The church by the end of the apostles and prophets of the 1st century was exactly like God in Christ wanted it to be. We find that by the death of the apostles and prophets of the 1st century, all things that pertain to life and godliness was given to us, was written down, and we today when we read what they wrote, we know what they knew. Thus when we look at apostasies we look at departures from truth. Throughout the years from Pentecost, 33 AD, following the death burial and resurrection of Christ the faithful saints have always existed on earth. They were not the most influential and are they were (are) not the largest group, but they always existed. Keep in mind the dates of these apostasies may vary slightly depending on the historian that you choose to follow.

Sin is sin, false teaching is false teaching. It does not matter if it developed like in 154 A.D. with baptism for the dead or you go to 1870 and discuss the infallibility of the Pope, false teaching is false teaching. Just a sampling from the list in V. Glenn McCoy’s book “Return To The Old Paths”, pp. 16-9 are:
1. Distinction made between elders – A.D. 150.
2. Baptism for the dead – A.D. 154.
3. Prayers for the dead – A.D. 300.
4. Sign of the cross was practiced – A.D. 300.
5. Lighting of candles instead of individual prayers – A.D. 320.
6. The Lord’s Supper was changed into a mass and celebrated daily – A.D. 394.
7. The phrase “Mother of God” was applied to Mary by the council meeting at Ephesus.
8. Extreme unction (anointing of the newly dead or those about to die) – A.D. 526.
9. The actual formal establishment of the doctrine of purgatory (a second chance for dead sinners from which one could escape through money paid to priests who, offer prayers for them) by Gregory I – A.D. 593.
10. Latin became the official language for prayer and worship, imposed by Gregory I – A.D. 600.
11. Near deification of Mary as “queen of heaven.” Prayers made to Mary, dead saints, angels imposed by Gregory I – A.D. 600.
12. The title “pope” or “universal bishop” was given to Boniface III by emperor Phocas – A.D. 606.
13. Instrumental music was introduced in church worship in A.D. 670 by Pope Vitalia. However, it created such a furor that it was removed and reintroduced much later. (~900 AD)
14. Worshipping of the cross, images, and relics – A.D. 786.
15. Hagiolatry, worshipping of departed saints – A.D. 788
16. Holy water (water mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by priest) used – A.D. 850.
17. College of Cardinals established – A.D. 890.
18. Dead “saints” canonized by authority of Pope John XV – A.D. 998.
19. Rosary invented by Peter the Hermit (counting of beads in prayer).
20. The sale of indulgences in sin began in 1190. (Pope Leo X financed a good part of the building of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome by this means. This was one of the 95 points included in the thesis of Martin Luther that was nailed to the door of the Wittenberg, Germany church in A.D. 1517.)
21. Confession of sins to the priest for the purpose of forgiveness of sins (auricular confession) was imposed by Pope Innocent III – A.D. 1215.
22. Sprinkling was approved for baptism by Council of Ravenna – A.D. 1311.
23. Tradition was declared by the Council of Trent to be equal in authority with the Bible – A.D. 1545.
24. Infallibility of the Pope – A.D. 1870

The definition of apostasy is people changing what God has given in the Scriptures. If you change one element of the church, if you change any part of that once delivered faith, then you are no longer a part of the church, that organization that was blood bought by Christ. He is the head of the church, He is still the head of the church, and He will always be that the head of the church. Nothing has changed.

The teachings we have today are the teachings that were practiced in the 1st century. When you worship with the Lord’s church and you sing without mechanical instruments, you pray, you give, you participate in the Lord’s Supper, and you listen to exhortations from the Word of God, you are doing exactly what they did in the 1st century. It doesn’t need to be changed, it doesn’t need to be altered, it cannot be made better. To begin to move from the truth of God’s Word, brings further and further movement away from the truth.

-Jerry D. Sturgill

In 2 Samuel 7, we learn that David wanted to build a temple to God, but the Lord gave that privilege to his son instead. David then made preparations for the building of the temple while he was reigning so that his son Solomon would build the temple when he took the throne. Toward the end of his reign in 1 Chronicles 29:1-9, David gave the final provisions for the building of the temple before he would die (1 Chronicles 29:28 says he died in a good old age). There are spiritual principles even in this preparation for the Old Testament temple that we can apply today in the church, the New Testament temple (1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:21).

