god’s people in today’s world

1

The Church

God’s People In Today’s World

By

Don Stewart

The Church: God’s People In Today’s World

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The Church: God’s People In Today’s World © 2020 By Don Stewart Published By EOW All rights reserved English Versions Cited The various English versions which we cite in this course, apart from the King James Version, all have copyrights. They are listed as follows. Verses marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved Verses marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, New International Version, Copyright 1973 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Verses marked ESV are from The Holy Bible English Standard Version™ Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


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Scripture quotations marked CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) copyright American Bible Society 1991, 1995 Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated NET are from the NET Bible Copyright © 2003 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com All rights reserved. Verses marked RSV are The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. Verses marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. GOD'S WORD is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.


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Table Of Contents Question 1 Why Is It Important To Study About The Church? Question 2 What Are Some Common Misconceptions Regarding

The Church? Question 3 What Is Basic New Testament Idea Of The Church? Question 4 What Is The Universal Church? (Invisible Church) Question 5 What Should Be The Goal Of The Church? Question 6 What Is The Visible Church? Question 7 What Does The Bible Say About Local Churches? Question 8 What Is The Apostles Doctrine? (Teaching) Question 9 Is The Church Still Necessary? Question 10 Why Are There So Many Different Denominations? Question 11 How Is The Church Variously Pictured In The New

Testament? Question 12 Why Is The Church Compared To A Body? Question 13 In What Sense Is The Church Like A Building? Question 14 How Is The Church Like A Bride? Question 15 Why Is The Church Compared To A Vine And Its

Branches?


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Question 16 Why Is The Church Like Sheep? Question 17 Why Is The Church Compared To A Royal Priesthood? Question 18 What Are Some Of The Popular Designations Of The

Church That Are Not Found In The New Testament? Question 19 What Are The Different Views With Respect To When

The Church Began? Question 20 Did The Church Begin With Adam? Question 21 Did The Church Begin With Abraham? Question 22 Was The Church Begun During Jesus’ Ministry? Question 23 Did The Church Begin On The Day Of Pentecost? Question 24 Did The Church Begin Sometime During The Book Of

Acts? Question 25 What Are The Different Views With Respect To

Identifying The Church With God’s Kingdom Or The Nation Israel?

Question 26 What Are The Arguments For Church Being The Same

As The Kingdom Of God? Question 27 What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The

Church With The Kingdom Of God? Question 28 What Are The Arguments For Identifying The Church

With The Nation Of Israel? Question 29 What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The

Church With The Nation Of Israel?


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Question 30 Why Do Some Argue That The Church Should Get Involved In The Problems Of Society? (Neo-Evangelicalism)

Question 31 Why Do Some Argue Against The Church Becoming

Involved With The Problems Of Society? Question 32 What Should The Attitude Of The Church Be Toward

Civil Government? Question 33 What Is The Mission Of The Church? Question 34 What Is The Destiny Of The Church? Question 35 What Is The Role Of The Holy Spirit In The

Missionary Enterprise Of The Church?

Question 36 How Does The Holy Spirit Work In Church Organization And Government?

About The Author


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What exactly do we mean by the word “church?” Are we talking about a building, people, or both? In this book we will consider some issues concerning the church. We will look at such things as: the definition of the church, the mission of the church, and the differences between the local and true church, and what is also known as the invisible church. This is a crucial topic to study since it is through the church, the believers in Jesus Christ, that the Lord is spreading His message to a lost and sinful world. Consequently, we should have an understanding of what the Bible has to say about this important topic.


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Question 1

Why Is It Important To Study About The Church?

As we begin to look at the subject of the church we will first start by considering the importance of such a study. It is really necessary to do a detailed study about the church? Of what benefit is this endeavor? A study of ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the church, is important for a number of reasons. They include the following. 1. It Is Part Of The Bible Doctrine The teaching about the church makes up a sizeable portion of Scripture. The Bible teaches that all Scripture is divinely inspired of God as well as profitable for study. Paul wrote.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).

Since the doctrine of the church is part of the Bible, and all Scripture is profitable for our instruction, for this reason alone, the biblical teaching about the church should be studied. 2. Scripture Attaches Special Importance To This Subject Not only is the doctrine of the church taught in Scripture, it is given a place of importance. The subject of the church consists of a large part of the New Testament. Since the church is important to God, it also should be important to God’s people. There are many people who have a picture of the church that incorrect and only a proper understanding of the church from God’s perspective will serve to correct this.


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3. It Is God’s Work On Earth Today The church is the work of God on the earth for this age. Paul wrote the following to the Ephesians explaining this fact. He put it this way.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11,12 NIV).

The church is God’s divine work today. A person cannot be fully committed to Jesus Christ without a full commitment to His church. Consequently, the believer must have a proper understanding of the church to do the work of the Lord. 4. Jesus Christ Identified Himself With The Church Jesus Himself identified with the church. He told Peter that He would build His church. Matthew records Jesus saying the following.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 RSV).

The church is something which Jesus Christ Himself will build. It is His church; it does not belong to anyone else. Therefore, we find that persecuting the church was the same as persecuting Jesus Christ. The Bible gives the following account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul.

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord’s followers, so he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them-- both men and women-- back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are


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you persecuting me?” “Who are you, sir?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” (Acts 9:1-5 NLT).

Jesus told Saul that the persecution of the church was the same thing as persecuting Jesus Himself. Indeed, the Apostle Paul later testified that his greatest sin was persecuting God’s people. He wrote the following to the Corinthian believers.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9 HCSB).

Paul persecuted God’s people before he met Jesus. This was something he never forgot. This is a further reminder of the importance of the church. 5. Jesus Gave His Life For The Church Jesus sacrificed His life for the church. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and explained it in this manner.

Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25 HCSB).

Christ died for the church. In the Book of Acts we read about how Christ purchased the church with His own blood.

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood (Acts 20:28 ESV).

The fact that Jesus died for the church is sufficient reason to understand what the church is all about. Thus, the importance of the church can scarcely be overstated. It is that which Christ loves, nourishes, and cherishes. Paul wrote.


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For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church (Ephesians 5:29 RSV).

Jesus Himself nourishes His church; He cares for it and loves it. If it is important to Him, is should be important to us. Someday the church will be presented to Christ as a bride to her husband. Paul wrote about this to the Ephesians. He said.

That he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5: 27 RSV).

This is another reason as to why we should be concerned with church matters. 6. There Are Many Areas Of Dispute Among

Believers About The Nature Of The Church There have been disputes among believers on many of church related issues. These include areas such as: the authority in the church, water baptism, communion, and church government. These disputes have led to deep division among professing Christians. This is unfortunate. Consequently, all believers should understand what they believe about these particular issues that have caused these disputes. Furthermore, we need to appreciate why other Bible-believing Christians may have a different opinion on these same issues than we have. Perhaps they are right and we are the ones in error! We must always hold this out as a possibility. Conclusion: The Importance Of The Topic Of The Church Cannot Be Overemphasized This sums up some of the reasons as to why it is essential to study about the church which Jesus Christ is building here upon the earth. Obviously it is an important topic; one which should be diligently studied by all those who belong to Him.


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God’s work on earth today is done through the church. This is how He reaches an unbelieving world with His message of grace and truth. Thus, we should understand how the Lord is going about doing His work through His church. Furthermore, Jesus Christ identified Himself with the church. The church is His; it belongs to nobody else. Indeed, the apostle Paul confessed that his greatest sin was persecuting the church – the people of God. Trying to stop the work of the church is the same as trying to stop the work of God. There is something else. Jesus not only identified Himself with the church, He also gave His life for it. This alone is sufficient reason to study it. Finally, there are many unresolved issues among Bible-believers regarding the church. Issues such as water baptism, final authority, and church government have divided believers. These matters should be thoroughly studied. It is important that we understand why there are differences between various Christian groups on these and other matters. We also need to know what we personally believe on these topics and why we believe it. The importance of this issue is clear. The doctrine of the church should be carefully studied. Summary To Question 1 Why Is It Important To Study About The Church? The study of ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the church, is vital for a number of reasons. They can be summed up as follows. First, since the subject of the church is part of Holy Scripture, it should be studied, since the Bible teaches that all Scripture is profitable. Consequently, we should attempt to discover what the Scripture says on the subject. The doctrine of the church also encompasses a large portion of the teaching of the New Testament. In other words, it is an important


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doctrine. This is another reason we should learn what the Scripture says about it. God’s work on earth today is done through the church. This is how He reaches an unbelieving world with His message of grace and truth. Thus, we should understand how the Lord is going about doing His work through His church. Furthermore, Jesus Christ identified Himself with the church. The church is His; it belongs to nobody else. Indeed, the apostle Paul confessed that his greatest sin was persecuting the church – the people of God. Trying to stop the work of the church is the same as trying to stop the work of God. There is something else. Jesus not only identified Himself with the church, He also gave His life for it. This alone is sufficient reason to study it. Finally, there are many unresolved issues among Bible-believers regarding the church. Issues such as water baptism, final authority, and church government have divided believers. These matters should be thoroughly studied. Indeed, it is important that we understand why there are differences between various Christian groups on these and other matters. We also need to know what we personally believe on these topics and why we believe it. The importance of this issue is clear. The doctrine of the church should be carefully studied.


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Question 2

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About The Church?

A biblical study of the church is absolutely necessary. One important reason concerns the number of common misconceptions about what the church is and what it is not. These misconceptions need to be cleared up. They include the following. Misconception 1: Fulfilling Certain Church Practices Makes

One A Believer In Christ Not everyone who is a member of a church is a true believer in Christ. There is the mistaken idea that if a person is baptized, confirmed, gives to the church, or does some other required thing, these particular acts make a person a Christian. This is not true. Unless a person has believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior they are not His children. No amount of church involvement can change this. Unfortunately, many people are deceived into thinking that their participation in church, or church related events, is enough to make them right with God. Nothing could be further from the truth. Misconception 2: The Church Is Supposed To Be Merely

An Organization The church is a living organism; it is not merely an organization. Those who belong to the church are Jesus’ disciples; they are not merely members of some group. We are the body of Christ; the family of God. Thus, the church is unlike any other group. Misconception 3: Professionals Are To Do The Work Of

The Christian Ministry Each believer is to be a participant in the ministry – not merely a spectator. It is the saints which are to do the work of the ministry, it is not the clergy. The leaders of the church teach the lay people concerning their responsibilities to preach the good news to the lost and to make


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disciples. All of God’s people do the work of the ministry, not just a select few. Misconception 4: Church Leaders Are Human-Made God raises church leaders up – they are not merely elected by the people. Those who are in Christian leadership need to be called by God. If He calls them then He will equip them. The church belongs to God alone and it always should be operated on that basis. Misconception 5: Going To Church Services Is Supposed To

Make People Feel Better The purpose of the church is to equip the saints to build up the entire body of Christ. When believers assemble they meet to hear the truth of God’s Word. People should be told what they need to hear - not what they want to hear. Instruction is for the purpose of making disciples. Sometimes the instruction convicts people of their sin. This is for the purpose of changing their behavior to conform to God’s will. Misconception 6: No Accountability To Church Leadership Is

Necessary Believers often assume they do not need any type of spiritual accountability. However, all believers need to be accountable. None of us are to be out there on our own. We all need to be accountable to God’s appointed leadership.

Misconception 7: Believers Do Not Need To Attend Church

Services Often believers will claim that they do not need to assemble with other believers. However, a study of what the Scripture says about the necessity of committing to church will clear up that misconception. In the Book of Acts, we find people believing in Christ, becoming baptized, and then joining a local group of believers. Believers need the church and the


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church needs believers. Unless this is understood there will not be the level of commitment of believers that God expects.

Misconception 8: The Church Is Made Up Of Hypocrites It is commonly said that the church is a gathering of hypocrites – those who profess one thing yet practice something else. This is just not true. While there are people in the church who are hypocrites there are many who are not. Human failure on the part of some Christians has cause a loss of respect for the church. These are some of the common misconceptions which both believers and unbelievers have with respect to the church. Hopefully, they will now be cleared up as we understand what the Scripture has to say about these issues. Summary To Question 2: What Are Some Common Misconceptions Regarding The Church? There are a number of common misconceptions about the church that need to be clearly addressed. These misconceptions are held by believers and unbelievers alike. They are as follows. To begin with, many people assume that merely going to church or fulfilling some church duty makes one a Christian. However, the only way a person can become a Christian is by believing in Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters. We are not saved from our sins by our good deeds; only through Christ. Others look at the church as a mere outward organization. However, the Bible says the church is a living organism; the body of Christ. It is here to do His work. There is also the mistaken idea that professionals are supposed to do the work of the ministry rather than the work of God being the job of every believer. Every believer is called to be a full time Christian. Church leaders are assumed to be humanly made, not raised up by God. Yet, Scripture says that God calls and equips His ministers.


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There is also the false idea that going to church is supposed to make one feel better. However, the church is a place where the truth is to be told and the truth does not always make one feel better! Indeed, there are many times when we need to be convicted of our sin so our behavior will change. Many believers do not feel the necessity of accountability to other believers; especially those in a leadership position. However, the Scripture stresses the fact that we all need to be accountable to those whom God has placed in authority in the church. Attending worship services is considered optional to some Christians. This is another misconception. We need to gather with other believers. We need each other! Finally, it is commonly thought that the church is only made up of hypocrites. Again, this is not true. The church is made up of sinners but not all sinners are hypocrites. There are many believers who are trying to follow the Lord and His commands. While we all fall short, this does not mean that all of us are hypocrites. These are among the common misconceptions that people have about the church of Jesus Christ. Consequently, a study of the doctrine of the church is necessary for a proper understanding of what the Bible says about these important issues.


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Question 3

What Is Basic New Testament Idea Of The Church?

As we begin to examine what the Bible has to say about the church, we will first look at the meaning of the different Greek terms in the New Testament that are translated “church.” Much insight will be gained from a consideration of these terms. The Modern Usages Of The Term Church Today when the word church is used a number of things come to mind. Indeed, the term is used in at least five different ways. They include the following. First, it commonly refers to the building where Christians assemble; for example, the church on Main Street. To many people, this is the first thing which is thought of when the term church is used. Second, the word refers to the local group of people that meets together. Rather than merely referring to the building or physical structure it refers to the people which meet in the building. Third, the church is a reference to a particular Christian denomination such as the Baptist Church or the Presbyterian Church. Fourth, the term is also used of all believers who profess faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, it refers to the universal church. Finally, the term is used of a state church: the Church of England. Therefore, according to popular usage, the word church is used in a number of ways. This being the case, what do we find about the biblical meaning of the term? Does it mean the same thing?


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The Word Means Belonging To The Lord Our English word for church is derived from the Greek adjective kuriakos. This means, “that which belongs to the Lord.” We find this word used in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation. It reads as follows.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet (Revelation 1:10 ESV).

The Lord’s Day in this context means “the day belonging to the Lord.” This fits well with the meaning of the term church. The church can be defined as the company of people who profess allegiance to Jesus Christ as their Savior – they belong to the Lord. The Church Is The Ekklesia: The Called Out Ones The usual Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament is “ekklesia.” The word comes from Greek preposition ek meaning, “out of” and from the verb kaleo meaning, “to call.” The church is a “called out group of people” or a group of “assembled people.” The word “ecclesiology” means, “a study of the church.” The New Testament Usage Of The Word Ekklesia The word is used only three times in the gospels and over one hundred times in the remainder of the New Testament. The gospel references are all found in Matthew. The first is Jesus’ response to Peter where He said the following.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18 NIV).

This usage of ekklesia is in its technical sense. It refers to those people who believe in Jesus as their Savior. In this context it speaks of something that is yet to occur – the building of the church.


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The word ekklesia is also used twice in Matthew 18:17. It says.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (Matthew 18:17 RSV).

In this instance, the word is used in a non-technical sense of Jewish assembly. Therefore, the word “church” is used only once in the gospels in the technical sense of Christian believers. In that passage it is predicting the building of the church. Therefore, the church of Jesus Christ is still something that will be organized in the future. The Doctrine Of The Church Was Revealed By Paul It was the Apostle Paul who revealed the doctrine of the church. He testified that God gave him that responsibility. He wrote the following to the Colossians.

