Revised on January 22, 2011 1 GOD’S PLAN FOR REDEEMING MAN God’s Eternal Plan for Us As Revealed...

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GOD’S PLAN FOR GOD’S PLAN FOR REDEEMING MANREDEEMING MAN

God’s Eternal Plan for Us As Revealed in the Word

Lesson 6: The Church

22Revised on January 22, 2011Revised on January 22, 2011

Lesson 6 - The ChurchLesson 6 - The Church

What is the church?What is the church?Who founded the church?Who founded the church?Who is the head of it?Who is the head of it?Where was the church built?Where was the church built?How many churches?How many churches?How is the church designated?How is the church designated?When was the church established?When was the church established?


THE CHURCH IS NOT A THE CHURCH IS NOT A LITERAL BUILDING!LITERAL BUILDING!

THE CHURCH IS PEOPLE!THE CHURCH IS PEOPLE! In the early century, the church had been In the early century, the church had been

violently persecuted by its enemies. violently persecuted by its enemies. ACTS 8:1.ACTS 8:1. ““And Saul was consenting to his death. And Saul was consenting to his death.

And And on that day a great persecution arose on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalemagainst the church in Jerusalem; and they ; and they were all scattered throughout the region of were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”


1 CORINTHIANS 15:9-10.1 CORINTHIANS 15:9-10.““For I am the least of the apostles, For I am the least of the apostles,

unfit to be called an apostle, unfit to be called an apostle, because because I persecuted the church of GodI persecuted the church of God. . 1010 But by the grace of God I am what I But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.”is with me.”


The Book of Acts also mentions that The Book of Acts also mentions that members of the church had been members of the church had been imprisoned for their faith.imprisoned for their faith.

ACTS 8:3.ACTS 8:3.““But Saul was But Saul was ravaging the churchravaging the church, ,

and entering house after house, and entering house after house, he he dragged off men and women and dragged off men and women and committed them to prisoncommitted them to prison” ” (RSV).(RSV).


The church also prayed earnestly for The church also prayed earnestly for its own preacher who was jailed for its own preacher who was jailed for proclaiming the truth.proclaiming the truth.

ACTS 12:5.ACTS 12:5. ““So Peter was kept in prison; So Peter was kept in prison; but but

earnest prayer for him was made to earnest prayer for him was made to God by the churchGod by the church.”.”


The church has ears so she also The church has ears so she also could hear.could hear.

ACTS 11:21-22.ACTS 11:21-22. ““And the hand of the Lord was with And the hand of the Lord was with

them, and a great number that them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. believed turned to the Lord. 2222 News News of this came to the ears of the church of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalemin Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas , and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ”to Antioch. ”


Being human, she also experiences Being human, she also experiences fear.fear.

ACTS 5:10-11.ACTS 5:10-11. ““Immediately she fell down at his feet Immediately she fell down at his feet

and died. When the young men came and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside carried her out and buried her beside her husband. her husband. 1111 And great fear came And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.” who heard of these things.”


Walking in the fear of God and in the Walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, she could comfort of the Holy Spirit, she could multiply.multiply.

ACTS 9:31.ACTS 9:31. ““So the church throughout all Judea So the church throughout all Judea

and Galilee and Sama'ria had peace and Galilee and Sama'ria had peace and was built up; and walking in the and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.” the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.”


The church could also be The church could also be strengthened in the faith.strengthened in the faith.

ACTS 16:5.ACTS 16:5.““So the churches were strengthened So the churches were strengthened

in the faith, and they increased in in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” numbers daily.”


1 CORINTHIANS 14:4.1 CORINTHIANS 14:4. “ “He who speaks in a tongue edifies He who speaks in a tongue edifies

himself, but he who prophesies edifies the himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” church.”

1 CORINTHIANS 14:5.1 CORINTHIANS 14:5. ““Now I want you all to speak in tongues, Now I want you all to speak in tongues,

but even more to prophesy. He who but even more to prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some one interprets, so in tongues, unless some one interprets, so that the church may be edified.” that the church may be edified.”


