The Roman Church, the Protestant Reformation & The Restoration Movement

The history of man shows he soon departs from God’s way.

Adam and Eve departed from God’s way. Cain departed by killing Abel. The
whole earth departed bringing on the flood. Man built the tower of Babel in
departing and universally man rapidly fell into idolatry cf: Romans 1:18ff.
Abraham was called of God and was willing to walk in God’s way, his son Isaac
remained faithful and Jacob became faithful.
Moses was willing to walk in God’s way. After being faithful for a short period of
time under Joshua, Israel fell away during the period of the Judges and remained
mostly idolatrous and wicked during its entire history. God raised them up
prophets and them they persecuted and killed.
Finally God sent forth His Son saying surely: “they will reverence My Son.”
Matthew 21:33ff. Him they slew and hanged upon a tree but God raised Him up
and established His Church just exactly like He wanted it established. The
Church is the ‘manifold wisdom of God” cf:

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

and His “eternal purpose” cf:

Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ

Jesus our Lord:

this is a plan from before the foundation of the world cf:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it
shall stand for ever.

The first departure in the history of the church was how Churches were governed.
God’s plan was for autonomous self-governing congregations cf;

Scripture also teaches that a plurality of elders/bishops/shepherds/pastors

presbyters/overseers have oversight of local congregations. I Timothy 3:1ff &
Titus 1:5ff. Until congregations are set in order and elders are ordained the
evangelist has responsibility and oversight of the local congregation.

Titus 1: 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the
things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee

By 150AD men began to designate 1 man as a bishop & he was over an area of
several churches called a diocese. Acts 20:28-30, I Peter 5:1-4 & Hebrews 13:17.

The Roman Emperor Constantine ended the last great persecution in 312 AD &
called a Church council at Nicaea (Ni-SEE-a) in 325 AD.
Bishops then adopted the first man-made creed called the Nicene (ni-SCENE)
Creed.

The criticism we make is directed toward the leadership of the Roman Church
and we do not judge the salvation of those poor souls who are doing their best to
find God and have been taught wrong for over 1,500 years.

We date the Catholic Church from 606AD When Boniface III took the title of Pope
(pappas) or Universal Bishop of Roman Catholic Church. This is in spite of Christ
being the Head of the Body, the Church cf:

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

Jesus called the Church “my church”

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We worship at a Blood Bought Church cf:

Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them.

II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also
II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Roman Church made laws such as: Latin to be only language of scriptures
and the common man was denied the scriptures in his own language.

Church History-The Great falling away:

Call no man Father cf:

Matthew 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father,
which is in heaven.

Saved by grace not works cf:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
[it is] the gift of God:

Mary is not a mediator between God & man cf:

I Tim 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus;

Ask in Jesus’ name not Mary’s cf:

John 16:23-26 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. 24
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your
joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time
cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you
plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto
you, that I will pray the Father for you:

“Our Father” & “Hail Mary” vain repetitions cf:

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for
they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Hell has no halfway house called Purgatory cf:

Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with
the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by
the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And
in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on
me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my
tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass
from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from
thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send
him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto
them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him,
They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay,
father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And
he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

No such thing as separate priesthood, all Christians are priests cf:

I Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Bishops must be the husband of one wife cf:

I Timothy 3:1-7 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he
desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not
covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he
take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he
fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of
them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the
things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not
accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of
God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to
filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,
temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may
be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Celibacy is a doctrine of devils cf:

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;

I Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats,

which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe
and know the truth.

The Pope by claiming to be head of the Church makes himself anti-Christ cf:

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

The Greek prefix anti means instead of or in place of & carries the idea of
substitution. Anything instead of Christ, in place of Christ or substituted for Christ
is anti-Christ. The Antichrist has been here all along cf:

I John 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that
antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know
that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if
they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went
out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

I John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know
ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

II John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Pope led great falling away & is man of sin or lawlessness cf:
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall
not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
God, shewing himself that he is God.

