Church History, Part 1 - Mike Criswell

Well, thank you again tonight for being here.

You know, we're down really to what amounts to a weekend

meeting and it's certainly good to see each one of you again.

And I know that many of you have been here every service, and I

appreciate that, and I love the congregation, appreciate,

appreciate that, as well. And if you're a visitor here

tonight, I hope you'll find what we have to say, interesting and

edify. And I have to admit that what

we're going to do tonight is a little bit different and really

something that while I'm not uncomfortable with it.

It's not typically my style because I typically like to just

take the text and stay right with the text but tonight we're

going to talk a little bit about church history.

Now there's some disclaimers I want to give as we begin our

study tonight and then Lord willing tomorrow night as well.

The first of which is it's going to be impossible to cover every

detail of church history from the time of Christ till now 2000

years or thereabouts has come and gone and all Usually there

are many rabbit Trails. There are many events that are

significant in church history that we cannot even begin to

scratch the surface of tonight. Also, I want to say that when we

talk about church history, I'm using the term church and a

relatively accommodative sense. Because obviously, when we look

at the scripture, we believe the church is the church that we

read about in the Bible. And so, when I use the word

church tonight, I'm going to be using it at times in that That

way, but as history progresses church, history begins to be a

history of those who fall away from the truth.

And so, maybe we might better say that we're going to study

the history of Christendom tonight, that's not a lot better

but perhaps it's somewhat better because again, we're going to be

looking at the various Trends and movements that began, of

course, with Jesus Christ himself.

And then, as we get on into the second, third, and on, through

the centuries, To go in various directions.

The one point again that I want you to notice with me as we go

through the study tonight and tomorrow night is that people

often depart from God's way, the way of man is not within himself

that walketh to direct his own steps.

And so what we see over and over not only in the Bible texts but

also in historical texts is that me and often depart from God's

way. And of course, what we want to

do tonight is we want to look look at church history and we

want to see where people began to go astray because as it has

often been said those who do not study history are sometimes

doomed to repeat it. And so tonight we're going to be

going relatively quickly the first segment or our first

installment tonight is going to be based primarily upon the

first century. We are going to try to cover up

to about 316 ad, when Constantine, becomes Emperor.

But nonetheless tomorrow night, we'll get him more to the

history of What happened in the world and also how that impacted

faith in general. But I want to begin tonight and

talk about church history and here are some things we want to

notice. Why do we need to study church

history? Now, you know, typically when we

think of the Bible, we don't think of, you know, the history

that goes behind it. But, you know, even when we look

at the scriptures themselves, there was a historical setting.

They were real people who lived in real times and who had real

problems and who had real cultural experiences.

And so, it enriches our knowledge of the The Bible to

know what happened in history, both in the old and the New

Testament. But beyond that, you know,

tonight, as we sit here in this assembly, this assembly didn't

just drop in from heaven, we all bring with ourselves, some

cultural baggage, we all bring with ourselves some even

religious baggage, and that doesn't necessarily mean that

you've come from another group or.

But even if you have or haven't, the point is, is that religious

Trends through the world, have influence, even the Lord's

Church, In fact, typically, when we talk about the Lord's Church

in history, we talk about the restoration movement where we

talked about Alexander Campbell and Barton spunk Stone and

others, and we'll touch on that very briefly tomorrow evening,

Lord Willie. But, you know, all of us, of

course, have different perspectives.

We bring things to the reading of God's word and we need to

just be aware that we might have biases.

And it might be that we have you know, past family or past

experiences that have brought us to this point and We need to

make for sure that because men often depart from God's way.

We need to constantly be going back to God's word comparing.

What we believe, contrasting, what we believe to the

scriptures. Now Tonight Part 1 and I

apologize. Again, if you can't see the

text, but I hope that our verbal discussion will be sufficient.

But anyway, the point is, is tonight we're going to look at

two basic periods. We're going to look at what I

call the apostolic period that goes from about 30 a.d. when the

church was established to about a 100 AD when the last Apostle

John died and then we will look later on tonight.

Nor dwelling from about 100, AD to about 300, ad as the church

to begin to move away from Apostolic teaching and what

we're going to see once again. And you're going to hear me say

this over and over is that the history of the church and the

history of even God's people. Lynn's to the fact that men

often depart from God's way. Now the of apostolic period

basically. Covers the period between the

cross and the end of the apostolic.

Are the last Apostle, the death of John Jesus, probably died on

the cross somewhere around 30 33 ad depending on what chronology

you use and of course on the day of Pentecost the church was

established some say 33, some say 30 but the point is really

moved because indeed that early on after the cross the church

was established. And as you have heard me quote

before Acts 2:42 they continued at that point onward.

