We Preach Christs Church

8/14/2019 We Preach Christs Church

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Preached:9th Ave.

Central (Paducah, KY: 2004 Summer Gospel Meeting)LR (title: “Finding the Church of the New Testament”)We Preach Christ’s Church

I. The Church Christ Built is Found in the New TestamentA. The Existence of the New Testament Church is eternal.

1. WAIT A MINUTE! Right here at the outset, let me ask you aquestion: aren’t you the people that are always claiming theChurch was established at the Pentecost recorded in Acts 2?a. Yes.b. BUT, the Church has always been in the very mind of God.c. Ephesians 3:10-11, “So that through the Church the manifold

wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers andauthorities in the heavenly places. This was according to theeternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2. So, notice that, while the Church did not exist in an established

state for all eternity, there was never a time that it was not inthe very mind of God. So, as one preacher puts it often in hislessons, throughout the pages of the Bible, we can see theChurch in:a. Purpose (as in the verses we just read) b. Promise (Genesis 22:18, “And in your offspring shall all the

nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyedmy voice.” –It was through Abraham that Christ would cometo bless all nations)

c. Prophecy (Isaiah 2:2, “It shall come to pass in the latter daysthat the mountain of the house of the Lord shall beestablished as the highest of the mountains, and shall belifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.”Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of those kings the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed,nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shallbreak in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end,and it shall stand forever.”)

d. Preparation (Matthew 3:3, “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one cryingin the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make Hispaths straight’.” Luke 16:16, “The Law and the Prophetswere until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.”)

e. Perfection (Acts 2, especially verse 47, “And the Lord addedto their number day by day those who were being saved.”)

3. So, notice one very important thing this tells us. The church wasnot some after-thought of God’s. He had purposed for there tobe a body of believers from the very start.

B. The Establishment of the New Testament Church is first century.1. Here is where Acts 2 comes into play.



2. While the Church was in the mind of God for all eternity, it wason the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus that theChurch became a reality here on the earth. BUT—how do weknow that Acts 2 is when the Church began?a. The kingdom, or the Church (note that Jesus used them

interchangeably in Matthew 16:18,19) was to come into

existence when the power came. Mark 9:1, “Truly, I say toyou, there are some standing here who will not taste deathuntil they see the kingdom of God after it has come withpower.”(1) Either this kingdom came soon after these words by

Jesus were said,(2) OR, we have some people walking around who make

Methuselah look young!b. This “power” was to come when the Spirit came. Acts 1:8,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has comeupon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and inall Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(1) This verse is often used as an outline of the book of Acts.(2) We often focus on the radiating of the Gospel out from

Jerusalem (and, by the way, for your own study, Acts 8:1is the beginning of fulfillment of Acts 1:8)

(3) However, notice there is another step in that process. Allthis “witnessing” (preaching) would not happen untilAFTER the Holy Spirit came.

(a) Again, this just leaves a few possibilities.(b) Either there are some really old people still waiting on

this power,(c) OR, it happened soon after this was said,(d) OR, they were just mistaken that it did happen!

c. The Holy Spirit came with power on this first Pentecost afterthe resurrection.(1) Acts 2:1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,

they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenlythere came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mightywind, and it filled the whole house where they weresitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues,as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they wereall filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak withother tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

(2) How much more power do you want!?3. And so, it was on that day that Peter (and others) preached the

first Gospel sermon. When those heard, believed, and obeyed,they were added to the Church. It was first-century inestablishment.

C. The Expense of the New Testament Church is Jesus’ blood.1. Christ felt that the Church was so very important that He was

willing to give His very life for it (and, by the way, Philippians 2:5



teaches that we are to have the mind of Christ!). Notice 2passages that bear this out:a. Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ

also loved the Church, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT.”b. Acts 20:28, (to the elders at Ephesus) “Take heed therefore

unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy

Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God,WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”

2. Those of you visiting, let me speak to those here who aremembers of the Church for just a few moments, please.a. How important is the Church to you?b. Christ died for it, as these two passages clearly teach.c. How do I show my dedication to her?

(1) Do I defend the Church when it is attacked?(2) Do I attend faithfully to remember Christ’s death for her?(3) Do I give so that she might grow?(4) Would I even be willing to die for her?

3. The Church is truly valuable, for it is truly a blood-bought

institution.

D. The Enumeration of the New Testament Church is singular.1. Here is where controversy rages: You Church of Christ people are

the ones who are always talking about there only being onechurch.

2. Friend, if you think that, let me say 2 things to you:a. FIRST, thank you for listening and realizing that is part of the

message. And, thank you to those who continue to teachthat.

b. SECOND, it is not just “us” who say that—it is the BIBLE thatsays that there is only one! Note the following four thoughts

from the New Testament:(1) The Lord promised to Set up just one Church.