It takes as much power to change a law of God as it takes to enact a law of God.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned.

So to change dipping and immersing to pouring or sprinkling takes as much

power as God.

Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to
be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

It is all about authority … where do you get the authority to do and practice how
you believe and worship? The Roman church talks about a 3 leg stool, the Pope,
tradition and scripture. The pope and traditions were invented by men and their
bad translation of scripture leaves them sitting on the floor.

Rome sold indulgences and built St Peter’s Basilica making merchandise of

people’s sins cf:

II Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom
the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they
with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Greek Orthodox or Greek Catholic split from Roman Catholic in 1054 AD.
They kept many of the false doctrines of Rome except they have: No Popes,
Priests may be married, and they have a cappella singing without instruments.
 Church History, Protestant Reformation:

John Wycliffe in 1384 is credited with the first hand written translation of the
Bible into English … in fact The Bible was first translated from Jerome’s Latin
Vulgate into Old English by a few select monks and scholars many years before
Wycliffe. He died a natural death, but 44 years later the Catholic Pope Martin V
had Wycliffe’s bones dug up and burned and then scattered over the river Swift.

Rome then began to burn all the Bibles they could find. Men who begin burning
books will end up burning men. Soon after, Tyndale was burned at the stake in
1536 by the Roman church and thousands more simple Christians followed in the
Great Inquisition … where owning or reading a Bible carried a sentence of death.
* See the footnote at the end of this lesson for the sum of 35,000 who so died.

1415 - John Huss - Burned for preaching the Gospel and rejecting Rome’s views

The Lutheran Church began on the eve of the Catholic holiday “all saints day”
October 31, 1517 AD Martin Luther who was a Roman Catholic priest, nailed his
95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany showing where the 95
points of Roman doctrine conflicted with scripture. Luther was excommunicated
by the Roman Church. It was not Luther’s goal to start a new Church but rather
reform the old one. Luther was especially opposed to the sale of indulgences, but,
being educated by the Roman Catholics, he kept much of their false doctrine in
his new religion.

Lutheranism is based upon the traditions of men, not the Word of God. If you read
Luther’s Augsburg confession, you will see that he believed that God couldn’t
come to the earth as Jesus without Mary’s permission. Lutherans call Mary the
Mother of the Church, and in their sacraments and large catechism, they state
that Jesus has given her the keys to the kingdom, and they believed that Jesus
promised her the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her. Nothing in the bible
teaches the Church is our mother. God’s children are not begotten by the Church
but rather by the Word of God. cf:

I Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The Protestant Reformation did not go far enough in stamping out the wicked
man made changes of the medieval Roman Church which was the great falling
away from the faith prophesied in the Bible, cf:
II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not
come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;

Any cancer must be cut out completely, in order to save your life. Not one bit of
it can be left in you or you will die. It is the same with Romanism.
Protestantism just didn’t go far enough in cutting out every last vestige of
Romanism in which dwells the doctrines and traditions of men.

Luther taught we are justified by faith “alone”. He added the word alone to
Romans 3:28 in his translation of the New Testament.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the
deeds of the law.

James 2:20-24 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his
son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only

The Lutherans baptize by sprinkling or pouring, they say one one mode is just as
valid as another.

John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there
was much water there: and they came, and were

Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Act 8:39 And
when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away
Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing

The Lutherans baptize children and say: “Children have inherited a sinful heart
and the germ of sin in them will soon grow.”

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity
of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him

Lutherans say the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament through which forgiveness of sins
is promised. There is no such thing as sacraments this is a catholic word not
found in the Bible. Forgiveness is not through taking the Lord’s Supper.

Lutherans observe the catholic holidays of Lent and Easter. Christ gave us 52
holidays a year the 1st day of the week.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the

manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching

Act 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to
break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight.

Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do
worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day.

Throughout the age of medieval darkness God’s faithful remnant continued to

read and study the scriptures.

Elizabethan English, the English of Shakespeare developed just in time for the
publication of the scriptures in English for the common man.