Acts 2:42

Steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine.

Well things. Again, begin to even go, shall

we say arrived from the very beginning false teachers begin

to creep in? And of course the apostles were

constantly writing first about Jewish false teachers and then

later about Greek, false teachers.

And of course, by the time we get to the death of John, the

Baptist, our John a rather the Apostle.

There had been many, many, many warnings that the apostles had

given about how the church was going to slip away from the

Truth, and that's exactly what we find.

That's exactly what we find. Is we enter into the second

third on through the 15th. Centuries.

Even up to the day, many false ideas, many false religions,

many false denominations have been created by man, which never

were intended by God. Now, of course, I want to begin

back with the preaching of John the Baptist and with Jesus

himself because you remember that, John the Baptist came

preparing the way for Jesus John.

Was that Harry? Should a man out in the

wilderness with that. That goats are that camels here,

garment, that was the sort of the Garment of a prophet.

And he said, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

In other words, the writing of God was just be about to be

inaugurated upon the sea. And as we noted the other day,

when we think of the Kingdom, we can think of it as the Church,

of course, because that's certainly an aspect of it.

But the kingdom itself, also deals with how God is sitting on

the throne of our hearts. Arts and John was calling a

decadent culture. A decadent Society back to the

very basic principles of the Old Testament and said, prepare your

hearts because a new scene is about to occur and the king of

the reign of God that had been prophesied all the way back as

far as Daniel and before was about to come to be well, of

course, John preached. And then, of course, Jesus,

preached as well. Jesus came preaching, basically

the same message that John preached.

He said the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at

hand repent and believe the gospel.

In fact on one occasion in Mark 9:1, Jesus said that there were

Mark 9:1

some standing there that very day that would not taste of

death till they saw. The kingdom come with power.

And, of course, we know that the kingdom came Pentecost brought

the church and the kingdom, of course, as we have noted in past

studies, briefly contains four things, a king a territory,

subjects, and a law. The king is Jesus.

The territory is our hearts, and Jesus wants to sit on the throne

of our hearts. And of course he wants to have

us his people as subjects. And of course, the law is his

word. You see the kingdom.

The church is not a physical place.

It is not a land mass. It is not a political entity.

It is those who assemble together and through all time,

had given their hearts and Minds to Jesus Christ.

So Jesus promised to come and he was You build his church or his

kingdom, the Greek word, there is ekklesia which literally

means the called out, and we are called out yes, to a central

location to worship. But even more spiritually, we

are called out of sin and we have been translated into the

Delight of the Glorious son. Jesus Christ.

Jesus promised to Matthew 16 Verse 18, that he would build

Matthew 16:18

his church. It's his church.

It's the Church of Christ. It's not any man, denominations.

And of course, that's the The problem as we look at church

history because man began to usurp the authority of Jesus,

they begin to place themselves on the throne.

They begin to view themselves as the head of the church, and

Jesus will have none of that. And so we need to know tonight.

What the Church of Jesus is really all about so that we can

avoid perhaps falling into the same of the same pitfalls that

those in church. History, have fallen into with a

Church, of course Cain was born. If you will on the day of

Pentecost, you remember that? Had promised that he was going

to send the holy spirit that he was going to guide the apostles

into all truth. And of course Jesus there on the

Mount of Olives of sins, back to heaven.

And He commands his Apostles to go in remain in Jerusalem until

they are endued with power from on high.

And in about ten days that's exactly what happened.

On the day of Pentecost, they are there.

When one place and the Holy Spirit is poured out and God

demonstrates, very miraculously and powerfully that Jesus has

taken the throne in the on the right hand.

Of God. And so then the Holy Spirit was

given he was in Jerusalem just as profit such as Isaiah to had

said. So now we have the church is

established. So what happens?

Well, the church again is a growing vibrant institution.

In fact, in 2:46, the early church was constantly spending

time together. They were hearing the word top,

the apostles were preaching people were coming into the

church by baptism and the Was adding to the church daily such

as should be saved. That's an incredible thought.

Because today if we add to the church or the Lord does of

course, but if we baptize someone yearly, we think we do.

We think we're doing a fairly good job but here was a vibrant

time in the early church 3000 had been baptized simply on the

day of Pentecost alone and then the church continued to grow it

continued to spread and people begin to again, assemble and

worship. And they I know I have no doubt

begin to. Assemble in small congregations

around the city of Jerusalem and began to do what the apostles

taught them to do. Well, of course, Jesus had

promised that his kingdom the church would spread.

