OUR COMMITMENT IS TO CHRIST: The Fifth Century - Church History 101

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OUR COMMITMENT IS TO CHRIST: The Fifth Century - Church History 101

The Fifth Century

October 13, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Matthew 28:19, Daniel 7:21–22, Ephesians 2:8

What happened in the Fifth Century (400-500) that shows us how Christ built His church as He continued to conquer the nations?

I. ROME WAS ATTACKED AND PLUNDERED BY BARBARIANS AND THE EMPIRE THROWN DOWN. Augustine, who was a pastor and theologian in the fifth century, said, “This is no surprise to us, to see the kingdoms of men rising and the kingdoms of men falling, because our commitment is not to eternal Rome. Our commitment is to Jesus Christ and exclusively to the kingdom He is building.“

The Prophet Daniel, a thousand years earlier, saw this day in a vision: “As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:21-22).

Rome was the government power that put Christ to death and persecuted many Christians. Finally, as God promised, he threw down the Roman Empire and Christ’s Kingdom just kept growing and growing. “The Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.”

II. AUGUSTINE DEFENDED THE GRACE OF THE GOSPEL AGAINST THE HERETIC PELAGIUS. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Pelagius believed you could be saved by your own works, but that is not what God says in the Bible. So Augustine taught the truth that God saves by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Augustine prayed, “God, command what you will, and grant what you command.” This made Pelagius angry when he read this prayer of Augustine. I) Pelagius denied Original Sin. II) Pelagius believed we already have everything we need to please God. III) Pelagius believed we come to God on our own through our works for Him. Because these things are the opposite of what God teaches us in the Scriptures, Augustine wrote many things to defend the truth of the grace of the gospel. Augustine rightly taught that all men are sinners in Adam, totally unable to do any good apart from divine grace. Augustin also taught that sinners need an act of supernatural grace for salvation, seeing they are dead in sins. In addition, Augustine taught that the only way a sinner can be saved is by coming to God through Jesus Christ. Augustine sufficiently refuted Pelagius, therefore the latter was regarded by the church a heretic, teaching different doctrines that the Scriptures. Sadly, many are Pelagians or semi-Pelagians today without realizing it. Believers in every age need to study church history to help them avoid the same pitfalls that have destroyed those in the past.

III. PATRICK PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO IRELAND. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). A man named Patrick was born in Britain in 385 and died in 461. When he was 16 years old, his family farm was raided by Irish Pirates. Patrick was kidnapped, taken to Ireland, and sold into slavery. There he labored as a shepherd. While Patrick was a slave in Ireland, God saved him. He became a Christian and therefore devoted his life to Christ. A few years later, Patrick escaped slavery and returned to his home. However, he would not stay there for long. Once he returned from Ireland, Patrick had a vivid dream, and in the dream he saw the people of Ireland telling him to come preach the gospel to them. So Patrick left his home and spent the next 29 years preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Irish people.

Patrick loved Christ and wanted others to love him as well. He was obedient to the Great Commission even at great cost to himself. We can see Patrick’s love for Christ especially through a portion of one of his prayers:

“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”

CONCLUSION. In the fifth century, I) Christ threw down the Roman Empire and continued to conquer the nations by His gospel; and II) Christ continued to conquer the nations through His gospel through men like Augustine, who defended the gospel, and Patrick of Ireland, who proclaimed it.

FIFTH CENTURY MEMORY VERSE. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

FIFTH CENTURY MEMORY QUOTE. “Our commitment is to Jesus Christ and exclusively to the kingdom He is building“ (Augustine).

CHRIST CAME OUT CONQUERING AND TO CONQUER: The First Century

August 4, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Matthew 16:18, Revelation 6:2, Revelation 2:10

