ECCLESSIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH (Part 2)

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH, BANGKOK THAILAND

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, FEBRUARY 16, 2014

I) LOCAL CHURCH>A) We baptists believe that Jesus established a local church. This sets us apart from many cults like the Catholic Church, the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who have a form or heirarchy in their churches. We do not see Jesus or the Apostles talk about “the church” but “churches”.B) We can see in the New Testament that the pastor has the highest position in the church and no one pastor was above another pastor.

c) Where did the idea of hierarchy come from?

A) In the early church in Jerusalem, the membership rose to as many as 50,000 believers of different nationalities. So a lot of errors were creeping in. One error was that some pastors began to assume authority over other pastors but that was not given to them.(III John 9). They began to lord over God’s heritage. Another error was about baptismal regeneration. The Jews and pagans were taught to put much emphasis on ceremonials. So that doctrine that baptism could save was decreed.

D) So when they believed that baptism can save, they also concluded that baptism should start as early as possible. So came the doctrine of infant baptism. There was not one infant that was baptized before A.D 370. And because infants were to be baptized they thought that immersion would be difficult for the babies so they opted for sprinkling and pouring just to “symbolize” baptism. Another incident was when an emperor of the Roman Empire, Constantine the Great, in A.D. 313 dreamed about a fiery red cross and on that cross was written “By this thou shalt conquer.” So he became the leader of the church and of the state. He wanted Christianity to be embraced by the people so he ordered that the goddess Diana and Nimrod will be replaced by Mary and the infant child Jesus, the pagan practices became incorporated to the Christian faith such as praying with the rosary, processions, feasts, prayers for the dead, gift giving during Nimrod’s birthday.

II) Universal ChurchA) Because the people rejected the idea of a local church and the pastors met together to form doctrines, the church became a hierarchy. This gave birth to the Catholic Church. So all churches would have the same sermon, the same Bible reading, the same theme, etc. Later on the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Iglesia ni Cristo adapted this kind of church government. This is what we call the universal, invisible church.

B) But we baptists believe that the Universal Church is not in existence yet. We believe that at the end of time, when all Christians are in heaven, then we will be part of the universal, visible church

II) PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

A) TO worship God and to glorify Him on the earth

Eph. 1:4-6B) To evangelize the world with the gospel Mat. 28:19,20

1) If the church is more concerned with concerts, physical exercise, language study, musical recordings, activities such as cantatas, etc. than with winning souls, discipleship, encouragement of the brethren during times of trouble then the church is not doing its primary purpose which is the great commission. Teachings such as giving, music seminars, family life seminars, teaching Sunday School, are good but if they become more important than evangelization then the church is not doing its primary purpose.

2) It is very important that the pastor have a regular evaluation of the ministries of the church. He must see to it that the members do not get their focus out of soul winning instead of activities, business, fellowships or learning endeavors aside from Biblical truth. It is sad that some pastors are willing to spend money of endeavors other than activities where people get saved!

C) For the Perfecting of the Saints Ephesians 4:11-15, I Thess. 5:11, I Cor. 12:14-31,1) Perfecting of the saints does not mean making the believers sinless but it is to make them spiritually matured. We must grow in grace(II Peter 3:18), Col. 1:282) God says in Matt. 5:48, “Be ye

perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

3) It is the duty of the pastor to bring the members to maturity by teaching the whole counsel of God even if sometimes the Word of God is painful or too difficult to accept.

4) God said in His Book that only the overcomers will enter the kingdom. This does not mean that our works will save us but that we should put our faith in Christ to practice so that we can overcome our sins and weaknesses. Rev. 21:7, 275) God is preparing us to be leaders in the millenium, that’s why he is trying to mold our character for this great responsibiity, 2 Tim 2:12

III) CHURCH ATTENDANCEA) In the Old Testament, God instituted the Sabbath Day.B) No one was allowed to work on the SabbathExodus 31:15C) No one was allowed to kindle fire or to pick up sticks on the Sabbath DayExodus 35:3, Numbers 15:32D) No one should bring their products within the gates on the Sabbath Day

E) The Sabbath was changed to the Lord’s Day on the Resurrection of Jesus 1) There is no record that the Apostles kept the Sabbath day after the resurrection but there is a record that they kept the Lord’s DayI Cor.16:2, Acts 20:72) Believers are not supposed to neglect the Lord’s Day : Heb. 10:25Going to church against all odds is a test of the believer’s faith and a basis for God’s blessings

HOW SHOULD WE TREAT FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERSThe Bible mentions the words”one another “ several times. 1) Love one another: John 13:342) Preferring one anotherRomans 12:103) Receive one another Romans 15:74) Admonish one anotherRomans 15:14: We should be willing to confront an erring brother5) Salute one another Romans 16:166) Greet one another: II Cor. 13:12

7) Bear ye one another’s burdens- Galatians 6:28) Wash each other’s feetJohn 14:139) Be kindly-affectioned one

to another Romans 12:1010) Serve one another- Galatians 5:1311) Do not deceive one another- Lev. 19:1112) Show mercy and compassion one to anotherZechariah 7:913) Be of the same mind one to another Romans 12:16

14) Let us not judge one another – Romans 14:13

15) Be perfectly joined together – I Cor. 1:10

16) Forebearing one another and forgive each other- Col 3:13

17) Submit to each otherEph. 5:2118) Comfort and edify one

another –I Thess 5:1119) Exhort one another dailyHeb. 3:1320) Speak not evil one of another – James 4:11

7) Bear ye one another’s burdens- Galatians 6:28) Wash each other’s feetJohn 14:139) Be kindly-affectioned one

to another Romans 12:1010) Serve one another- Galatians 5:1311) Do not deceive one another- Lev. 19:1112) Show mercy and compassion one to anotherZechariah 7:913) Be of the same mind one to another Romans 12:16

21) Consider each other, provoke each other in loveHeb. 10:2422)If you bite and devour one another…..Gal. 5:15 23) Humble yourselves one to

another – I Peter 5:524) Use hospitality one to

another – I Peter 4:925) They had things in common- Acts 4:32