Tyndale New Testament 1526-1530

William Tyndale was an English scholar who became a leading figure in
Protestant reformation in the years leading up to his execution.
He is well known for his translation of the Bible into English. He was influenced
by the work of Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in
Europe, and by Martin Luther.
A number of partial translations had been made from the seventh century onward,
but the spread of Wycliffe's Bible resulted in a death sentence for any unlicensed
possession of Scripture in English—even though translations had been
accomplished and made available in all other major European languages.

Tyndale's translation was the first English Bible to draw directly

from Hebrew and Greek texts, the first English one to take advantage of
the printing press, and first of the new English Bibles of the Reformation. It was
taken to be a direct challenge to the hegemony, or, world domination, of both the
Roman Catholic Church and the laws of England maintaining the church's
position.

Tyndale worked in an age in which Greek was available to the European scholarly
community for the first time in centuries. Erasmus compiled and edited Greek
Scriptures into the Textus Receptus—ironically, to improve upon the
Latin Vulgate—following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Constantinople's fall helped to fuel the Renaissance and led to the dispersion of
Greek-speaking intellectuals and texts into a Europe which previously had no
access to them.
A copy of The Obedience of a Christian Man fell into the hands of Henry VIII,
providing the king with the rationale to break the Church in England from the
Roman Catholic Church in 1534.

In 1535, Tyndale was arrested and jailed in the castle of Filford outside of
Brussels for over a year. In 1536, he was convicted of heresy and executed by
strangulation, after which his body was burnt at the stake. His dying prayer was
that the King of England's eyes would be opened in just two years later with
Henry's authorization of the Great Bible for the Church of England, which was
largely Tyndale's own work. Hence, the Tyndale Bible, as it was known,
continued to play a key role in spreading Reformation ideas across the English-
speaking world and, eventually, to the British Empire.

In 1611, the 54 scholars who produced the King James Bible drew significantly
from Tyndale, as well as from translations that descended from his. One estimate
suggests that the New Testament in the King James Version is 83% Tyndale's
and the Old Testament 76%.

1535 Miles Coverdale's Bible

Matthew's Bible 1537 author was:

John Rogers printed the second complete English Bible in 1537. It was, however,
the first English Bible translated from the original Biblical languages of Hebrew &
Greek. He printed it under the pseudonym "Thomas Matthew", (an assumed name
that had actually been used by Tyndale at one time) as a considerable part of this
Bible was the translation of Tyndale.

When the time came that he should be brought out of Prison to Smithfield, the
place of his execution, Woodroofe, one of the sheriffs, first came to John Rogers,
and asked him if he would revoke his abominable doctrine, and the evil opinion of
the Sacrament of the altar. Rogers answered, "That which I have preached I will
seal with my blood." Then Woodroofe said, "Thou art an heretic." Rogers replied
"That shall be known at the Day of Judgment." Woodroofe added, "I will never
pray for thee." Rogers responded "But I will pray for you.”

John Rogers awaited and met death on the 4th of February 1555 at Smithfield
cheerfully, though he was denied even a last moment with his wife. Rogers
stands as the first blood on the hands of Queen “Bloody” Mary… and the first of
hundreds more to come. The French ambassador speaks of the support given to
John Rogers by the majority of the people commenting, "even his children
assisted at it, comforting him in such a manner that it seemed as if he had been
led to a wedding rather than an execution."

The Great Bible 1539 Geneva Bible 1560-1644

The Bishops' Bible 1568
King James Version 1611
The Majority Text represents the Byzantine text-type, which was used in Eastern
Greek speaking churches and was dominant from the late middle ages onwards.

The Church of England began in 1531-1539 AD under King Henry VIII and retained
much of the Roman false teaching, pomp and ritualism. King Henry passed the
“Act of Supremacy” which made him the only supreme ruler in earth of the Church
of England”. Thus Henry became the pope of England.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Henry VIII then confiscated the wealth of the Catholic Churches amounting to
sum 38,000,000 pounds sterling.

