The Difference Between the Church and the Individual

The Difference Between the

Church and the Individual

1 Timothy 5:16Galatians 6:10

“There are those who try to distinguish between the work of

the church and the work of Christians, indicating one to be

divine, and the other human. This is fallacious reasoning. The church

is composed of Christians; what the church does, Christians do; what Christians do, the church does, generally speaking. We

cannot separate the Christian’s work from the work of the church.”

“Actually we may say that whatever is the duty of the Christian is the

duty of the congregation of

Christians.”

“Consciously or otherwise we make a distinction between

the church and Christians, and much

of our reasoning is based upon this

unproved assumption.”

Questions to Consider

•Why has our brethren made such arguments?•Does the Bible teach that there is no difference between the church and the individual?

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Is there a distinction between the church’s responsibility and the

individual’s responsibility?

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Distinction Between the Church and the

Individual• 1 Timothy 5:16“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

Whatever the church does as a collective body, it is the individuals that are doing it.

Whatever a Christian individual can do, the church as a collective body can do.

NOT TRUE

Clear Distinction• 1 Corinthians 12:14• For the body is not one

member, but many.

Church or Individual?

John 15 Galatians 6 James 1V2: every branch V1: if a man be..ye

restore..V12: man that endureth….he

V3: ye are clean…spoke unto you.

V2: Bear ye one another’s burdens

V13: let no man say when he…any man

V4: I in you…branch cannot bear fruit…except it abide in the vine

V3: if a man think himself.. he is nothing, he deceiveth himself

V14: he is drawn away of his own lust

V5: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me..ye can do nothing

V4: let every man prove his own work

V19: let every man be swift…

V6: If a man abide not in me…he is cast forth

V5: Ever man shall bear his own burden

V21: able to save your souls

V7: If ye abide in me…ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

V6: him…taught…him that teacheth

V22: Be ye doers…

V7: a man soweth…reapeth

V23: he is like a man…

V8: he that soweth V24: he forgetteth…man…he

V9: us not be weary V25: whoso looketh…he…man

V10: As we have…let us V26-27: any man…himself

Individual Individual

3 For if (the local church) think (it)self to be something, when (it) is nothing, (the local church) deceiveth (it)self.4 But let every (local church) prove (its) own work, and then shall (it) have rejoicing in (it)self alone, and not in another.5 For every (local church) shall bear (its) own burden.6 Let (the local church) that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a (local church) soweth, that shall (it) also reap.8 For (the local church) that soweth to (its) flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but (the local church) that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.9 And let (local church) not be weary in well doing: for in due season (the local church) shall reap, if (it) faint not.10 As (the local church has) therefore opportunity, let (it) do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Individual

Clear Distinction•Matthew 18:15-17• Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against

thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

Clear Distinction• Acts 5:1-4• But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira

his wife sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Duties of Individual Christians

1 Peter 1:13-16“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be

sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be he holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy.”

The Church is NOT:

• Economic business institution• Day-care center• Family crisis clinic• Political agenda• General benevolent society• Orphanage• Social club

Shared Duties of the Church and Individual

Collectively IndividuallyTeaching the Gospel

1 Thess. 1:8 2 Timothy 2:2

Partaking the Lord’s Supper

Acts 20:7 1 Cor. 11:28

Collection for the Saints

1 Cor. 16:1 1 Cor. 16:2

What is the Work of the Church?1.Evangelism2.Edification3.Benevolence

Failing to Make a Distinction Between

Church and Individual1.Changes the pattern2.Causes confusion3.Causes the body of Christ

to be divided

Romans 6:1-7

Romans 6:1-6