In fact, Jesus told the apostles in Acts chapter 1 that they were

Acts 1 · chapter mention

going to receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

And then in verse 8, you find what we really might say is a

small outline of the entire book of Acts because Jesus says there

that they would be Witnesses of him in Jerusalem.

Judea and Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the

earth. And that's exactly the outline

of the book acts you. First of all, of course, have

the apostles in Jerusalem in Acts 8, you have you have

Phillip down in Sumeria and then, of course, the gospel

begins to spread out into other places and by the end of the

book of Acts, you've got the Apostle Paul making three,

marvelous Journeys, throughout the Mediterranean world, and

then the fourth journey to Rome and the church literally meets

the end of the Earth. Earth.

Well the history of Acts is an exciting history.

In fact, if you want to know the real Biblical history of the

church, read the book of Acts because in Chapter 2 the Earth,

the church is established in chapter 4 Peter and John preach

to the Jews. In chapter 5, the church begins

to be persecuted in chapter 7, Stephen.

The first martyr is killed for his faith in chapter 8.

Christians begin to flee Jerusalem because of the

persecution but they take the gospel with them in chapter 9,

the Apostle Paul is converted Saul of Tarsus who becomes fall

as And then in chapter 10, the Gentiles are converted through

the household of Cornelius. And then in chapter 11, Antioch

way up there in the city of begins to receive the Gospel.

And then, of course, Acts chapter 13, Paul begins to make

Acts 13 · chapter mention

his missionary Journeys. And so if you want to know what

the history of the church is read the book of Acts, at least

as it pertains to the first century named of, the way of the

church was always a bloody way. In fact, it's very ironic to me

that the church always spread the most in hard times.

Times, you know, today and rightly.

So we pray that God would give us the right and the ability and

the country in which we lived the worship in Freedom and we

pray. Sometimes, you know, if there

ever were laws, enacted, give us the strength to stand.

And you don't really think in the back of our minds are, at

least in my mind, I don't really think that will ever happen.

Oh, I think it really will, but I really gum become logical

about it because we're seeing a wholesale change in our culture

tonight but you know in my lifetime I think yeah, you know,

it's never happened before, maybe it won't happen.

But you know what? That's not necessarily a bad

thing. Oh, it's bad.

For those who are persecuted in might be bad for us, I wouldn't

want to give my life for my faith necessarily, and I

wouldn't want to necessarily, you know, be thrown in jail, but

in the early centuries, those who were being persecuted, you

know, were standing for their faith.

Others were seeing it and the church was growing.

In fact, when the early church was in Jerusalem, this is sort

of interesting. I think you know the early

church was in Jerusalem having been found It on the day of

Pentecost and it almost seems like God has to start a shake up

the church, because they're comfortable, they're enjoying

the camaraderie. It's like a, you know, a big

Fourth of July meeting or New Year's meeting.

You just love the fellowship of those around you, and God, kind

of shakes him up. Those Jews began to persecute

the church and it's not the apostles, by the way, who flee

first. It's the normal everyday,

average, Christian. But what do they do?

They just lie for their lives. Well, yes and no.

It says, then that those that were scattered.

Turd abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word.

Now, the apostles find the do lead Jerusalem, but it's the

persecuted Saints. It's the common guys, it's us

who then were going and preaching the Gospel wherever

they went and the church was growing.

You know, it's been said that the blood of Martyrs those who

gave their lives as the ultimate witness, the blood of water

Martyrs became the very thing that watered, the seed of the

word. You know, the seed of the word

is sown in people's hearts and you know sometimes we don't

appreciate it because we have to give nothing for it.

But these were folks who, when they became a Christian they

understood this could be their very lives.

And so the church begins to spread and of course, Philip you

remember goes down to the place called Samaria.

And there he encounters, you know, the, the, the Simon, the

Sorcerer And of course, many things occur including bad.

Baptism and the apostles send down help and the Holy Spirit is

given there's a wonderful chapter in Acts 8.

That tells us so much about the preaching of the word.

It tells us so much about how the holy spirit is given it even

tells us so much about what the holy spirit is.

And then the church bench to Africa, who would have thought

that at this very early stage, the church goes to Africa, you

know, this really resonates when we're in Africa because of

course they love hearing things about their own culture and we

say, Hey, you know, that one of the very first Converse was an

African and they go really yeah. Acts chapter 8, the Ethiopian

Acts 8 · chapter mention

nobleman was from Africa. From Ethiopia.

Had a great position in the government had gone to

Jerusalem. Apparently he was a

proselytized, I had some Jewish background, he had been

worshipping and he's on his way home.

