Sunday, June 24, 2018 am\
The New Testament Church
2017-18 (65)
The New Testament Church
- Review and Conclusion
We
have been engaged in a lengthy study of the New Testament church.
It is my hope that this study has been beneficial and caused us
to further consider where we are as the Lord’s church here in
Bellflower. And of course,
our goal is to understand what the church is like in its ideal
environment. And while we
may not be there yet, that we will consider, apply and repent where
necessary, whether it be what we are doing, how we are doing it or our
attitudes toward this body.
So today, I want to engage in a single, brief review of what the church
is based upon 18 months of studies. NOTE:
Clearly, this is not a detailed study of any given subject, but a simple
description of various areas we need to consider as we seek to be the
church of Christ we read of in the Bible.
Let’s get started.
a.
The church was a part of
God’s plan from the very beginning. Ephesians
3:10-11 tells us that it was according to His eternal purpose which He
accomplished in Christ Jesus.
Many want to dismiss the church as unimportant, but when we
consider that God planned it, fortold of it, and brought it into
existence through the sacrifice of Jesus, we ought to take note of its
importance.
b.
From a Greek word,
ἐκκλησία
(ekklesia), which describes an assembling.
We are the assembled saints of Christ.
c.
The word is never used
to describe an individual, but is a collective noun (meaning, a group of
something – think flock, herd, fleet, etc.).
Thus the church is a group of Christians who have joined
together. Context, the word
is found some 115 times in the NKJV, determines what it involves.
d.
The word is used in 2
senses –
i.
Universal –
descriptive of the body of all who are saved.
This is not an earthly organization, but relationship with God
and Christ. If you are
saved, you are part of the church used in this sense.
Matthew 16:18 – Jesus built His (ONE) church. Ephesians 1:22-23
ii.
Local –
descriptive of a group of saints who join together in a given locale to
do the work God has prescribed for it to do.
This is what we have been addressing in this entire study.
While there is one universal body in heaven, there are many local
churches (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:2, Revelation 1:4, etc.).
But these varying congregations were all following the same pattern.
The message delivered to one, was applicable to all (as it
applied) – cf. Revelation 2:7.
iii.
We find authority and direction for BOTH in God’s word.
ONE point we have emphasized in this study is to recognize which usage
of the church is part of God’s plan?
Then answer is BOTH!
e.
God WANTS us to be part
of a local congregation –
we have spent considerable time establishing that the church, including
the local congregation, is a part of God’s pattern.
There are works that require us to be a congregation to properly
carry them out. If we are
serious about our spiritual growth, we will not seek to avoid the local
church.
a.
Is God’s pattern
sufficient? Clearly, we must
accept that God is in control and His word is “gospel”.
To reject His word is to reject Him.
b.
With all the religious
confusion in the world one might ask, how can we know what is right and
what is not right. The
simple answer is that we need to approach God’s word reverently and with
an understanding of HOW we establish authority.
c.
How do we establish
authority? We devoted a
number of lessons to understand how we determine what to do and what not
to do. There are 3
ways we establish authority
i.
Direct command – what God directly says or prohibits.
Actually the majority of our instructions are presented in clear
commands.
ii.
Approved example – an example that clearly show HOW a command is to be carried out.
For example: Acts 20:7 gives us an example of WHEN the disciples
assembled and partook of the Lord’s Supper.
iii.
Necessary conclusion – we read what is said about a subject, and reach unavoidable
conclusions. For example:
Acts 20:7, along with other passages shows that it was on the first day
of the week (Sunday) that disciples came together to “break bread” – the
Lord’s Supper. We can
conclude that this was something they did regularly.
How often? How often
is there a “first day of the week”?
We can conclude that a pattern that if we follow it, we will be
right with God.
d.
There are also two TYPES
of authority:
i.
Specific –
where we are given a specific instructions that leave no room for our
judgment. The “You shall…”
or “You shall not…” commands fit in this.
When God said to “Go into all the world” (Mark 16:15), that
excludes the other option – ‘DON’T GO”
This is why we do not use instrumental music in our worship.
The specific commands involve ONLY singing with our voice – 1
Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, etc.
ii.
Generic –
where we are NOT given specific instructions.
Typically, this involves HOW a direct command is carried out.
For example: The command to “go into the world and preach” (Mark
16:16) does not specify the way we go – thus we are free to choose our
mode of going.
iii.
Most commands contain
degrees of both generic and specific instructions. With wisdom and
continued study, we can determine these distinctions.
a.
With so much religious
confusion, one wonders how can we determine what is pleasing to God.
Does He accept anything, provided you are sincere?
In God’s word, we find He has always expected men to follow His
pattern. That is what this
study has been about.
To find the TRUE church, we need to examine what a congregation does and
does not do based upon God’s word.
That is really what this study has been about.
b.
The importance of a name
– a good place to begin is by noting how they identify themselves.
Do they use some man’s name, or some organizational description
or (as is popular today) do they pick a word that describes character
(e.g. Grace Community Church, Lighthouse, etc.)?
We have established that names are important as they identify who we
are.
In scripture congregations identified themselves with Christ (Romans
16:16) or God (1 Corinthians 1:2), or simply identified themselves with
their location (church of the Thessalonians – 1 Thessalonians 1:1).
We ought to seek a scriptural name as that declares to the world
we value the examples of scripture.
c.
Beyond that, to identify a New Testament church
we need to look at what they do according to God’s pattern.
IV.
The Organization of the
church
a.
Autonomous and
independent
– we have clearly shown that congregations in the New Testament were
self-governing (autonomous) answering directly to the Lord (think of the
7 churches of Asia). They
also acted independently of other congregations in their leadership and
work.
