How To Understand The Bible
New Testament Church
New Testament Church
•
A survey of the Bible must of necessity deal with
the purpose, establishment, and organization of
the Lord's church, for it was in God's eternal plan
(Eph. 3:9-11).
•
The presence of a multitude of different churches
attests to the fact that there is much confusion and
disagreement as to the question of the church.
•
Which church is right? Of which church should we
be members?
These questions must be answered, not on the basis of
our own feelings or wisdom (Isa. 55:8-9), but rather on
the foundation of what the Bible says concerning the
church.
WILL MEMBERS OF ONLY ONE CHURCH BE SAVED?
A. The Church Of Itself Can Save No One.
1. God did not make the church the savior; Christ is.
However, this must not be misunderstood to mean
church membership is unimportant, for it is.
2. The dividing factor between the saved and the lost is
stated by Jesus: "HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF
MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN“ Matt. 7:21-23.
a.
Obviously, not everyone will be saved, Matt. 7:13-14.
b.
Who do you believe will be lost? Would you agree with
Jesus, "NOT EVERYONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME,
LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM
OF HEAVEN"?
WILL MEMBERS OF ONLY ONE CHURCH BE SAVED?
B. Are All Churches Built By Jesus Christ? Matt.
16:18
1. Many people have the feeling that one church is as
good as another. Had the N.T. revealed more than
one, this conclusion would be justified.
2. However, the N.T. teaches of only one body, Rom.
12:4-5; I Cor. 12:27.
a. The body is the church, Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24.
b. There are as many bodies as Lords, Eph. 4:4-6.
WILL MEMBERS OF ONLY ONE CHURCH BE SAVED?
C. Division Has Never Been Accepted By God On Any
Basis.
1.
God is not the author of confusion, I Cor. 14:33.
2.
The Lord prayed for unity that the world may believe, John 17:20-21.
3.
Christians were reproved for division, I Cor. 1:10-13.
4.
We should seek only that men be added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:47),
and our efforts should be to preserve unity in this body of believers.
1.
This is the way to practice undenominational Christianity.
2.
To accomplish this, denominational traditions which divide us must
be abolished, and in their place we must unite on a "thus saith the
Lord" for every belief and practice.
POSSIBLE FOR THE LORD'S CHURCH TO EXIST AS IT DID?
A. To Use A Bible Illustration, Consider The Church As A
Plant Reproduced In Seed.
1. The Lord describes the Word of God as seed, Luke
8:11.
2. When seed is sown and properly cultivated, a plant will
grow which is in characteristices like the one from
which the seed came.
a.
God's law is that every seed reproduces after its own
kind, Genesis 1:11-12.
b.
Acorns will always reproduce oak trees, never apple
trees.
POSSIBLE FOR THE LORD'S CHURCH TO EXIST AS IT DID?
B.
When The Word of God (Seed) Is Planted It Will
Reproduce Only Christians.
1.
These are purified (I Pet. 1:22-23), hence added to the church (Acts 2:47).
2.
These new Christians will be non-denominational. Their only desire will
be to pattern themselves in the organization, work, and worship that
Christians practiced in the days of the apostles (I Cor. 12:12-13).
3.
Having been added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:47), they will be banded
together in the church (plant) by their common faith and practice.
4.
In order to be sure they are members of the New Testament church
(plant) they test its fruit.
a.
If it is in all qualities like the church of the first century, it is the same.
b.
However, if it lacks any one of these qualities it is a perverted plant,
for seed reproduces after its own kind.
"Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."
Characteristic: Creed - Romans 1:16-17
1.
The only rule of faith and practice is the Bible, Gal. 1:6-8.
2.
The Scriptures are all sufficient, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3.
3.
We must neither add to nor take from God's word, 2 John 9;
Rev. 22:18-19.
Plants of men - Human creed books and manuals are
guides for what a particular denomination believes about
the Bible. Following a human creed book will make one a
member of that particular denomination and none other,
thus causing division. (Example: If one follows the Catholic
catechism he will be a Catholic not a Methodist, Mormon,
etc.) We need to follow the Bible only and become
Christians only.
Characteristic: Name - Acts 4:12
1.
The church has no proper name, but is referred to as "the church," Acts 2:47. It
needed no name to distinguish it from others for no other churches existed in the
days of the apostles. All of the terms which are found in the Bible are descriptive of
what the church is and to whom it belongs.
a.
b.
c.
2.
Body - Eph. 1:21-22 d. Kingdom - Col. 1:13
Family - I Tim. 3:15 e. Church of God - I Cor. 1:2
Temple - Eph. 2:21 f. Church of Christ - Rom. 16:16
The members wore the name "Christian" - Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16; Acts 26:28.
a.
