I We proclaim His rightful lordship to others, seeking to bring them into submission to His rule. ‣ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. They think first of no school and secondly of playing outside with sleds and snowballs and coming inside to a warm fire and hot chocolate. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”. Or at least that’s what should happen in Christian families and in the family of God! M 5:22-33). … the church has characteristics that cannot rightly be applied to the Old Testament assembly and which therefore set it off as something new. The main application is that we are to relate to Christ in love, as a bride relates to her husband, and that we are to thrive in the knowledge that He loves us and chose us to be His bride. The New Testament churches knew nothing of having one man called the pastor who was the head of the church. (d) Every believer in Jesus Christ is a priest, 1 Peter 2:5,9. Q. to do and to teach. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2017, All Rights Reserved. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. ‣ And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 12:13): “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” He doesn’t mention in that chapter that Christ is the head of the body because his aim is to emphasize both the unity and diversity of the church. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo... More, The Net Pastor’s Journal, Eng Ed, Issue 37, Fall 2020. 6:19; 3: 16-17). We must not compel others to do what Paul did voluntarily as a matter of Christian liberty. A Song of Ascents. That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. S And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. The number 2 conveys the meaning of a union, division or the verification of facts by witnesses. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 6 The careful student will want to study, The Principles of the New Testament Church by Bill McRae (Dallas: Believers Chapel, n.d.). The answer to these four questions should help us to discern what New Testament practices we should persist in following today. The church is the God-ordained local assembly of believers who have committed themselves to each other. J Dr. Gene Getz, in his book The Measure of a Church, suggests that we evaluate on the basis of three essential ingredients, faith, hope, and love. As long as his buddies aren’t doing something more interesting, he’ll tag along to please his wife. ‣ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Publisher: OpenBible.info. He leads me beside still waters. We must conclude that the church met wherever it was convenient to do so, and that no one kind of meeting place was superior to another. So you attend the church that provides what best meets your and your family’s needs. It is for this reason I would like to attempt to define what a New Testament church should be. After describing God’s people at Mount Sinai (Heb. But if being a New Testament church is a goal to which we strive, we must surely have a more concise definition in mind. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Among those who claim to be born again, the prevailing American view is that you attend church to worship God and get spiritual nourishment. Q. There should be no man who exalts himself or allows himself to become the function ‘head’ of the church. ), it also met at the Temple, in various synagogues for a time, and in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). How Can an Omnipresent God Be in Hell if that is Eternal Separation from God. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 3. 1:5). He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Also, it’s important to note that the Bible never uses the word “church” to refer to the building where God’s people met, but almost always to the cities where they met: The church in Jerusalem, Philippi, Corinth, Rome, etc. How do you deal with a sinning professed believer who is not a church member? There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—. So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. So the church meets a social need. Lest we think that he is limiting his discussion to marriage, he states (Eph. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. G But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. For example, the word ‘peace’ means one thing to an American and another to the communist. He promises that all who believe that Jesus died for their sins and was raised from the dead receive forgiveness of all their sins and eternal life as a free gift. Behind this practice of plurality rule by elders is the principle of the headship of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same thing can be said for meeting in houses. 1. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. And I believe it in part. If you’ve trusted in Christ, you’re organically joined to other members, so that you’re one body with them under the Head. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Most people would associate this term with Sunday, stained glass and sermons. Q. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Many churches refuse to allow an individual to partake of Communion who are not ‘members’ of their church. ‣ Let’s take another word, ‘snow.’ To our children, this word stimulates associations which are very positive. They gather regularly, they teach the Word, celebrate communion and baptism, discipline their members, establish a biblical structure of leadership, they pray and give together. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. You are God's field, God's building. The family bond keeps them together so that they work out their differences in love. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Ecclesiology (The Church), Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. We must first ask ourselves what the principle behind this instruction is. If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; But 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.”, He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! 3:15; 1 Pet. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ‣ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. On the other hand foot washing was not practiced by the church at all. As he left the meeting my friend remarked, “I don’t know what that was, but it wasn’t what turned the world upside down.”. There is also the union between Christ and the church (see 1Corinthians 12). The idea that a Christian could live his or her independent spiritual life separate from the life of a local church is foreign to the New Testament. Conversely, there is no principle underlying the meeting of the church in private homes, other than that of practicality. ‣ Rather we are told in Scripture that we should not compel anyone to regard one day above another (Romans 14:5,6; Colossians 2:16,17). A Song of Ascents. Or, it may be an industrial building remodeled into an auditorium and classrooms. Going along with the point that the church is Christ’s body is the truth that Christ and the church make up the “one new man.” Adam, the first man, fell into sin.
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