The seamstress and the carpenter build according to the pattern or blueprint.
It is especially important in religion - 1 Cor. 2:11; Jer. 10:23; Prov. 16:25.
God has given a perfect pattern - must build accordingly.
Moses and the tabernacle - Ex. 25:8-9,40
- much disobedience - Lev. 10:1-2; 16:12; 1 Chron. 13:7-10; 15:11-15
Solomon and the temple - 1 Chron. 28:11-19
- much disobedience - 2 Chron. 26:16-20; 33:4-11
The church must be built according to the pattern.
Heb. 8:4-5 - Moses could not change - neither can we.
Acts 2:42 - those teaching contrary - Rom. 16:17-18
Luke 8:11; Matt. 13:19 - Born of this seed - 1 Pet. 1:23
Every seed yields after its kind - Gen. 1:11-12
We don't need an historical succession.
Chart #2
Name - Acts 11:26; Rom. 16:16
Foundation - 1 Cor. 3:11; Matt. 16:18
Law - 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Membership - Acts 2:38,47; Gal. 3:26-27
Organization - Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11
Worship - Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Acts 20:7
Discipline - Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4-5; Rev. 2:14-16
Love of brethren - 1 Pet. 1:22; Heb. 13:1; John 13:34-35
Chart #3
Many religious bodies.
Eph. 4:4; John 17:21; 1 Cor. 1:10
Instrumental music.
Only singing is mentioned in the N.T. - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
Church kitchens.
Social & recreational endeavors - not the work of the church
Acting where there is no pattern - serious offence - 2 John 9; 1 Cor. 4:6
Sponsoring churches.
The pattern - for relief from want - Rom. 15:26
The design - for equality - 2 Cor. 8:13-15
Pattern is violated - to an able church for any other cause.
Conclusion:
Disobedient punished for violating the pattern.
Matt. 7:22-23; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19
Must faithfully build according to the pattern - it will be identical.
Anything else cannot be the N.T. church and will be rooted up.
Matt. 15:13; Psalm 127:1