Described also as "saints" (ones set apart); "disciples" (followers) and
"brethren" (members of the same family).
There is no N.T. reference to "kinds of Christians."
Plants of men - Various human names are worn which neither describe the
wearer as belonging to the Lord, nor do these names give honor to Christ. We
are divided by names which are not found in the New Testament.
Characteristic: Organization - Phil. 1:1
1.
Universal head of the church - Christ, Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22.
2.
Overseers of local churches - Elders (Bishops, Pastors), Acts 20:28.
3.
Deacons, as their name indicates, are special servants, I Tim. 3:8-13.
4.
Members, Acts 2:41-47; I Cor. 1:2
Plants of men - Very few denominations can give scripture for any part of their
organizational structure, hence we become divided over ways of men.
a.
Denominations which seek to improve on God's plan by having a central
headquarters on earth, either as a pope or as a group of men, are divided from
the simple N.T. plan of equal, autonomous local churches.
b.
There is no example of one bishop (pastor) over many churches, but always
bishops (plural) over one local church, and they were so appointed upon having
proved themselves qualified according to the Scriptures.
c.
The N.T. reveals no organization other than local churches set up to perform the
work of the church. Circles, societies, or institutions which are not churches
themselves, but which are organized and maintained by the church as
improvements on God's plan are mere blemishes to the church planned by God's
eternal wisdom.
Characteristic: Worship - John 4:24
1. Prayer, Acts 2:42; I Thess. 5:17
2.Lord's Supper (Communion), I Cor. 10:16
a. In remembrance of Christ's death, I Cor.
11:23-30
b.On the first day of the week, Acts 20:7
c. Emblems:
i. Unleavened bread, Luke 22:1,19
ii.Fruit of the vine, Luke 22:18-20
Characteristic: Worship - John 4:24
3. Singing, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Matt. 26:30; I Cor. 14:15
a. There are only two forms of music - vocal and instrumental.
b. Instrumental music was available in N.T. days, for David used it 1000 years
earlier, but when Christ established the church instruments were not used.
In fact, authoritative historians have recorded that the earliest use of
instruments in worship was in the 7th century and then it was under the
influence of the Roman Catholic pope.
c. Though the Bible nowhere says, "thou shalt not use instrumental music,"
such is forbidden by the silence of the scriptures.
i.
Upon what basis would it be wrong to add lamb as one of the emblems of the Lord's
Supper?
ii. Upon the same basis it is wrong to add to God's pattern of worship in music.
iii. His word is sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and there is no need for God to list "Thou
shalt not" for a thing to displease Him. We must be satisfied to do what He has said,
and leave off every thing else.
Characteristic: Worship - John 4:24
4. Contribution, I Cor. 16:2
a. To be given on the first day of the week.
b. As every man purposeth - cheerfully. 2 Cor. 9:6-7.
Plants of men - Religious people are divided through
many human traditions of worship. We are divided
over: the Lord's Supper as to how often (quarterly or
weekly); music (vocal or instrumental); giving (tithing,
pledges or freewill as every man purposeth). To be
united, we must be satisfied with a thus saith the Lord.
This way is simple but there is no doubt whether or not
it is pleasing to God. Worship in any other fashion
leaves room for doubt (Matt. 15:7-9).
Characteristic: Mission, I Tim. 3:15
1. Evangelism - Preaching the gospel to the lost, Mark 16:15-16.
2. Edification - Building up converts by further teaching, Matt. 28:20.
3. Benevolence - Ministering to needy members, Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34;
6:1-6.
Plants of men - Churches that have set goals for a social or
recreational nature have digressed from the higher and nobler
purpose of the church, which is spiritual (I Peter 2:5). We are divided
when men with a social gospel attitude sap the church of her funds
and energy to promote human programs and organizations. Though
social activities may be needed, they are the work of the home and
government. The church should be given wholly to the task of saving
souls, keeping them saved, and providing the necessities of the saved
in cases of emergency.
Characteristic: Terms Of Admission, Acts 2:47
1. Hear the gospel. Rom. 10:17.
2. Believe in Jesus Christ. John 8:24
3. Repent of sins. Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30
4. Confess faith in Christ. Rom. 10:9-10
5. Baptism into Christ. Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38
Plants of men - We are divided when men offer assurances of
salvation on an unscriptural basis. The idea of salvation in one act and
joining the church in another act is human in origin. Why not seek to
be saved, knowing that the Lord will add you to His church? After
becoming a Christian, work and worship as N.T. Christians did,
preserving the unity of the Spirit through "speaking as the oracles of
God," I Peter 4:11.
Have a GREAT week!