Maintaining Our
Unique Identity
“I AM STILL WORKING ON MEMBERS THAT
HOLD A TRADITIONAL VEIW.” WES CLAIBORN
• The strength of the church (“called out”) has
always rested upon its unique identity and
distinction from:
– The world (2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,)
– Religious groups (Mt. 15:8-9)
• Each faithful member is responsible to uphold the
distinct character of the Lord’s church .
– A local church can loose its uniqueness by adapting
human names, creeds, practices and organizations.
Key Issue:
With so many cults, sects and
denominations (division) in religion,
how can we determine which is the
New Testament church?
What are the dangers and remedies
for maintaining our unique identity?
How is the church measured?
• Re. 11:1 – Measuring the church, the alter
and worshippers.
• The temple of God (church) is measured by:
– It’s origin – Da. 2:44; Mt. 16:18; Ac. 2
– It’s foundation – Isa. 28:16; Mt. 16:18; I Co. 3:11;
Ep. 2:20
– It’s organization – Ph. 1:1; Ac. 20:28; I Tm. 3:8-13;
Ep. 3:21; 4:11-16
– It’s name (universal/local) – Hb. 12:23; Ro. 16:16
– Laws of admission such as faith (Hb. 11:6),
repentance (Ac. 17:30), confession (Ro. 10:9-10),
baptism (Ga. 3:27), conversion examples (Acts)
How is worship measured?
Identifying marks (Col 3:17, Jn
4:24)
–Apostles doctrine (Ac. 2:42)
–Prayer (I Tm. 2:8) pray to Mary
–Kind of music (Ep. 5:19; Hb. 13:15)
–Lord’s Supper (Ac 20:7)once a year
–Plan of raising money (I Co. 16:1-2;
II Co. 8-9) bake sale, rental property
How are worshippers
measured?
• The worshippers - “them that worship
therein” are measured by:
– Name: saints, elect, sons, children, etc.
• Christian (Ac. 11:26): ian = “belonging to”
– Character: holy priesthood (I Pt. 2:5),
obedience to God (I Jh. 5:3), kind, patient,
longsuffering with one another (Ep. 4:2)
• Right Attitude according to truth (Jh. 4:23-24)
• If we are right in these things, then we
can’t be the wrong church.
Key Issue:
What are the dangers
and remedies for
maintaining our
unique identity?
Dangers
• Modernism (II Tm. 4:1-4)
– Common among denominations (i.e.
social, M&D, gays, deny hell)
– The devil employs governments,
educators, and religionists to destroy the
fundamentals of the Bible (i.e. virgin birth,
inspiration of the Bible, evolution, etc.).
The Gospel is not modern! It’s ancient
!
• Sectarianism (I Co. 1:10-13)
–What is a sect? Who or what is
sectarian?
• Loyalty to man or a group (Martin
Luther / Lutherans).
–Church creeds fuel religious
division.
–Religious division is over human
opinions and doctrines, not over
what the Bible teaches (Mt. 15:89).
–Jesus prayer and plea is for unity,
not division (Jh. 17).
Dangers
• Calvinism
– Includes all the false tenets of John Calvin
and adapting any or all of them.
• Westminister Confession of Faith is used by
many denominations and contains the tenets of
Calvinism.
– Many religious groups teach aspects of
Calvinism or “The deadly TULIP.”
– BEWARE: Many members of the church
came out of denominationalism. Aspects of
Calvinism have impacted the Lord’s Church!
(i.e. once saved, always saved, Rev. 2-3)
The TULIP - “Domino Theory”
Description
Summary
Definition
T
Total hereditary Inherited Sin
depravity
Babies inherit the sin of Adam and are totally
depraved and therefore unable to respond to
the gospel message of Christ.
U
Unconditional
election
Predestination
God had a master list of those who will be
saved and those who will go to hell before
creation in Gen 1:1. The list is unchangeable.