(a) Matthew 16:18,19, “And I also say to you that you arePeter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and thegates of Hades will not prevail against it. And I willgive you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, andwhatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed inheaven.”

(b) Let me ask a couple of questions: How many kingdomsare there in that passage? That is never in question!No one would argue that there is more than onekingdom. The Bible clearly teaches however that thekingdom and the Church are the same thing! AND,how many churches are mentioned in that passage?

Jesus said “I will build my CHURCH!” There is but onethat Jesus promised to establish.

(2) Jesus Sacrificed for just one. We have already mentionedEphesians 5 and Acts 20, both of which tell us that theLord’s blood was shed for just one.



(3) One Silly question. Can you imagine the day afterPentecost in Acts 2 someone strolling up to you andasking, “What church are you a member of?” Why is thatsuch a silly question? It’s very simple, there was onlyone! There is no Protestant denomination that can traceits history back any further than about 1517, but the

Church of the New Testament was united!(4) The Singularity is seen in what the Church is.

(a) Note that the Church is the “body of Christ” accordingto Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18).

(b) AND, there is only one body (Romans 12:4-5,Ephesians 4:4)

(c) Note also that the Church is the fold of God (Acts20:28, I Peter 5:2).

(d) AND there is just one fold (John 10:16)

E. The Exclusiveness of the New Testament Church is seen in that it isnot a denomination.

1. There you go again…thinking you’re better than everybody else.2. Before you start thinking that, let me ask a question: “What is a

denomination?a. Wendell Winkler once wrote an article about the Church, and

it is that article that served as the “springboard” for much of this sermon.

b. In that article, he had a quote from N.B. Hardemen that I’dlike to share with you:

c. “What is a denomination? It is a religious organization largerthan the local church, smaller than the redeemed in theaggregate. Therefore, it comes in between, separate anddistinct from the church of the Bible at both ends of the line.

How is the church used? It is either a local congregation or itembraces all Christians. Now a denomination standsbetween these, and, therefore, it is a thing unheard of andunknown in the Bible; and I say that cautiously, respectfully,and yet firmly.”

3. So, how can we know that the New Testament Church is not adenomination? A denomination, by its very definition, is avariance from the original. The New Testament Church IS theoriginal, and, so, cannot be a variation of it!

F. The Esteem given to God by the New Testament Church is scriptural(worship).1. John 4:24 is the basis for any discussion about worship. “God is

spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and intruth.” In that passage we see:a. Action—“worship” b. Aim—Godc. Absolute—mustd. Attitude—in spirite. Authority—in truth



2. What does that have to do with this discussion? We must knowwhat the New Testament church did in worship!a. First, they sang without the help of any mechanical

instrument. Paul instructed two different congregations to“sing” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). There is nothinganywhere else in the New Testament to indicate that

anything other than singing was done! In fact, instrumentswere not even brought in very several centuries, and then itwas with extremely great difficulty!

b. Second, they observed the Lord’s Supper every week. Acts20:7 tells us that this was the very reason they cametogether!

c. Third, they gave of their weekly prospering. Paul instructedthe church at Corinth to give on the first day of the week asthey had prospered (I Corinthians 16:1-2).

d. Fourth, they prayed together. Acts 2:42 lists this as one of the things the Church did as it was growing, and we haveother verses.

e. Fifth, they studied God’s Word. Again, in Acts 20:7, we havePaul beginning a sermon and going until midnight! There arenumerous other examples also of sermons.

3. Now, notice one other thing: THAT IS ALL THEY DID! They didnot use mechanical instruments. They didn’t have dramapresentations. They didn’t sing solos. Friends, they worshippedGod as God wanted to be worshipped!

G. The Eldership of each congregation of the New Testament Church isthe organization God wants.1. When elders (and notice that they are always plural) are

addressed in the New Testament, they are only to work and

shepherd one congregation.2. Acts 14:23, Acts 20:17, and other passages tell us that there

were a plurality of elders at every congregation. They also doNOT address one elder over any other, so the elderSHIP has therule.a. BUT—even though these men are to rule, their leadership is

limited to their local congregation.b. I Peter 5:1-2, “The elders who are AMONG YOU I exhort, I

whom am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:Shepherd the flock of God WHICH IS AMONG YOU, serving asoverseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonestgain but eagerly.”

3. Christ is the Head—The Bible is to be the guide—Elders are toshepherd (make important decisions based on the Bible)—Deacons are to be special servants—Evangelists are to preach—all other Christians are to work and worship. And all of these areto be done in the local setting! There is no other hierarchy of power.