When God, Taps Philip, and he says, you need to go up there.

Preach to that guy, it's a desert place.

It's not a very fun place but you need to go and preach to

him. And you remember that wonderful

story Phillip goes He joins himself to that Chariot, that,

that Ethiopian is in. He preaches to him, Jesus.

And in the process of that teaching, he teaches baptism

because you see the European says, see here is water.

What hinders me from being baptized and Philip said, if you

believe you, may be baptized and he said, I believe that Jesus

Christ is the Son of God. And so Philip and he went down

into the water, and he baptized him.

And then the Ethiopian eunuch went away rejoicing.

Tremendous story, he goes away rejoicing because he is now not

in Jew. He is a Christian and he's going

to take the gospel down there to Ethiopia and no doubt, there

were other Jewish folks down there too.

No doubt. There were other Ethiopians down

there. It is Ethiopia after all, and

he's going to teach them and no doubt there was a church

established. And so the gospel is spreading.

You see, Jerusalem Judea Samaria.

And then to Africa and the uttermost parts of the world.

What about this time? You have solid.

Nurses, he's kind of a wicked man, not Wicked in the sense

that he is a person against God's law, but he's wicked in.

The sense that he is persecuting Christians.

He is one, that is very zealous for his faith.

He is one that was raised with the best Jewish Education.

He was one who was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, he would say, later

on, and of course, you remember on that road to Damascus, he's

heading up there to persecute Christians in Damascus and bring

them bound. He's got A letter of authority

from the chief priests to bring them bound to the through,

living to jail. He's on that Damascus Road and

what happens? A bright light.

Jesus appears to him and Jesus appears and says, basically I've

got a better job for you salt. And of course, you remember that

saw he is, he is scared to death, he for three days and

three nights fasts, he goes to the city and ananias is sent to

tell him what he needs to do to be saved and ananias says arise

and be AB ties wash away your sins and call upon the name of

the Lord. You see, when you call upon the

name of the lord, it's not just a verbal thing.

It's obedience and its obedience in the waters of baptism and

Saul was baptized. He was baptized just like every

other person was saved in the New Testament.

Well, then later on, of course, we leave Saul, there are two

sort of take care of his own needs.

And then we come to Cornelius and the household of Cornelius.

That's a great story to in Acts chapter.

Ten. You remember when Peter he's up

there on the housetop there, in Joppa down by the Seacoast, he

staying with one called Simon the Tanner.

And of course, the cancer was one who took these skins and

process them which was a very no no for a Jew, but nonetheless,

he's up there on the housetop. He's he's sleeping, he's hungry,

it's about lunchtime and this great sheet this Vision.

He had the sheet is let down by the Four Corners.

Have a all manner of Beast and unclean animals, and all things.

And the voice says Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

Eat and Peter is shaken. He says, Lord.

I have never eaten anything that is unclean.

I don't do that. I'm a Jew, I eat kosher food.

Well, this happened some three times.

And what God is showing, Peter is.

Listen, I'm about ready to put you on a mission and I'm going

to send you to some unclean people.

Ceremony Louis Leakey, and about that time out of the gate, The

Messengers Come Peter is summon. He goes to the household of

Cornelius and their Cornelius has the gospel preached to him,

and he's baptized too. Well, the next chapter 11, the

disciples began to flee and they begin to spread and the church

spreads. And now up here in Antioch way

up here, north of Jerusalem, the church is thriving.

In fact, it's going to be from that point.

That Paul is later set out. And it says the disciples were

called Christians first in Antioch.

You see why this time the Christians were again,

formalizing their faith, and they were beginning to grow and

they were beginning to be Evangelistic, they were

beginning to understand their In the world.

And by the way, the mission of Christianity is evangelism this

not just to sit in the building and enjoy the Comforts or here,

good preaching, it is evangelism, you know, going to

the world and it is said that in the first century each 111,

everyone 11. And that's our job tonight.

That's our job today is to be like the early church.

Well, Paul makes his missionary Journeys.

You remember that? And of course, most of the

letters that we have in the New Testament, First Corinthians,

second Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians

Colossians, our letters Thessalonians, that Paul wrote

as he would go and establish a congregation and preach the word

and people would be converted but then they would have

problems. You see, God's people are not

without problems. The church is not without

problems. People do often struggle and

sometimes the apart from God's way.

And so Paul would write these letters back to them and he

would reprimand him and encourage them and strengthen

them. And, of course, they grew.