The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26,27 NIV).

The church is a mystery or a “sacred secret” which the Apostle Paul was given the privilege of explaining to the world. The Term Church Is Applied Different Ways In Scripture In the New Testament, the term is applied in the following ways with respect to believers. We can make the following observations. 1. It May Be The Entire Group Of Christians In One City Scripture speaks of the church in the city of Jerusalem. The Book of Acts says.


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After the news about Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, Barnabas was sent to Antioch (Acts 11:22 God’s Word).

There was a church in Jerusalem. The Bible also talks about the church in Antioch. We read the following later in the Book of Acts.

Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (a close friend of Herod since childhood), and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1 God’s Word).

There was a church in Jerusalem as well as one in Antioch. 2. It May Refer To One Particular Congregation Of Believers Paul spoke of a single congregation that met in a house. He wrote the following to the Romans.

Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila. They have not only served Christ Jesus together with me, but they have even risked their lives for me. I am grateful for them and so are all the Gentile churches. Greet the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first person in Asia to have faith in Christ (Romans 16:3-5 CEV).

Therefore, the word can refer to one single group of believers. Paul expressed the same idea when he wrote to the church at Corinth.

If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church (1 Corinthians 14:35 CEV).

The church can be a single group of Christians which meet. 3. It Can Refer To The Entire Group Of Believers On Earth Sometimes the word refers to all the believers on the earth.


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Paul used the term in this sense when he wrote to the Ephesians.

This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one (Ephesians 5:32 NLT).

The church consists of all people believing Christ. There Are Different New Testament Usages Of Ekklesia The word ekklesia is not always used in the New Testament of a group of believers in Jesus. The martyr Stephen spoke of the church, or assembly in the wilderness.

Moses was with the assembly (ekklesia) of God's people in the wilderness. He was the mediator between the people of Israel and the angel who gave him life-giving words on Mount Sinai to pass on to us (Acts 7:38 NLT).

This is a reference to the nation Israel in this particular context. It Is Used Of An Assembly Of People The word is also used of an angry mob. We read of this usage in the Book of Acts.

The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there (Acts 19:32 NIV).

It can also refer to mere a gathering of people. We read the following in the Book of Acts.

If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly (Acts 19:39 NRSV).

Thus, depending upon the context, ekklesia can refer to the assembling of Israel, an unruly mob, or some secular group assembling together. There Is A Singular Usage And A Plural Usage


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We should also note that the term translated church is used in both the singular and in the plural. When the church of a city or town is mentioned the word is used in the singular. When a country or nation is spoken of the word is used in the plural. This sums up the basic New Testament idea of the word translated “church.” As noted, it has a number of usages. Context is always the key to discover its meaning. Summary To Question 3 What Is Basic New Testament Idea Of The Church? Today, the word church is used in a number of ways. Primarily, it is used of the structure or the building in which Christians gather. The word is also used of the believers themselves which gather at a particular place. In addition, the term is used of Christian denominations such as the Episcopal Church. We also find the term used of all believers which profess faith in Christ; the church universal. Finally, the term is applied to churches which are identified with a particular country such as the Church of England. We find that the biblical usage of the term is not the same as the modern usage. The English word church is derived from the Greek word kuriakos which means “belonging to the Lord.” This is a good definition of the church, “people who belong to the Lord.” However, the word translated church in the New Testament is the Greek word ekklesia. Ekklesia, which means, “a called out group,” does not indicate the nature of that group. The context must determine it. Yet, with only a few exceptions in the New Testament, it always refers to the people who have believed in Jesus Christ. Thus, the church can be simply defined as the company of people who profess allegiance to Jesus Christ as their Savior. To this much more can be added. Jesus spoke of the church as something future to His time. He was going to build it and nothing was going to stop it.


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It was the Apostle Paul who revealed the doctrine of the New Testament church. He had the honor of writing about the mystery, or sacred secret, about the church; it is a group of called out individuals who serve Jesus Christ. It is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. This truth had not been revealed during the Old Testament era. We find that the word church is used three ways in the New Testament with reference to believers. It refers to either all the Christians in one town; for example, the church in Antioch. It may also refer one local congregation which meets in a particular place. Finally, the term is also used to refer to all the believers on the earth; the church universal. Therefore, the biblical usage of the term is not exactly the same as the modern usage. It is important, therefore, that we understand the nature of the church from the biblical perspective.


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Question 4

What Is The Universal Church? (The Invisible Church)

The universal church is the company of people who make up the body of Christ. It consists of all people in every location, in every age, who have placed their faith in Christ as Savior. This includes all people of the past, the present, and the future. There are several important terms with respect to the universal church that must be understood to avoid confusion. 1. We Are The Church Universal One common description of the church is the “universal church.” However, this designation needs to be explained. The church is not universal in the sense of including all churches or all people who profess to believe in Jesus. It is universal in that it embraces all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Therefore, it encompasses all believers past, present, and future. In addition, when we speak of the church as universal or catholic we do not mean the Roman Catholic Church. It means the universal church in the sense of all true believers; not merely one group which calls itself believers. 2. There Is The Church Triumphant And The Church Militant Sometimes the church is divided into the church triumphant and the church militant. The church triumphant is a term referring to all true believers in Christ who have died. The church militant consists of the believers in Christ who are presently alive. While these terms are commonly use of the church there is no biblical basis for them. 3. There Exists An Invisible Church The universal church is sometimes known as the invisible church. This term reveals a vital truth about the nature of the universal church - there


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is no outward or visible sign of the church. By merely observing a group or a congregation of people, it is impossible to discern which of them belong to the universal church and which do not. In that sense the church is invisible. But this invisibility should not be taken to imply that the universal church is in some sense unreal. The universal church is composed of visible, as well as invisible, members of the body of Christ and is no less real than a local company of believers. Again, while the invisible church is a popular term to describe the true believers in Jesus Christ, this term is not found in the New Testament. What The Bible Says About The Church The Bible teaches the following things about the universal, or invisible, church. 1. Jesus Is The Head Of The Church Jesus Christ is the Head of the true church. The Apostle Paul wrote.

He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18 NRSV).

Paul also wrote to the Ephesians about Christ being the head of the church.

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:22,23 NIV).

Jesus Himself said.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 NKJV).


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The figure of Christ as the head and the church as His body teaches important truths about the church. The idea behind the word head is “ruler” or “person of superior authority or rank.” Christ is the sovereign Lord of the church. He Himself rules over it and directs it according to His good pleasure. No human being can claim the position that belongs to Christ alone. 2. There Is No Human Head Of The Church Christ is the only one in the New Testament who is called the head of the church. There is no human being who acts in the place of Jesus Christ. This includes any pastor, leader, or bishop who is the head over a local church or a group of churches. To put any human being in the place of Christ is to usurp His position and authority. This is blasphemy. In the New Testament, Jesus’ authority as head has not been conferred to any vice-regent who rules in His place and under His direction. The church is directly responsible to Him and Him alone as the sovereign Lord of the church. The Bible knows no such thing as an association of churches, council of churches, or leaders outside the local church to which the individual church must be accountable. When believers in the church gather in His name, Jesus Himself is in the midst. Jesus Himself said.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20 RSV).

He exercises His rule and the church is accountable to Him alone. This could not be clearer! 3. The Church Is Made Up Of Believers Only The New Testament is clear that the true church is made up of believers only. Earthly membership in a local congregation or church is not at all the same as being part of the true or genuine church; the body of Christ. This is limited to only those people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.


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This has been the consistent teaching of Scripture from the beginning. Believers have a spiritual relationship with Him. For example, the apostle Paul wrote about who was truly a Jew.

For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart-- it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God (Romans 2:28,29 NRSV).

In the same manner a true Christian is one who has had an inward change – not merely some outward claim of belief. 4. There Is Only One Church The church is the whole company of believers who are spiritually united to Christ who is the head of the church. The church as His body is a unity. A person is made a member of that body by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul explained this when he wrote to the church of Corinth. He said.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV).

Each member of the body is organically related to every other member. There is only one church. The church can, therefore, be defined as the entire company of the redeemed or saved from the time the church was first formed until Jesus Christ comes again a second time to take His bride, the church, to Himself. In His high-priestly prayer, Jesus asked God the Father to make the believers one. He said.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-- that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me (John 17:20,21 NLT).


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Paul says that there is “one body”

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call (Ephesians 4:4 RSV).

There is one body, the church. Peter further identifies “the chosen” or “the elect” as those who have been set apart by the Holy Spirit. He opened his first letter by writing the following.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance (1 Peter 1:1-2 NRSV).

The Holy Spirit sets apart the elect for the sake of Christ. The church is made up of people who are members of a community; the community of God’s people. The members of the church are to use their gifts of the building up of the entire community. In other words, all things are to be done for the edification or building up of the church. All believers are members of that community; the body of Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12,13 NLT).

We are all “one in Christ.” 5. Every Type Of People Is Welcome In The Church The true church is made up of all nationalities, both genders, and every social level of society. There are no barriers of any kind. Paul wrote.


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There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:28,29 NIV).

When Paul wrote to the Colossians he stressed the same truth.

In that creation there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11).

Christ welcomes everyone into His church. This is why we must take His message everywhere. 6. There Is No Distinction Among The

Members Of The Church Finally, the New Testament makes no distinction between the priests and the people; the clergy and the laity. There is no class system in the church. All true Christians may enter into the presence of the Lord Jesus. As someone has once remarked, the ground at the cross is level. Indeed, we are all the same when it comes to approaching the living God through His Son Jesus Christ; we are sinners saved by His amazing grace! Paul wrote.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Nobody in the church of Jesus Christ has the right to boast. We are all here because we have admitted that we can’t save ourselves; we cannot get to heaven on our own.

This briefly sums up some of the truths about the universal church or the invisible church. They should always be kept in mind when discussing the work of the Lord in our world today.

Summary To Question 4


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What Is The Universal Church? (The Invisible Church) The church is made up of all true believers in Jesus Christ. This is how we define the “universal church.” Sometimes it is called the invisible church. This does not mean the church members cannot be seen. Rather it means that the exact number of them is not visible to humanity. The identity of the true believers is something which is known to Jesus Christ and to Him alone. While the church is often called the universal church, the invisible church, the church triumphant or the church militant, none of these terms are used in the New Testament to describe the church. Scripture says Jesus Christ is the head of the church while the various members are likened to a body. As the head, He and He alone, guides the church. It is His church and His alone. There is no biblical basis for establishing some hierarchy of human leadership in the church. While God has appointed pastors and teachers, nothing is taught about granting leadership to one individual, or a group of individuals, over more than one church or assembly of believers. To become a member of this church of Jesus Christ, one must only believe in Him. We can add nothing to what He has done for us. While there may be many different congregations or assemblies who meet, there is only one true church. This is made up of all believers in Christ. The good news is that everyone, no matter what their background, is welcomed to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and become part of the New Testament church. In this sense there are no barriers for belief in Christ. Finally, it is important to appreciate that all of us are equal in the sight of God. God does not show favoritism to certain believers. In other words, there is not some sort of hierarchy among the Lord’s people. We are all the same; sinners in desperate need of a Savior. When we turn to the


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Savior for the forgiveness of sin, we are saved by His grace and mercy. We have nothing to brag about. None of us.


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Question 5

What Should Be The Goal Of The Church?

What is the purpose or ultimate goal of the New Testament church? Why is it here upon the earth? Does the Bible give us any indication of its goal? Indeed, it does. The Bible tells us what the church is supposed to do, and how it is supposed to function. We should view this in three different areas.

First, we should see the church in its relationship to God.

Second, we should then look at the church in its relationship to the unbelieving world.

Finally, we should look at the church in its relationship to the believers.

We can make the following observations about this important subject.

1. The Church In Relationship To The Lord Everything that the church does must first and foremost exalt and honor the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote the following to the Corinthians.

When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God (1 Corinthians 10:31 CEV).

Above all, God must be honored. Paul also wrote.

Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him (Colossians 3:17 CEV).

The purpose of believers is to glorify God in everything which we do. This is something which all of who call upon the name of the Lord should keep in mind.


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We Are To Give God Glory The great purpose of the church is to be to the praise of God’s glory and grace. Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

So that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory (Ephesians 1:6 God’s Word).

Paul also wrote the following in the same chapter.

He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory (Ephesians 1:12 God’s Word).

To give the Lord glory should be our ultimate goal. He is the One who should be glorified; it should never be some human leader. 2. The Church In Relation To The Unbelieving World The church also is related to the unbelieving world. Indeed, the goal of the church in relationship to the world is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. If a church is not reaching out to the lost, it is not fulfilling one of the main reasons as to God has left us here upon the earth. Jesus last words, according to Matthew, were as follows.

Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20 CEV).

In the Book of Acts, we read about the command of the Lord to go out and proclaim His truth to the world. Jesus put it this way to His disciples.

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world (Acts 1:8 CEV).

They were to go everywhere and tell everyone the good news!


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Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him about his desire to preach the message of Jesus Christ. He put it this way.

At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner (Colossians. 4:3 God’s Word).

The Word of God must be proclaimed to the lost. This is the one of the purposes of the church. We are to be salt and light to those who do not know the Lord. 3. The Church In Relation To Believers Finally, the goal of the church in relationship to believers is for each one to minister to the others; to build up the body of Christ. In doing so, we should be growing spiritually in Christ; reaching spiritual maturity. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this goal.

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13 RSV).

Paul wanted all believers to come to a place of maturity. He wrote to the Colossians.

We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ’s followers will grow and become mature (Colossians 1:28 CEV).

Christian maturity should be the goal of each of us who call upon the name of Christ. We do not want to remain spiritual babes forever. Thus, we see that the Lord has the church here upon the earth to accomplish a number of goals; goals toward the Lord, toward the lost, and toward other believers.


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Summary To Question 5 What Should Be The Goal Of The Church? The Bible says that the church of Jesus Christ should have certain goals with respect to God, the world in which we live, as well as how we deal with fellow believers. These goals include the following. To God, the church of Christ gives honor and glory. We should do all things to honor Him and to bring glory to His holy name. He has done so much for us and in return He does not ask us to do that much for him relatively speaking. Indeed, we could never do for Him what He has done for us! To the unbelieving world around us, the church offers the message of salvation and forgiveness through God the Son, Jesus Christ. We are to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, to a world lost in sin. This is our goal toward those who are in unbelief. To fellow believers, the church builds up those who have trusted Christ. The goal is to bring each of us to spiritual maturity. We want to grow to the place where we can teach others. This is accomplished not only by word, but also by our example. We are to be “Christlike” in all that we do. These are, simply stated, the goals of the church here upon the earth. May the Lord give us His grace to meet these goals.


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Question 6

What Is The Visible Church? The visible church is to be distinguished from the invisible church or the true church. While the invisible church consists of all true believers in Jesus Christ, the visible church is made up of all people who profess belief in Christ – this is not the same thing as those who truly believe. Indeed, there are many people who claim to believe in Jesus Christ who are not genuine Christians. We need to make the following observations about this important subject. 1. Not Every Church Member Is A True Believer There are those who profess belief in Christ who do not truly believe in Him. This type of individual has existed from the very beginning of the church. Indeed, John wrote about those who left their particular group. He said.

They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part of us (1 John 2:19 God’s Word).

Certain people who had professed faith in Jesus Christ eventually left the assembly of believers. The same holds true today. 2. The Visible Church Is A Mixed Multitude Therefore, it is important to understand that the visible church is made up of a mixed multitude of believers and unbelievers. Jesus gave the parable of the wheat and weeds. The wheat represents the believers while the weeds represent the unbelievers. At the end of the age they will be divided from each other. Jesus said.

Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn (Matthew 13:30 NLT).


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He will separate the wheat and the weeds. This is not our responsibility. Ultimately, we do not know who truly believes and who does not. 3. It Is Not The Sum Total Of Local Churches The universal church is not the sum total of local churches, nor is it the combination of all those who are members of local churches. The members of the body of Christ are all individuals, not churches or groups of people who meet together. A local church may have individuals in it who are not true believers. In the Book of Revelation, we read about those who displease the Lord.

But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Revelation 3:16–17 NLT).

