(Matthew 16:13-19)
A. “Church” = Ek Lesia [EKKLESIA] = The “called out ones”
1. Church in the New Testament
a. Universal All Christians (Matthew 16:18)
b. Local One Congregation (1 Corinthians 1:2)
c. Assembly of the local congregation (1 Corinthians 14:28,34)
d. Congregations in a Geographical area ~ Churches of Galatia (Galatians) ~ 7 churches of Asia (Revelation)
B. church belonging to Christ (Romans 16:16) (Acts 20:28)
1. Church is the spiritual body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23) (Colossians 1:18)
2. Only One body (Ephesians 4:4) (1 Corinthians 1:10-18)
3. Body is the saved (Acts 2:41,47) (Ephesians 5:23)
4. THEREFORE (in N.T.): Church = Saved & Saved = Church
A. Prophesied (Daniel 2:31-45) (Micah 4:1-2) (Isaiah 2:2-4)
1. Marks:
a. Last Days
b. Lord’s house established in top of mountains
c. All Nations
d. From Jerusalem
2. WHEN? “Days of these kings” (Daniel 2)
a. Dream of Nebuchadnezzar: DANIEL 2 HISTORY Gold head = Babylon Breast & Arms Of Silver = Medo-Persians Belly & Thighs Of Brass = Greeks Legs of iron & Feet iron & clay = Romans
B. Promised
1. By Jesus (Matthew 16:18ff)
2. In Jesus' Generation (Mark 9:1)
3. In Jerusalem (Luke 24:49)
4. By Holy Spirit through the Apostles (Acts 1:2-5)
C. Present (Acts 2:1-4, 14-21) (Colossians 1:13) (Romans 16:16)
1. ALL Prophesies fulfilled.... PROPHESY FULFILLED (Isaiah 2:2) (Micah 4:1) LAST DAYS (Acts 2:17) (Joel 2:28) (Isaiah 2:2...............................ALL NATIONS (Acts 10) (Acts 2:5 (Isaiah 2:3) (Micah 4:2).........JERUSALEM (Acts 1:4 & 2:5) (Micah 4:1).............................HOUSE OF LORD (1 Timothy 3:15) (Daniel 2:44)...........................KINGDOM (Matthew 16:18) (Colossians 1:13)
A. Founder/Head
1. CHRIST (Matthew 16:18) (Acts 20:28) (Ephesians 1:22) B . Location founded
2. JERUSALEM (Isaiah 2:3) (Acts 2:5,47)
C. Date founded
1. “Days of these kings” (Daniel 2)
a. Death of Christ (Acts 20:28)
D. “Family” Name
1. Christians (Acts 11:26 )
a. Divine calling, fulfilling prophesy (Isaiah 62:1-2) (Jeremiah 31:31ff)
E. Designations of the church --- Church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2) (Acts 20:28) --- Body of Christ (Colossians 1:18) (Ephesians 1:22-23) --- churches of Christ (Romans 16:16) (Matthew 16:18) --- Bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-4) (Revelation 21:9) --- the church (Acts 2:47 ; 8:1 ; 12:1) --- Kingdom (Hebrews 12:28) (Colossians 1:13) --- church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15) --- Flock of God (1 Peter 5:3) --- the whole family (Ephesians 3:15)
F. Members of church are: ````````````````````````````````` --- Christians (family name. See above) (Acts 11:26 ; 26:28) (1 Peter 4:6) --- Disciples (John 15:8) (Acts 11:26) --- Saints (Romans 1:7) (1 Corinthians 1:2) (Philippians 1:1) --- Brethren (Luke 8:21) (Galatians 6:1) --- Children of God (Galatians 3:26) (Romans 8:16) --- Members (of the spiritual body) (1 Corinthians 6:15)
G. Creed [“Credo” = “I believe”]
1. Jesus (Matthw 16:18) (Acts 8:37)
H. Rule of Faith & Practice
1. Word of God (N.T.) (Matthew 28:18-20) (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (James 1:21) (John 12:48)
1. Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7) (1 Corinthians 11:23 ; 10:16-21)
a. Only observed in N.T. on first day of the week
2. Sing (Colossians 3:16) (Ephesians 5:19) (1 Corinthians 14:15)
a. Only command & example is to sing
b. God's silence does NOT authorize (Hebrews 7)
3. Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17) (Hebrews 4:16)
a. Faithful christian men to pray everywhere (1 Timothy 2:8)
b. Women not to lead worship (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
4. Teach/Preach (Acts 20:7 ; 2:47) (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
a. Preach only the gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 4:1-5) (Romans 1:15-17) ~NOT to preach human traditions or philosophies (Colossians 2:8)
5. Giving for work of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ; 8:5,8-9)
J. Jesus' Mission for the church
1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15-16) (Acts 5:42) (Ephesians 5:19) (1 Timothy 4:16)
2. Edification (Ephesians 4:12-16) (Hebrews 10:24-25)
3. Benevolence
a. Individual Responsibility (Galatians 6:10 ; 2:10)
b. Congregational Responsibility (1 Timothy 5:8-16) (James 1:27) (Acts 6:1-6) (Ephesians 4:28)
K. Membership
1. ADDED by God (Neither 'joined' or 'voted in') (Acts 2:41,47) Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17) ~ “Foolishness of preaching” (1 Corinthians 1) Believe in Christ (John 3:16 ; 8:24) ~ “that I Am” that is, that Jesus is deity. Repent of sins (Acts 17:30 ; 2:38) ~ NOT “worldly sorrow”, but change from “godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) Confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10) (Matthew 10:32-33) (Acts 8:35) ~ Unsaved NOT confessing sin, or are already saved before baptism Baptized into Christ (Mark 16:15-16) (Galatians 3:26-27) (1 Peter 3:21) ~ Lost are OUTSIDE of Christ
A. TWO Possible
1. Faithful = Heaven
a. Walk in “the light” of Gods word (1 John 1:1-7)
b. Be faithful to Christ to the point of death (Revelation 2:10)
c. Faithful to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)
2. Unfaithful = Hell
a. Faithful can fall/leave Christ (1 Corinthians 10:12) b, End of fallen Christians worse than alien sinner (2 Peter 2:20-22)
A. Salvation is ONLY 'in' Christ
B. “In” Christ = “In” his body/church/kingdom
C. Living faithful IN Christ is ONLY path to Heaven.