“What is the Church?” - Cameron Jungles - (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/September 15, 2013)

“What is the Church?” (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/September 15, 2013)

 

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Eph. 5:23-27, NIV)

 

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col. 1:18, NIV)

 

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Tim. 3:14-15, NIV)

 

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:41-42, NIV)

 

1.      The church is not...

 

a.  The church is not a building.

b.  The church is not a social club or society.

c.  The church is not a community service or civic organization.

d.  The church is not a political lobby or interest group.

e.  The church is not a camp, school, or publishing house.

f.  The church is not a recovery group.

g.  The church is not a denomination.

h.  The church is not a preacher on television, radio, or internet.

j.  The church is not a weekly time to hear singing and preaching.

k. The church is not your family meeting at home.

l. The church is not a human invention or idea.

 

2.      The church is...

 

a. The church is an assembly or congregation.

b. The universal church is...

 

*  All of the redeemed, regenerated believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in every age and every location (in heaven and on earth).

 

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Co. 12:13, NIV)

 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:3-6, NIV)

 

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9-10, NIV)

 

c. The local church is...

 

*  A geographically local, chronologically specific manifestation of the body of Christ with:

 

ü  A regenerate, baptized membership

ü  Biblical officers of pastors (elders) and deacons

ü  A commitment to the gospel and sound doctrine

ü  A mutual cooperation in accomplishing the biblical mission

ü  A faithfulness to meet at regular times for worship, instruction, fellowship, ministry, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper

 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:23-25, NIV)

 

A local church is a body of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have been baptized by immersion as a public testimony of faith and commitment; who are organized with scriptural officers; who share a common body of truth around which to fellowship; who practice mutual accountability for godliness; who work together to carry out the Great Commission; and who meet at regular and stated times for worship, spiritual edification, fellowship, and the observance of the ordinances of baptism and communion.

 

Main Idea

The church is Christ’s body. He bought it with his own blood, and he defines what it is and how it should function for his honor and glory.