There are people which are not part of Christ’s body, not true believers, who claim to have believed in Him. These individuals have only the external profession of being Christians, but not the inward reality; they have never really known Him. This briefly summarizes what the Bible has to say about the visible church. Summary To Question 6 What Is The Visible Church? The visible church consists of people who sometimes attend local church meetings or who are members of a local church or congregation. However, this is not the same as the true church or universal church since there are many people who are identified with a church who are not true believers in Christ. Indeed, the New Testament speaks of such people who have made some sort of profession of faith but have not really believed in Christ. Many of


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them eventually stop going to church services; they stop meeting with genuine Christians. Ultimately, only God knows who are truly His. It is not our job to separate the saved from the lost or to make a determination as to which people are true believers and which people are not. The Lord will do that at His return.


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Question 7

What Does The Bible Say About Local Churches?

The local church is a group of people who profess faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. They voluntarily gather together to study His word, to worship, and praise the living Lord. In other words, these believers assemble together to meet the goals of the true church. The local church or congregation is part of the larger visible church. There are three applications that the New Testament makes with respect to the local church. They are as follows. 1. The Small Groups Meeting In A House

Are The Local Church In the beginning, the church did not have special buildings to hold their meetings. The Bible says they met in homes. In Rome, the believers met in the house of Priscilla and Aquila. Paul wrote.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia (Romans 16:3-5 NIV).

The person, to whom Paul wrote a personal letter, Philemon, had a church at his home. Paul mentioned this in his introduction to him. We read.

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: (Philemon 1,2 RSV).


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Therefore, we find that believers met in the homes of other believers at the start. 2. A Christian Congregation In A Town Is A Local Church The term church is also used of a Christian congregation that met in a town or city. We find this usage when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He said.

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2 NRSV).

This letter was addressed to the local church which met in the city of Corinth. We have the same idea when Paul wrote to the church in the city of Thessalonica. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV).

Therefore, the church refers to the sum total of the believers which meet in a particular city.

3. The Churches In A Country Or Nation Are A Local Church The third use of the term church in a localized sense is of a group of churches in a country or nation. We find this usage when Paul wrote to the Galatians. He said.

Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:1,2).

Here Paul addressed a number of local congregations.


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The largest number of references to the “church” in the New Testament refers to these local congregations which met in the various cities. A Number Of Cities Had Local Assemblies The New Testament speaks specifically of local assemblies in different cities, such as Jerusalem, and particular regions such as Asia Minor. Jerusalem Scripture speaks of churches in the city of Jerusalem. In the Book of Acts, we read the following.

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle (Acts 8:1 ESV).

The church in Jerusalem consisted of the believers in that city. Antioch There was also a church which met in the city of Antioch.

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22 ESV).

Thus, there were churches which met in the local cities. Asia Minor The churches in Asia Minor are recognized. In the Book of Acts it says.

The churches became stronger in their faith, and each day more people put their faith in the Lord (Acts 16:5 CEV)

This reference is to the churches in that entire region.


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The True Believers Were Welcomed In The Local Church All true believers are welcomed to fellowship in the church. There are two exceptions to this rule. These are those people who do not have sound doctrine or those who are living in sin. John wrote.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting (2 John 10 ESV).

These people should be excluded until they repent. No unbeliever should be received as a believer in the local church fellowship.

They Met On A Regular Basis The local church is to meet on a regular basis. The write to the Hebrew said.

Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near (Hebrews 10:24,25 NLT).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

When you collect money for God's people, I want you to do exactly what I told the churches in Galatia to do. That is, each Sunday each of you must put aside part of what you have earned. If you do this, you won’t have to take up a collection when I come (1 Corinthians 16:1,2 CEV).

This assumes they met on a regular basis. The Local Church Is To Be Organized Each local assembly of believers should be organized. In the New Testament we find that a church was organized soon after it began.


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Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in Derbe and won some people to the Lord. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. They encouraged the followers and begged them to remain faithful. They told them, “We have to suffer a lot before we can get into God’s kingdom.” Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders (Acts 14:21-23 CEV).

The churches need to be properly organized. The Local Church Has Leaders Each local assembly should have leaders. Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong (Ephesians 4:11,12 CEV).

These leaders were to encourage the believers and equip them for the work of the ministry. The Local Church Is To Guard And Observe God-Given Ordinances The local church is responsible to guard and observe the ordinances that God has given. This includes communion and water baptism.

After all, I passed on to you what I had received from the Lord. On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread (1 Corinthians 11:23 God’s Word).

Jesus gave the church its marching orders. He said.

So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19 God’s Word).


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The church is to make disciples of Christ. We are to preach the good news to the lost and to teach believers. The Local Church Is To Judge Or Hold Accountable The Membership The local church has authority to judge its own membership. Paul wrote to the Corinthians to expel a particular evil man from the congregation.

God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:13 NIV).

The Apostle Paul called upon the local church to excommunicate a wayward member. He did not do it himself. The Church Stands For Truth The local church is to take a stand for truth. Indeed, the church is the support or pillar of the truth of God. Paul wrote to Timothy the following words.

So that if I can’t come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15 NLT).

The church is where people go to hear the truth of God.

There Are Two Extremes To Avoid In The Local Church. There are two extremes that each local assembly should attempt to avoid when standing for the truth. They are as follows. First, the church should preach the message of Jesus Christ without compromise. There is a temptation to soften the message to risk offending people. This should be resisted. The truth of the message of Christ will offend certain people; it will convict them of their sin. Hopefully, it will cause them to turn to Him in faith.


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On the other hand, the church should be careful not to offend people needlessly. The message of sin and the cross are offensive enough to fallen human nature. We do not need to add to this offense by our offensive demeanor! This sums up some of the things which the New Testament has to say about the local churches. It is important that we, as believers, understand these truths. In doing so, we can better serve the Lord in a way that honors Him. Summary To Question 7 What Does The Bible Say About Local Churches? The local church consists of believers in Jesus Christ which gather in a localized place to worship. They are part of the larger visible church. According to the New Testament, there are a number of things that the local church is supposed to do. For one thing, these localized believers are to meet on a regular basis. This is the New Testament pattern and it should be observed by all Christians today. The local church must also be organized. Part of the organization is to have leaders who have certain responsibilities with the congregation. Believers are to respect that organization and submit to the leadership as they follow Christ. The local church is also to observe the ordinances which are laid down in the New Testament. Again, we find the original local churches doing exactly this. The local church is also to judge their membership. When a believer strays from the faith the church is to work with that person for the purpose of restoration. The New Testament provides examples of this type of church discipline. The local group of believers is also to stand for the truth of the gospel. They are to be witnesses of the truth of Christ in their beliefs as well as in their behavior. Above all, it is the job of the local church to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ in an uncompromising way to the fallen world. As Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.


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Question 8

What Is The Apostle’s Doctrine? (Teaching)

The Bible says that the early church continued in the teaching or doctrine of the apostles. We read of this in the Book of Acts. It says.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayer (Acts 2:42 RSV)

Since this teaching was foundational to the church, it is important we understand the apostle’s doctrine; what it is and what how we are supposed to follow it. 1. The Church Is Entrusted With The Teachings Of Jesus The Apostles were entrusted with the teachings of Jesus once He died, rose, and then ascended into heaven. Their doctrine was actually His doctrine. The Importance Of Jesus’ Teachings The teaching of the apostles was central in the life of the early church. Jesus had commanded them to teach all nations. In the final words of Matthew’s gospel we read the following instructions from Jesus.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19,20 NLT).

The goal of the apostles’ teaching was to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Making new converts was just the beginning of their task. The new believers needed to be taught God’s Word and then brought to spiritual maturity in Christ.


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The apostles were to teach these things which Christ commanded. They were the ones who were the link to the teaching of the Lord Himself. They were the foundation of the church. Paul wrote.

We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself (Ephesians 2:20 NLT).

These select individuals were the people commissioned by Christ, taught by Christ, and authorized by Christ to teach His message. 2. Their Oral Teaching Became Scripture At first, the teaching of the apostles was given to the church orally through their preaching and teaching. Gradually that teaching was written down so that we now have the apostles’ teaching in the New Testament Scriptures. The New Testament writings were accepted as Scripture and recognized as authoritative because they were apostolic. The apostles were the ones authorized by Christ. He had promised them the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth. We read of Jesus’ promise in the Gospel of John. He said.

When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come (John 16:13 God’s Word).

They were divinely inspired in their teaching. Paul emphasized this when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said.

We don’t speak about these things using teachings that are based on intellectual arguments like people do. Instead, we use the Spirit's teachings. We explain spiritual things to those who have the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13 God’s Word).

Paul’s words were spirit-directed. Paul wrote to the church at Rome about the good news which was revealed to him. He put it this way as he closed his letter.


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Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith (Romans 16:25–26 NRSV).

His words were divinely taught. 3. The Teaching Of The Word Causes Growth The apostles’ teaching was accepted as the Word of God and was taught in the church from the outset. In the book of Acts growth in the Word is practically synonymous with growth in the church. We read of this occurring as follows,

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7 RSV).

Later in Acts, we read of the continuing multiplication of the Word of God. It says.

But the word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24 RSV). Still later, we read.

The word of the Lord spread through the whole region (Acts 13:49 NIV).

Finally, we find the following words written.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20 KJV). Therefore, the teaching of God’s Word caused the church to grow. This is so important for us to realize. Church growth is attributed to the teaching of God’s Word.


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4. The Is An Emphasis On The Word Of God In Acts 6 when the apostles found that things apart from the ministry took too much of their time, they found others to perform that work. They wanted to spend their time in the ministry of the Word. They said.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4 NKJV).

They were determined that nothing would take precedence over the ministry of the Word of God. It was of the utmost importance to them. 5. Their Teachings Were Comprehensive The teaching of the apostles was comprehensive and thorough. Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus the following.

How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house (Acts 20:20 RSV).

Paul also wrote.

For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27 RSV).

He declared the entire counsel or plan of God to the people at Ephesus. This included the hard or difficult doctrines as well as those which were primary. It included unpopular truths as well as popular ones. Indeed, there were no truths that the apostle Paul avoided, because everything God has revealed to us in His Word is important for us to know and understand. 6. The Teachings Were Passed On To Others The teaching of the apostles was to be passed on to others. Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of teaching others the words of Christ.


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And what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy. 2:2 RSV).

The message was to be continually taught. 7. The Goal: The Work Of The Ministry The goal of the teaching of the apostles, or the apostle’s doctrine, is that the believers in Christ would do the work of the ministry. It was the job of teachers to equip them to do so. Paul emphasized this when he wrote to the Ephesians. He said.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV).

This is the ultimate goal of the instruction. Each and every believer in Christ is to do his or her part in the work of the ministry. Therefore, we see the importance of the apostle’s doctrine in the lives of those in the early church. Their words, now contained in the New Testament, are just as important for us today as they were when they were first written. We would do well to pay attention to them. Summary To Question 8 What Is The Apostles Doctrine? (Apostles Teaching) Even though Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after His resurrection from the dead, the early church was not left without any authoritative teachings from Him. Indeed, they followed the oral teachings of the apostles of Christ. They were the special group of men whom Jesus personally selected, trained, and equipped to correctly spread His message to the world.


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Their teaching is known as the apostle’s doctrine. The apostle’s doctrine is the foundation for the beliefs of the church. It consists of the basic truths about Jesus Christ and His mission to the world. Eventually these truths, which the disciples first taught orally, became written down. This teaching is now found in the various books of the New Testament. These teachings, which were authoritative to the first believers, are as authoritative today as when they were first written.


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Question 9

Is The Church Still Necessary? There have been many who have claimed that the church of Jesus Christ is no longer relevant or necessary in our modern world. We are told that we live in a post-Christian era. The human race no longer needs the teachings of Jesus and His followers. However, the Scripture says otherwise. The church is as necessary as ever. We can make the following observations. 1. The Church Is God’s Work On Earth Although the church may be in a weakened condition in various parts of the world, it is still God’s sole or only work on earth. The key is seeing the church as God sees it. It is His divinely ordained way of reaching the world with His message. Paul wrote to the Corinthians as to the calling or responsibility which each Christian has been given.

We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT).

Paul says that believers are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ. That was true of the believers in the first century, it is also true today. We are still commissioned to take His message to everyone, everywhere in our modern world. 2. Believers Need To Be Involved With The Church Believers also need the church to help them personally grow in their spiritual lives. Indeed, without the teaching of the Word of God, through God’s appointed leaders, there will be no spiritual growth in the lives of Christians. Christians need to be taught the truth of God and there are teachers in the church who are qualified to do this.


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3. The Church Will Ultimately Succeed It is important to know that Jesus promised that His church would never be thwarted from its divinely ordained purpose. Although the church may look like it is failing, it will ultimately succeed. Jesus made the following claim.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 RSV).

This is great news! Christ will be victorious in the end. Nothing will stop the advancement of the church. Jesus Christ will build it and it will continue to grow until He returns. Is the church then still necessary? Absolutely yes! Summary To Question 9 Is The Church Still Necessary? While many people believe the church is not necessary in our modern world, nothing could be further from the truth. God’s worse is crystal clear on this issue. To begin with, the church is still relevant today because it is God’s work upon the earth. It is the divinely ordained manner in which He has chosen to spread His Word throughout the world. We find that He has chosen fallible people, not angels, to do His work. The world needs to hear the message of the church of Jesus Christ. In the same manner, the people of God need to belong to the church to enrich their spiritual lives. The church causes Christians to grow in their relationship with the Lord through a number of means. This includes the teaching of the Word of God. The Bible says that God has appointed teachers in the church to accomplish this purpose. We need to take advantage of their gifts.


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Although the visible church may be in a weakened state in many parts of the world, Jesus said it will eventually succeed. Indeed, nothing will stop the church from accomplishing the task Jesus has given to it. Nothing! Therefore, the church is as necessary today as it ever has been.


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Question 10

Why Are There So Many Different Denominations?

It is often asked why there are so many different Christian denominations. In fact, this is one of the main objections unbelievers often raise as to why they do not become Christians. Why can’t Christians agree with each other? All of these different groups seem to be in competition with each other. If the church is supposed to be a unity, then why do we see so many different groups? The fact of different denominations is a reality. There are a number of basic reasons for their existence. They can be summarized as follows. 1. There Are Doctrinal Differences Some churches or denominations have differences in their doctrinal beliefs. These beliefs, however, are not on the central issues of the Christian faith but rather on secondary issues. The true churches that exist all hold to the same central beliefs of the faith. On these issues, we are all in agreement. Thus, the doctrinal differences, while they do exist, are minor in comparison to that which unites us. 2. There Are Differences In Style Of Worship There is also the matter of style of Christian worship. Worship of the Lord can take a variety of different forms. Some worship services are very quiet and reflective while others are loud and get rather emotional. These differences in the style of worship constitute another reason as to why we find different denominations. People want to worship the Lord in a manner in which they are comfortable. 3. There Are Differences In Organization Church organization is another reason for the various denominations in which we find today. A group of elders rule some churches while others are ruled by some governing body. Still others have congregational rule


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where the parishioners make the ultimate decisions. This has caused different divisions of the church or different denominations. The Differences Are Not That Important Again, we emphasize that the differences that the various church denominations hold are not on the essentials of the Christian faith. When it comes to the main issue of believing in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, genuine Christians are in complete agreement. They Must Hold To Basic Truths Therefore, it is crucial that a church hold to the basic truths of the Christian faith. If a certain group does not adhere to historic Christian doctrine then it does not deserve to be called a Christian church. While they may call themselves “Christian” this does not make it so. This being the case, the fact that many denominations do exist should not deter anyone from believing in Christ or assuming that the church is somehow divided. We are not. Summary To Question 10 Why Are There So Many Different Denominations? Obviously the world contains many different Christian denominations. This fact has caused a number of people to question the truthfulness of the faith. They reckon that if Christianity is true, then all Christians should be unified in their beliefs. However, we must have a proper understanding of denominations and why they exist. Indeed, there are a number of reasons for the existence of these denominations. We can sum them up as follows. Some churches have differences in their doctrines. These differences are not on the essentials of the Christian faith but rather on secondary issues’ issues which are not central. When it comes to Bible basics, we are all in agreement.