Episcopalians say the church should be governed by one bishop who reigns over
a diocese of several local Churches. The Bible teaches that a plurality of bishops
or elders guided the local congregations established by the apostles.
Episcopalians say what the parents promise for the child at his or her baptism the
child is bound to believe and obey.

A ridiculous doctrine: every bucket will sit on its own bottom before God cf:

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity
of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him

Episcopalians say a person must obey the 10 commandments because his

parents bound it upon him at baptism as well as the apostle’s creed.

Col 2:14-17 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And
having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which
are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ

Episcopalians say infants are born in sin, inherited from their parents.

Sin is transgression of the law.

Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression.

We go astray like the prodigal son we are not born astray we are the offspring of
God.

Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think
that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's
device.

Episcopalians say Christ died to reconcile God to man. The exact opposite is true
Christ came to reconcile us to the Father

II Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit,
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
In 1540 he chained a copy of his bible to the pulpit in every Church in England.
This group has been called “the bridge Church” between Roman Catholic and
Protestants. They kept the Catholic sacraments, creeds and most of the pomp
and ceremony of the Roman Catholic Church while rejecting the pope.

In 1536, John Calvin began what became the Presbyterian & Reformed church.

1611 Our Baptist friends began in opposition to the Church of England.

Let’s be honest, the vast majority of people who call themselves Baptists do not
believe in the extreme views of Baptist & Calvinists doctrine such as once saved
always saved and predestination with no free will of choice regarding salvation.

Methodist 1739 AD John Wesley began the Methodist Church. Methodists say the
Methodist church is a Church of Christ in which the pure word of God is preached
and the sacraments duly administered.

Methodist is not in the bible.

Isaiah 62:1-2 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I
will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the
salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy
righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Act 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the
Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came
to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute
you.

All Protestant denominations are less than 500 years old.

We need to go back to the Church that we read about & is described in the Bible.
 The Restoration Movement

We all understand the meaning of restoration. To restore is to place back in the

original condition. Some like to restore antique automobiles back to their
pristine condition. Others restore antique furniture. There are technicians who
restore old oil paintings. The whole idea of restoration is to duplicate the
original. There would be no need of restoration if there had not been some type
of corruption from the original state.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for
the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for
your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Suppose the game of baseball completely vanished from the earth. Then a couple
of thousand years from now, someone discovered the rule book of baseball and
began to read and study the game. He shares his discovery with others and
following the rules of baseball they begin to play baseball. Have they established
a new game? No, they simply have restored the old game of baseball.

When one begins to practice the New Testament teaching they have not
established a new denomination, we simply have become what they became in
the beginning when they believed the word were baptized into Christ and the Lord
added to the Church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved.

Therefore, the Restoration Movement seeks to restore the original Church and
the unification of all Christians in obedience to the Lord who prayed we would be
one cf:

John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me,
and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them;
that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they
may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me,
and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
The great rallying cry of the Restoration Movement was: “We do not claim to be
the only Christians but Christians Only”
Meaning we will be called by no other name than Christians.

Unfortunately some of our forefathers began to teach we are the only Christians
and only Church of Christ members will be saved. Divorce and remarriage was
pictured as the unforgiveable sin, This and other far right very harsh, unloving,
judgmental positions exist, but: no man is the final authority who can make the
final decision on anything or anyone … only Christ will judge all souls upon that
judgment day:

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto
the Son:

Matthew 25:31-36 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him
shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his
right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I
was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me.

II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath
done, whether [it be] good or bad.

It is a natural law of gravity and motion that a pendulum pulled all the way to the
extreme right will swing all the way back to the extreme left … and unfortunately
that is where we find ourselves today with the “change movement” which is
invading the Churches of Christ.

The change movement says: “it’s all about saving souls” but the changes often
spells the ruination of some congregations.