And from those letters, we have the doctrines tonight that God,

the Church of Jesus Christ. We don't have Creeds, we don't

have bad doctrines, we just go back to the words of these

Apostles. And so by the end of the first

century, the gospel had spread throughout the entire Roman

Empire. Is that Paul said it this way,

in Colossians 1 verse 23, if you continue, he says in the faith

Colossians 1:23

grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the

Last fall, they get this which you have heard and which was

preached to every creature under Heaven whereby Paul and made a

minister, not think. Of course, there's a little bit

of rhetorical license here. The Paul was saying the gospel

has had. Full course, it's at free course

and it has gone far and wide. And now Christianity is well

known. Well, it's a wonderful time.

The church is spreading, there are persecutions the Jews had

been persecuting the church, but the church spread and of course

hit Fled and now things are going well, all in all, but you

know, there was some rough, Seas ahead, the ship of Christianity,

the shipment of Zion was going to be tossed and turned in the

next several centuries. Even maybe do the next twenty

centuries. You know, the Apostle had

warned, not only the churches but also men like Timothy the

Protege when he said the spirit speaks specifically expressly

that Some will depart in latter times from the faith, he warns

over and over the Apostle warns over.

I think he is concerned about the future strength of the

church and he says, there is going to be a falling away, no

sooner than John was buried. In fact, even before that did

the very ugly head of division, false Doctrine, and those Pagan

theories. And theologies of the Agent

World began to slip into the church.

In fact, some belief and probably rightly.

So that the Epistles of John first.

Second third, John are written to ward off a gnostic.

Heresy, the idea that you have to have special Enlightenment,

and that God's word isn't enough, some believe that, that

was the beginning of gnosticism that John already was beginning

to ward off. Well, part 2 tonight, as we look

at the rest of our little study, we're going to go from the end

of the first century, the apostles now Have died away,

spiritual gifts, are beginning to see some.

We don't go into this in this study, but that's a very

important part. In component of the first

century. Remember that the word of God

was still being written, Paul was pinning, the letters to

various congregations, but in the meantime, God had given

spiritual gifts gifts of Prophecy Gifts of tongues, give

some interpretation of comes, Gifts of Faith, Gifts of

healing, to the early church, so that they could confirm the

word. And know what to do doctrinally

until the New Testament could be completed now.

I believe that in Paul, in First Corinthians 13, when he speaks

of the completed thing coming, he speaking of the completed

revelation of God's will but nonetheless, after the first

century, things began to get very difficult no longer.

You have an apostle that you can call over and say, Paul what

what, what now are we to do about this now?

False teachers are circulating. Now, of course, it's dependent

upon those. The congregations to go back to

the word, to go back to the writings to go back to what they

knew the apostles had taught, and we're going to see again a

wholesale departure from the from the truth.

But let me talk to you just for a moment tonight about this

persecution. You know, one of the problems

with dealing with history is that there's so many movements

that you would like to discuss that are sort of parallel

movements they occur at the same time.

So it almost as if you're not being totally linear you kind of

have to keep jumping back. Well, I want to talk about this.

This idea of persecution because, you know, persecution,

as I mentioned was that which spread the church initially acts

84? They went everywhere preaching,

the word and of course, the first four centuries of the

church were fraught with persecution.

It was a bloody time in church history and so as the church

spread and as it begin to encounter first Judaism, that

didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah.

And then later Pagan philosophies and And then to

also take money out of the pockets of pagan temples there

began to be a spread of persecution as well.

And I want to spend just a little bit of time but I think

it's a fascinating study and it will lead us ultimately to our

final destination tonight which is emperor Constantine who

finally makes Christianity legal and sort of ends persecution and

you say well that's a great thing, maybe not.

We'll see you tomorrow night. That probably was one of the

worst things that could have happened as far as the strength

of the church, but, you know, Jesus had already begun.

To warn about persecution. In Matthew 5 verse 10.

Matthew 5:10

He said, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness

sake? You see, even in Jesus day, it

was nothing new to be persecuted.

In fact, he convicts in Matthew 23, those Jews who had crucified

or killed rather of the old prophets, everyone, from a-z

able to Zakaria and he says, you know, godly people are going to

be persecuted. The Old Testament bore that out

and the new as well and Paul and second Timothy 3, the last

letter that Paul. Probably Paul ever wrote.

He's an old man but yet he's about to die.

Probably by the sword, the Roman sword and he writes to his young

man Timothy who he is love so long and it's going to be

carrying on the cross of the of the Gospel on after his death.

And he says, all of those who live Godly will suffer.

Persecution, is quite a promise. But Paul seems very emphatic

about that and then of course, in revelation. 22 verse 10.