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Others differ in their style of worship. Certain people feel comfortable with quiet reflective worship. Consequently, they would not attend a church where the worship was too loud or unruly for them. This is why Christians meet with other Christians who worship in the same manner. There are also differences in the way churches are organized. Some churches are ruled by the entire congregation, other church by a group of elders, while still others have a governing body outside of the local church that make the ultimate decisions for the church. Again, this has led to a number of different groups or denominations. We again stress the fact that while denominations have these differences all true churches agree on the central doctrines of the faith. Any so-called church which rejects the historic truths of the faith does not deserve to be called a “Christian church.”


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Question 11

How Is The Church Variously Pictured In The New Testament?

The New Testament gives many pictures of the church to illustrate its character, purpose, and mission. Each of these pictures shows us what God intended the church to be like. Throughout the New Testament, the writers employed numerous descriptive terms to call our attention to the nature and identity of the church. They include the following. A Body The church is pictured as members of a body with Jesus Christ as the head. Each believer is a different part of the body.

The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does. Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God’s Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit. Our bodies don’t have just one part. They have many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 CEV).

We are all part of one body. Like the different parts of the human body, each of us has different role to perform.

A Bride The church is called the bride of Christ. Jesus is the groom and the church is the pure bride; the virgin bride of Christ. We read of this in the Book of Revelation. It says.

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7 RSV).

The bride is in the process of be made ready for the groom.


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A Building The Bible also uses the metaphor of a building in describing the church. We are likened to stones in a building.

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5 NIV).

We are a spiritual edifice which the Lord Himself is constructing. Interestingly, this building continues to grow. A Vine And Branches Jesus used the illustration of a vine and branches to describe believers. He is the vine and those who believe in him are the various branches of the vine. In the Gospel of John we read of this. Jesus said.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 NLT).

As branches, we must remain connected to the vine to bear fruit. Otherwise we are worthless; good for nothing. Sheep Believers are likened to a flock of sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd while those who follow Him are His sheep. He said.


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I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:11-15 NLT).

The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Jesus, God the Son, laid down His life for the sins of the world. These are some of the pictures of the church which the New Testament gives. Each of these illustrations teaches us truths about the church, who we are, and how we are to behave. We can profit much by studying them. Summary To Question 11 How Is The Church Variously Pictured In The New Testament? The New Testament gives a number of comparisons or pictures of the church of Jesus Christ. They include a body, a bride, a building, vine and branches, and sheep following a shepherd. Each of these pictures illustrates important truths about the makeup of the church, our role, and our destiny. These pictures are worth serious study.


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Question 12

Why Is The Church Compared To A Body?

The Apostle Paul likened the church to a human body. He wrote the following to the Corinthians with this comparison.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it (1 Corinthians 12:27 RSV).

Paul also wrote to the Romans and gave a similar comparison. He put it this way.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:4,5 NIV).

Why do we find this comparison? Why are we called the “body of Christ?” The Word Is Generally Used Of Universal Church To begin with, the phrase “body of Christ” is generally used in the New Testament to describe the universal church rather than a local group of believers. Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything (Ephesians 1:22 CEV).

He is the head of everything. This includes all those who believe in Him. He is the head while we, the believers, are the body. It Is Not Literal Body We must emphasize that the expression “body of Christ” is not to be understood literally. Contrary to what some believe and teach, the church


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is not an extension of Jesus Christ. Those who hold such a view come to a number of unbiblical conclusions. This includes the idea that the church has the same authority of Christ Himself. Indeed, there are those who claim that the church upon earth has the authority to make divinely inspired decisions. There is no biblical support for such a belief. None whatsoever! Jesus Christ Is Head Of The Church The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is called the head of the church; His body. Paul wrote the following to the Colossians emphasizing this fact. He said.

He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others (Colossians 1:18 CEV).

This figure of the head brings home the truth that Christ is preeminent over all. The body submits to the head as wives are to submit to their husbands. Paul wrote.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives should [submit] to their husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:24 HCSB).

We, as parts of His body, should submit to Him in everything.

The Head Is The Source The church, the body of Christ, owes its existence to Jesus. He brought it into being and He is also the sole source of the life of the church. The growth of the church is dependent upon Him and Him alone. Paul wrote to the Colossians about the headship of Jesus Christ. He said.

They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God (Colossians 2:19 CEV).


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It is Jesus Himself which gives the body of Christ strength; He holds it together. Paul wrote something similar to the Ephesians. He wrote.

Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (Ephesians 4:16 NLT).

The body of Christ grows with the head as the source. There Is Unity And Diversity In The Body Of Christ The church of Jesus Christ is a diverse group of men and women, boys and girls, which are made up of many different parts. In spite of this great diversity the church of Christ maintains an essential or basic unity. This unity of the believers transcends everything; geographic distances, cultural differences, and even the divisions we find in the various denominations. The Members Of The Church Are Interdependent The unity of the body of Christ is seen in the interdependence of its members. As the parts of the human body differ in function, they are dependent upon one another to work properly. The same is true of the church. Believers need each other. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the need which the various members of the church have for one another. He put it this way.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (1 Corinthians 12:17 HCSB).

In other words, each of us has a different function. We need each other to properly function. We are all part of the same body of Christ and each part of the body is joined to one another. Elsewhere Paul wrote.


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So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it (1 Corinthians 12:26,27 HCSB)

While we are individual members, each of us, like the human body, is perfectly joined together as part of the body of Christ. This is why we must learn to work with one another. Summary To Question 12: Why Is The Church Compared To A Body? The New Testament compares the church of Jesus Christ to a human body. Jesus Christ is the head and the members of the true church make up the various parts of His body; the church. This idea of the church being the body of Christ is not to be understood literally. Instead, it illustrates how we are to function together with Christ as the head or leader. Thus the church should not claim to be the actual extension of Christ upon the earth; we have not been given that authority. In the New Testament, it is usually the universal church that is called Christ’s body rather than the local assemblies. The idea that the church is the body of Christ teaches us a number of lessons. First, Christ, as the head, is pre-eminent over all. As the head guides the entire body Christ is the sole authority over the church. Without the head the body does not function. In addition, He is also the source of the life of the church. Without Him, the church has no life. Again, this can be compared to a human body. Without the head, there is no life. The church, like a human body is united and diverse. We are united to the one head, Jesus Christ, but we are diverse in that we all have different gifts. Thus, there is one body of Christ with many different interconnected parts. Each part desperately needs each other.


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Question 13

In What Sense Is The Church Like A Building?

The New Testament church is pictured as a building. This comparison was made by the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Ephesians. He put it this way.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT).

We as believers are viewed as a building, a house. Why is this the case? Why are we likened to a building? Several observations need to be made. 1. The Foundation Is Jesus Christ First, while the foundations of this building, the church, are the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ is the true of the building. Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians. 3:11 NLT)

He is central to the building; the true foundation. 2. Jesus Is The Cornerstone A closely related figure to the foundation is that of the cornerstone. Christ is described as the chief cornerstone of God’s building. Peter put it this way.


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For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame! (1 Peter 2:6 HCSB).

The entire structure is dependent on the cornerstone; Christ. 3. The Building Is Still Growing Contrary to all normal buildings, the New Testament church is a building which is still growing! Paul wrote about this to the Ephesians. He said.

Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord (Ephesians 2:21 CEV).

Thus, the church is compared to a building which grows into a temple which is holy, or set apart, to the Lord.

4. There Is Unity And Diversity In The Building The picture of the church as temple or a building illustrates both its unity and diversity. The church is portrayed as a single building consisting of many stones. Again, we read in Peter’s writings the comparison.

Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God—you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4,5 HCSB).

There is university and diversity in the church. We are one building with many different stones. Furthermore, these stones are not merely thrown together to make a building. Rather the word used in this context has the idea of stones which are specially cut or formed to fit perfectly together. This is a great picture of the church. Each of us has been fitted for a unique purpose in the ministry of Jesus Christ. We need to find that purpose.


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5. Each Believer Is A Part Of God’s Temple Paul said that each believer in Christ is compared to a temple, or sanctuary. Indeed, we are He wrote the following to the Corinthians.

Don't you know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 HCSB).

The Spirit of God indwells the believer. As the temple of God is holy we should view our bodies in the same manner. In conclusion, we find a number of senses in which the New Testament church is compared to a building. Again, the comparisons are helpful to us in the understanding of what the church, the body of Christ, is all about. Summary To Question 13 In What Sense Is The Church Like A Building? The New Testament church is compared to many things. One of these is a building. There are a number of things we learn about this comparison. The true foundation for the building is Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ there is no church just as without a foundation a building cannot exist. Christ is also called the “chief cornerstone.” This is the most essential part of any building. Contrary to normal buildings this building continues to grow in size. However, it can only grow if it is built on the one foundation – Christ. We are one building made up of many different stones. The stones for this building are not merely piled on top of one another but rather are specially cut or designed to fit perfectly together. Finally, the church is a holy building a temple. As the temple was completely dedicated to the Lord each of us as stones in Christ’s building should see ourselves as holy, separated unto Him to do His bidding.


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Question 14

How Is The Church Like A Bride? One of the most beautiful pictures or comparisons of the church which the New Testament gives is that of a bride. We read of this in the Book of Revelation. It says.

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God” (Revelation 19:6-9 RSV).

The bride, clothed in fine linen, will one day meet the groom. We Are The Bride Of Christ Like many of the pictures of the church in the New Testament, this one has its roots in the Old Testament. The picture of marriage as a reflection of the relationship between God and His people already existed in the Old Testament. In Ezekiel, we read.

Then I passed by you and saw you, and you were indeed at the age for love. So I spread the edge of My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine. [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 16:8 HCSB).

In Isaiah, the Lord is called the husband of Israel. Scripture says.


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For your husband is your Maker His name is Yahweh of Hosts—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, a wife of one's youth when she is rejected, says your God (Isaiah. 54:5,6 HCSB).

Isaiah also wrote about the way the Lord rejoices over His people like a groom over his bride. He put it this way.

Your children will care for you with joy, O Jerusalem, just as a young man cares for his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5 NLT)

In the Book of Hosea, the nation of Israel was compared to the wandering wife of the Lord. Hosea wrote the following.

When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch up with them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband because I was better off with him than I am now.’ I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as LORD (Hosea 2:7,19,20 NLT).

The Lord is again pictured as a husband with Israel as His wife. The Testimony Of The Four Gospels In the gospels, Christ is portrayed as the heavenly Bridegroom. Jesus gave the following illustration as to why His disciples did not mourn while He was with them.

Jesus responded, “Should the wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Someday he will be taken from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15 NLT).

John the Baptist calls himself “the friend of the bridegroom.” He said the following.


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The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete (John 3:29 ESV).

Again, we find Jesus pictured as the groom. The Testimony Of The New Testament Letters This theme is further developed in the New Testament letters. The Apostle Paul compares the relationship between husband and wife to that between Christ and the church. The relationship is one of love and devotion. He wrote to the Ephesians.

No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church (Ephesians. 5:29 NLT).

Christ lovingly takes care of His body, the church. He loved her, the church, before she loved Him. John wrote.

We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19 KJV)

The church responds to His love with devoted submission to Him. Paul compared it to the way a wife lovingly submits to her husband.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands (Ephesians 5:24 ESV).

We, as the bride of Christ, should submit to Him in all things. The Testimony Of The Book Of Revelation The most explicit references to the bride are found in the Book of Revelation where the church is described as the bride of the Lamb. We read.


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Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7 ESV).

Christ is the Lamb of God while we in the church are His bride. It also says in the Book of Revelation.

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9 ESV).

The church is indeed the bride of Christ. The Church Is Betrothed To Jesus In the New Testament, the church is said to be betrothed to Jesus Christ. Paul wrote.

I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV).

We, the bride, have been betrothed to Jesus, the groom. Are We The Bride Right Now? Since we are said to be betrothed or pledged to Christ in marriage, there has been considerable discussion about whether the relationship as the bride is a present or a future one. Some people assume that the consummation of the union between Christ and His bride, the church, has not yet happened but rather it will occur at some time in the future. However, this represents a misunderstanding of the analogy the New Testament is giving to us. In the fifth chapter of Ephesians, it is clear that the relationship between Christ and the church is regarded as something occurring right now in the present. Furthermore, in numerous cultures, the betrothal is just as binding as the actual marriage.


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Indeed, if a bride would die after the betrothal but before the wedding the husband would be considered a widower even though the marriage was never consummated. We Should Not Press The Details Too Far As it true with all analogies the Scripture gives, we must be careful not to press the details too far. The analogy of Christ and the church with a human bride and groom should not be seen as an exact one to one correspondence. Indeed, there are a number of details which Therefore, we can conclude that we are presently the “bride of Christ.” Summary To Question 14: How Is The Church Like A Bride? The idea of the Lord being married to His people is not something new. Indeed, in the Old Testament, in a number of references, the nation of Israel is pictured as the wife of the Lord; often as an unfaithful wife. In the New Testament, the church is compared to a bride and Jesus Christ is the bridegroom. We find this illustration in the four gospels, the New Testament letters, and the Book of Revelation. This picture emphasizes the relationship of love and devotion between Jesus and those who have believed in Him. Christ gives Himself for the church and the church lovingly responds to Him. The fact that the church is called a bride does not mean that this union is still something in the future. The church is presently the bride of Christ. We are preparing ourselves for that wonderful day when we will meet the groom! As is the case with all analogies or comparisons, we must not press the details too far. While the analogy with a human bride and a groom has many things in common it is not true in all the details with reference to Christ and the church.


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Thus, in all of the instances where the Lord pictures the church through various illustrations, we must not go beyond what He is trying to communicate. Doing so would actually distort the picture He is giving us.


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Question 15

Why Is The Church Compared To A Vine And Its Branches?

Jesus compared His relationship with believers as that of a vine and branches. The gospel of John records Him saying the following.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me (John 15:1-5 HCSB).

This analogy is quite clear. A branch cannot bear any fruit on its own; it must be attached to the vine. If a branch somehow become unattached to the vine then it becomes worthless. These branches that are not connected to the vine, and hence, cannot bear fruit, are gathered up and burned. They are of no use to anyone. The Branches Become Useless Wood Interestingly, most wood when cut down from a tree can have other uses. For example, the wood can be used for building purposes. However, this is not so with the wood which is on a vine. Unless this wood is attached to the vine, it is worthless. It cannot be used for building or for anything else for that matter. Consequently, it must be burned. In the same way, believers are of no use whatsoever unless they are abiding or remaining in the True Vine, Jesus. There is nothing else we can do, no other use for us. Thus, this analogy of the wood from the vine is pointed. Unless, we remain in Him our actions cannot have any worth.


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We Can Do Nothing Without Him Furthermore, we as believers in Christ can do nothing in our own strength. Unless we are abiding, or remaining, in the vine, the Person of Jesus Christ, our efforts are worthless. This is a solemn truth. Too many Christians expel so much wasted energy while attempting to do the work of the Lord in their own strength. This is not possible. Unless the Holy Spirit is guiding us our efforts are useless. The psalmist wrote.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain (Psalm 127:1 RSV)

The Lord must build the house. If we try to build it in our own strength the house will fall. However, with Christ, all things are possible. Paul wrote.

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 CSB).

This is why the analogy of the vine and the branches is so important. It is a truth that none of us should ever forget. Summary To Question 15: Why Is The Church Compared To A Vine And Its Branches? Jesus compared believers to a vine and branches. He is the vine while we are the branches. Unless the branch is attached to the vine it cannot bear fruit. It does not have any life. Such non fruit-bearing branches are gathered up and burned because they are useless. It was not coincidental that Jesus used wood from the vine as an illustration of the necessity of abiding. While wood from trees, when cut down, can have many uses, wood from the vine has no other use. A person cannot build with it, nor do anything constructive with it. It must be burned.


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This illustrates the necessity of the believer remaining in Christ. Unless we are connected to Him spiritually we have no other use, no other worth. We are spiritually dead. We are good for nothing like the useless branch which becomes unattached to the vine. Consequently, unless the believer is attached to Jesus Christ there is no bearing of spiritual fruit. Without Jesus, believers can accomplish absolutely nothing. However, all things are possible through Christ who gives us the strength as well as the guidance. Therefore, we should also desire to abide in the vine. In doing so, we will be able to bear spiritual fruit.