H. The Effective soul-winning of the New Testament Church is hermission.1. We wear the name of Christ, and His mission was to seek and

save lost people (Luke 19:10).2. The Church is to have that same mission (and also the same

work ethic!). We reach and aid lost people in 3 ways:

a. Evangelism (preaching and teaching). I Timothy 3:15, “I writeso that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself inthe house of God, which is the church of the living God, the

pillar and ground of the truth.”b. Benevolence (aiding those who need help). Galatians 6:10,

while it is not just speaking of physical needs, they arecertainly covered: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let usdo good unto all men, but especially to those who are of thehousehold of faith.”

c. Edification (lifting up those who need encouragement).Ephesians 4:15-16, “Speaking the truth in love, may grow upin all things into Him who is the Head—Christ—from whom

the whole body, joined and knit together by what every jointsupplies, according to the effective working by which everypart does its share, causes growth of the body for theedifying of itself in love.” You want to know how you can helplift other Christians up? You get to work—you do your part—and it will happen!

3. These three ways all help the Church fulfill its marching ordersto go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to everycreature.

I. The New Testament Church is Essential in salvation.1. Someone might say that all you have to do to be saved is be “in

Christ.” That person is right! BUT—to be “in Christ” also meansthat you are in “His body!”a. Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized INTO

Christ, have put on Christ.”b. I Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized

INTO ONE BODY.”2. AND, notice again that His body is the Church.

a. Ephesians 1:22-23, “And He put all things under His feet, andgave Him to be head over all things to THE CHURCH, which ISHIS BODY, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

b. Colossians 1:18, “And He [Jesus] is the head of the body, THECHURCH.” VERSE 24, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you,and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of HIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH.”

3. If one must be in the body of Christ, and if the body of Christ isthe Church, then notice some blessings that are ONLY found inChrist and, thus, ONLY in His Church: (We will just list these andnot read the verses, but you may read them if you would likelater)a. All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)



b. Redemption, or being bought back by God. (Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 1:7)

c. Forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 1:7)d. Salvation (II Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 5:23)e. No condemnation (we are not condemned if we are in Christ

Jesus—Romans 8:1,4)

f. Sanctification (I Corinthians 1:2)g. All promises (II Corinthians 1:20; Ephesians 3:6)h. Reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:16)i. Being new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17)

j. Treasures (Colossians 2:2-3)k. Life (I John 5:11-12)l. Completeness (Colossians 2:10)

4. Don’t you want those things? Then you need to be in Christ—inHis Church. How do you do that? Notice:

J. The Entrance Terms for the New Testament Church are simple.1. Notice the original Declaration: “Repent and be baptized, every

one of you for the remission of your sins, and you shall receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit.”

2. Notice what they Did:a. They gladly received the word—verse 41 (HEARD—BELIEVED)b. They were convicted (verse 37, literally, they were sliced

from above!)c. They repented (verse 38)d. They were baptized (verse 41)

3. So, notice the Deduction: To enter the Church we read about inthe New Testament, we must be a convicted, penitent, baptizedbeliever in Jesus!

K. The Eternal joy of the New Testament Church is sure.1. One brother in Christ summarized this idea much better than I

ever could. Listen to his words:2. “When the Lord comes on that great and final day, ‘then cometh

the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom (thechurch, Matthew 16:18-19) to God, even the Father” (ICorinthians 15:23-24). What a wonderfully glorious andstrengthening anticipation this is! However, it is only the faithfulmembers of the Lord’s church who shall thus be blessed. For,the Lord’s angels shall gather “out of his kingdom all things thatoffend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into afurnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth”(Matthew 13:41-42).

3. SO—it is the Church who will be in Heaven

THAT IS THE CHURCH CHRIST BUILT 2000 years ago…but, as weconclude the lesson, notice this 2nd, brief point:

II. The Church Christ Built Can be Found Today





He gives the description of those who have cast out demonsand done many other wonderful works. He will say to them,“Depart from me.” They are religious, good people! Howcould Christ do that? They are not in Him.

b. Romans 10:1, “Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to Godfor Israel is that they might be saved.” These Israelites for

whom Paul was praying were religious people! BUT—Paul stillrealized that they needed to change their ways.

c. What about those people to whom Paul spoke on Mars’ Hill inActs 17? He even told them that they were religious. But,they did not know or follow the God of Heaven, so Paulpreached that God—THE God—to them.

d. Remember Cornelius? A devout man who gave alms. Herewas a wonderful man; in fact, here was a RELIGIOUS man.One problem—he was not a Christian.

e. We may know some very good people. We may know somevery religious people. But if they are not a part of THECHURCH, they will not go to Heaven.

5. To belong to it, one must do what God says to do.a. Again, we must be convicted, penitent, baptized believers.b. ARE YOU?

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We Preach Christs Church