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* * 0 What is the Church? Mt 16:18-19 "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. "And I will give you the

keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth

will be loosed in heaven."Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with

all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

* * 0 In our 1st lesson we

ask “why study the church?”●We looked at the “value” God places

on the New Testament Church!●We looked at the “villains” that seek

to distort or destroy it!●Today we want to move on to better

understanding just “what is the church?”–Most think of the church as a place

we go, rather than a people that we are!–What did you do this morning?

* * 0 How many of us desire to be a

part of the New Testament Church?●Then we need to properly

understand what the church is! We have to come to see things the way that God see them!●Our lesson tonight will be very

simply just like the one we studied last week!●With a little bit of effort we can

come to properly understand the church of the Bible, the New Testament Church!

* * 0 I. The NT Church

Defined!●The past two weeks I have really been doing a lot of studying about the origin of our English word “church” and I have been rather surprised by what I have found! It seems to be a rather “new” word, only going back to the 12th century!●When it 1st started showing up in

English translations it was used only of houses of pagan worship! (Act. 14:13; 19:37) see Tyndale 1525 translation.●By 1611 found 115x out of 118

ekklesia

* * 0 “Ekklesia”

●Found 118 times in the NT! –Translated = church, their number, to

them, assembly, their company, the congregation, their group i.e.

●Ekklesia is a compound word made up of two Greek words “ek” and “klesia”–Ek = from or out of –Klesia/kaleho = to call or to name●The primary definition is simply to be

“called out!”–These are those called out of the world!

* * 0 The Called Out!

●1 Pet 2:5,9 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;●We are called out of the world, to live

as children of light!–“We are the light of the world!” (Mt.

5:14-16)

* * 0 Ekklesia synonymous with

“hahal”This Hebrew word = an assembly●An assembly of Christians gathered

for worship (1 Cor. 14:19, 35)●A company of Christians hoping for

eternal salivation (1 Thess. 1:1)●Those anywhere, in any city/village

that constitute such a company (1 Cor. 1:2)●The whole body of Christians

scattered throughout the earth (Eph. 1:22-23)●The assembly of faithful Christians

already dead (Heb. 12:22-23)

* * 0 II. The NT Church

Described!This point is much easier! All we have to do is look at the picture! (Cf Ps. 119:160)

●The body of Christ! (Eph. 1:22-23)–This metaphor depicts the relationship

we enjoy with Christ and one another!●Christ is “head” of the body (Col.

2:19)●We are the “body” (Rom. 12:5; 1

Cor. 12:12)–This depiction helps us see how much

we need Christ and one another! We are in this together!

* * 0 The house/temple of God!

●1 Tim 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.–God is head of the house and we are His

children! We are a family and must learn to treat one another as such! (1 Tim. 5:1-2)

●As the temple we are the dwelling place of God! (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5)–As the temple we must maintain purity!

(1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:15-20 cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-18)

* * 0 The Kingdom!

●We are those under the rule and reign of God!●We are “now” priest and kings! (Rev.

1:6; 5:10) we are now “in” the Kingdom! (Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12 & Rev. 1:9)●Christ is “now” King and has all

authority!–Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to

them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.–Ac 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of

Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

* * 0 The Bride of Christ!

●2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

●Christ is coming back for His bride!

–Eph. 5:24-33●This description points to an even

greater relationship with Him in the future!

–Rev. 19:6-9 The marriage supper awaits!

* * 0 Conclusion:

●Truly God has painted for us a beautiful picture of the NT Church! It is indeed amazing to be able to be a part of this!

●If you are here today and not yet a member of the body of Christ, the NT Church then today is the day!

●We will be focusing in on this next week!

●I invite you to join us as we continue this study of the New Testament Church!

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We are the

Church Together!

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