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Question 16

Why Is The Church Like Sheep? In the Old Testament, the Lord compares His people to sheep while He Himself is the Shepherd which looks after His sheep. In the famous 23rd Psalm we read.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need (Psalm 23:1 NLT).

The psalmist also wrote.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:1-5 NIV).

We are His people, His sheep; He is the One who has made us. The Comparison In The New Testament We find this same comparison of the shepherd and the sheep in the New Testament. Jesus gave the following picture of Himself as the Good Shepherd with those who believed in Him are the sheep. He said.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.


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For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father. There was again a division among the Jews because of these words (John 10:11-19 RSV).

Thus, in both testaments we find that believers are compared to sheep. Why? Why do we find this continually illustration in Scripture of the Lord being the Shepherd and we the sheep? A number of observations need to be made. 1. Sheep Have No Defenses For one thing, sheep have no natural defenses. When they are attacked they cannot defend themselves or help themselves in any manner. In other words, they are helpless to fend off any attacker. Their only defense is the shepherd. Without the protection of the shepherd the sheep are exposed to injury or death. This illustrates the importance of the shepherd defending the sheep. 2. We Are Fighting A Spiritual Battle Scripture makes it clear that we are fighting a spiritual battle. As sheep are defenseless in the natural realm, believers are defenseless in the spiritual realm. Paul wrote of the spiritual battle we as believers are facing. He said.

A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In


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every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere (Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT).

We have been given weapons of warfare to do battle in the spiritual realm. These weapons are provided by the Lord Himself. Without them we are helpless in our battles. Like the sheep, we are helpless without His protection. 3. The Sheep Need The Shepherd For Everything There is more. Sheep need the total protection of the shepherd. Without the shepherd, the sheep are as good as dead. Indeed, the shepherd takes care of all of the needs of the flock. He feeds them, protects them and guides them. In other words, they cannot live without Him. In the same manner, we cannot live spiritually without the feeding, protection, and guidance of the Good Shepherd. Without Him, we would be lost. 4. Christ Has Appointed Undershepherds To Look After The

Sheep Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. However, the shepherding of the sheep has also been committed to undershepherds; they are His ministers in the church. For example, after His resurrection, Jesus told Peter.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him


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the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17 RSV).

Peter was to have the responsibility of shepherding the flock of God as an undershepherd of Christ, the chief shepherd. He was to feed the sheep. The undershepherd does provide nourishment for the sheep. Paul told Timothy to proclaim the truth of God. He said.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV)

The shepherd or pastor is to preach the Word. This is how he feeds the sheep. Therefore, from the Scripture, we discover that the Lord was the Shepherd to the people of Israel as well Jesus being the Good Shepherd to believers; the flock of God. This is a helpful picture of our relationship with Him. We need Him for everything. Summary To Question 16: Why Is The Church Like Sheep? In the Old Testament, we find that the Lord was the Shepherd to His people Israel. They were His sheep. This illustration is given a number of times. The same picture is given in the New Testament. There is the association which the Bible makes of the believers in Jesus Christ to sheep. In this comparison, the Lord Jesus Himself is the Good Shepherd who continually watches over the sheep, those who believe in Him. From this analogy we can conclude a number of things. Sheep have no natural defenses. Their only protection comes from the shepherd. Without the shepherd the sheep are helpless. Injury or death occurs when they leave the protection of the shepherd.


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In the same manner, without the protection of the Good Shepherd we are helpless to fight the spiritual battles we will face. We have no weapons to fight the battle. The Apostle Paul wrote that we believers are engaged in a spiritual battle. To fight this battle, we need spiritual weapons of warfare. The Lord has provided these weapons. We must use them if we are to do battle. However, if we attempt to fight the battles without the Good Shepherd, or without the weapons He has provided, then we will lose because we are helpless and defenseless. Indeed, we also discover that sheep need the shepherd for their entire existence. Food, shelter, protection and guidance are all provided by the shepherd. Without the shepherd the sheep could not exist. Again, the analogy is clear. Without the protection and guidance of the Good Shepherd, we cannot prosper in the spiritual realm. As Jesus said, “without Me you can do nothing.” While the Lord Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, He has appointed undershepherds in the church. Their job is to tend His flock. They look after the spiritual needs of the believers. Foremost among their duties is the teaching of God’s Word. The undershepherd is to feed the sheep. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. At that time, He emphasized to Simon Peter the need to feed the flock of God. Again, this is the primary job of the undershepherd. We conclude that believers as sheep desperately need the Good Shepherd. In fact, we cannot really function without Him and we should not attempt to.


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Question 17

Why Is The Church Compared To A Royal Priesthood?

One of the important comparisons which the New Testament makes of the church is that of priesthood. We read about this in the first letter from Peter. He wrote.

And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ. As the Scriptures express it, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.” Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him, “The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:5-7 NLT).

Why the comparison to priests? Why is the church compared to holy priests offering spiritual sacrifices? The Priesthood Is An Old Testament Concept The New Testament concept of a priest is rooted in the Old Testament description of the Levitical priesthood. According to the Old Testament, a priest is one who approaches God on behalf of the people. The nation of Israel required the intercession of priests in its worship of the Lord. The priests were those individuals who were sanctified, or set apart, to lead the worship of God; first in the tabernacle and then in the temple. There they were required to offer sacrifices to the Lord on behalf of the people. The Old Testament priesthood was considered to be holy. Indeed the priests were those who were set apart for the service of God. Israel Was To Be A Kingdom Of Priests In the Old Testament, Israel is described as a kingdom of priests. At Mount Sinai, the Lord asked this question of the nation Israel.


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Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5,6 RSV).

The people of Israel agreed to keep the covenant of the Lord. The nation constituted an entire kingdom of people who could approach God through faith in His promises. This constitutes the background for calling the New Testament believers “priests.” We Are A Royal Priesthood In the New Testament believers are called a “royal priesthood.” Peter wrote the following.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).

The Christians are likened to a holy nation of people belonging to the Lord. This Was Not Realized In Old Testament Times It is important to note that the concept of a royal priesthood was never fully realized in the history of Israel. For one thing, the Hebrew kings came from the tribe of Judah. The priests, on the other hand, were all descendants of Aaron. He was from the tribe of Levi. Therefore, it was impossible for a person to be both the king and a priest. Kings could not be priests and priests could not be kings.


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Melchizedek Was A King And A Priest In the Old Testament there is only one person who was both a king and a priest at the same time. He was a mysterious figure named Melchizedek. We read about Him in Genesis. It says.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18 RSV).

In the New Testament Jesus is called “a priest forever, just like Melchizedek.”

And the psalmist pointed this out when he said of Christ, “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17 NLT).

Jesus Himself has become the High Priest of a new order. Believers are a royal priesthood or kingly priests. Access In Not Limited Any Longer During the Old Testament period, the access to God the Father was limited. Jesus Christ, however, made access available to each and every believer. When He died upon the cross, the veil of the temple, which represented limited access to the presence of the Lord, was torn in two. The individual believer is now encouraged to boldly approach the presence of God Himself because of what Christ has done on our behalf. We read of this in the Book of Hebrews. It says.

Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water (Hebrews 10:19–22 CSB).

This access to the holy place is possible because of the intercessory work of his High Priest, Jesus Christ Himself.


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The Sacrifices Are No Longer Necessary A further difference between the Old and New Testament priesthood is that sacrifices for sin are no longer necessary, since Christ has offered a sacrifice once for all. Rather, the Christian priest offers himself as a sacrifice to God. The writer to the Hebrews stated it this way.

Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God (Romans 12:1 CEV).

The writer to the Hebrews also noted.

Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices (Hebrews 13:15,16 HCSB).

Sacrifices are a thing of the past because Jesus Christ offered Himself once and for all as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, the New Testament believers find themselves in a remarkable situation. We are kings and priests to God or a kingdom of priests because we are identified with Jesus Christ who Himself was both a priest and a king. This being the case, we should act in a manner which is worthy to the exalted position we have been given. Summary To Question 17: Why Is The Church Compared To A Royal Priesthood? In the Old Testament era, the nation of Israel had priesthood, but, in the present age, the church is the priesthood! Each individual believer in Jesus Christ is a priest. There is direct access to the very presence of the living God through the Person of Jesus Christ. No human intermediary is necessary. This is one of the things we find emphasized in the New Testament. The church, the body of Christ, is called a royal priesthood. We offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. Sacrifices, like those offered during the Old


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Testament period, are no longer necessary. They are unnecessary because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He died on behalf of the entire world by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Jesus was both king and priest. He has made those which believe in Him into a royal priesthood.


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Question 18

What Are Some Of The Popular Designations Of The Church That Are

Not Found In The New Testament? There are at least four popular meanings attached to the word “church” that are not found in the New Testament. This includes the idea that the church is a building, there is such a thing as a national or state church, that denominations can be called the church, and that there are individual branches of Christianity. None of these has any New Testament support. We can make the following observations. 1. The Church Is Not A Building Although it is popular to call the buildings in which believers meet “the church” the New Testament never designates it as such. Interestingly, our English word church is derived from the Greek word kuriakos which means “belonging to the Lord.” This term was used to designate the buildings in which believers met. However, the New Testament does not apply the term in this manner. We find that the early church met in the homes of people rather than some special building. It was not until the third century that special buildings were specifically built to hold Christian services. However, the church existed long before any buildings were built to house the people. Indeed, we believers are the church! 2. There Is No State Or National Church In many countries there is a national or state church; such as the Church of England. However, this is unknown in the New Testament. The local church, or assembly of believers, was not answerable to any higher church and there certainly was no such thing as a state church in the beginning of the Christian era. To the contrary, the church and many of its practices were outlawed in the Roman Empire. The believers were seen as enemies of the state rather than being part of the establishment. It was not until the fourth


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century of the Christian era when the church merged with the state. This, of course, brought on an entire new set of problems which the believers living at the time of the New Testament did not have to face. 3. There Are No Denominations The New Testament knows nothing about different denominations such as Lutheranism, Methodism, Episcopalianism, or Pentecostalism. These tags came much later in the history of Christianity. Believers were called such things as Christians, disciples, the elect, the followers of the way, or saints. Denominations, as we have today, were unheard of. 4. There Are Not Branches Of Christianity Finally, the New Testament knows nothing of a Protestant Church, Roman Catholic Church, or Greek Orthodox Church. There is only one church. This is made up of all true believers in Jesus Christ. These labels came much later in the history of the church. Therefore, we should be careful not to make the mistake, which so many people make, and give designations to the church which have no biblical basis whatsoever.

Summary To Question 18: What Are Some Of The Popular Designations Of The Church That Are Not Found In The New Testament? There are a number of popular designations of the church of Jesus Christ that are not taught in the New Testament. For one thing, the church is not a building. The New Testament never identifies the two. The building houses the church, the people of God. We are the church; we meet in buildings. In fact, it was a couple of centuries into the Christian era before buildings were constructed for the specific purpose of housing those who met to worship Jesus.


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In addition, there is no such thing as a national or state church found in Scripture. The first Christians were actually considered enemies of the state because they did not believe in the gods of Rome. Instead of identifying with the state, the Christians were seen as outlaws. There was no official Church of Rome which had the backing of the Empire. Neither were there such things as denominations in the early church. Everyone who believed in Jesus was considered part of the body of Christ or the New Testament church. There were no Baptists, Lutherans, or Methodists. These designations came later. Finally, there were no such things as branches of Christianity such as Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, or Greek Orthodoxy. No such divisions were even contemplated. These popular designations of the church find no place in the New Testament. While they have become part of popular speech, we should be careful to separate what is taught today about the church with what the New Testament has to say about the subject.


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Question 19

What Are The Different Views With Respect To When The Church Began?

When did the church begin? Did it occur during the earthly ministry of the Lord, or at some earlier or later date? Some authors find the historical beginning of the church in the Old Testament, whereas others identify its historical origin as a unique event in New Testament history. There are a number of views that Christians hold in an attempt to pinpoint when the church originated. They include the following. 1. The Church Began With Adam For some, the universal church includes all believers, including those of the Old Testament. As a result they trace the origin of the church back to the Adamic covenant. This, they contend, is when the church actually began; with Adam. 2. The Church Began With Abraham A popular view of the origin of the church is it began when God made a covenant with one man – Abraham. This is the view of covenant theologians. Abraham is called “the father of the faithful” and many believe this includes those who have believed in Christ in the Old Testament era as well as in the New Testament. 3. It Was During Jesus’ Ministry It has been argued that sometime during the public ministry of Jesus the New Testament church was formed. Previously the church did not exist. There have been a number of possible events in the life of Christ which believers have suggested to mark the beginning of the church. This includes the calling of His first disciples, Peter’s confession, the Lord’s Supper, and His resurrection.


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4. It Was On The Day Of Pentecost The view that seems to have the most evidence is that the church began on the Day of Pentecost. Before Pentecost the church was something future. After Pentecost, the church was already assumed to have begun. The day it began was on the Day of Pentecost. 5. Sometime During The Book Of Acts There have been those who have contended the church began sometime during the time recorded in the Book of Acts. This is linked to Saul’s conversion to the Apostle Paul. He was the one given the honor to reveal the sacred secret or mystery which had been hidden during the Old Testament period. There would now be one people of God made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Before his conversion, this secret was not revealed. Thus, the church had to have begun sometime after his conversion. These are the major views which have been put forth concerning the birthday of the church. In our next few questions we will provide the arguments put forward by those which hold these particular views. Summary To Question 19: What Are The Different Views With Respect To When The Church Began? The actual beginning of the church is an issue in which Christians disagree. There are five major views which are held among Bible-believers. They can be summed up as follows. Some feel the church began with Adam. This perspective sees all believers from the beginning of creation until the present to be part of the church. Others think it started with Abraham. God called Abraham out of an idolatrous culture and made a covenant with him. All those who are followers of the God of Scripture are spiritual descendants of Abraham. Thus, the church began with him.


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It has also been taught that the church began sometime during the ministry of Jesus. However, exactly when this occurred in His ministry is not agreed upon. Some have assumed that the church began when Jesus called out His first disciples. In doing so, He formed the New Testament church. Others link it to Peter’s confession, the Last Supper, or the resurrection. The Day of Pentecost is another time when the birthday of the church is asserted. It was at this particular day when the Holy Spirit came down on the believers in a unique way. Before Pentecost the church was seen as something future while after Pentecost its existence was assumed. As we will see, this is the best view as to when the church began. Finally, some believe the church was founded sometime during the Book of Acts. It was only after the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul and his gospel to the Gentiles that the church actually had its beginning. Paul was the individual who was given the revelation that the good news would go to Gentiles as well as to Jews. Before his conversion, it was only a Jewish gospel. This sums up the various positions. As mentioned, the view which has the best evidence is that the church began on the Day of Pentecost.


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Question 20

Did The Church Begin With Adam?

It is thought by some that the church of Jesus Christ actually began with Adam; the first human being. The logic behind this point of view is simple. The church, or the called-out people of God, consists of all those individuals from the time of creation who have placed their faith in God. If we define the church in this manner, then a case can be made for Adam being the first member of the church. This, of course, assumes that he was a true believer. The event which is often used to support this perspective is the promise the Lord made to Eve after she and Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15 NIV).

Adam, it is claimed, exercised faith in this promise and became the first member of the church. All those who have trusted in the Lord from that time have likewise been part of the church. The Church Has Existed From The Beginning This being the case, the church has existed from the beginning and has continued throughout history. There was a unique call to Abraham and his descendants. They had a special covenant relationship with God. The nation of Israel was made up of this chosen people. Today, the church is not made up of physical descendants of Abraham but rather with those who believe in Jesus Christ. This consists of both Jews and Gentiles. However, the actual beginning of the church is believed to have started at the very beginning, with Adam.


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Summary To Question 20: Did The Church Begin With Adam? Some argue that the church began with the first human – Adam. They contend that God’s plan was to start the church at the very beginning. Adam was the first in a long line of believers. It is claimed that he responded to the promise the Lord made in the Garden of Eden; the promise of a deliverer who would crush the head of the serpent. From that moment on every person who has trusted in the promises which God has made concerning their eternal salvation has become a member of His church. Thus, the church began with Adam and continues until today. Therefore, if one wants to discover the biblical beginning of the church they should look to the first human being, Adam.


