Doctrine of the Present - Understanding the Church

Today, we enter the Present Work of Jesus Christ.

Quickly, to help us remember the context of Hebrews, The author is writing to Hebrew Christians had heard this glorious gospel, and should have been pressing on, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ.

A great title for the Book of Hebrews would be "Pressing on unto Full Growth"!

The great exhortation in Hebrews is to press on to "full growth."

The problem wasn’t the power or influence of Christ and His Spirit, the problem of immaturity was connected with "neglect,"

Hebrews 5:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

“dull of hearing” deals with slothfulness, laziness, non-use of spiritual faculties.

The infinitely loving God who has given His well-beloved Son for our sake warns of the danger of provoking His wrath by turning back from His revealed perfect work to religious forms or by choosing the sin which He died to save us from. These dangers are thoroughly warned against in Hebrews.

So that the author

Hebrews 6:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The last 3 weeks, we have looked at the past work of Christ, Salvation and Justification.

Repentance from dead works, as opposed to living works.

Faith toward God, faith is an active movement toward God based on the facts of the Word of God which then produces feelings of security.

Listen very carefully, If you are not grounded or credible in Justification, or the simplicity of the Gospel, you will not be credible in the present work of Christ, baptism and laying on of hands.

Remember, these are the foundations that we need to know, as believers in Jesus Christ, so we can grow and mature in Christ Jesus.

Christ presently works through the church, the first 2 Repentance and Faith have to do with Soteriology, the Study of Salvation. The section deals with Ecclesiology, the Study of the Church.

Let me lay some ground work for this section.

“Ekklesia” is the Greek word that we derive the word “church”.

The church is not a literal building. We do not go to the church, we actually go to the church house.

The church is not a religious denomination. It is not the Baptist Church, it is actually Baptist churches.

Lastly, the church is not a universal, invisible, entity.

“Ekklesia” - the preposition “Ek” - “out of” and the verb “Kalew” - “I call” Therefore rendering the literal meaning is “called out”.

Those believing in the universal, invisible, church like this definition because the believer is called out of sin, repentance from dead works, out of the world, unto Christ, faith toward God, to be saints and ambassadors.

However, “called out” has to do with “salvation” - never the church.

Romans 8:30 (KJV 1900)

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Remember, the response to being called is “faith toward God”. By faith, Trusting and Obedience, We respond to the call. Once we are justified, then we are sanctified, set apart for a purpose.

Hebrews 2:11 (KJV 1900)

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews 10:14 (KJV 1900)

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Jesus prayed before His crucifixion,

John 17:19 (KJV 1900)

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

The Church is an “Assembly”

“ekklesia” is always used of an assembly in both the christian and biblical usage and also in the non-christian, worldly usage.

The Definition of the true New Testament Church

1 Corinthians 11:18 (KJV 1900)

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

The word “church” or “churches” is found 114 times in the New Testament. In every case, if you substituted the word “assembly” for “church” you will readily see this is the correct usage of the word.

1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Unto the church [the assembly] of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Therefore, an assembly has to be Local

The Church [Assembly] must be Local.

You cannot assemble all over the world and be together.

The New Testament gives 20 references to churches in 14 different cities or towns.

Jerusalem

Antioch

Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Unto the church [assembly] of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

The New Testament gives 12 references to churches [plural] in 8 specific regions.

Judea, Galilee, and Samaria

Syria and Cilicia

Galatia

Galatians 1:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

The New Testament also gives 4 references to churches [assemblies] gathering in private homes.

Colossians 4:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church [assembly] which is in his house.

The Bible uses 3 metaphors for the church [assembly].

A Body - if your body is blown up and scattered all over the place then you cease to exist as a body.

A Building - Building are found in 1 place, not scattered all over the place.

A Bride - When I married Lisa, she was not everywhere, no she was present and by my side holding my hand when we made our vows becoming one.

All 3 must be local in order for them to be effective and experienced.

The Church [Assembly] must be Visible.

You cannot “come together” or assemble and not be seen.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

A church cannot operate if its members are invisible. A church cannot operate in an invisible location.

A church cannot function with invisible officers, nor invisible tithes.

Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV 1900)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

An invisible thing cannot evangelize, baptize, and instruct others.

Matthew 18:15 KJV 1900

15 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.

Matthew 18:15–18 (KJV 1900)

15 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.

16 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.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church [assembly]: but if he neglect to hear the church [assembly], let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

An invisible church cannot administer discipline.

Again, the 3 metaphors support being visible.

A Body - If this body becomes invisible, we are dead and present with the Lord. A body must be visible. Try to let a doctor examine and diagnose an invisible body.

A Building - Bro. Eric, how many invisible houses have you sold to people?

A Bride - I don’t want an invisible bride. Lisa didn’t go to all the trouble of dressing up and fixing her hair and makeup to be invisible at our wedding.

Therefore, If the church must be local and must be visible,

The Church [Assembly] must be Organized.