What the Jews often cherished about the temple was its grandeur and splendor. Even in the first century AD, when the temple was rebuilt under Herod’s reign, the disciples of Jesus wanted to show Him the buildings of the temple complex (Matthew 24:1). As some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with magnificent stones and offerings (Luke 21:5). But those physical features were not what really made the temple of great value. The value of the temple was that God manifested His presence there. Solomon recognized when he built it that it could not contain God (1 Kings 8:27); nothing on earth can, but, nevertheless, the glory of the Lord filled the temple, as a demonstration of His presence (1 Kings 8:10-11). There are some fine people in the Lord’s church, but what makes the Lord’s church so precious is God’s presence among His people. The reason God’s people are holy is because they belong to the Holy God. 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” The Old Testament temple was built for Israel to have fellowship with God. The reason Jesus Christ built the church is so that men might have fellowship with God in the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16).

 
In accordance with this truth, David realized in the long ago that his preparation for the Lord’s temple was not work that he was doing for man, but for God. In 1 Chronicles 29:1, he said, “for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.” That fact made all the difference for David in the importance of building the temple. Because he was preparing a place for God, David said, “I have prepared with all my might…” (1 Chronicles 29:2). Do we in the church prepare with all our might to worship, to serve, to evangelize? There are examples all about us of people who give all their might to climb the corporate ladder, win a championship in sports, or accomplish any number of earthly achievements. Shouldn’t we have at least that level of energy and zeal when it comes to working in the Lord’s church? 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

 
David was willing to sacrifice himself for the temple. 1 Chronicles 29:3 indicates that not only did he give of the king’s treasury for the work, but also of his own private treasure. 1 Chronicles 29:5-9 reveals how that the chief men followed David’s example and gave willingly. When we give of our money, time, talents, and energy to the Lord, do we do it willingly and happily? There is no greater joy than to serve the Lord out of a willing heart.

 
As the church we are part of a greater temple than David ever knew in his time. Let’s mimic his example and enthusiasm for preparing to build the temple of the Lord.

-by Mark Day

When Paul arrived at Athens, he was moved by the pervasive idolatry in the city (Acts 17:16). He began to dispute with philosophers and idolaters that filled Athens and was even brought by them to the Areopagus in order to hear this “new doctrine” he was teaching (Acts 17:18-19). Now how was Paul going to present the gospel to these Athenians? Would he quote the Old Testament and appeal to Jesus’ fulfillment of the prophecies as he did in Antioch of Pisidia in Acts 13:16-41? No. These Athenians had little if any knowledge of the Old Testament, and did not have the proper concept of the true God. Thus we find Paul establishing some more basic truths in his sermon in Acts 17.
 

Paul first combated the prevailing belief of pantheism among his audience. Pantheism is the belief that the world is deity. Paul shows how God is the creator of the world and all things therein, but is also distinct from the world (Acts 17:24). Next, Paul countered the assumption that deity is limited to a certain locale and has human-like needs. God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24). As Solomon recognized when the temple was built, nothing in this world can contain God because He is everywhere (1 Kings 8:27). God also does not need anything from mankind to continue to prosper, but instead is the sustainer of all things (Acts 17:25). God is self-existent and can live independently of all other beings; we, on the other hand, are completely dependent on Him.
 
After establishing some truths about God, Paul teaches the Athenians some truths about man. Contrary to the beliefs of many throughout history, the different ethnic groups that exist in the world do not have varying values. They did not come into being from different sources, but are all of one blood (Acts 17:26). Thus, the message of salvation is for all nations who inhabit the earth.
 
As a balance to the truth that God is distinct from the world, Paul goes on to point out that God desires men to seek Him. Contrary to many of the philosophers in Athens who believed in an impersonal God, Paul taught the truth that God, while being transcendent of the world, also desired personal involvement with His creatures. Thus, he declared the reason for our lives on this earth is that we should seek the Lord, who is distinct from the world, but not so distant that He cannot be reached (Acts 17:27). Paul even used the words of Cleanthes, a Stoic, who acknowledged that man is the offspring of God, to hammer home the acknowledged truth of God’s operating within the universe (Acts 17:28).
 
