.

2. It has pleased God to permit this, without explaining it to us.
3. God has also told us to try the spirits to discern the real from the counterfeit. (I Jn. 4:1)

I. THE EXCLUSIVENESS OF THE CHURCH

1. If God has given us no particular format for evangelism, then we may exercise latitude.
2. God has, however, given us a means, a method and an or­ganization.
3. He has given us no other, thus we conclude that the church is exclusive. (Mat. 16:18)
4. Remember that by church I mean the local assemblies of the called out, bound together in biblical covenant and New Testament doctrine and practice. They are:

i. The designated place of worship. (Eph. 3:21)
ii. The pillar and ground of truth. (I Tim. 3:15)
iii. God’s ordained agency of evangelism. (Eph. 5:23-27)

II. THE COUNTERFEITS OF THE CHURCH

1. The Universal Theory applied.

i. Person who serves, but not in “organized religion.”

III: The growing idea of study, worship and teaching family only.

ii. The “Electric Church” evangelists and hucksters.
iii. The religious clubs for evangelism, such as:

a) Youth for Christ (Campus Crusade).
b) Evangelistic associations
c) Navigators, Gideons, etc.
d) Free-lance radio ministries.
e) Non-church affiliated Bible study and prayer groups.

2. The organizations for evangelism, with “church delegated authority.”

i. They start out to serve, but end up being served.
ii. The mere growth of them compromises, and pollutes them.

3. Unions, societies and fellowships within the church.

i. These frequently become a church within the church.
ii. They indirectly operate the church.

4. Home Bible study and prayer groups which circumvent church leadership.

III. THE EFFECTS OF THIS COUNTERFEITING

1. It robs God of glory in the church.
2. It removes human loyalty from the church.
3. It usurps the authority given to the church.
4. It erodes the doctrine of the church.
5. It impairs right development of new disciples.
6. It perverts the ordinances of the church.
7. It frustrates divinely ordained chains of leadership.
8. It drains the finances of the church.
9. It causes trouble and division in the church.

IV. THE ONLY FORTIFICATION AGAINST CHURCH COUNTERFEITS.

1. Settle in your mind what the church is.
2. Realize that God ordained it and it alone to do His work.
3. Find and affiliate with a church of sound doctrine and practice. (You will not find a perfect one.)
4. Do all your giving, serving and evangelizing through that church.
5. Pastors, promote and zealously guard the Lord’s church.