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Question 21

Did The Church Begin With Abraham?

There is a popular view that the church began with Abraham. Those who hold this view usually hold to a system of biblical interpretation known as covenant theology. We can sum up the arguments for this perspective in the following manner. The Covenant With Abraham God made a covenant with a man named Abram; whose name was later changed to Abraham. We read about this in Genesis. It says.

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV).

From Abraham’s physical descendants, through Isaac and then Jacob, the nation of Israel came about. In fact, Jacob was actually named “Israel.” The Old Testament makes it clear that Israel was God’s chosen people. They were the ones which would bring His message to the world. The Rejection Of The Messiah Among other things, God promised to send a deliverer or Messiah to Israel. Unfortunately, the nation which sprang from Abraham rejected the Promised Messiah when He arrived. The Bible says of Jesus.

But although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted (John 1:10-11 NLT).

Jesus, the Promised Messiah, was not accepted by those who should have received Him.


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Israel Was Replaced With The New Testament Church Israel, in rejecting the Lord Jesus as their Messiah, caused their own rejection. This nation is no longer the unique people of God. The work of God today is done through the New Testament church. Israel is called the church in the wilderness. We read of this in the Book of Acts.

He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us (Acts 7:38 NRSV).

Yet they are not the church or the people of God today. Instead the people of God consist of Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus. The New Testament makes it clear that Israel and the church should be equated. Paul said those who believe in Jesus are now the descendants of Abraham. He wrote the following to the Galatians.

So, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham (Galatians 3:7 NRSV).

While the church started with Abraham and continued with his physical descendants, today it is made up of both Jews and Gentiles; the spiritual heirs of Abraham. It is the same church. Paul also wrote that the church is the same olive tree as Israel. He said this to the Romans.

And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God's rich nourishment of his special olive tree (Romans 11:16-17 NLT).


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The Gentiles are part of the same olive tree as the descendants of Abraham; the church. The church is founded upon the same covenant which God made with Abraham. Therefore, it is wrong to make a distinction between the church and the nation of Israel. The church began with Abraham. Summary To Question 21: Did The Church Begin With Abraham? A popular view is the church began with the patriarch Abraham. God made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham. All the agreements, or covenants, found after in the Scripture this stem from the one made with him. Those who hold this view are said to believe in “Covenant Theology.” God promised to bless Abraham’s physical descendants through his son Isaac and through Isaac’s son Jacob or Israel. The nation of Israel was the chosen people of God. To them, the promised Messiah came; Jesus of Nazareth. However, they rejected Him. Judgment then came upon the nation as the Lord now rejected them. The people of God are no longer physical descendants of Abraham but rather they are his spiritual descendants; the New Testament church. While the church began with the covenant or agreement which God made with Abraham this covenant is no longer binding to his physical heirs. The work of the Lord today is done through the church. Yet it would be wrong to make a distinction between Israel and the church. Israel was God’s church in the wilderness yet they are no longer His church today.


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Question 22

Was The Church Begun During Jesus’ Ministry?

Did the church begin with the ministry of Jesus Christ? Many people think this is the case. They assume the church had no existence before Jesus began His public ministry but that it began some time before He ascended into heaven. We can make a number of observations about this perspective. There Was No Church In The Old Testament Era This point of view holds that there was no church in existence before Jesus came to earth. Thus, the church of Jesus Christ is a New Testament concept. While there is agreement that the church did not exist in the Old Testament period, there is no agreement as to what event in Jesus’ life and ministry actually started the New Testament church. At least four options have been offered. Option 1: The Forming Of Jesus’ Disciples

Began The Church It is contended by some that when Jesus began His public ministry, He also formed the church. In calling out a select group of disciples to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to teach others, Jesus created what we know today as the church. Thus, the actually beginning of the church was when Jesus selected the Twelve and named them as His Apostles. Option 2: Peter’s Confession Began The Church Some see Peter’s confession as the beginning of the church. Until that time, Jesus had not publicly acknowledged that He was the Promised Messiah. When Jesus asked the disciples about whom they thought He was, Peter, speaking for the group, confessed He was the Son of the Living God. Jesus acknowledged Peter’s confession. It was at that moment that the New Testament church was born.


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Option 3: The Church Began At The Last Supper There are those who believe this occurred during the Last Supper. When the disciples met for the last time together before Jesus’ death, He instituted the celebration of communion or the Lord’s Supper. He told His disciples that His blood would be the blood of the New Covenant. This is understood by some to mark the beginning of the church; the New Covenant which the Lord would make with humanity based upon the death and resurrection of Christ. Option 4: The Church Began With The Resurrected Christ Some think that the church actually began with resurrection of Christ from the dead. They reckon that belief in Jesus Christ is based upon His death upon the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Until these events occurred nobody could believe in Jesus in the New Testament sense; the sense in which people must accept Him today. Thus, wherever one wishes to find the beginning of the New Testament church, it is contended that it must have taken place at some crucial event during Jesus’ time on the earth. This is why these various important events in His life are put forward as the beginning of the church. Summary To Question 22: Was The Church Begun During Jesus’ Ministry? There are those people who believe the church did not exist during the Old Testament period but rather began at some juncture when Jesus was here upon the earth. This occurred before His ascension into heaven. A number of possible times have been suggested. Some believe the New Testament church was formed when Jesus Christ began to gather His own disciples. When He called the twelve to follow Him, He formed what later became the New Testament church. Thus, the beginnings of the church can be traced back to Jesus Himself and the calling of His first disciples. This set the stage for all those who


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were to follow. Therefore, the birthday of the church can be located at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Others see the beginning of the church at the time Jesus first acknowledged Himself as the Promised Messiah. When Peter confessed Jesus was the Christ, or Messiah, Jesus did not dispute that confession. Rather He told His disciples to keep that truth silent for the time being. Many see this as the actual beginning of the church. The Last Supper is also viewed as the time the New Testament church actually began. At that time, Jesus established the New Covenant with His disciples. This is seen as the beginning of the church. Finally, there are those which see the beginning of the church with the resurrection of Christ. Since New Testament believers must acknowledge His death and resurrection, it is assumed that the church could not officially start until these events occurred. Consequently, Jesus Christ began His church while here upon the earth though the exact moment may not be clear.


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Question 23

Did The Church Begin On The Day Of Pentecost?

One of the most popular views is that the church began on the Day of Pentecost. In fact, when all the evidence is in, this position has the most going for it. The evidence is as follows. The Church Did Not Exist In The Old Testament Era This view holds that the church did not exist in Old Testament era. In fact, the church did not exist until Jesus ascended to heaven. There are several lines of evidence which support this position. They are as follows. It Was Still Future During Jesus’ Ministry During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the church was something still future. In the famous dialogue with Simon Peter, Jesus said the following.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 ESV).

Notice Jesus He did not say that He would continue to build His church. He said that He would build His church; the church had not yet come into existence. The Believers Were To Wait In Jerusalem For The Holy Spirit Before His ascension, the Lord promised that the disciples would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit. However, they were told they must wait in Jerusalem.

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high. Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God (Luke 24:49-52 RSV).


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In the Book of Acts, we read further words of Jesus before His ascension into heaven.

For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5 ESV).

The fulfillment of this promise took place as follows.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4 ESV)

As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit came down and filled these disciples of His. The church age had begun! The Church Was In Existence The fact that the church came into existence at Pentecost is confirmed with statements in the Book of Acts. For example, we read.

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events (Acts 5:11 NIV)

At this particular time, the New Testament church was in existence. As we continue to read through the Book of Acts we find references to believers as “the church.” Thus, a functioning entity known as the church came into existence. We know that it did not exist until sometime after Jesus ascended into heaven. Therefore, it seems best to equate the beginning of the church with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.


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Summary To Question 23: Did The Church Begin On The Day Of Pentecost? The Day of Pentecost has much biblical support for the actual start of the church. Before Pentecost the church was spoken of as something future. During His public ministry, Jesus told His disciples that He would build His church. This spoke of something which did not yet exist. Even after His resurrection, Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit as an event which was still future. Indeed, Jesus told the believers to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed from power which would come from on high. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in a unique way on the Day of Pentecost the New Testament church was formed. After Pentecost it was assumed that the church had already begun. Acts speaks of an entity known as “the church.” Therefore, the evidence seems to indicate that the actual birthday of the New Testament church was on the Day of Pentecost.


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Question 24

Did The Church Begin Sometime During The Book Of Acts?

There is the view that the church of Jesus began at some instance during the period of time which is recorded in the Book of Acts. It is usually associated with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul. Until that time, there was only a “Jewish church.” With Saul’s conversion the message then began to be preached to the Gentiles. Paul himself stressed the mystery, or sacred secret, which was revealed to him. This mystery is that Gentiles would be part of the church. He wrote the following to the Colossians.

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:25-27 NIV).

Thus, the Apostle Paul was the first to have knowledge of God’s intent to form Jew and Gentile into one body, the New Testament church. There Were Believers Before Paul However, there were Jewish believers in Jesus Christ for a number of years before the conversion of Saul to Paul. Therefore, if the mystery of the church was first revealed to Paul, then the church could not have existed on the Day of Pentecost or for some years thereafter. It only came into being with the conversion of the Gentiles. There Is A Difference Between The Gospel Of The Circumcision And The Uncircumcision It is also contended by some that there is a difference in the gospel which was proclaimed to the circumcision, the Jews, and the good news which was preached to the uncircumcision, the Gentiles. Peter was given the


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honor of bringing the gospel to the Jews while Paul went to the Gentiles. However, they did not preach the same message. It Was Not Only Paul Who Received The Divine Mystery This claim is easy to refute. First, while Paul was indeed the one who wrote about the sacred secret, that the church would be made up of Jews and Gentiles, he was not the only one to whom this was revealed! Speaking of this mystery, he said.

Which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5 NIV).

Note that according to Paul, this truth was revealed to God’s holy apostles and prophets (plural). It was not merely revealed to him. Therefore, the church, made up of Jews and Gentiles, could have existed before the conversion of Saul to Paul. There Are Not Two Different Gospels Furthermore, we should not make any distinction between the message preached by Peter to the Jews and the one preached by Paul to the Gentiles. They were not different gospels! Each of these men preached the same message about Jesus Christ and His offer of forgiveness of sin; the message did not change with the addition of Gentiles into the church. Therefore, we find no basis whatsoever of saying the church began at some time in the Book of Acts with the conversion of Saul to Paul. Summary To Question 24: Did The Church Begin Sometime During The Book Of Acts? There are those who teach that the church originated sometime during the events recorded in the Book of Acts. Usually this is equated with Saul’s conversion to the Apostle Paul. When Paul would later write his New Testament letters, he would claim that the mystery, or sacred secret of the church, was something which was revealed to him. This being the case, the church could not have existed before his conversion. Therefore,


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we must find some event in the Book of Acts which constitutes the beginning of the New Testament church. In addition, it is contended that Peter preached a different gospel to the Jews than the one Paul did to the Gentiles. Only after Gentiles became part of the church was Paul’s gospel preached. Before that time, only a “Jewish gospel” was proclaimed. The problem with this view is that Paul did not say that the mystery of the church was revealed to him alone! To the contrary, it was revealed to all of the apostles of Christ. Paul is the one who was selected to write about it but he certainly was not the only one who received this divine truth. It is also wrong to try to form a wedge between the gospel which Peter preached and the one which Paul proclaimed. It was not two different gospels. Peter was merely the main messenger to the Jews while Paul was the main messenger to the Gentiles. However they both preached the same message. Therefore, it is not correct to say that the church began sometime in the Book of Acts after the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul.


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Question 25

What Are The Different Views With Respect To Identifying The Church With God’s

Kingdom Or The Nation Israel? There are a number of debated issues among Christians with respect to the nature of the church and its relationship with God’s kingdom and with the nation of Israel. There are a number of different perspectives that have been held by Bible-believers. It is important to understand these differing points of views for an overall picture of the nature of the church. These views include the following. 1. The Church Is To Be Identified With God’s Kingdom A popular view has been to equate the church with the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven – they are the same thing. This perspective makes no distinction between them. Thus, God is presently ruling the earth through His divinely appointed church. The church on earth has the same authority which Jesus Christ had when He was here. 2. The Church Is Not The Same As God’s Kingdom The Bible does not equate the church with the kingdom of God. While the church is part of God’s overall kingdom they are not the same thing. The church and the kingdom are distinct; we should never confuse the two. 3. The Church Is The New Israel The church has also been identified with the nation of Israel. It is argued that Israel and the church are the same entity. When the Jewish people rejected Jesus the New Testament church became the new Israel. The nation has been replaced in God’s program by the New Testament church.


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4. Israel And The Church Are Distinct Another perspective rejects the idea that Israel and the church are the same entity. God’s program includes a future for Israel – He has not set them aside. While God’s message is proclaimed today through the church, which is made up of both Jews and non-Jews, there will come a time when the Lord will again deal with the world through the nation of Israel. They have been temporarily set aside; not replaced. There Are Practical Implications Of These Views These issues have many practical implications. They are as follows. 1. If the church and Israel are identical, then there is no future for the nation as far as the Bible is concerned. Israel has been rejected by God and does not figure in any future plans for our world. Thus it should not be looked upon as some special group of people in the eyes of the Lord. 2. If the church is God’s kingdom on the earth, then there should be different officers ruling over that kingdom. The word of these church leaders would be absolutely authoritative on all spiritual matters. We should know who they are and listen to what they say because they alone speak for the God of the Bible. Consequently, this is more than a mere academic question. Therefore, we need to know what the Bible has to say about the relationship of the kingdom of God to the church and to the nation of Israel. Summary To Question 25: What Are The Different Views With Respect To Identifying The Church With God’s Kingdom Or The Nation Israel? Bible-believers have different perspectives when it comes to the identification of the church with the kingdom of God and with the nation Israel. There are certain believers which identify the kingdom of God with the visible church on the earth. Consequently, the church has absolute


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authority in all matters spiritual. Its leaders can make divine pronouncements because Christ has invested His authority with them. Others see the church and the kingdom of God as distinct entities. While the church constitutes part of God’s kingdom it is wrong to identify them with each other. Furthermore, there is nothing in Scripture which says the church is to have the final authority on spiritual matters here upon the earth. This authority is with Christ and Him alone. His Word is the final authority on all matters. It is not the teachings or biblical interpretations of any church leader on the earth. There are some people which identify Israel with the church; they believe they are one in the same. The physical nation of Israel has been set aside for rejecting Christ. The church is the “new Israel.” Others, however, believe that the Scripture teaches that they are distinct entities and should not be considered the same. While God’s work today is accomplished through the church, there will come a time when Israel will be center-stage in His program. Israel has not been set aside. As we can clearly see, these differences all have practical implications for how we are to understand the purpose of the church as any authority it may have or may not have. This being the case, it is imperative that we understand exactly what the Bible has to say about the church, the nation of Israel, and their relationship to the kingdom of God.


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Question 26

What Are The Arguments For Church Being The Same As The Kingdom Of God?

Throughout history there have been many people who have equated the church on the earth with the kingdom of God. In other words, they are one the same. The church is Christ’s body here upon the earth. Those who have argued that the church is to be identified with the kingdom of God do so in the following way. The Idea Came From Augustine’s “City Of God” The idea that the church is to be equated with the kingdom of God stems from the writings of fourth century church father Augustine. In his work, “City of God,” he equated the church with the kingdom of God upon the earth. The church, he contended, constituted God’s kingdom; it is the present rule of God. The Church Supposedly Had Absolute Authority Over the centuries, particularly during the Middle Ages, this teaching developed to the point that the church was considered to have absolute authority on the earth in all matters spiritual. As can be imagined, this resulted in a number of things happening. The Church Taught With Final Authority For one thing, the teachings of the church were considered to be absolutely binding on all believers; this includes teachings which cannot be found in Scripture. The church had the authority to add to Holy Scripture as it alone saw fit. Because the church was God’s appointed vehicle in the world, to disagree with the church was to disagree with the Lord. Church pronouncements were the last word on every issue. There was no higher court of appeal.


