Nature of the Church Jesus built
Notes
Transcript
Matters of Distinction
Matters of Distinction
Existence of God.
Atheists, agnostics - do not or question if exists
Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Christians - believe in a supreme being, but do not all agree on the identity.
Identity of God.
Is He one of many gods?
Is He the God of Abraham?
Even from there it can come to divisions
The identity of Jesus of Nazareth
A good man, teacher, prophet
Or as the Christ, the Son of the Living God
The sufficiency of scripture
Is the scripture a place where more is needed like divine revelations from a Pope, or other writings outside of the scripture like Watchtower, Book of Mormon and the like?
Or is it “Sola Scriptura” Scripture alone is sufficient
Baptism
Is it apart from salvation?
Is it necessary?
Is it a part of salvation?
(Transition) This morning we will conclude our journey on “The Church that Jesus built.”
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(Transition cont’d): this has not been comprehensive but it has been informative at distinctions of the church that Jesus built. There are other subjects we could have covered like Lord’s Supper, but that is for another day. What I want to focus on today is what does the scripture say about the nature of the church where the trend today is denominationalism.
Nature of the Church as revealed through scripture
Nature of the Church as revealed through scripture
The nature of the “Church”
Universal use: speaking of all the believers, the saved.
Consider the Matthew passage I read
Turn to Eph5:23
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
Add to that Rev1:11
11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then there is the local church yet still of One
turn to Eph4:4-5
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
As compared to Eph1:22-23
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
As Christians we are all individually members of the Church that Jesus built, one body (ref: 1Cor12:27)
Returning to look at the local sense there are many churches
turn to Gal1:2 - Just to name one passage
2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
In local sense each one ideally has leaders
turn to Php1:1
1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
While all churches (Local) may not have elders, it is God’s organization that elders are to be appointed as seen in (Act14:21-23)
Local churches were and should be independent and autonomous.
Each should be under oversight of elders (turn to Heb13:17)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
And they are in each congregation, each flock (ref: 1Pt5:2 and Act20:28)
Shepherd the flock which is among you
take heed to all the flock among which Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
(Transition): The nature and organization of the church that Jesus built was simple and the gospel spread from Jerusalem . . . but not long after the apostles, the nature of the church began to change.
The start of denominationalism
The start of denominationalism
American Heritage dictionary: A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name organized under a single administration and legal hierarchy.
Websters: A religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations.
Simply put a group of individual congregations that are joined together by a governing body.
So, now better define denominationalism: The tendency to separate into religious denominations (American Heritage) Then there is advocacy of separation into religious denominations, and strict adherence to a denomination; sectarianism.(Websters) - Devotion to denominational principles or interests.
Such as Catholics. . .
(Transition): Today I hope to show how denominations came to be that was not the nature of the Church that Jesus built.
Denominations did not start suddenly, overnight, but gently overtime, subtle changes that fractured the church that Jesus built
The first was the two-tier, to three-tier system
Two tier went from local elders, bishops to regional
Three tier from regional then came world, i.e. Pope, modern day prophet . . .
An example that started in second century from Catholic (universal church)
To Roman Catholic, Greek orthodox, Russian, Coptic etc. . .
Many denominations started to come about with different leadership, organization, from the one that Jesus built.
How this continues today, well, the Protestant Reformation did not help, whereas it was a return to scripture but it solidified denominations by certain beliefs, practices, some of these were even contrary to the reformers themselves.
From the reformation to then the restoration, the return to first century belief and practices and yet even that became divided
Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, universal church of Christ, Congregational church of Christ
Even what is called non-denominational churches can gather together with “campus” or groups, who collectively work together, making themselves a denomination and not independent and autonomous.
(Transition): Now, when it comes to denominationalism, may we look at some things about that.
What is wrong with denominationalism?
What is wrong with denominationalism?
(Disclaimer) - I am not speaking of these things to cause division, to say one is right, one is wrong, but to look at what scripture says or does not say. This is given for informational purposes and to help you on your faith journey as the church that Jesus built.
Denominationalism is un-scriptural.
That means there is nothing in the scripture to support division, denominations, we are to be one church (Mt16:18) as we read earlier.
We have examples in the N.T. that there were local churches that were independent and self governing.
Local churches were organized with biblical leadership. (turn to Act20:17)
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
or consider (turn to 1Pt5:1-2)
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
The only biblical authority above the local independent church is Christ
turn again to Eph1:22-23
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Denominations often time break into dioses, synods, conference, etc. . . without scriptural authority to do such.
May we remember the authority is the word of God, the authority of the Christ given to the church that Jesus built.
Next, not only is denominationalism un-scriptural it is anti-scriptural.
Jesus prayer was for unity (Jn17:20-23) and there is division in denominations.
Paul even condemned such thing (turn to 1Cor1:10-13)
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul went on later and said that sectarianism is a sign of carnality (ref: 1Cor3:3-4)
Next, it is harmful to the cause of Christ.
Jesus knew the importance of unity, prayed for unity can called for the result of unity, that the world may believe (ref: Jn17:21).
In view of the scripture I am sure you can understand why people do not believe when even believers can be divided.
Many are quick to point that out, Atheists, Agnostics, Muslims, Jews, etc. . .
Denominationalism has even lead to what we may call cults
Jehovah Witnesses
Mormons
Anti-scriptural that would oppose the finished work on the cross (turn to Heb12:2)
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Or consider (Eph2:14-16) I read earlier, where Jesus broke down the dividing wall, and reconciled man to ONE body, the Church.
Just as sinning separates man from God; denominationalism divides God’s body the church.
Again this is all being given in spirit of love and to remind us of the unity we are to have as the church that Jesus built. Some changes were subtle, are subtle today, but yet bring divisions from the church that Jesus built.
Are you a part of the church that Jesus built?
Are you a part of the church that Jesus built?
Conclusion:
The nature of the church that Jesus built may not seem to be significant.
Some think it is a matter of preferences
But the church Jesus built is distinctive in nature and we need to know what the bible says and stay to that for that is the authority we live by. we need to follow what the scripture says and be one united body.
We have looked at how denominationalism started small, and has grown, now thinking there are over 43,000 different denominations.
This is an important issue, just as is the identity of God and the identity of Jesus of Nazareth are.
Are you a member of the church Jesus built?
Invitation, prayer, exit