L
Limited
atonement
Christ didn't
die for all
mankind
Christ did not die for all men but only those on
the "saved list"
I
Irresistible
grace
Feelings you
are saved
God sends the Holy Spirit only those on the
saved list which removes their depraved
nature inherited from Adam and creates within
them a saving faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit
thereafter guides them directly to understand
and correctly interpret the Bible.
P
Perseverance
of the saints
Once Saved
always saved
A child of God once saved, cannot be lost.
Dangers
• Lose sight for our distinctive pleas
(I Pt. 4:11)
– How can we plea, if we are ignorant of
the oracles?
– Our plea is to restore New Testament
Christianity.
• If we practice the same things, then we will
be the New Testament Church (Lk. 8:11;
Jh. 17:17; I Tm. 3:15).
– Our plea is, “To speak where the Bible
speaks and to keep silent where it is
silent.”
INHERITED MEMBERSHIP
– We should raise children properly
(Ep. 6:4). We must impart knowledge
which produces conviction.
– We must be concerned about 1st and
2nd generation Christians (Ph. 3:1-6)
and growth by member moves.
– Many people’s faith is based on what
their parents or others taught, and
may not be the truth.
– We follow God, man or self.
Dangers
• Worldliness in the church (Ro. 12) HATE EVIL
LOVE GOOD
– We must adhere to the standard in Ro. 12 or the
standard of the world (I Co. 5).
– “…the worry of the world, and deceitfulness of riches
choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful…” (Mt. 13:22).
• Tendencies toward compromise (Hb. 2:1-3; Jude
3)
– Lack of personal courage – “Contend earnestly for the
faith.”
– Compromise looks like hypocrisy - Peter (Ga. 2:11-15).
– Many modify the truth in order to protect others feelings
in order to be considered popular.
• Lack of personal consecration (II Tm. 2:2;
Ga. 2:19)
– Preaching canned sermons
– Laziness of Bible class teachers and
students
– Not teaching others by word or example
– Only study and read the Bible at church
services (i.e. 3x a week).
– All of our time & money is spent on
recreation, movies, TV, friends, etc. and not
spiritual things.
– Unwilling to make necessary sacrifices
Remedies
• Maintain our identity of separation (II Co. 6:17; Mt.
5:20) – How?
– In Speech: Speak where the Bible speaks (I Pt. 4:11)
– In Doctrine: Sound Doctrine (Ac. 2:42; Ti. 2:1)
– In Work, Worship and Organization (Jh. 4:24; Ph. 1:1)
• Maintain our identity of warfare (II Co. 10:4-5)
– Case Studies: Paul, Peter, Stephen
– “Is there not a cause?” (I Sm. 17:29)
– We must take a stand against sin, and false teachers
and false doctrines (Ep. 6:10-17).
Remedies
• Maintain our identity of sound preaching
– Paul’s example (Ac. 20:26-27)
– Not preaching truth for fear of driving away visitors. We must
“speak the truth in love” (Ep. 4:15).
– We should use the pulpit and classes to expose false
doctrines of various denominations, popular social practices
(i.e. immodest dress, drinking, M & D, gambling, etc.)
– We must preach and teach the whole counsel of God such
as the fruit of the spirit and the condemning the works of the
flesh (Ga. 5:19-23).
– We should be concerned about preaching the truth and less
concerned about whether someone judges the message
negative or positive. “Preach the word!”
– Sometimes “speaking the truth in love” hurts - "You are
seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth." (Jh
8:40; Ep. 4:16)
Final Thoughts
• Maintaining our unique identity requires:
– Conforming to the pattern of the work, worship and
organization of the New Testament church.
– Prevent dangers by maintaining separation, warfare
and sound doctrine.
• The church is a divine organization built by
a divine pattern which must not be
corrupted.
– We are laborers together with God (I Co. 3:9)
– Everyone must take heed how they build (I Co.
3:10)
– Don’t defile the temple of God (I Co. 3:17)
• What are we doing to help maintain the
unique identity of the church?