Revelation 22:10

That familiar verse Revelation is this story or the Is this

this book about right? Wrong, good evil, and no matter

how you interpreted it, all comes down to the fact that

Christians get caught in the grinding wheel of the cultures

in which we live, and we're going to be sometimes even

killed. And of course, John as he

writes, there be faithful unto death.

John says, or Jesus says really, and I'll give you the Crown of

Life. Well, during the apostles

period, during the first century after the church in about 30 33.

IE was You have the persecution mainly by the Jewish leaders,

for theological reasons, and that's important because you see

those Jews. Look at what the Christians were

teaching about. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, they

didn't believe that. And so they persecuted

Christians because they had left the law, they were no longer

binding, things like circumcision, or the Sabbath.

And so, they view, Christianity, as being Heretics from Judaism.

And so there was a great amount of Persecution.

They, you know, when we think about Israel and Palestine of

that period of time, we have to remember that in 63 BC Rome had

come in and taken over the land of Palestine.

Now, Rome was fairly tolerant of tribal religions.

They were fairly tolerant of the religions of the Nations that

they conquered. As long as those Nations did not

rise up against Rome and or accepted the Roman gods.

Really care what you believe, as long as you believe the emperor

was God as well. Well, you know, Rome allowed a

lot of these religions to slide by including Judaism.

Well, you see it. First Christianity was sort of a

subset of Judaism, wasn't it? It was a religion that was

acknowledged as just part of Judaism.

Well, since Judaism had the rights of existence, by Rome

they had said, okay, you're fine.

Then Christianity was fine. But now something to get into To

happen as the Jewish Nation begins to die and of course you

remember that the Jewish nation revolts.

And finally, in ad 70, the Jewish nation is obliterated by

Titus and Vespasian. The city is destroyed.

You know, many many folks are killed murdered as the city is

surrounded. In fact, that's what Matthew 24

is all about. It's about the destruction of

the city of Jerusalem. Now, with the demise of Judaism.

Now, Christianity that has already spread taken on other

Doctrines Stands Long, and it stands out from that once Judy,

istic background. And so now they become the

target for the Romans, who down? Look at these Christians who

refuse to acknowledge the Emperor as God, whereas once

Christian sort of went under the umbrella of Judaism, now they

stand alone. And so with the destruction of

Jerusalem now the persecution ramps up in full force and now

Christianity, Is going to be a Target by the Jews.

Now, are by the Romans. Now, why would the Romans care?

You know, Christians this is one of the things that I think is

always been interesting to me, you know, Christians, arguably

are the nicest best people you could ever have in the Empire.

They're hard-working. If they're good Christians, they

take care of their families, they don't rely on the

government. What more could you want?

Well, the issue came down to three main things as to why the

Romans didn't like the Christians number one was they

didn't. Recognize the emperor's Lord.

Now, why did the Romans want people to recognize the

emperor's Lord or it's God or deity?

Well, there are several reasons. Number one, the emperor's were

pretty narcissistic they like that.

But nonetheless, if you can get a single political ruler in

your, in your kingdom or in your your Empire and remember, Rome.

But this time, it's spreading really far and wide.

If you can get a single entity that everyone looks to and holds

its a cohesion Factor. It holds people together.

And so here's these Christians who are saying Caesars not Lord,

he's not worth is only one Lord, One Faith, one baptism member

Hebrew are you know Ephesians 4. So they were criticized and

persecuted because they refused to offer incense and bow to the

emperor. But you know also they were

accused of being in moral ladies, how in the world could

Christians being more released, we live by the highest standards

of Ethics ever put upon this world.

Old. Well, they were accused of

accused of many things, most of it Scholars say, came about from

misunderstanding. For example, the example,

Christian Firkin, you a were accused of in cannibals.

They ate flesh. You say, wow, how that happened?

Well, think about the Lord's table.

We say that we're eating the body of Jesus.

Not literally. Now, some religions do say,

literally, but that was misconstrued, we call each other

brother and sister in Christ. Do we believe in incest?

No, you see a secular mind. That religious truths and

misunderstands and then economics.

Now, you want to get somebody against your case, get in their

wallet. And of course, you remember, for

example, in Acts chapter 16, where Paul they are comes to

Acts 16 · chapter mention

Ephesus. Remember that story we talked

about our Philip Philip, I rather and of course those those

Pagan temples were suffering because the preaching of the

Gospel was taking converts away from paganism and making them

Christians. And so the economics of, you

know, supporting those temples was dying away.

