The Need for Continued Restoration

I. Reflections on the Restoration Movement

A. We are eternally indebted to those brave men and women who cast off denominational shackles and began to speak where the Bible had spoken and be silent where it was silent.

1. They had not been concerned with starting a new denomination but had only been interested in going back to pure, New Testament Christianity where all were known simply as “Christians.” (Acts 11:26)
2. Through the labors of these individuals we have learned to demand a “thus saith the Lord” for everything we do in religion.

B. A word of caution.

1. While we may consider ourselves heirs of the restoration movement, we must never forget that we do not owe even the slightest allegiance to the movement itself. • Since the movement’s goal was not to start something new to which allegiance would be given, but rather to get people everywhere to sever ties with manmade religious movements and return to the Bible and Christ, to give allegiance to the movement itself would be a violation of the most fundamental principle and goal of the movement.
2. We must not judge whether a thing is good or bad, authorized or unauthorized, based on the views of restoration movement. a. The movement was composed of many men of many different denominational backgrounds who held many divergent views making it easy to find the seeds of every modern branch of the movement present during the movement. b. We need to look only to our Bibles for what we should do or not do.

C. Often, when we think of the efforts of those involved in the movement to restore New Testament Christianity, we envision, in reality, only a partial restoration.

1. We primarily think of restoring the outward form of true Christianity. We think of restoring: a. The non-denominational structure of the church. b. The principle of congregational independence. c. The New Testament pattern of local church organization—elders and deacons. d. Non-instrumental music in worship services. e. The weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. f. Baptism to its rightful place in the scheme of redemption.
2. All of the above items are essential but, by themselves, they are not enough.

II. The Need for Continued Restoration

A. We cannot restore true New Testament Christianity just by restoring the outward forms established by Christ and His apostles. More is involved than mere outward practices.

B. Restoration must continue in an effort to recapture the inner spirit of New Testament Christianity—those attitudes of heart and qualities of character which the New Testament sets forth as being as essential as any outward practices or forms.

III. The Attitudes of New Testament Christianity Which Must Be Restored

A. The zeal of New Testament Christianity (Titus 2:14).

1. Even when scattered by persecution, the members of the early church went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)
2. Because they were filled with a burning desire to serve the Lord, the early church soon spread the gospel throughout the entire world. (Col. 1:23)
3. We sometimes have difficultly spreading the word over our backyard fence or even to our own children.

B. New Testament courage. (Phil. 4:13)

1. We need men and women who will willingly stand up for Christ.
2. New Testament examples of courage: a. Stephen. (Acts 7) b. Peter and John before the council of the Jews. (Acts 4-5) c. Paul in the face of countless trials and perils. (2 Cor. 11:23-28; 2 Tim. 4:16) 3. Sadly, many today who profess to be Christians do not have the courage to let their friends know they are Christians.

C. New Testament generosity.

1. New Testament examples of generosity: a. The Jerusalem Christians sold their property to provide for their brethren. (Act 4:37) b. Christians at Antioch sent to the needs of their brethren in Jerusalem. (Acts 11:29) c. Christians at Macedonia, in spite of their own poverty, gave beyond what anyone thought they could to help the needy saints in Judea (2 Cor. 8:1-5).
2. The saints at Macedonia provide the key to the generosity of all Christians: They had first given themselves to the Lord. (2 Cor. 8:5)
3. One who is not generous with the blessings he has received from the Lord cannot claim to have restored New Testament Christianity for the love of God does not dwell in him. (1 John 3:17)

D. Brotherly love. (Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:22)

1. Time and again congregations have been split wide open by envy, strife, and malicious gossip by people who claim to be members of the body of the Lord.
2.  New Testament Christianity is characterized by brotherly love (John 13:34-35) which will even be gentle when a brother has been overtaken by sin. (Gal. 6:1)
3. The qualities of this love are related in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

E. Belief in the power of prayer. (Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 18:1)

1. Sometimes Christians are hesitant to pray for anything definite because they fear some will think they are asking for a miracle but God’s promise to answer the prayers of His children is not restricted to the age of miraculous gifts.
2. If Christians would spend less time fretting about their problems and more time praying about them, they would be much better off. (1 Thes. 5:17)

F. The hope and confidence of early Christians.

1. Just as the Bible says baptism saves us (1 Pet. 3:21), it also states we are saved by hope (Rom. 8:24).
2. People who do not have a confident hope of heaven are not going there.
3. A lack of hope stems from one or both of the following: a. A knowledge that we are not living in the proper manner which would enable us to go there. b. A lack of faith in the grace and mercy of God.

G. Watchfulness. (Matt. 26:41)

1. Christians in the early church anticipated and desired the Lord’s return. (Rev. 22:20)
2. Possibly the passing of 1900 years of silence from heaven has lulled some to sleep. a. Few really imagine that Christ will return in their lifetimes. b. Fewer consider the fact that He might actually return at any minute as a “thief in the night.” (1 Thes. 5:2)
3. People who are not watching usually are not prepared.

H. New Testament joy. (1 John 1:4; Phil. 4:4)

1. Friedrich Nietzsche, an unbeliever, once remarked that if Christians wanted him to believe that they had a Redeemer, they were going to have to start looking a little more redeemed. His point: People who are truly redeemed from sin ought to be the happiest people in the world.
2. If we wish to persuade people that we have restored the New Testament order established by our Redeemer, we are going to have to start showing more joy in our redemption.

J. The total dedication to Jesus that many early Christians possessed. (Mark 10:28; Matt. 16:24)

1. Jesus was not kidding when He said that we would have to follow Him even if it meant giving up everything that is dear to us, even family (Matt. 10:37-39).
2. Sadly some have a difficult time giving up their favorite TV programs to follow Him.

Conclusion

1. Generally speaking, we need a complete restoration of the life of Christ in every person who claims to be His disciple (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 11:1). Anything less is not enough.
2. Without a restoration of the inner spirit of New Testament Christianity, any restoration of the outward form, important as it may be, will still be a hollow shell—an impotent religion akin to that of the Scribes and Pharisees in the days of Jesus.