The Restoration Plea

• The Restoration Plea
• 1 Peter 4:11
• 1 Peter 4:11
• If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• Will Durant…
• “If Christianity would go back to its origins, cleanse itself resolutely from the silt of time, and take its stand with fresh sincerity from the personality and ideals of its founder, who could resist it?”
• The Restoration Movement
• John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
• The Restoration Movement
• “Nothing ought to be inculcated upon Christians as articles of faith; nor required of them as terms of communion; but what is expressly taught, and enjoined upon them, in the word of God.” - Thomas Campbell, Declaration & Address
• The Restoration Movement
• “We speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent where the Bible is silent.”

– In matters of faith – unity
– In matters of judgment – liberty
– In all things - love
• A Biblical Theme
• Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
• A Biblical Theme
• 2 John 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
• A Biblical Theme
• Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
• What Restoration implies
• There is an original divine pattern …
• The original was departed from …
• The original can be restored ..
• The Restoration Ideal …
Two basic attitudes
• The Bible as the Divine Standard
– God carefully planned and prepared for the coming of Christ and the church as revealed in the first century by inspiration…
• The New Call for a Changing Model
– God only intended a few “core” components (Jesus as Son of God) and left his followers free to evolve its forms and rites …
• The Biblical Pattern …
• O.T. example of Jeroboam – 1 Kings 13
– Changed worship of Israel to golden calves…
– Switched place of worship to Dan and Bethel…
– Inaugurated new feast to replac of feast of tabernacles.
• 1 Kings 14:16 And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel sin."
• What is Biblical Restoration?
• There is a divine pattern to follow …
• God expects conformity to that pattern …
• Rebellious men will digress from that heavenly way …
• It is the responsibility of those who respect the Lord’s will to restore the primitive order …
• Pattern of early church …
• Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
• Pattern of early church …
• Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
• Pattern of early church …
• Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
• Pattern of early church …
• 1 Corinthians 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
• Warnings of falling away…
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
• Warnings of falling away…
• 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

• Warnings of falling away…
• 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 3:14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

• The Restoration Plea
• 1 Peter 4:11