THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION

 

Chapter 30

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When is a Church Not of The Church?

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Text

Matt. 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 

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You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

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A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

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Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

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Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practise lawlessness!’”

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2 Cor. 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

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Rev. 2:1-3:22

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The Loveless Church

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against 

you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

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The Persecuted Church

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

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The Compromising Church

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

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The Corrupt Church

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 

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I know your works, love service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,  to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

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Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

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The Dead Church

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

 

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

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The Faithful Church

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:

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I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

 

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 

 

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

 

The Lukewarm Church

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because 

you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

 

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

 

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

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Acts 20:28-31 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to 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. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

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​​Memory Verse

2 Cor. 6:17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Introduction

People are leaving churches gatherings and asking, “Was that ever a church at all?” That is a painful question, but it is biblical. Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing. Paul warned elders about savage wolves coming in after he left. Revelation shows Jesus Himself evaluating churches and telling some to repent or be removed. We need a framework that is based not on vibes, but on Scripture.

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Objective

To give biblical criteria for recognizing when a gathering has ceased to function as Christ’s church, and to show how to respond faithfully without becoming cynical or isolated.

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Presentation

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1. What Makes a Gathering a Church

 

(1) Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22-23).

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(2) The gospel is preached and believed (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

 

(3) The Word is taught, sacraments are observed, discipline is practised (Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 5).

 

(4) Love and holiness mark the people (John 13:35, Heb. 12:14).

 

2. Red Flags: When a Gathering Has Ceased to Be a Church

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(1) Denial of the gospel: A different Jesus, a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9, 2 Cor. 11:4).

 

(2) Moral and doctrinal corruption: tolerating sin without discipline (1 Cor. 5:1-2, Rev. 2:20).

 

(3) Idolatry and syncretism: mixing worship of God with other powers or ideologies (Rev. 2:14, 20).

 

(4) Abuse of authority: shepherds who fleece the flock and will not be accountable (Eze. 34, Acts 20:29-30).

 

3. What “Fleeing” Looks Like Biblically

 

(1) It is not a casual reaction to offence. It is a separation from what God calls unclean (2 Cor. 6:17-18).

 

(2) Jesus told the church in Pergamum to repent; to Thyatira He said “I will throw her [Jezebel] onto a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent.” (Rev. 2:16, 22)

 

(3) Sometimes you stay and contend (Jude 3). Sometimes you leave and find faithful fellowship.

 

(4) Leaving does not mean leaving Christ. It means refusing to stay where He is being misrepresented.

 

4. How to Leave Well and Rebuild Well

 

(1) Leave without bitterness. Keep praying for the people you leave (Rom. 12:14).

 

(2) Seek a body that holds to the gospel, practises the Word, and walks in holiness.

 

(3) If none exists, be willing to gather with two or three around Christ (Matt. 18:20). The church is people, not a building.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. Name two biblical marks of a true church.

   • The gospel is preached and believed – Christ crucified and risen (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

   • The Word is taught, discipline is practised, and holiness is pursued (Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 5, Heb. 12:14).

2. What are two red flags that a gathering has ceased to be a church?

   • Denial of the gospel: preaching a different Jesus or a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9, 2 Cor. 11:4).

   • Tolerating sin and idolatry without discipline: as with the church in Thyatira, tolerating Jezebel (Rev. 2:20), and the church in Corinth, tolerating sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:1-2).

3. Is “fleeing” always the first response? What does Rev. 2-3 show us?

   • No. In Rev 2-3, Jesus tells Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira to repent first. He only threatens to remove the lampstand from Ephesus and to war against Pergamum / Thyatira if they do not repent.

   • The pattern is: call to repentance, then separation if there is no repentance. Fleeing is for when the gathering has abandoned the gospel or become idolatrous.

4. How can someone leave a church without becoming bitter or isolated?

   • Leave without bitterness by praying for the people you leave and refusing to slander them (Rom. 12:14).

   • Seek faithful fellowship that holds to the gospel and holiness.

   • If no such church exists locally, gather with two or three around Christ (Matt. 18:20). The church is people, not a building. Keep connected to the body of Christ so that you do not become isolated and cynical.

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​​Prayer

Lord, give me eyes to discern and a heart that loves Your church. Keep me from staying where Your truth is denied, and from leaving out of pride. Lead me to a body where You are honoured, or give me grace to help build one. Amen.