THE CHURCH AND ITS RELATION TO CHRIST, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE BELIEVER

INTRODUCTION. The word “church” is the Greek word “Ecclesia” and it means to call out. The word is used 117 times in the New Testament. Out of this many times, it is used 112 times to refer either to a particular assembly of Jesus Christ on earth, or to a general assembly in glory.

We want to study the church in its relation to Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Believer.

I. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

A. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. .

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

B. Christ is the builder of the church. ; therefore He is the owner.

C. Christ is the head of the church. . No man or group of men should assume this position.

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH.

A. The Holy Spirit is the administrator of the church.

1. He baptizes the believer into the church. -.

1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV 1900

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

2. He calls and appoints the pastor. . Whenever a church is without a pastor they should seek the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 20:28 KJV 1900

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

3. He directs the church in the sending out of missionaries. .

B. The Holy Spirit is the unity of the church. -. When He controls the church there will be unity.

Ephesians 4:3 KJV 1900

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:4 KJV 1900

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

C. The Holy Spirit is the power of the church. ; ; , ; ; .

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:1–8 KJV 1900

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:41 KJV 1900

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:47 KJV 1900

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:4 KJV 1900

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 6:7 KJV 1900

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

III. THE BELIEVER AND THE CHURCH.

A. The believer is a member of the church as a living stone. , . In the early days of Christianity, there were no members at large. They were all in a local church, serving God. ; ; .

Acts 2:41 KJV 1900

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:42 KJV 1900

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:47 KJV 1900

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5 KJV 1900

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

B. The believer should respect and attend the church. .

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 1900

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

C. The believer is to find fellowship in the church. .

Acts 2:42 KJV 1900

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1. Fellowship is promised where believers are gathered together in His name. .

Matthew 18:20 KJV 1900

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

2. This fellowship is based upon the willingness of the church to acknowledge the place of Christ and the Holy Spirit. ; ; .

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Acts 20:28 KJV 1900

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Corinthians 12:3 KJV 1900

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

D. The believer is to find a means of service in the church. Service is working together in the unity of the Holy Spirit in carrying out the will of Christ by making known the Word of God. ; ; ; , .

John 15:16 KJV 1900

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Acts 4:23–31 KJV 1900

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 5:40–42 KJV 1900

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:11 KJV 1900

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ephesians 4:12 KJV 1900

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: