I recently read some of the topic about the `Church floundering.` However this is man`s organisations, it is not the correct view of what the Lord has been doing over the centuries and across the world. Here is my understanding, and hope that it clears up the understanding of the Lord`s great work.
The Apostle Paul warned -
`For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 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...` (Acts 20: 27 - 31)
Thus we see that for over 2000 years the Body of Christ has been battling against Satan and his demons, who have tried to stop the believers and the whole Body of Christ coming to maturity in Christ. The early believers were tested as to false teaching and this has continued to our day. However the Holy Spirit has continually moved upon people guiding the Body of Christ into all truth, just as the Lord said.
`However when He the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth.` (John 16: 13)
Here is a summary of the main truths, then the errors that came in and finally the restoring of those truths through the centuries.
Ministry gifts (Eph. 4: 11) - Bishops were substituted. (AD 110)
Holy Spirit infilling and gifts - Formalisation of worship. (3rd C)
Holiness - Amalgamation of Church and State. (AD 323)
Baptism for believers - Infant Sprinkling. (6th C)
Justification by Faith - Penance Indulgence. (AD 1063 / Dark Ages)
Reformation, Lutheran - Justification by Faith. (1517)
Baptist - Full Immersion. (1608)
Methodist - Holiness. (1738)
Pentecostal - Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1906)
Apostolic - Christ`s ministries (Eph. 4: 11) (1916) & the Eternal Purposes.
Christ`s ministries, (apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, evangelist) develop the believers and the whole Body into spiritual maturity and understanding. They stimulate the perfecting of the `Christ life` and promote the function and ministry of each member in the Body.
When Christ ascended `He gave some (people) to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ,
Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ......may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.` (Eph. 4: 11 - 15)
The Apostle Paul warned -
`For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 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...` (Acts 20: 27 - 31)
Thus we see that for over 2000 years the Body of Christ has been battling against Satan and his demons, who have tried to stop the believers and the whole Body of Christ coming to maturity in Christ. The early believers were tested as to false teaching and this has continued to our day. However the Holy Spirit has continually moved upon people guiding the Body of Christ into all truth, just as the Lord said.
`However when He the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth.` (John 16: 13)
Here is a summary of the main truths, then the errors that came in and finally the restoring of those truths through the centuries.
Ministry gifts (Eph. 4: 11) - Bishops were substituted. (AD 110)
Holy Spirit infilling and gifts - Formalisation of worship. (3rd C)
Holiness - Amalgamation of Church and State. (AD 323)
Baptism for believers - Infant Sprinkling. (6th C)
Justification by Faith - Penance Indulgence. (AD 1063 / Dark Ages)
Reformation, Lutheran - Justification by Faith. (1517)
Baptist - Full Immersion. (1608)
Methodist - Holiness. (1738)
Pentecostal - Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1906)
Apostolic - Christ`s ministries (Eph. 4: 11) (1916) & the Eternal Purposes.
Christ`s ministries, (apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, evangelist) develop the believers and the whole Body into spiritual maturity and understanding. They stimulate the perfecting of the `Christ life` and promote the function and ministry of each member in the Body.
When Christ ascended `He gave some (people) to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ,
Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ......may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.` (Eph. 4: 11 - 15)