THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH


“And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ASV).

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

  1. The word church comes from “ekklesia” which means the called out (Thayer).
  2. It is the body of Christ (Colossians. 1:18).
  3. It is the family of God (I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19).
  4. It is the kingdom of God and Christ (Ephesians 5:5).
  5. It is the pillar and ground at the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

WHAT IS IT CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

  1. My (the Lord’s) church (Mat 16:18).
  2. The church (Acts 8:1).       
  3. The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28).
  4. The church of God (I Corinthians 1:1, 2)
  5. The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16).
  6. The body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
  7. The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS CALLED?

  1. Disciples (Acts 20:7).
  2. Saints (I Corinthians 1:2).
  3. Beloved of God (Romans 1:7).
  4. Brethren (Col.ossians1:2).
  5. Sons of God (Romans 8:14).
  6. Children of God (I John 3:1).
  7. Heirs of God (Romans 8:17).
  8. Royal Priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
  9. Christians (Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:16).

Are You Wearing These Scriptural Names Only?

 

WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED?

  1. In the last days in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4).
  2. In the days of these Kings (Daniel 2:44).
  3. It was “at hand” in John’s day (Matthew 3:1-2).
  4. The disciples prayed for its coming (Matthew 6:9-10).
  5. Christ said: “I will build” it (Matthew 16:18).
  6. It was to come during the lifetime of some of the disciples
  7. (Mark 9:1).
  8. The disciples had not entered it [before the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ and Acts 2] (Matthew 18:3).
  9. Just before his death Christ said: “The kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:18).
  10. The kingdom was to come with power (Mark 9:1). The power was to come when the Spirit came (Acts 1:8).
  11. All of these requirements were fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:1-4).

HOW CAN ONE ENTER THE CHURCH?

  1. Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans10:13-17).
  2. Believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).
  3. Repent of past sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30).
  4. Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:8-10).
  5. Be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). Thus, one is born into the family of God (John 3:5).

WHAT CONSTITUTES BAPTISM?

  1. Water (Matthew 3:11).
  2. Much water (John 3:23).
  3. Going down into the water (Acts 8:38).
  4. A burial and a resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
  5. Coming up out of the water (Acts 8:39; Matthew 3:16).

 Are You A Member of New Testament Church?

 

WHERE IS SALVATION?

  1. Salvation is in Christ’s church, because it is the blood bought institution (Acts 20: 28; I Corinthians 6:20).
  2. Salvation is in the church, for Paul affirmed that Christ would save the church (Ephesians 5:23). No promise to those outside.
  3. Salvation is in the church, for it is there that man is reconciled unto God (Ephesians 2:16). Man must be reconciled to God.
  4. Salvation is in the church, because that is the group that Christ will present unto Himself. (Ephesians 5:27)
  5. Man cannot be saved out of the church, because God adds all the saved to it (Acts 2:47). The requirements of salvation and church membership are the same.
  6. The church is the family of God and certainly one cannot be saved out of God’s family (I Timothy 3:15). To say that God has children out of His family would be to charge Him with spiritual adultery.
  7. Take the children of Israel as a type: (I Corinthians 10:2-6).
  • Crossing the Red Sea was a type of baptism (I Corinthians 10:2).
  • Israel in the wilderness was a type of the church (Acts 7:38).
  • Crossing the Jordan River was a type of death.
  • The land of Canaan was a type of heaven.
  • They had to pass through the wilderness [a time of proving Deuteronomy 8:1-3] (church) to get into Canaan (heaven).
  • Therefore, we must pass through the church to enter heaven at last.

 Are You Seeking Salvation in the Right Place?

 

WHAT IS IN CHRIST – THE CHURCH?

  1. Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
  2. Salvation (II Timothy 2:10).
  3. Redemption (Colossians 1:14).
  4. The grace of God (II Timothy 2:1).
  5. All the promises of God (II Corinthians 1:20).
  6. All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).

Can one be saved without these blessings? They are all in Him, His body, the church. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18) How then does one get into Christ where these blessings can be enjoyed (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)?

(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)

Salvation in the New Testament Is Ascribe to Eight Causes

We are said to be:

  • “saved by grace” (Ephesians 2:5)
  • “saved through his life” (Romans 5:9-10)
  • “saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8; Acts 16:31)
  • “saved by baptism” (I Peter 3:21)
  • “by faith and baptism” (Mark 16:16)
  • “By the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)
  • “By the gospel” (I Corinthians 15:1)
  • “By calling upon the name of the Lord” and “by enduring to the end” (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; Matthew 10:22)

What Kind of Hearts Do We Need?

