Garden City Church of Christ - CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?

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CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?
1. This is an age of indifference to spiritual ideas.
  1. More interested in going to the moon -- than heaven.
  2. Bible no longer gets daily reading -- but a weekly dusting.
  3. More unblievers in places of spiritual influence than believers.
  4. Everyone has got an opinion -- closest they have been is a funeral or court!
2. We cannot seperate Christianity and common sense.
  1. "One church as good as another" -- that blames God for confusion.
  2. "All headed to same place" -- true of buses with same schedule of rules.
  3. "Right if you think it is right" -- then 9x9=80.
  4. "Nothing in a name" -- so you're married to Jezebel?
3. Jesus intended religion to be practical -- and -- appeal to good common sense, Mt. 7:24-27; Jn. 14:15.
4. In answer to question do you say -- "yes", "no".. "I'm undecided-"
1. Modern Excuses That Undermine The Importance Of The Church.
  1. "People lived and died before it was established."
    1. Judged by law they lived under -- Rom. 2:12; Tit. 2:12
  2. "Excludes Death-bed Repentance"
    1. If there is such, special not revealed salvation, therefore outside relm of gospe preaching and promises. II Cor. 7:10
  3. "What if heard in a desert -- no water". What if died having never heard, blame God!
  4. What about original sin?" How can an infant have knowledge of law -- Rom. 4:14; 5:13; Ezek. 18:19-20.
  5. "There is an intermediate world where another chance given."
    Purgatory good for business -- it is not Bible."
2. Definition of Terms
  1. "Church" - Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; Acts 20:28; Acts 2:47; Eph. 2:16-19; 5:22-26.
  2. Christian - I Cor. 12:13; I Pet. 2:9; Gal. 3:26,27.
  3. What is the difference between "Salvation and Church membership?"
    1. Same operation of God - Acts 2:47.
    2. Could be no Christians outside the church.
3. All of God's Children Are In God's Family.
  1. Process - Adoption - Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:15-17; Eph. 2:19-22.
    1. Adopted child gets: Inheritance, name, parent.
    2. We (Christians): -- Inheritance, name, parent.
    3. Same: Salvation, Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification.
  2. How did process of adoption come about?
    1. God planned - Eph. 1:3-5 (Classes, not individuals).
    2. Son purchased - I Pet. 1:18-21.
    3. Holy Spirit revealed - Jn. 16:7-13.
    4. Man obeys - Eph. 1:13; 4:30
  3. What must man do to come into God's Family? Jn. 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26, 27.
  4. Results of Adoption:
    1. Relationship: Mt. 28:19; Eph. 2:19,20; #eb. 12:22-24.
    2. Name - Isa. 62:2; Acts 22:16.
    3. Priviledges - Jn. 14:6, 14.
    4. Help - I Tim. 2:5; Rom. 8:26.
    5. Inheritance - Jn. 1:1 - -
4. THE CHURCH THAT OBSERVES THE GOD APPOINTED DAY
  1. One day in the New Testament is called "The Lord's Day."
    1. The day of victory over the grave - Ek. 16:1.
    2. The day of the giving of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:1.
    3. The day the church began - Acts 2:41-
  2. Two things to be done only on the first day of the weeke
    1. Breaking of bread - I Cor. 11:24-25; Acts 20:7.
    2. Laying by in store - I Cor. 16:1-2.
    3. No example of a Christian gathering on any other day!
  3. Other items of Christian worship:
    1. Congregational singing - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
    2. Prayer - Acts 2:42.
    3. Teaching - Acts 2:42.
5. THE CHURCH THAT PROCLAIMS HIS DIVINE PLAN OF SALVATION
  1. No one joined the N. T. Church - Acts 2:47.
    1. The Word was proclaimed.
    2. Obedience resulted in salvation - church membership - I Cor. 12:13, Acts 2:47.
  2. Today there are any number of "plans" preached.
    1. One would exclude the other if true.
    2. It may be too simple for some to say "just one" - Eph. 4:4-6.
  3. There are six steps to be taken to be saved.
    1. Hear - Rom. 10:13-17; Acts 2:37; Acts 18:8.
    2. Believe - Mk. 16:16; Acts 16:31; Acts 18:8.
    3. Repent - Acts 17:30,31; Acts 2:38; Lk. 13:3.
    4. Confess - Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38.
    5. Baptism (Immersion) Mt. 26:20; I Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38; Col. 2:12.
    6. Life of faithfulness - Rev. 2:10; II Pet, 1:7-11.
1. God is satisfied with nothing less-than-a full surrender to Him
  1. A Church that is 1-2 right is not all right.
  2. Substitutions are not acceptable - Mt. 15:9-
2. What is wrong with the N.T. way?
3. Can you see anything wrong with the Church we have described today?
  (Review five points)
4. If nothing wrong - why not let Christ add you today.
5. If you are not doing what Christ wants you to do -- if you are not where Christ wants you to be -- then come to Him now!

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CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?