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Salvation Was Only Found In The Visible Church As God’s kingdom upon the earth, eternal salvation was, therefore, dispensed from the church alone. They had the final say as to who was saved and who was lost. One could not be saved from their sins unless they were in good stead with the visible church. This, of course, would cause the people to give the utmost respect to the visible church. The Idea Of A Future Kingdom Was Downplayed Furthermore, the concept of the kingdom was considered to be something presently occurring rather than something future as Scripture teaches. The kingdom was now being built upon the earth. Forgotten were the words of Scripture which said the kingdom was still to come. The Second Coming of Christ, the hope of the New Testament believers, was downplayed or ignored. Human Leaders, Instead Of Christ Were Glorified All of this resulted in the glorification of the church upon the earth. It was looked upon as the extension of Christ and His body. Sinful human beings were now given the same authority as Christ Himself. The Lordship of Christ was all but forgotten. Conclusion: We Should Not Equate The Church And The Kingdom Thus, this concept of equating the church on the earth with the kingdom of God has led to a number of conclusions and practices which are not warranted by Scripture. Indeed, much of the false practices done in the name of Christ can be attributed to this mistaken identification of the church with the kingdom of God. The equating the visible church with the kingdom of God was a horrific error.


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Summary To Question 26 What Are The Arguments For Church Being The Same As The Kingdom Of God? One of the biggest mistakes made in the history of Christianity has been the equating of the church on the earth with the kingdom of God. The fourth century church father, Augustine, wrote a work entitled “City of God” where he equated the visible church and the kingdom of God. Augustine’s teachings were accepted as true by the church and developed to the point that the church on earth was assumed to have all spiritual authority. Indeed, instead of the biblical perspective of the kingdom of God being established at some time in the future, and something which Christ alone brings, it was assumed that the kingdom was being built upon the earth right now. This led to the church having absolute authority on all matters of Christian doctrine and practice. This resulted in a number of things happening which were contrary to written Scripture. For one thing, the church could add to Holy Scripture anything they considered to be consistent with what was previously revealed. These new additions were just as binding as the words of Christ Himself. They could do this because the church was assumed to have this authority. This led to beliefs and practices which were actually contrary to what the Word of God taught. Since the church had ultimate authority, salvation was something which it alone could dispense. People were taught that there was no salvation outside of the visible church. Therefore, the church held absolute control over the people and their actions. Thus, instead of Jesus Christ being the Lord of the church, sinful human beings were now in control of all spiritual matters. The idea of a future kingdom, ruled personally by Christ, was downplayed. It was the present rule of God through the church which was emphasized. This was the tragic outcome of believing the kingdom of God is being built right now upon the earth through the church. This is now the way the Bible pictures God’s kingdom.


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Question 27

What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The Church With The Kingdom Of God?

From the writings of the church father Augustine, a theology was developed which equated the kingdom of God with the church here upon the earth. This led to the church assuming the role of Jesus Christ. Absolute authority was claimed for the teachings and practices of the church to the place where they could add to Holy Scripture as well as determine who was saved and who was lost. This was a tragic outcome of accepting the non-biblical idea that the present church upon the earth is somehow to be equated with God’s kingdom. A number of points need to be made. The Kingdom Of God In Scripture To begin with, the kingdom of God in Scripture refers to His entire program of saving the human race from their sin. This has occurred with all peoples in all ages from the beginning of creation. It is comprehensive in its scope. This kingdom will eventually materialize upon the earth with the return of Jesus Christ. Christ Himself taught His disciples to pray.

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9,10 NLT).

God’s reign will one day encompass everything on this earth as well as in the entire universe. However, that day has not yet occurred! While the Lord does rule the universe, the actual establishment of His kingdom upon the earth is something still future. Indeed, after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead the kingdom which the Lord had promised Israel was still something which was to take place in the future. We read of a conversation He had with His disciples recorded in the Book of Acts.


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So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority (Acts 1:6-7 NIV).

Notice that Jesus did not correct them about their idea of a coming kingdom to the earth. His answer indicated that the kingdom would happen at a future time appointed by God the Father; they did not need to know when this would occur. The Kingdom Of God Is Never Equated With The Church Furthermore, nowhere do we find God’s kingdom equated with the church. They are always treated as distinct entities. If the church and the kingdom are supposed to be the same, then we would expect Scripture to teach this. However, it does not. Each term has a different meaning in Scripture. The Church Did Not Exist In The Old Testament Era There is more. The church did not even exist during Old Testament times. In fact, the church did not come into existence until Jesus ascended into heaven. It is a distinct people of God. While there were believers in the God of the Bible during this Old Testament period, they did not make up the church. When Jesus began His public ministry, He said the kingdom of God was “at hand.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17 NIV).

The kingdom was offered to the people in the person of the king. Yet this kingdom was rejected by the people. This will be established when Jesus returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We read this awesome statement in the Book of Revelation about the coming of Christ.


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Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:15,16 NIV).

The Book of Revelation records His future return to the earth when He sets up an everlasting kingdom. While the kingdom is still future, the church exists today. We find the New Testament filled with scores of references to an existing entity called the church. These reasons have caused people to reject the idea that the church and the kingdom are the same. Indeed, we must never equate the two. The Church Is Part Of The Future Kingdom There is one more thing we must note. While the New Testament church is not the same as the kingdom of God, it certainly constitutes part of God’s kingdom. In the kingdom age, the church will be an integral part of the rule and reign of Christ. Thus, while the church and the kingdom cannot be equated we should not assume that they are totally unrelated. The kingdom of God is the broader concept. It will include the rule of the Lord over the earth. The writer to the Hebrews stated.

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8 NRSV).

The church will be part of that righteous kingdom which is coming but the church is not the kingdom.


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Summary To Question 27: What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The Church With The Kingdom Of God? Unhappily there is the mistaken idea that the church here upon the earth is to be equated with the kingdom of God. This tragic error has led to a number of beliefs and practices which are contrary to Scripture. There are a number of arguments against equating the church with the kingdom of God. First, the Scripture nowhere says the two are one in the same. They are separate concepts which the Bible never equates. When Jesus Christ came to earth He offered the kingdom to the nation of Israel. As the rightful King, He was certainly able to do this. However, He and His kingdom were rejected. Therefore, He spoke of it as something which would be established in the future. Thus, the kingdom of God on the earth will be a reality in the future. It will be instituted when Jesus Christ returns to the earth. Not before. Indeed, the righteous personal rule of Christ upon the earth at His Second Coming has been the hope of the church for some two thousand years. Obviously, it has not taken place as yet. Nevertheless, the church is assumed to exist and be functioning in the present. Indeed, the greater part of the New Testament gives instructions on the present reality of the church and the mission it has on the earth. If the church is presently here, but the kingdom is something future, then the two cannot be identical. The kingdom of God certainly contains the members of the New Testament church but the kingdom is larger than the church. While the church is without doubt part of God’s kingdom, it is incorrect to equate the two. Therefore, we should never make the mistake of equating the church of Jesus Christ here upon the earth with the coming kingdom of our Lord.


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Question 28

What Are The Arguments For Identifying The Church With The Nation Of Israel?

One of the most important questions with respect to the nature of the church is its relationship to the nation of Israel. Is the church the continuation of Israel or is the church a new work of God? There are many people who identify the nation with the New Testament church. In other words, the church is now the “new Israel.” Is this what the Scripture teaches? What does the evidence reveal? The Arguments For The Identifying Israel And The Church The following arguments are put forward to identify Israel with the church. 1. There Is Only One People Of God There has been only one people of God since the beginning. Scripture does not know of two distinct entities as some claim. Israel was God’s people during the Old Testament period. They were the church. In fact, the New Testament calls the nation of Israel the “church in the wilderness.” We read.

He was in the assembly [church] in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us (Acts 7:38 NIV).

The word translated “assembly” is the same Greek word elsewhere translated as “church.” Since the New Testament calls Israel the church so should we. 2. The Nation Israel Has Been Set Aside The New Testament teaches that Israel was set aside for rejecting Jesus. The following passages speak to this issue.


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Jesus said that the kingdom will be taken away from the nation Israel for rejecting Him. He put it this way.

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (Matthew 21:43 NIV).

These passages make it clear that Israel has forfeited its right to be called the people of God. 3. The Church Is Called Israel The church is specifically called Israel in the New Testament. Paul wrote the following to the Galatians.

And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16 ESV).

The church is the Israel of God. Paul links the two. In fact, the true Israel always consisted of the believers in that nation; it was not merely the nation itself. Paul made this clear in his letter to the Romans. He said.

It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel (Romans 9:6 NIV).

Elsewhere, he said that the true seed of Abraham are those which believe in Jesus. To the Galatians, he wrote.

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29 NIV).

Those who belong to Jesus are the seed of Abraham. Therefore, it is wrong to attempt to make a distinction between Israel and the New Testament church as so many people do.


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Summary To Question 28: What Are The Arguments For Identifying The Church With The Nation Of Israel? Covenant theology equates Israel and the New Testament church. They believe that the church is the New Israel. They do not see a distinction between the two. It is argued that the biblical evidence shows that there has been only one people of God throughout history. During the Old Testament period, it was the nation Israel. They had a unique calling as God’s chosen people. However, the nation Israel, God’s chosen people, was set aside for rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Jesus Himself made it clear that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to another. The New Testament church is called “the new Israel” because they replaced the “old Israel.” Paul himself calls the church the “Israel of God.” No longer does the nation Israel have a place in God’s program. They have been replaced or set aside for their rejection of Christ. These reasons have convinced many that the nation Israel and the New Testament church should be seen as identical; the people of God.


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Question 29

What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The Church With The Nation Of Israel?

While many identify the New Testament church with the nation Israel there are a number of reasons as to why we should not make this connection. The following are the arguments against the identification of Israel and the church. 1. They Are Always Distinct The nation Israel and the church are always kept distinct in Scripture. While the term Israel occurs some 66 separate times in the New Testament, it is never used of the New Testament Church. They are never equated as the same entity. Never. 2. The Nation Was Not Set Aside The nation Israel has not been set aside. There is a future purpose for this nation in the program of God. In other words, Israel again will be at the forefront. Indeed, a number of events which will surround the Second Coming of Christ assume that a state of Israel is in existence. 3. The Church Is Never Called Israel The church is a designation for the New Testament people of God. It consists of those whom God has chosen “in Christ” before the foundation of the world. Paul wrote.

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love (Ephesians 1:4 HCSB).

The church, the true believers in Jesus Christ, is called the elect, or chosen people of God. Peter said.


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God the Father decided to choose you as his people, and his Spirit has made you holy. You have obeyed Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. I pray that God will be kind to you and will keep on giving you peace! (1 Peter 1:2 CEV).

They are also those “called of God.”

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 CSB).

While the church is called many different things in Scripture, it is never called Israel or the nation of Israel. In the Book of Acts, we read the following.

You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ (Acts 3:25 NRSV).

These words are directed at people from Israel after the New Testament church has already came into existence. Paul wrote the following.

The people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen (Romans 9:4–5 NIV).

Here the nation Israel is considered distinct from the church.

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12 NLT)


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The fulfillment of those kingdom prophecies and promises awaits the future

So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, “Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins” (Romans 11: 25–27 NRSV).

There will come a time when these predictions of the kingdom are indeed fulfilled. Summary To Question 29 What Are The Arguments Against Identifying The Church With The Nation Of Israel? The case that the New Testament church is a distinct entity from Israel has many arguments in its favor. We can sum them up as follows. For one thing, the New Testament church is never directly called Israel. In fact, they are always treated as distinct entities. In addition, the Bible never teaches that the nation has been set aside in the program of God. In fact, there are certain passages which speak of the return of Christ assume that Israel as a nation still exists. Indeed, Scripture is clear that Israel will be center-stage in future events concerning the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Therefore, the idea that the nation Israel has been set aside is not taught in Scripture and should not be accepted as true.


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Question 30

Why Do Some Argue That The Church Should Get Involved In The Problems Of Society?

(Neo-Evangelicalism) What is the responsibility of the New Testament church with respect to social ills of our world? Should the church become involved in societal problems? Are we here to fix the troubles of the human race? If the church should become involved in these issues, then to what extent should this involvement be? We Need To Get Involved There are many Bible-believing Christians who think that God’s people should become involved in fixing the problems plaguing society. They assume that for the church to have any relevance in our modern world it must meet the practical needs of those around them. Otherwise the troubles facing our fallen world will be left to unbelievers to solve rather than by those who have the answers; the Christians. It is also emphasized that in doing so, it is not necessary to compromise the truth of the gospel. We can reach the less fortunate and still proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at the same time. It is not either/or. Those who hold this particular view of the mission of the church are usually called “neo-evangelicals;” or new evangelicals. There Is A Biblical Basis Those who hold this perspective say they have a biblical basis for their actions. The following passages are usually used to support Christians becoming involved in the practical needs of society. 1 John 3:14-18 In John’s first letter, he wrote the following about the need for believers to be concerned for others. He put it this way.


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If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help-- how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions (1 John 3:14-18 NLT).

We are to follow the example of Jesus. As He gave Him life for the needs of the world in His day, those in His church should give their lives to meet the needs of the world. Thus, the believer who has material possessions in this world should help those are less fortunate. This is part of the overall message of Jesus Christ. James 2:14-17 James talked about the practical aspect of helping others. He wrote.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:14-17 ESV).

Believers are to do more than merely proclaim the gospel of Christ; they are to reach out to the needs of others. Matthew 25:31-46 In this passage, Jesus speaks of the future judgment of believers and unbelievers; the sheep and the goats. The basis of their entrance into the kingdom or their banishment from the kingdom is their treatment of others, the less fortunate. Jesus said.


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And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’ (Matthew 25:40 NRSV).

Jesus equates entrance to the kingdom of God with the behavior toward the downtrodden. There Is A Basis Of Judgment For The Lost Thus, the elect will inherit the kingdom because they have met the needs of the hurting. On the other hand, those who do not enter the kingdom are banished because of their lack of concern for the downtrodden. Jesus said.

Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me’ (Matthew 25:45 RSV).

The unrighteous are judged for not meeting the basic needs of the hurting. From this passage, we find that deeds of mercy and compassion are equivalent to ministering to Jesus Himself. Thus, Christ Himself taught the importance of meeting the needs of others. The Ministry Of Jesus The ministry of Jesus provides us with illustrations of ministering to physical of others. As we examine these needs we will discover they are practical, not mainly spiritual. We can give the following examples. The Good Samaritan In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus provides an illustration as to how we are to reach out to the needs of the downtrodden. After giving this parable He asked the question.

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? He said, “The one who showed


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him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-38 NRSV).

Likewise, we are to show mercy to others. On another occasion, we discover that Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw their physical needs. Matthew writes.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14 NIV).

Scripture says that Jesus healed the sick out of His deep compassion for their needs. There was no obvious “spiritual” reason for these healings. Christians Should Follow The Example Of Jesus We should follow the example and teachings of Jesus. The question is often put this way, “If Jesus Christ was concerned about the societal ills of His day, then should not His church be concerned about the social evils of our day?” Obviously, we should. Summary To Question 30 Why Do Some Argue That The Church Should Get Involved In The Problems Of Society? (Neo-Evangelicalism) There are many believers who think that it is the responsibility of Christians to meet the physical needs of hurting people as well as their spiritual needs. One need not compromise proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ by feeding the poor and ministering to the downtrodden of society. In fact, we have the example of Jesus of doing just this. Furthermore, a number of New Testament writers encourage believers to help those who are exploited. All of this points out the need of the church to become involved in the social problems of our society. Therefore, believers should get involved in fixing the problems of society and not just sit on the sidelines.


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Question 31

Why Do Some Argue Against The Church Becoming Involved With The Problems Of Society?

While there are a number of people who believe it is the duty of the church to become intimately involved in solving the problems of society, not all Christians see it that way. Those who reject the idea of Christians becoming involved in the needs of the unbelieving world do so for the following reasons. We Have Citizenship In Heaven To begin with, those who believe in Christ are citizens of two worlds. We are not only citizens of this world we are also citizens of heaven. Paul wrote.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (Philippians 3:20 NASB)

Consequently, the believer needs to view his or her situation in this world with this truth in mind. Our citizenship is in heaven. We must always view our acts in light of this heavenly citizenship. This Is Satan’s World System There is something else we must remember; this world-system is presently under the control of the devil. It is a fallen, sinful world in which we live. Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else (Ephesians 2:1-4 NRSV).