Hearts not hardened by sin: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Hearts prepared to seek and to do God’s Word: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).

Hearts that are wise: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Hearts that are upright: “Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts” (Psalm 125:4).

Hearts that do not think evil: “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4).

Hearts willing to forgive: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:35).

Hearts filled with God’s Word: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15).

Hearts filled with love: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).

Hearts filled with Christ: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).

Hearts kept by peace: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Hearts filled with grace: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

Hearts that are purified: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).

-via “The Better Way,” Spring, TX

“Getting the Cart Before the Horse”

We hear much today of love, grace, mercy, tenderness, kindness, longsuffering, etc. So much of it is an abuse or misuse and accomplishes very little in the way of saving the lost. Here is the reason that such is the case. Love, etc. only has meaning to the person who is under the guilt of sin. Most people, at least in America, feel no guilt of sin. Thus, they are not interested in love,etc. This is also true of many members of the church regarding their Christian duties.

This is not to say that such people are happy. So many are miserable; but, they do not equate their unhappiness with the fact that they are sinners before God (Romans 3:23). Hence, they continue to seek happiness in the “...lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride (vain glory) of life...” (I John 2:16). WHAT DOES GRACE AND MERCY MEAN TO A PERSON WHO DOES NOT SEE THE NEED OF IT? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

God’s grace has also provided God’s Word (the standard of conduct for man) (II Timothy 3:16, 17; James 1:25; Colossians 3:17; John 12:48). The Word of God reveals to man what sin is (I John 3:4; James 4:17); that man is a sinner (Ezekiel 18:14); that he has no one to blame for his sins but himself (Isaiah 59:2); and, that man must change his thoughts, words, and actions to comply withGod’s infallible Word (Acts 17:30; Matthew 3:7, 8; Acts 8:22).This is the approach found in every single, solitary sermon recorded in the Bible that was addressed to men who needed salvation but did not know it!

Until Christians, especially preachers, supply sinners with that specific truth(s) that exposes and condemns their sin(s) we have not loved them enough to provide them with the wherewithal for them to see their need of God’s love, mercy, grace, etc. (Acts 2:23,36; 24:25; Galatians 2:11)! Jesus, our loving Savior, said more about hell and who is going there than anyone else. Does anyone wonder why (Titus 2:11, 12; Revelation 21:8)?

The material above should be among the first things taught one who desires to be a preacher. If one never learns these points, he will misuse and abuse the marvelous and “Wonderful Story ofLove” as well as wonder why he is not an effective preacher.

David P. Brown

 

Grace Is Conditional

Some cannot comprehend that the grace of God is compatible with works. They surmise that if salvation is by the grace of God, it cannot be by works. On the contrary, salvation is both by grace and works. These works are not works of human merit or works of the law of Moses, but they are works of righteousness (Acts 10:35) which are the conditions God established for man to obey. God extends His grace upon certain conditions.

Suppose a particular rich man tells a young friend that he will give him a million dollars if he would name his first child after him. If and when his friendmeets the condition, will he actually earn the million dollars? No! One does notearn a million dollars simply by naming a child after someone. It was a gift; he simply received the gift by meeting the conditions. So it is with the grace of God. To receive the grace of God: obey the Gospel, and work the works of righteousness.

Author Unknown

 

Hebrews

God has spoken by prophets of what He was doing and had done,

But in these last days He spoke in His only begotten Son,

And this book of Hebrews was to show the Jews of that day

That the Gospel of the grace of God was much better way.

 

Jesus Christ was better than angels, a more excellent name had He.

God never said to an angel, “My son, today I begot thee.”

But to the Son He said, “Thy Throne is forever and ever.

Sit on My right hand; I will make your enemies a footstool forever.”

 

The grace of God is much better than the Mosaic law.

The law made nothing perfect and that we clearly saw.

But a surer and much better covenant Jesus had made,

For what the law could not do about sin Jesus has paid.

 

The blood of animals was applied in the temple on earth.

But the blood of Christ in heaven’s temple is of eternal worth.

There is no need to repeat His sacrifice as the priest, from day to day.

Once for all He died for mankind to put their sins away.

 

And that once for all sacrifice made by God’s sinless Soon,

Is put to our credit by faith in the work He had done.

For faith gives evidence and substance of things yet unseen,

And we trust the blood of Jesus to wash our souls clean.

 

So let us lay aside all sin and every hindering weight,

And for the lame who are following let us make our path straight.

For we have a better covenant, a better hope, a better reward,

And we run our race with patience as we wait for our blessed Lord.

 

--from The Bible in Verse: from Genesis to Revelation by B. C. Jennings, 1986