In conclusion, Paul shows that the above truths make idolatry wrong (Acts 17:29). Thus, he pleads with the Athenians to give up these practices, which are offensive to the true God, and turn to Him (Acts 17:30). It is only at the end of establishing these truths that Paul mentions the resurrection of Christ, which is fundamental to the gospel message (Acts 17:31).
 
In twenty-first century America, we cannot assume that those outside of Christ have biblical notions of God. Like the Athenians, many Americans may have never heard the most basic concepts of Christianity, and to them these truths may be considered “new doctrine” (Acts 17:19). As laborers for the harvest (Luke 10:2), we should be prepared to meet people where they are like Paul did with the Athenians. Are you ready to talk to people about moral absolutes, the exclusivity of truth, the nature of God, the concept of holiness, the definition of sin, the certainty of an afterlife, and many other issues that we often assume people understand? Let’s make sure people understand these concepts when we evangelize.
 
–Mark Day

Ephesians 1:3 declares that all spiritual blessings are found in Christ. To be in the proper location in regard to Christ is of supreme importance. What the religious world needs to continue to hear from us is the truth of how to get into Christ. There are many people that may engage in religious activities, but have never been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27). Because they are not in Christ, they are not in His body of saved people, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). They are outside of all the spiritual blessings that are found in the location of Christ; therefore, if they do not change their location, they will be lost, even if they have done many religiously oriented activities (Matthew 7:21-23).

Tantamount to the importance of location in regard to Christ is one’s character in regard to Christ. Unfortunately, we have all met people who have been baptized into Christ, in the proper location, but who have not developed the proper Christ-like disposition. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). This gives both location – “Abide in me,” and disposition – “I in you.” Perhaps we have a problem with our concept of the church in that we only think of it in terms of location. We tend to think of it only in terms of a static realm in which we are placed. Though it is true that when we are baptized into Christ, we are translated into the realm of the kingdom of light, the church (Colossians 1:13), we should get more out of the concept of “in Christ” than merely location. The church as the body of Christ embodies His love (Ephesians 4:15-16). That requires more than the right location; it requires the right motivation.

 
To be in Christ means to live in Him day by day. We must be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We must have the mind of Christ in us, exhibiting humility and service as He did (Philippians 2:5-8). We ought to trust fully in the operation of God when we are baptized that God fully puts off the sins of our flesh (Colossians 2:11-12). But we cannot have the concept that our duty is done at this point. If we are to please God, we cannot live today on the spiritual capital of yesterday. As Paul did, we must “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). We are in Christ, but we must endeavor to make sure we put Christ in us by putting His word into practice in our lives and letting it mold our hearts (Colossians 3:16).

–Mark Day

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Q.

What did the apostle Paul mean by the statement, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say…” (1 Corinthians 7:12)? Does this phrase indicate that what Paul subsequently wrote was uninspired?

A.

Considering how many times Paul claimed to write and preach by inspiration of God, it is irresponsible to conclude that he was denying inspiration when addressing marriages between Christians and non-Christians (1 Corinthians 7:12-16). Earlier in this letter, Paul noted that while in Corinth, his preaching was “not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (2:4-5). Paul contrasted human wisdom with the wisdom and power of God, and declared that he had the latter. Later, in this same epistle, Paul wrote: “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (14:37, emp. added; cf. 7:40). Paul also claimed inspiration in his other epistles (Galatians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:8,15). Even Peter alluded to Paul’s writings as being a part of Scripture, and thus inspired (2 Peter 3:15-16).

When Paul wrote that he (rather than the Lord) was addressing a particular marriage relationship, he did not mean that he was speaking without authority from God. He simply meant that he was making application of marital truths that the Lord did not specifically expound upon while on Earth. Jesus most certainly was the Master Teacher (cf. Matthew 7:28-29; John 7:46), but He obviously did not specifically address every subject under the Sun. Thankfully, through His inspired apostles and prophets, more specific truths and applications eventually were revealed. Christians have every reason to believe that such truths originated with “the Spirit of truth,” Who guided Paul and the rest of the Bible writers “into all truth” (John 16:13).

Originally published by Apologetics Press.