So many Many things that when you put it all together led to a

persecution of the Christians. Now there had always been some

persecution fact a lot really. In Paul's day, the emperor was

Nero. Nero was an evil man.

In fact he is known to first of all, have brought blame the

burning of Rome of when Christians second of all, he is

also known to take Christians and literally tie them to steaks

and burn them alive as torches for his garden parties.

These men were two minute. They were deprived.

Depraved and of course a terrible.

Bloodshed deletion, who came later in 95 confiscated Church

properties. Complicated, Christians

murdered. Christians was probably the one

that exiled John, the John, the Apostle rather and then decius

who I'll talk more about in just a second very briefly.

He wanted to White Christian. He had took it personally, he

wanted to wipe Christianity out and then finally Diocletian.

Now there were others who who persecuted the church.

But these are for that are very prominent and by the way

Diocletian and we don't have time to talk about it in this

meeting. I wish we did on how we got the

Bible. But you know one of the

questions that's asked is why don't we have more of the

original manuscripts like back to the 2nd 3rd Century, probably

because of Diocletian. He burned every book.

He could get his hands on that deal with Christianity,

including the copies of the Bible, he made them very scarce.

But what about this? Decius felt decius was evil.

He was evil incarnate. He wanted to destroy every

Vestige of Christianity and he wanted a white every Christian

out. And if you were a bishop or

church leader, you were dead. No mercy on you.

Now, if others that were Christians, would recant if they

would bow the knee. If then we give the pinch of

incense and say, Caesar is Lord. He had let you off inside a

little of those certificate. Well, of course many did recant.

Many did give up their faith but many did not.

So there was a terrible Bloodshed during this period of

time, great difficulty for the church as it began to go through

terrible persecution. Now again we don't have time to

apply this tonight, but think about your life, think about my

life and think about would you be willing to deny Jesus just so

you can live? I mean, after all, this is a

pagan Empire, this is a pagan Emperor wouldn't hurt just Just

a offer. A pinch of incense.

I mean, who's gonna know the best the difference.

You're under duress. Anyway, that doesn't count.

You did to the Christians, they took it very seriously, they

were willing to go to death. Well, there are a lot of Barbers

were almost nearing the end. So bear with me, there were a

lot of Martyrs and I think again this phrase, the blood of the

Saints has watered the seed of the kingdom is so applicable and

pertinent to this period and the martyrdom appreciative.

All the way back with Steven and that seven the Jews stoned him.

And, you know, he had gotten on their case and preached about

their stiff neck attitudes and they had stoned him.

James later in Acts 12 is killed Paul.

And first second Timothy 4 6 indicates that he's about ready

to die. And so even in the New Testament

itself you have various markers, well, polycarp comes along and

he's a very historical figure that many of you recognize, but

But he's was a bishop or leader of the Church of Smyrna and they

bring him up and ask him to offer the pinch of incense.

He refuses and his famous words supposedly you know.

I think quoted by Silvius is that he says, 80 and six years I

have served him. That is Christ.

How then, can I blaspheme my king?

And my savior bring forth what thou Wilt and so he dies.

Then for his faith, well persecution and martyrdom may

seem like a terrible thing. But certainly it separates, the

wheat from the chaff, it separates those who are truly

dedicated, those who are really serious about their faith.

One of the reasons, no doubt today in the religious world, we

have people who are so including maybe ourselves so laksa days

ago about their faith is because our faith has never been tried.

Well Christianity, eventually comes to the point where they're

not persecuted anymore. Well let's talk about that just

for a moment and then we'll close, you know, Christianity

has gone through a bloody Centuries.

It's been tough now in the meantime false doctrines have

also been creeping and we'll deal with that tomorrow night

but it's been a tough time. The church has taken a beating

physically and also theologically during this period

of time but all of a sudden the tide begins to change.

There's this man by the name of Constantine, Constantine the

Great, he comes the power and about 30 684 Century.

So he comes to power and he's not a Christian.

By the way, he's never been baptized.

Like, he wasn't even baptized still his deathbed, but

supposedly, he's a military guy and he begins to see.

This is my slope summation of it.

He begins to see the persecution of the Christians.

You realize how strong they are. Any thinks that's a good

attitude. That's a good people to have on

my side. And so Adam Battle of the

milvian bridge. He supposedly has this vision

and sees this sign of the cross in the sky and he sees this

letter or gets this message in lat.

And it is, it is something and in English, it means in this

sign conquer. And so, at that moment, he

basically takes upon Christianity.

And really, it's that moment when papal Rome begins really,

if you want to be technical about it and he changes the

eagle as the Hallmark for his army to the cross.