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Notice how Paul described the world-system from which the believers were saved. Those belonging to it are under the condemnation of the Lord; they are people destined for the wrath of God unless they repent. Jesus said the same thing. His kingdom does not belong to this world-system. At His trial He said the following to Pontius Pilate.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36 NIV).

Since the devil is the ruler of this world-system, we should be careful about how involved we get in his world. It is not our job to reform the world; it is our job to preach the message of Jesus Christ. This is what reforms people; this is what changes lives. There Is Individual Responsibility To Better Society It Is Not The Job Of The Organized Church It is one thing to say that individual believers must do their part in bettering society. However, it is something entirely different to say this is the job of the visible church here upon the earth. The emphasis in the New Testament is upon the individual believer doing good deeds as they follow Christ; it is not upon the organized church reforming society. When we study the New Testament, we find that the church, as a divinely ordained institution, has not been entrusted the responsibility of curing the ills of society. Our job is to preach the gospel. People are changed, society is changed, when individuals embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior; this is how to transform society. Jesus’ Example We also find that Jesus Christ did not teach or imply that those who believed in Him were to be involved in fixing social problems. While individual believers should certainly be doing good deeds, it is an entirely different matter to argue that the organized church should be involved in this type of endeavor.


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Thus, there is no biblical foundation for this belief that the visible church has the mandate from the Lord to reform society or to meet its needs. Summary To Question 31 Why Do Some Argue Against The Church Becoming Involved With The Problems Of Society? While many Christians today believe the church should be intimately involved in solving the problems of society, there are a number of biblical arguments against the church being involved in such social problems. First, we do not have any direct command to help with the needs of unbelievers. The passages that are used to support this idea in actuality do not. The ones we are to help are fellow-believers, the church. In addition, this view de-emphasizes certain important biblical doctrines. The Bible says it is the responsibility of the individual, not the church, to help out in society. We find no example in the New Testament of congregations getting involved in local issues to reform the behavior; they had a greater calling. The example of Jesus is against trying to reform society. While there were numerous social problems in His day He did not address them. Again, He had a greater calling. Thus, the emphasis in the New Testament is reaching the lost not reforming society. We must always keep this in mind.


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Question 32

What Should Be The Attitude Of The Church Toward Civil Government?

The Scriptures teach the following with respect to the church and civil authorities. We read the following in the New Testament. We Are To Be Subject To The Government Scripture says that believers are to be in subjection to the powers of human government. Paul wrote the following to the Romans.

Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due (Romans 13:1-7 NLT).

From these words of Paul there are a number of things we, as believers, must do. We Are To Pray For Them Believers are to pray for those who are in authority. Paul wrote the following command to Timothy.


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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV).

Therefore, we should take the time to pray for all of those in authority. Summary To Question 32 What Should The Attitude Of The Church Be Toward Civil Government? The Bible informs believer as to how they should act toward civil governments. Scripture says that God ordains each government. In other words, they exist because of His pleasure. He can raise them up when He pleases and they uproot them when He pleases. Even evil regimes will serve His ultimate purpose. The point is that since God is in control of everything we should acknowledge that control. He has plans and purposes which we do not understand.


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Question 33

What Is The Mission Of The Church?

Believers in Jesus Christ are members of His church. This being the case, then we must know our mission. What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to obey Him? There are two things, the evangelization of the lost, and the edification or building up of believers, which constitute the mission of the New Testament church. Scripture says the following about these two crucial tasks. 1. We Are To Evangelize The Lost One of the ministries of the New Testament church is to spread the good news about Jesus to those who do not believe. This is known as evangelization. This is the primary mission of the church. Jesus gave these parting words to His disciples.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19,20 CSB).

We are to make disciples; to teach people about Jesus. Jesus also said.

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world (Acts 1:8 CEV).

The message about Christ is to be spread everywhere. The early church obeyed and began spreading the good news about Jesus Christ.


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2. The Church Is For Edification Of Believers The church is also to build up, or edify, its members. There are a number of things that contribute to the building up of the church. They are as follows. The Word Of God The church is to teach the Word of God to others. The Apostle emphasized how the Word of Jesus Christ is to dwell richly inside each believer. He wrote.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16 NIV).

Peter wrote to the believers in his day about the need for spiritual food so that they will grow. He put it this way.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation (1 Peter 2:2 NKJV).

The writer to the Hebrews also emphasized the need for the solid teaching of the Word of God. He said.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14 RSV).

Thus, one of the means by which the church is edified is the Word of God. The Work Of The Holy Spirit The work of the Holy Spirit also contributes to the building up of the church. The Lord has given His Spirit to each believer to teach us and to help us with our spiritual growth. This is accomplished by the various


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gifts He has given to Christians. Believers are to exercise the spiritual gifts that God has given them. Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 HCSB).

God has given various spiritual gifts to believers. These gifts are to be used for the glory of God and the building up of the body of Christ; the church. Therefore, the church is here upon the earth for two main reasons; to reach the lost and to build up the faith of its members. This is why the Lord has us here. Summary To Question 33 What Is The Mission Of The Church? The church of Jesus Christ has a mission. There are two main areas of focus; the evangelization of the unbelievers and the building up of believers. Those who believe in Jesus are to go out into the entire world and preach the gospel or good news. They are to give the lost a message of hope. This is our primary task. The church is also to build up believers in Jesus Christ; to edify the members of the New Testament church. This is accomplished a number of ways.


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First, there is the teaching the Word of God. God’s Word is powerful and true; it changes lives. When the Word of God is properly taught to Christians, then we find that the behavior of people changes. God has also given the Holy Spirit to believers to fulfill the work of the ministry. When believers receive the Holy Spirit they also receive spiritual gifts. Believers are to exercise their spiritual gifts to build up the church, the body of Christ. Therefore, the mission of the church is clear. We are to reach the lost and in doing so, we are to build up believers in Christ for them to be able to fulfill the work of the ministry.


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Question 34

What Is The Destiny Of The Church?

The Bible speaks of the future destiny of those who have trusted Christ as their Savior – the church. There are a number of things which we learn. They include the following. We Are Married To Christ As His Bride The church will be married to Jesus Christ. He is the groom while we, the believers, are the bride. We read about this in the Book of Revelation.

Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:9 HCSB).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians using the same analogy. We are the bride which Christ has chosen for Himself. He wrote.

I am as concerned about you as God is. You were like a virgin bride I had chosen only for Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2 CEV).

He also wrote to the church in Ephesus about how we are to be a spotless and holy church. He put it this way.

Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws (Ephesians 5:27 CEV).

Christ is the groom who will have a spotless bride awaiting him. We Will Reign With Christ The church will also reign with Christ as kings and priests. We read about this in the Book of Revelation. It says.


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He lets us rule as kings and serve God his Father as priests. To him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:6 CEV).

Peter wrote about the believers being a royal priesthood.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

We are a holy nation who has been called out of the darkness into the light. At the end of Book of Revelation, John wrote about the future of the believers; our destiny is to rule with Him as priests. He said.

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over these, but they will be priests of God and the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:6 HCSB).

This is another wonderful thing the church has to look forward to. Summary To Question 34 What Is The Destiny Of The Church? The church, the true believers in Jesus Christ, has a wonderful destiny ahead of them! The Bible says the following about the destiny of the church. The church will be married to Jesus Christ. The New Testament church is called the “bride of Christ.” We will forever have this intimate relationship with Him. The church will also rule and reign with Christ. He has given us authority to rule in His eternal kingdom. Those who have believed in Him will have this awesome privilege.


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Question 35

What Is The Role Of The Holy Spirit In The Missionary Enterprise Of The Church?

Christianity is a missionary religion. In other words, it attempts to make converts. The Book of Acts informs us of the missionary role of the Holy Spirit. From Scripture, learn the following things about the Holy Spirit’s role in missions. The Holy Spirit Is The Energizer Of The Church The great missionary movements of the early church were commanded and appointed by the Spirit of God. The energy behind the missionary work of the church is the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself promised this would happen. Immediately, before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave the following promise to His disciples.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 NIV).

These believers would have power to witness or proclaim the message of the risen Christ to the world. It would be the Spirit of God who gave them this power. This began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says the following took place.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4 NKJV).

The church began with a miracle. The believers were able to speak in languages and dialects which they had not previously learned. Peter cited the prophecy of Joel in explaining what happened on that day. He explained the miracle in this manner.


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In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy (Acts 2:17-18 NRSV).

It is the power of the Holy Spirit that energizes the church. The Holy Spirit Was Involved In The Missionary Movement Of The Church The Holy Spirit was also involved in sending out people for missionary work. We read in the Book of Acts, about this occurring. The Holy Spirit Directed Philip There was an evangelist named Philip whom the Spirit of God directed. We read.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot” (Acts 8:29 NKJV).

The Holy Spirit directed Philip to speak to a certain individual. The Holy Spirit Directed Peter Peter was told by the Holy Spirit to speak to certain Gentiles about Jesus. This is also found in the Book of Acts. It says.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you” (Acts 10:19 NLT).

The Spirit was actually speaking to Peter to tell him what to do. Before this time, the church consisted only of Jews. The Holy Spirit confirmed to Peter that Gentiles were also to become part of the New Testament church. We read about what took place when Peter was speaking.


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While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word (Acts 10:44 NRSV).

In this instance, the Spirit of God fell upon those who heard the Word of God. The Holy Spirit Selected Missionaries For The Work Of Christ The Holy Spirit selected the missionaries to be sent out to do the work of the ministry. We read about this in the Book of Acts. It says.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:1,2 NIV).

In some unexplained way, the Holy Spirit spoke to the people about separating Barnabas and Saul for the ministry. We then read what happened.

Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:4 NLT).

They obeyed the word of the Holy Spirit. Thus, He guided the work of the ministry. The Holy Spirit Empowered Missionaries To Speak The Holy Spirit empowered the missionaries of Jesus Christ to speak in a powerful way. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit filled Paul to pronounce judgment upon a certain sorcerer. We read the following account.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and


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an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand (Acts 13:9-11 NIV).

Thus, those whom the Lord sent out as missionaries were given authority to speak through the Holy Spirit. On certain occasions, this allowed them to perform miracles. The Holy Spirit Sustained Believers Under Persecution They Encountered The Holy Spirit sustained believers who were experiencing persecution. We read about this occurring in the Book of Acts. It says.

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:50-52 NRSV).

Those who trust Jesus will be sustained with the power of the Spirit. He will even help us during times of persecution. The Holy Spirit Led Paul Into Persecution We have one example where the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to a situation where he would be persecuted. In the Book of Acts, it records Paul saying the following.

And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-- the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love (Acts 20:22-24 NLT).


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The Holy Spirit will actually lead believers into persecution. This was true in the case of Paul and it is true in many instances today. Of course, the Spirit sustains those believers which experience persecution. The Holy Spirit Gave His Divine Blessing On The Missionary Work The Holy Spirit provided the divine blessing over the missionary enterprise of the early church. The Book of Acts records a letter from the council of Jerusalem to the believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. It read as follows.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” -- to whom we gave no such commandment -- it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things (Acts 15:24-28 NKJV).

From this letter it is clear that the leaders of the early church realized that the Holy Spirit guides the work of missions. The Holy Spirit Restrained Them From Going Where They Should Not The Holy Spirit also restrained missionaries from going to a place the Lord had not yet appointed. The Book of Acts records this taking place.

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go (Acts 16:6,7 NLT).


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The Spirit of God restrained believers from going where they should not. He is still doing the same thing today. The Entire Ministry Was Led By The Holy Spirit The Apostle Paul was conscious that the Holy Spirit divinely inspired his entire ministry. He wrote the following to the Romans.

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done-- by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:18,19 NIV).

Paul realized that his ministry was not his, but actually the ministry of the Lord. Indeed, it was the Lord who guided him every step of the way. In sum, we find that everything that God directs in the Christian ministry is a work of the Holy Spirit. Summary to Question 35 What Is The Role of the Holy Spirit In The Missionary Enterprise Of The Church? The gospel or good news of Jesus Christ has gone out into the entire world. Scripture tells us that this is the work of God the Holy Spirit. A number of points need to be made. First, we find that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the missionary activity of the church from the very beginning. The Holy Spirit energized the believers to do the work of the ministry. We are told that the Spirit of God selected certain believers for missionary work. Indeed, we are told that He “spoke” to the believers concerning whom they should send out. Furthermore, He empowered these missionaries to speak the truth of the gospel. The Spirit of God also gave His divine blessing to their ministry.


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There were times when these missionaries were persecuted. We find that the Holy Spirit sustained them under persecution. Therefore, He made provision for them during times of hardship. On certain occasions, the Holy Spirit restrained them from going to the wrong places. In fact, He still does this today. The Apostle Paul realized that the Holy Spirit divinely inspired his entire ministry. His great missionary work was actually the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the entire missionary movement of the Church has always been a work of the Holy Spirit. This work continues to this very day.


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Question 36

How Does The Holy Spirit Work In Church Organization And Government?

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit works in the organization, government and functioning of the church of Jesus Christ. In other words, the functioning of the church is a ministry of the Spirit of God. The Spirit Of God Governs The Church He has supervision over the government of the church. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this.

Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended” -- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-12 NKJV).

The New Living Translation reads as follows.

That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-12 NLT).

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building the body of Christ upon the earth. The Holy Spirit is the one who perfects believers as a bride for Jesus Christ. He does this in a number of way. The Holy Spirit Appoints Overseers To Lead The Church We find that the Holy Spirit is the One who appoints the overseers of the church. Paul said the following to the elders at the church of Ephesus.

Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son (Acts 20:28 NRSV).

The leaders of the church are to be appointed by the Spirit of God. He is the One who was to guide the believers in the appointing of overseers. Thus, only those Spirit-led leaders should be making the decisions for the church. The Holy Spirit Organizes The Church The Holy Spirit guided the church in its organization. We read the following in the Book of Acts about the role of the Holy Spirit in organizing the believers.

And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task” (Acts 6:2,3 NRSV).

Waiting on tables seems to have the idea of taking care of the finances. Certain men, filled with the Spirit of God, were appointed for this task. The apostles were to spend their time preaching the good news to the lost as well as teaching the saints. Therefore, the Holy Spirit guided the church in its initial organization and was intimately involved in the appointment of overseers. Thus, we can conclude that everything that has to do with organizing and governing the church should be a work of the Holy Spirit.


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Summary To Question 36 How Does The Holy Spirit Work In Church Organization And Government? As the Holy Spirit was intimately involved with the details of the life of Jesus Christ from His conception until His ascension, we find that the same holds true for the New Testament church, the body of Christ. From its beginning on the Day of Pentecost until the completion of the church when Jesus Christ returns, the Holy Spirit is intimately involved in every matter. This includes organizing and governing. The Bible says that once Jesus Christ ascended into heaven He sent His Spirit to organize and run the church. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives gifts to certain people to do the work of the ministry. This includes apostles and prophets. We also read of an incident where certain men were selected to take care of the financial aspects of the ministry while the apostles did the work of the preaching of the gospel and the teaching of God’s Word. In sum, the Holy Spirit organizes the church and He governs the church. Every aspect of church life should be under His leadership. Thus, it is imperative that Spirit-led people are in the proper positions of leadership.


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About The Author Don Stewart is a graduate of Biola University and Talbot Theological Seminary (with the highest honors). Don is a best-selling and award-winning author having authored, or co-authored, over seventy books. This includes the best-selling Answers to Tough Questions, with Josh McDowell, as well as the award-winning book Family Handbook of Christian Knowledge: The Bible. His various writings have been translated into over thirty different languages and have sold over a million copies. His available books can be found on his website www.educatingourworld.com. He also hosts the live television program “Breaking News” five days a week on His Channel (www.hischannel.com).

Don is now a full-time missionary with GoinChrist Ministries. His website educatingourworld.com provides free resources for those wanting to know what Christians believe, as well as why we believe. Currently there are 59 books on the site in PDF form, totaling about 13,000 pages of material while answering over 1,900 questions. Eventually we hope to record all the books, as well as translating the material in other languages.

god’s people in today’s world

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