We find no earthly headquarters, or organizations larger than a local
church in the New Testament.
b.
While we do read of
cooperation between congregations
– they always maintained their independence and autonomy.
We noted several examples of this both concerning benevolence and
evangelism.
c.
Leaders
were also limited in their authority:
i.
Elders –
were to shepherd the flock among them – Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-3.
Their authority is limited to that congregation.
This is one reason we must understand and respect autonomy and
independence among congregations. Elders have NO RIGHT to oversee the
work of another congregation.
There are strong standards that must be applied when we consider
who we are to appoint as elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
God desires that every congregation have elders and we must be working
toward that end.
ii.
Deacons –
were special servants who meet certain qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
and help carrying out the duties assigned to them by the elders.
You CANNOT have deacons without elders.
iii.
Preachers –
proclaim the word of God and build up the body – cf. Ephesians 4:11-12,
etc.
iv.
Christians
(saints) – all who are members of a congregation need to be Christians.
(Philippians 1:1) That is
the very foundation of a church that belongs to Christ.
a.
There are 4 areas of
work that we find churches engaged in, in scripture.
b.
Evangelism
– reaching the lost. Paul
described the church as “the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Timothy
3:15). Churches supported
the spreading of the gospel, by sending out preachers to do the work.
c.
Edification
– building up the saved.
Ephesians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 12, etc.
We noted that edification in the church is about building us up
spiritually. It is not about
catering to the social affairs of one another.
d.
Benevolence
– helping and relieving one another.
We noted some examples of congregations helping their own needy
(1 Timothy 5:8ff), and helping need brethren in other locations.
They did this by sending directly to the need and without
creating an external organization or some congregation sponsoring the
work or fundraising for the work.
e.
Worshipping God
– when we assemble together, our worship is about God.
While we are edified in our worship, that is a benefit.
But we must never forget that it is directed toward God.
That is why I describe it as its own work.
f.
One element we must also
remember is that there is a distinction between what the church and the
individual can do. The
church cannot relive each Christian of his individual responsibilities
(cf. 1 Timothy 5:16).
a.
An integral part of our
work. We are called upon to
assemble on Sundays (Acts
20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, etc.)
This was such a concern that the Hebrew writer warned brethren to
not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:24-25).
b.
Preaching and studying
– when we come together, we will open God’s word and learn from it.
Continuing in the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42).
Acts 20:7 – Paul preached when they came together.
c.
Praying – 1
Corinthians 14:15. Prayers are the mode through which we communicate TO
God. There are public
prayers and private prayers in scripture.
d.
The Lord’s Supper
– to be partaken each Sunday (Acts 20:7), in remembrance of Him.
We seek to follow the pattern of that which the Lord instituted
the night of His betrayal (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
e.
Contributing
– 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
There is authority for the church to take up a collection on the first
day of the week for her to do her work.
f.
Singing –
only vocal singing is emphasized in NT worship – Ephesians 5:19,
Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:15, etc.
We established WHY God does not
need or want instrumental music in our worship.
It is about praising Him and edifying one another from the heart.
a.
God wants us to be
united!
That is emphasize over and over in letters addressed to churches
– 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 2:1-2, etc.
But we have noted that this unity cannot come at the expense of
truth, which is why we need to seek to be of one mind with one another.
b.
God wants us to be pure
– Ephesians 5:22-33 compares Christ and His church to a groom and bride.
He notes that Christ gave Himself
to sanctify and present her as pure, without spot or wrinkle (5:25-27).
That is why we must practice discipline – 1 Corinthians 5:4-6.
A delicate subject that we must address properly.
Withdrawing from a wayward member is not to be taken lightly or
swiftly. A soul is in
danger.
A church is also to ensure that false doctrine and immorality are not
tolerated in its midst.
That is why teaching needs to take place to ground us in the truth, so
that we will know what IS truth and how to spot the wolf seeking to
devour us. Elders and
preachers are particularly responsible to help with this.
a.
Another factor we need
to consider with the church is WHO is a part of it.
A local congregation is not merely about numbers – how many
identify with us. It is a
body of the saved! That
is why, to the best of our ability, we need to only add to our number
those who we understand to be saved (and part of the universal church).
b.
God’s word teaches that
for one to be saved they must:
i.
Hear His word – Romans
10:17
ii.
Believe – Mark 16:16,
Romans 10:9-10
iii.
Repent – Acts 2:38,
17:30-31
iv.
Confess Him – Romans
10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33
v.
Be baptized – immersed
for the remission of his sins – Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38,
1 Peter 3:20-21, Romans 6:3-4, etc.
One must understand WHY they are being baptized.
c.
Christians are then called upon to be faithful
i.
Revelation 2:10, Luke
9:62, etc.
ii.
A congregation of the
Lord’s people seeks to help each member be faithful to Him.
God designed the church to help build us up spiritually.
iii.
YET, as we have noted
recently – the church can only do so much.
Ultimately, you will answer for yourself when you stand before
God. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
And
thus, we can see the importance of the church.
While many today have sought to dismiss or diminish its
importance, clearly God sees her as important.
Much of the New Testament was addressed to congregations seeking
to faithfully serve the Lord.
It is my sincere desire that this study has given us a deeper
appreciation for the church and our need to ensure that this
congregation is everything God wants us to be.
Our final lessons have examined some churches whose character we
studied to help us take a serious look at ourselves to see if we are
what God wants us to be. May
we ALWAYS strive to be the church of Christ that He wants.
I humbly commend this series to you.