And so Constantine, then goes forth and he begins to make

Christianity legal. There was an edict called the

Edict of Milan in 313 ad. The eateth of Madan, was really

kind of the focal point of now. Christianity is no longer A

persecuted religion. It didn't mean the constants

Constantine really just became you know, overly involved with

Christianity necessarily at that point, but he gives Toleration

to Christians. Now, persons, join the ranks of

every other allowed religion in the Roman Empire, and he sets

the stage. Age really, for some of the most

political movements that ever wove their way into Christendom

because as well. See, Constantine.

Not only made the Edict of Milan made in Chris making

Christianity legal but just a few layers later when there was

a problem over, who is Jesus, the deity of Christ.

He sets himself up and says, I'm going to preside over this great

Council, the called the Council of nicaea, and I'm going to make

the decisions here. With you guys who are religious

leaders. Now, of course, by this time,

the church had begun to fall away.

So we don't look to these leaders as being men of God

necessarily. But the point is this he brings

the political aspect full and Center into the church, and from

this point on you begin to have creeps.

That begin to slip into church history.

You begin to have ecumenical councils.

There were many, but there were at least seven ecumenical

councils where people from all over the world, Lee religious

leaders in the churches. Is would comment powwow

politically you see? It begins to leave the

Grassroots effort of the first century begins to leave the

truth of the gospel and the writings of the Apostles.

And now it's about creeps now, it's about man-made ideas.

Now it's about man-made ideals and of course, that's going to

lead, then ultimately to a lot of trouble for the church.

Well, one more point and then we're finished.

You know, now, Christians are being persecuted, you know, I

think there was a thing or a part about Christianity and

persecuted that I won't say people like it Christians.

Never liked being persecuted, but he gave me something

tangible to say. I'm doing this for my faith.

But now all of a sudden you're not persecuted, it's an easy

life. So what are you going to do?

Monasticism begins to rise and that's an interesting study and

of itself but monks and nuns and you know convents and all of

these organizations that come out of this period of time on

through, of course, even the Middle Ages, the rise of extreme

asceticism and I want to leave you with one kind of fun

ascetic. There are some of these guys if

you read some of these are writings and and they literally

were just Almost nuts. I mean, they would go out and

live by themselves in the desert.

They would talk to themselves. They would joust.

Flip the devil out when the devil wasn't even there.

I mean, they were Mystics and people, then be good to join

them and this began to be a growing movement.

Because now, how do I demonstrate my faith?

Well, they should have demonstrated by just living and

telling others about Jesus, but that wasn't good enough.

So they begin to build massive Cathedrals and begin to develop

organizations that you get to do some really crazy things.

Well, there was this man called Simeon of stud like eise.

And he lives in about 400 ad. Now, this man lived on a pillar

erected a pillar and this was not just indicative of him.

This type of thing happened in other church history, and by

other individuals, but he was a monk and he took up at the age

of 33 residents on a platform that was 60 feet tall.

Well, first of all, I don't like heights, that's enough to do

Meehan but second of all, he never bathed the weather pelted

him. His flesh became so filthy, that

the worms began to infect his skin.

He would not kill them, they would fall off on the ground and

his followers who ought him would be just falling all over

themselves. To have what fell from his

Tower. He took no care of his body and

again he constantly cut himself, self asceticism and he allowed

the bugs to feed off of these wounds.

Now, why did he do that somewhere in his mind?

He thought he was doing it for the Lord.

You know, the Apostle had said that self-imposed religion is

not accepted by God this man and many, many, many others took

vows of Silence, took vows of hunger.

Took vows of poverty, took all kinds of valve's put themselves

in terrible conditions, just so they could feel religious and

faithful. Well, before we get critical

about that which is certainly crazy.

But there are still religions maybe even we do it a little bit

today. Even ourselves, you know kind of

that idea if we can just you know crucify ourselves

physically it's just a little more, we're more righteous

that's really self-righteousness is by the way, this is nothing

but a picture of self-righteousness.

But nonetheless, you see then what is beginning to develop the

church has left that simple view of Christ and the apostles

Doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in

prayers. And now they've gone political.

Now, they've gotten the government involved.

And by the way, anytime you get the government involved, you've

got a mess and that's exactly what's going to happen.

Well, tomorrow night, we'll talk a little bit about what happens

after the centuries. As the centuries go on, we will

discuss a little bit about the the Reformation period Martin

Luther sees a great departure of course and the church at the

time which was the Catholic church and he remember he wants

to reform things. We'll talk a little bit about

that and then perhaps close out with just a word of small word

about reformation restoration and where do we go from here?

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