It is division and the love of money that has made people dis-interested in hearing
about God and Christanity. Paul appealed for unity when the idea of
denominations first began.
I Corinthians 1:10-12 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them
which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now
this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of
Cephas; and I of Christ.

After all “Christian” is a new name the prophet Isaiah says will come straight
from the mouth of God:

Isaiah 62:1-2 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I
will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the
salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy
righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Act 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the
Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came
to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.

I Peter 4:16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let
him glorify God on this behalf.

After all Divine Holy Names are associated with the Church in Scripture.

I Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood.
Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute
you.

We seek to restore the church described in the bible and the unification of all
Christians in one body of Christ as the Bible describes cf:

John 17:20-22 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father,
[art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me.

in a single body cf:

Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be]
the head over all [things] to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him
that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 4:3-6 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who [is]
above all, and through all, and in you all.

We in the Restoration Movement seek to be patterned after New Testament

church.

We are neither Protestants, Catholics, nor Jews, but Christians only cf:

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto AN-ti-och. And it
came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

This movement developed from several different efforts to return to apostolic

Christianity. During the Middle Ages dissenters such as John Wycliffe and John
Huss called for restoration of the Church by return to the primitive form of
Christianity.

After all, at the heart of the Reformation Movement was the cry of (sola scriptura)
“scripture alone”.

English Puritans also sought to restore a pure “primitive” church.

Right after the American Revolution men from various backgrounds began to see
the need to reject human creeds and the doctrines and traditions of men for the
scriptures alone. In 1801 Barton W Stone began meetings at Cane Ridge,
Kentucky, and his group called themselves simply Christians cf:

I Peter 4:16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let
him glorify God on this behalf.

Another group began in Pennsylvania & West Virginia and was led by Thomas
Campbell and his son Alexander. They called themselves Disciples of Christ.
Elias Smith and James O’Kelly led similar groups. These groups sought to restore
the whole Churches of Christ on the basis of the pattern set forth in the New
Testament … after all:

II Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
[pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called
us to glory and virtue:

A great principle of the restoration movement is the silence of scripture. We

understand God often speaks with silence, therefore, Campbell said: “We speak
where the Bible speaks & are silent where the Bible is silent.” An example of
how the Bible teaches by silence is cf:

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall
be to me a Son?

Martin Luther insisted he could do anything the scriptures did not forbid. Ulrich
Zwingle said he could only do what the scriptures authorized. It has to do with
how you believe God … Did Jesus keep His promises to the apostles? Cf:

John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them
now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will shew you things to come.

I Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things
may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen
One is astonished at how men presume the right to speak and act on their own
initiative and they do what neither the Lord Jesus nor the Holy Spirit ever dared
to do. We see them inventing and adding strange forms of worship, recasting the
organization of the church, assuring people of alternative ways of obeying the
gospel, and ignoring the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures. Cf:

II John 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Son.

II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Notice Paul first generation, Timothy second generation was expected to convey
the same to “faithful men” third generation, who could then yet teach others
fourth generation the same things. Paul was not allowing for a postmodern
changeable message adapting to the changing times.

We must never presume the right to act or speak in the hushed silence of God.
Respect for the silence of scripture made our forefathers refuse instrumental
music in worship and they chose to not create a national organization to manage
the mission work of the church.

Did the Spirit guide the Apostles all truth or not? Therefore the affirmation that
the Bible is the full and final revelation of God to man on earth must be the next
step of our reasoning.

The Bible plainly teaches do not add to the Word of God nor take away from the
Word of God.

Just because a man sees nothing wrong with a belief or an act, does not mean
that God approves of it. Cf:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither
shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD
your God which I command you

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt
not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their
trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be
found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of
the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in
this book.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.

Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Col 2:20:23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not;
taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any
honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

NIV verse 23 “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their
self-imposed worship, their false humility ...”

NAS verse 23 “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of
wisdom in self-made religion …”

I Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to

myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men
above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against
another.

I Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things
may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen

“we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent”.
II Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the
man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

II Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost

In the parable of the sower the pure word of God is described as seed cf:

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

When the pure seed is planted in an honest and good heart the result is cf:

Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.

So today if a believing person simply comes to Christ as the first Christians did on
Pentecost in AD 30 then we must follow the instructions of the First Gospel
Sermon:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.

Then it makes common sense that God will do as He did then cf:

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved.

Both groups believed that the creeds of men kept Christianity divided.

In 1832 the Stone/Campbell Movement joined in fellowship with a handshake.

There was great belief and agreement concerning congregational autonomy that
each local congregation could govern itself.
We were originally united in the belief

that: Jesus is The Christ, the Son of God,

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God.

that: Christians should celebrate the Lords Supper on the first day of the week,

Acts 20:7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together
to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight.

that: immersion in water is a part of salvation just like belief, faith, confessing
and repentance.

Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.

Romans 6:3-6 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his]
resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ.

The Church is Divine because it was created and established by God through
Christ. Jesus calls the Church “my Church” cf:

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Church is described in divine names:

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute
you.
Acts 20: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood.

I Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made
perfect,

Who exactly was God’s “firstborn”? Jesus Christ “the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus is The Christ, the Son of God cf:

Matt 16:13-19 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked
his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? Mat 16:14 and
they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say
ye that I am? Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God. Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto
thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Sources: KJV, TheWord.com, Jule Miller for dates & 52 Stimulating Studies
Wikipedia, The History of the English Bible, “Murdered by the Church of Rome at
http://www.scionofzion.com/mcr.htm