We cannot assemble without a purpose, for then, we would not be assembling, but rather we would be hanging out.

1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV 1900)

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Titus 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Again, our metaphors.

A Body - must be organized with flesh, organs, bones, etc. in order to function.

A Building - must be fitted together from lumber, bricks, nails, concrete and such.

A Bride - God ordered marriage and the home. Marriage places a woman under God-given rules and subjection to her husband.

Ephesians 5:22 (KJV 1900)

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV 1900)

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

So, Lastly a church must be local, visible, organized, and

The Church [Assembly] must be Constituted.

Any assembly must be put together with the correct ingredients. There are qualifications for membership in any assembly.

Philippians 1:1 (KJV 1900)

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

The church is made up of those that have first of all repented from dead works and had faith toward God.

Acts 2:41 (KJV 1900)

41 Then they that gladly received his word [Salvation, Justification] were baptized [Immersed]: and the same day there were added unto them [Church Membership] about three thousand souls.

Not just any person may (rightfully) belong to a New Testament church. Churches throughout the New Testament are instructed to keep themselves pure by excluding erring members.

Titus 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (KJV 1900)

14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Again, our metaphors for the Church

A Body - although certain artificial devices may be fitted to take the place of certain organs, they are always alien.

A Building - A builder has to have the proper materials placed in proper place in order for the building to function.

A Bride - not everyone can be a bride. A bride must be Female. A bride must be unmarried. A bride must be willing to join herself to the groom.

Therefore, a Church [Assembly] must have specific members, meeting in a specific way, in a specific place.

So, let’s define the church.

A New Testament Church is an assembly of baptized believers, organized to carry out the Lord’s work.

“Assembly” - local and visible.

“Baptized Believers” - specifically constituted.

“organized” - according to the pattern given in the New Testament.

The author of Hebrews is dealing with the heresies causing these Hebrew christians to turn away from Jesus Christ.

In our present day, the idea of the universal, invisible church is destroying the True Church and leading away a lot of lazy christians who are not putting in the time to

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Damage of False Teachings on the Church.

It Destroys the Loyalty to One’s Church [Assembly].

The real (New Testament) church becomes secondary the THE Church.

It Promotes “Church-hopping”

A believer can go anywhere and still be in “THE Church” if this is true.

It Promotes Substitute Organizations to Do the Work of the Churches.

There are literally hundreds of of organizations available to do every single task the Lord assigned to His churches. (seminars, relief organizations, ministries, etc.)

It Promotes Compromise.

Inter-denominational groups which brings doctrinal compromise.

If you are not doctrinally sound on Salvation and Justification, repentance from dead works and faith toward God, you will be wrong on Sanctification and the authority of the church.

It Erodes Scriptural Church Discipline.

The authority and accountability of the New Testament Church.

It Releases Christians from Church Related Responsibilities.

Loyalty and consistency are big losers.

The fact that we need to embrace in teaching the first oracles of the doctrine of Christ in His present work is that Every true New Testament Church is the Body of Christ in its particular location, with Christ as its Head.

Ephesians 4:4–7 KJV 1900

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

There is One (type of) Body, and the remainder of the chapter indicates a real, local, visible, organized church made up of real, local, visible saints, and overseen by real, local, visible pastors.

The Distinguishing of the Church

Much of the problem of misunderstanding the doctrine of the church has come about through a failure to differentiate between “church’ and “kingdom”.

The word “kingdom” is defined as “the power or authority of a king; a realm or a domain over which this extends.”

Ephesians 5:5 (KJV 1900)

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

“The Kingdom of God is the rule of God in the hearts of willing subjects - i.e. believers.”

The Kingdom of God and the Church are not the same but are vitally related.

The New Testament Church is the visible, audible, tangible manifestation of the invisible, inaudible, intangible kingdom.

Matthew 16:19 (KJV 1900)

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Keys speak of Authority and Appointment.

The authority of the church to make decisions in matters concerning the lives of kingdom subjects.

Matthew 18:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What exactly is this key? A key locks and unlocks.

The key is “the Gospel” (repentance from dead works and faith toward God) which unlocks the door of salvation through the application of the Gospel. As the church, we have been appointed the authority of the Gospel.

John 20:23 KJV 1900

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Every New Testament Church is the unique, divinely established and authorized “recruiting agency” for the kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is Universal.

The New Testament Church is Local.

The Kingdom of God is One.

The New Testament Church is Many.

The Kingdom of God is Invisible.

The New Testament Church is Visible.

The Kingdom of God is entered through regeneration.

The New Testament Church is Entered through baptism.

The Kingdom of God, All members are saved.

The New Testament Church, Some members are unsaved.

The Kingdom of God membership is permanent.

The New Testament Church membership may be moved.

The Kingdom of God has no officers.

The New Testament Church has pastors and deacons.

The Kingdom of God has no ordinances.

The New Testament Church has 2 ordinances, Baptism and Lord’s Supper.

What are YOU doing for your growth and the growth of the church?