First Century Memory Verse: “Christ came out conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). First Century Memory Quote: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” (Tertullian). INTRODUCTION QUESTION I. What is church history? ANSWER. Church history is the story of how Jesus has built his church for his own glory and his peoples’ good. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). QUESTION II. Why should we learn church history? ANSWER I. We should learn church history because it is our Christian family history. ANSWER II. We should also learn church history because God will use it to warn us away from sin. ANSWER III. We should learn church history because God will use it to encourage us toward godliness. ANSWER IV. We should learn church history because God will use it make us excited to do great things and suffer great things for Christ. ANSWER V. We should learn church history because it is the story of Jesus conquering the nations through his Gospel. “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:1-2). This is Christ, riding on his white horse, going forth conquering, and to conquer the nations through the preaching of the gospel. I. THE FIRST CENTURY CAN BE SEPARATED INTO THREE PERIODS I) In the first period of the first century, Jesus Christ came into the world as the God-man to preach, save, and conquer (A.D. 0-33). Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He also said, “[The kingdom of God] is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants” (Mark 4:31-32). Christ came to preach. Christ came to save. Christ came to conquer. This period came to an end with the resurrection of Jesus, after his perfect life and wonderful death to save us from our sins. II) In the second period of the first century, Jesus sent his apostles to preach the gospel and plant churches all over the world (A.D. 33-66). Christ said to his apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). By the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles went out to preach all over the known world. Churches were planted in Israel, Greece, Italy, Asia, Africa, and even India. This period came to an end with the death of the apostles and the destruction of Jerusalem. III) In the third period of the first century, Jesus preserved his people through great suffering (A.D. 66-100). To the church in Smyrna, Jesus wrote a letter and said, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Saints will suffer for Christ. Saints will reign with Christ. CONCLUSION: POLYCARP’S MARTYRDOM Now let me tell you a story of a man named Polycarp who was born in the year 69 and was one of the Pastors of the church in Smyrna—the same church Jesus wrote that letter to and said, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer… be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Polycarp was killed because he would not worship the Roman emperor. Christ is King, so Polycarp would not worship anyone but him. He said, ”Eighty and six years I have served [Christ], and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked." Before his death he prayed, "I bless you, Father, for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ." Polycarp was burned at the stake and pierced with a spear. What do you think happened to Polycarp as soon as he died? He was given the crown of life with Jesus in heaven. The more they killed Christians the more the gospel spread and more people were saved! Tertullian, an early church historian, said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” He is right. Nothing can stop Jesus as he is riding his white horse because “Christ came out conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).

MANY FALSE PROPHETS HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD: The Second Century

August 18, 2022 • Brett Baggett • 1 John 4:1

RECAP: Question I. What is church history? Answer. Church history is the story of how Jesus has built his church for his own glory and his peoples’ good. “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Question II. Why should we learn church history? Answer. We should learn church history because it is the story of Jesus conquering the nations through his Gospel. “[Christ] came out conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). Concerning the First Century, we have learned that, Christ came to save, the Apostles were sent out to preach, and then the early church suffered yet was sustained by Christ. First Century memory verse: "Christ came out conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). First Century memory quote: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” (Tertullian). THE SECOND CENTURY (100-200 A.D.) I. The church was attacked by persecution, but they remained faithful to Jesus even unto death (Revelation 2:10). “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” II. The church was attacked by false teachers, but they remained faithful to Jesus by believing the Bible (1 John 4:1). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” The false teachers in the second century taught that the spiritual was good and the physical was bad. False teachers taught that the Creation was evil, so the one true God could not have created it (Gnosticism). False teachers also taught that Jesus did not become truly human, because, they said, that would mean God became something inherently evil (Docetism). False teachers also taught that our bodies are evil, so we will not be resurrected with Jesus and like Jesus. Here is the true teaching of the Bible: God created the world and everything in it, and it was good. Jesus became a true human being so he could save us from our sins. We who believe in Christ will be resurrected from the dead with Jesus and like Jesus. Because of these False Teachers, the church started writing Creeds, otherwise known as Confessions of Faith. THE APOSTLES’ CREED: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. CONCLUSION: Ignatius of Antioch (Syria). He said, “If Christ be not fully human and if he did not really die, why am I suffering for the gospel and prepared to die for it?” Ignatius was put on trial and condemned by the Roman Emperor for the crime of being a Christian. While being transported to Rome to be killed, he wrote to multiple churches, and said this: “I am writing to all the Churches and I enjoin all, that I am dying willingly for God's sake, if only you do not prevent it. I beg you, do not do me an untimely kindness. Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God. I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ.” Ignatius wanted to die for the Lord Jesus, and begged Christians not to try and break him free. He further said, “Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting of me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil - let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.” Ignatius was killed for being a Christian around the year 140 in Rome. Most likely he was eaten alive by lions. But he remained faithful to Jesus even unto death. Remember what Revelation 3:10 says: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” What happened as soon as Ignatius died? He saw Christ! And he has been happier and happier every day since. In the second century, the Church was attacked by persecution and by false teachers, but they remained faithful to Jesus. Second Century memory verse: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) Second Century memory quote: “Let all persecutions come upon me, only let me enjoy my God” (Ignatius of Antioch).

ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO MAKE A DEFENSE: The Third Century

September 1, 2022 • Brett Baggett • 2 Timothy 3:12, Revelation 6:2, Matthew 16:18, 1 Peter 3:15

Third century memory verse: “Always be prepared to make a defense” (1 Peter 3:15). Third century memory quote: “We worship Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity” (Tertullian, 155-220). *This means we worship one God who exists in three Persons, and we worship three Persons who exist in one God. RECAP Question I. What is church history? Answer. Church history is the story of how Jesus has built his church for his own glory and his peoples’ good. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Question II. Why should we learn church history? Answer. We should learn church history because it is the story of Jesus conquering the nations through his Gospel. “[Christ] came out conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). In the Second Century (i) The Church was attacked by persecution, and (ii) The Church was attacked by false teachers. Through these attacks the church remained faithful to Jesus. Second century memory verse: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Second century memory verse: “Let all persecutions come upon me, only let me enjoy my God” (Ignatius of Antioch). THE THIRD CENTURY (A.D. 200-300) I. THE CHURCH HAD TO SUFFER GREATLY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LIVE HOLY.“All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Christ will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Christians could not work certain jobs, because they desired to live holy lives. They could not take part in worshiping false gods. If they were builder they might have to be involved in building the walls of a false gods temple, someone who made clothes may have had to make them for the priest of an idol, someone who made incense may have had to make it for sacrifices to a false god. A Christian Bible-teacher named Tertullian even told Christians they should not be schoolteachers in the Roman Empire, because they had to use textbooks that told the ancient stories of the Roman false gods. The textbooks also told people they should worship idols. Even those who wanted to work in hospitals found that these places were controlled by those who worshipped demon gods, and the Christians could not do it. So they suffered. However, the greatest reason they suffered is because they would not worship the Roman King Caesar as god. They would not say Kaiser Kyrios. They would only say Christos Kyrios. Because the Christians would not worship the false gods of Rome, the Roman citizens blamed Christians for all the bad things that happened. Tertullian said, “If [anything bad happens in the Roman Empire], at once the cry is raised: ‘Christians to the lion.’” The Christians suffered all these things because they wanted to live holy lives for Jesus. Because Jesus is worth it! II. THE CHURCH ALSO HAD TO DEFEND THE TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE AGAINST HERETICS. “Always be prepared to make a defense” (1 Peter 3:15). A Heretic is someone who teaches things that deny the basic truths of the Bible, and the word heresy is a deviation from a basic teaching in the Bible. In the Third Century, these Christians who defended the truths of the Bible were called The Apologists. The word apologist means defender. The Apologists of the Third Century defended the truth of the Bible against the heresy of Modalism. “Modalism teaches that there is one God who has appeared in different ways, or modes—as Father, Son, or Holy Spirit” (Sinclair Ferguson). In contrast to the teaching of Modalism, the Apologists taught what the Scriptures teach about God being one in essence yet three Persons. The Baptist Catechism for Boys and Girls lists these three questions in a row, to help us understand our Triune God as faithfully taught in the Scriptures, and they should remind us of the Apologists against the Modalists in the Third Century: Q6. Are there more gods than one? A. There is only one God (Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mk 12:29; Acts 17:22-31). Q7. In how many persons does this one God exist? A. In three persons (Mt 3:16, 17; In 5:23; 10:30; 14:9, 10; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 In 5:20; Rv 1:4, 5). Q8. Who are the persons of the Trinity? A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20, 21). CONCLUSION. Tertullian (155-220), the man who has already been quoted in this lesson, was from Carthage in the Country Tunisia, which is in Northern Africa. He was one of the Apologists in the third century. Tertullian fought against the heresy called Modalism and, as far as we know, was the first person in church history to use the word Trinity as it relates to the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Tertullian said, “We worship Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.” This means we worship one God who exists in three Persons, and we worship three Persons who exist in one God. Third century memory verse: “Always be prepared to make a defense” (1 Peter 3:15). Third century memory quote: “We worship Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity” (Tertullian, 155-220). This means we worship one God who exists in three Persons, and we worship three Persons who exist in one God.