Waldensians - 11/17th centuries - Many different violent persecutions against these Believers who had the Bible handed
down to them as early as the 2nd century. The cave of Castelluzzo saw the murder of hundreds of Waldensian mothers
and children in 1209.
1126 - Peter of Bruis - Burned at the Stake - Rejected Rome’s traditions
1155 - Arnold of Brescia - Bible Preacher - Hanged and Burned
1211 - 80 Waldensians - burned at the stake
1215 - 80 Christians - Tried by red hot iron and burned to death the same day in Strasburg, Germany.
1237 - 15 Christians burned alive at Cerdagne and Castlebon, Spain
1315 - Waldensian Bishop Neumunster - Burned at the stake in Hamburg, Germany
1315 - 50 Women and children burned at the stake in Schweidnitz in Silesia
1386 - Christmas Eve- Inquisitor Borelli attacks Valley of Pragela; hundreds frozen to death trying to escape.
1400 - William Sawtree - Wycliffe follower - Burned at the stake
1408 - John Resby - Heresy - Burned at Perth, Scotland
1409 - Tailor named Bradbe - Wycliffe follower - Roasted alive in a barrel
1415 - John Huss - Burned for preaching the Gospel and rejecting Rome’s views
1416 - 300 burned at the stake in Saxony
1417 - Sir John Oldcastle - Helped distribute Wycliffe Bible - Martyred for his faith by being roasted over fire
1427 - John Purvey - Bible distribution - died in prison - 1421-7
1431 - Paul Craws - Convicted at St. Andrews, Scotland and burned to death
1481/2 - 2,000 people burned alive in Spanish Inquisition in Seville and Castile
1488 - 3,000 Waldensian believers murdered in a cave called Aigue-Froid
1506 - William Tylsworth - Burned for his faith in the Word of God
1511 - James Brewster - Burned at the stake - Having a book of Scripture
1514 - Richard Hun - Died suspiciously in Lollard’s Tower in London
1519 - Six men and women burned for teaching their children the Lord’s prayer - London
1525 - Gospel preacher named Schuch - Burned at the stake in Strasburg for preaching and having a Bible - His Bible was
burned with him.
1528 - Patrick Hamilton - Burned at the Stake in Scotland for declaring that it is the right of any person to read God’s
Word
1529 - Louis Berquin - Burned at the Stake in France for printing and distributing Bible tracts in French
1530 - John Tewksbury - Burned at the stake for Bible distribution - England
1531 - Thomas Bilney - Martyred for preaching and distributing the Tyndale Bible
1531 - Richard Bayfield - Burned at the stake for Scripture distribution
1532 - James Bainham - Burned for possessing Scriptures in the English language
1533 - Henry Forrest - Benedictine Monk who became saved - Burned at the stake in St. Andrews, Scotland
1533 - John Fryth - Burned for preaching the true Gospel - England
1534/5 - 24 Protestants burned alive in Paris, France
1535 - Dean Forret - Burned for having Scripture in the English tongue - Scotland
1536 - William Tyndale - Burned at the Stake for Translating the Bible into English - His translation became the
groundwork for the King James Version
1536 - Ann Boleyn - Wife of Henry the VIII - Beheaded for the true faith
1540 - Thomas Garrett - Friend of Tyndale - Burned at the stake - England
1545 - Massacre of Merindol and Cabrieres, France - Thousands of Waldensians murdered
1546 - Peter Chapot burned to death in Meaux, France for bringing French bibles to France
1546 - Stephen Polliot - Burned at the Stake for bringing Scriptures into France - His tongue was cut out so he could not
witness to those around him at his execution.
1546 - Ann Askew - Tortured and burnt for studying and believing the true Scriptures
1548 - Paul Fagius - Burned for translating the Bible - England
1548 - Martin Bucer - Burned for translating the Bible - England
1553 - Nicholas Nayle - Burned at the stake in Paris because he brought gospel books for believers.
1554 - Lady Jane Grey - Beheaded for her conversion to true Christianity
1555 - Nicholas Ridley - Burned for his faith - England
1555 - Hugh Latimer - Burned for his faith - England
1555 - John Rogers - Translator of the Matthews Bible into English
1556 - Bartholmew Hector - Preaching and Bible Distribution -Burned at Thurin
1560 - Julian Hernandez - Burned at the stake in Spain for Bible Distribution
1560 - Jean Louis Paschale - Believed the Bible over Romish teachings
1560 - Stefano Negrino - Starved to death in prison - Italy
1561 - 88 men had throats slit in Montalto - Italy
1561 - Hugo Chiamps - Entrails torn from his body at Turin, Italy
1561 - Peter Geymarali - Entrails torn from his body at Lucerna, Italy
1561 - Maria Romano - Buried alive at Rocco-patia, Italy
1561 - Magdalen Foulano - Buried alive at San Giovanni, Italy
1561 - Susan Michelini - Hands and feet bound - Left to die in cold and hunger - Saracena, Italy
1561 - Bartholomew Fache - Gashed with Sabres and wounds filled with quicklime - Died from the agonizing pain
1561 - James Baridari -Sulpherous matches placed all over body and then lit
1561 - Daniel Revelli - Mouth filled with gun powder and then lit - Head blown to pieces
1561 - Maria Monnen - Flesh cut from cheek and chin thus exposing cheek bone- left to Perish
1561 - Thomas Margueti - Mutilated to death at Miraboco, Italy
1561 - Sudan Jaquin - Cut to bits in La Torre, Italy
1561 - Sara Rostagnol - Slit open from legs to Bosom - Perished on road between Eyral and Lucerna
1561 - Anna Char bonnier - Impaled on a spike and carried from San Giovanni to La Torre
1561 - Daniel Rambaud - Refused to renounce the true Gospel as they took his nails off, then fingers, then his feet, then
his hands, then his arms and finally his legs at Paesano, Italy
1562 - James Bovell - Rejected Rome’s teachings in favor of the Bible
1566 - Francesco Spinula - Drowned at Venice, Italy for making a Latin version of the Psalms
1567 - Pietro Carnesecchi - Refused to bow to papal authority
1570 - Aonio Paleario - Martyred for writing a book called “The benefit of Christ’s Death.”
1572 - St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre - 4,000 brutally murdered of the French Huguenots - It lasted from August 24 to
October 23 - Total killed during this time was about 35,000