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Identifying the New Testament Church

Identifying the New Testament Church. What One Believes Is Important. If Not :. One of The Devil’s Most Effective Tools!. Faith. No need to study . . . Feel comfortable . . . Any Church ... Any Lord…. Any Faith…. Any Baptism….

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Identifying the New Testament Church

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  1. Identifying the New Testament Church

  2. What One Believes Is Important If Not: One of The Devil’s Most Effective Tools! Faith • No need to study . . . • Feel comfortable . . . • Any Church ... • Any Lord…. • Any Faith…. • Any Baptism….. The Bible becomes a meaningless, almost worthless, book.

  3. Our Quest Is it possible to find simple and pure N.T. Christianity in a religious world filled with conflict, confusion, and division?

  4. Our Quest Does the church that Christ established still exist today? Can it be identified?

  5. What We Know About the Church • The church was established according to the eternal purpose of God – Eph. 3:8-11 • The kingdom of God will stand forever – Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:28

  6. What We Know About the Church • The church and the kingdom are synonymous – Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13-14 • We can be confident that the church still exists today.

  7. Our Challenge “How can the Jesus’ church be identified?”

  8. Its Establishment Its Designations Its Rule of Faith Its Worship 5. Its Work 6. Its Organization 7. Its Membership 8. Its Discipline The N.T. Church

  9. 1. It’s Establishment The NT Church was founded by Christ “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church” Matt. 16:17-18

  10. 1. It’s Establishment The NT Church was founded by Christ “shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28

  11. 1. It’s Establishment The NT Church was founded by Christ in Jerusalem “It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Lk. 24:47-49

  12. 1. It’s Establishment The NT Church was founded on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Acts 2 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” v. 47

  13. 2. It’s Designations The NT Church was called by the following names: • The church of God – 1 Cor. 1:2 • The churches of Christ – Rom. 16:16 • The kingdom of his dear Son – Col. 1:13-14 • The body of Christ – Eph. 1:22-23 • The temple of God – Eph. 2:19-21 • The bride of Christ – Eph. 5:22-33 • The household of God – 1 Tim. 3:15 • The vineyard of the Lord – Matt. 20:1-2

  14. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church followed the New Testament as its only rule of faith and practice “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” Rom. 1:16-17

  15. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church followed the New Testament as its only rule of faith and practice “You must continue in the things which you have learned, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” 2 Tim. 3:14-17

  16. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church followed the New Testament as its only rule of faith and practice “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. ” 1 Pet. 4:11

  17. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church was told not to add to, take away from, or change God’s commandments in any way. “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN” Matt. 15:7-9

  18. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church was told not to add to, take away from, or change God’s commandments in any way. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” Gal. 1:8

  19. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church was told not to add to, take away from, or change God’s commandments in any way. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” 2 Jn. 9

  20. 3. It’s Rule Of Faith NT church was told not to add to, take away from, or change God’s commandments in any way. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life” Rev. 22:18-19

  21. Early disciples partook of the Lord’s Supper on each Sunday –Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:24-25 They also generously contributed of their means –1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7 They lifted their voices in songs of praise – Eph. 5:18-19;Col. 3:16 4. It’s Worship

  22. They offered up prayers and supplications unto God – Phil.4:6-7; 1 Tim. 2:8 They were devoted to the apostles doctrine Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 2:2 4. It’s Worship

  23. 5. It’s Work • Evangelism The church must preach the gospel to a lost and dying world. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” Matt. 28:19-20

  24. 5. It’s Work • Evangelism The church must preach the gospel to a lost and dying world. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” Acts 8:4

  25. 5. It’s Work • Edification The church must help its members grow and develop spiritually. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Heb. 10:24-25

  26. 5. It’s Work • Benevolence The church must provide for those in need. “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. ” Acts 4:34-35

  27. 5. It’s Work • Benevolence The church must provide for those in need. “Agabus stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” Acts 11:27-30

  28. 6. It’s Universal Organization Each congregation is directly subject to Christ. The only functional unit of the church is the local congregation “To the church of God which is at Corinth” 1 Cor. 1:2

  29. 6. It’s Universal Organization Each congregation is directly subject to Christ. The only functional unit of the church is the local congregation “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” Phil. 1:1

  30. 6. It’s Universal Organization Each congregation is independent and autonomous “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23

  31. 6. It’s Local Organization • Local congregations must be arranged after the Biblical pattern. • Elders oversee and rule the flock - Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-3 • Deacons minister to the physical needs of the members - Acts 6:1-6; Phil. 1:1 • Preachers proclaim the gospel - 1 Tim. 4:6, 11-12; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 • Members encourage one another and reach out to the lost – Heb. 5:12; 10:24-25

  32. 7. It’s Membership

  33. 8. Discipline (Instructive) The NT Church was submissive to divine discipline “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Tim. 3:16-17

  34. 8. Discipline (Corrective) • Corrective discipline is reserved for those who rebel against God’s Word, serving to reprove and restore the sinner - 1 Tim. 1:18-20 • It also purifies and purges the church of evil - 1 Cor. 5:7-13

  35. Conclusion • Jesus’ church we read about in the Bible has certain identifying characteristics. • Any church today that conforms itself to this divine pattern is the church that Jesus established and died for.

  36. Conclusion • Some would argue, “It doesn’t matter what you believe or practice, so long as you are sincere.” Others say, “All roads lead to heaven.” • This simply is not so…

  37. Conclusion “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matt. 7:21-23

  38. Conclusion “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” Lk. 6:46

  39. Plan of Salvation • Denominationalism, and all the division it brings, is contrary to the Bible’s plea for unity – Jn. 17:20-21 • Let us strive to pattern ourselves after the NT order

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