1 CORINTHIANS 14:12.1 CORINTHIANS 14:12.““So with yourselves; since you are So with yourselves; since you are

eager for manifestations of the Spirit, eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the strive to excel in building up the church.” church.”


Bishops are to feed the church. Bishops are to feed the church. ACTS 20:28.ACTS 20:28. ““Take heed to yourselves and to all Take heed to yourselves and to all

the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.” with the blood of his own Son.”


I don’t know how all these could possibly be I don’t know how all these could possibly be done if the church were a mere chapel! Christ done if the church were a mere chapel! Christ was not in the business of building church was not in the business of building church buildings. Chapels are made by men; but the buildings. Chapels are made by men; but the Godhead does not dwell in them anymore.Godhead does not dwell in them anymore.

ACTS 17:24.ACTS 17:24. ““God that made the world and all things God that made the world and all things

therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with earth, dwells not in temples made with hands.” hands.”


WHO FOUNDED THE WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH?CHURCH?

CHRIST WAS THE FOUNDER CHRIST WAS THE FOUNDER OF IT!OF IT!

MATTHEW 16:18.MATTHEW 16:18. ““And I tell you, you are Peter,” And I tell you, you are Peter,”

He said, “and on this rock I will He said, “and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against of death shall not prevail against it.”it.”


It was the only church He built, It was the only church He built, and He did not build any other. and He did not build any other. He was not in the business of He was not in the business of building denominations, either. building denominations, either.

PSALM 127:1PSALM 127:1 says, “Except the says, “Except the LORD build the HOUSE, they LORD build the HOUSE, they labor in vain that build it.”labor in vain that build it.”


The metaphor of the “house” has The metaphor of the “house” has also been used to designate the also been used to designate the Lord’s church.Lord’s church.

1 TIMOTHY 3:15.1 TIMOTHY 3:15. “ “If I am delayed, you may know If I am delayed, you may know

how one ought to behave in the how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” and bulwark of the truth.”


Denominations, like tares, sprout Denominations, like tares, sprout anywhere.anywhere.

MATTHEW 13:24-30.MATTHEW 13:24-30. ““Another parable he put before Another parable he put before

them, saying, "The kingdom of them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; who sowed good seed in his field; 2525 but while men were sleeping, his but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. among the wheat, and went away.


26 26 So when the plants came up and So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. also. 2727 And the servants of the And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' field? How then has it weeds?' 2828 He He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'want us to go and gather them?'


29 29 But he said, 'No; lest in But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. the wheat along with them. 3030 Let Let both grow together until the both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" my barn.'"


Jesus also has something to say Jesus also has something to say about these denominations:about these denominations:

MATTHEW 15:13.MATTHEW 15:13.““Every plant which my heavenly Every plant which my heavenly

Father has not planted will be Father has not planted will be rooted up.”rooted up.”


WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH?CHURCH?

CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF IT.CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF IT. EPHESIANS 5:23.EPHESIANS 5:23.““For the husband is the head of For the husband is the head of

the wife, even as Christ is the the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body”savior of the body”


EPHESIANS 1:22-23.EPHESIANS 1:22-23.““And he has put all things under And he has put all things under

his feet and has made him the his feet and has made him the head over all things for the head over all things for the church, church, 2323 which is his body, the which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” fullness of him who fills all in all.”


COLOSSIANS 1:18.COLOSSIANS 1:18.““He is the head of the body, the He is the head of the body, the

church; he is the beginning, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-everything he might be pre-eminent.” eminent.”


The church as a spiritual body has Christ as The church as a spiritual body has Christ as its spiritual head. Peter was never the head its spiritual head. Peter was never the head or “pope” of Christ’s church; he only claims or “pope” of Christ’s church; he only claims to be a co-elder, among many other elders. to be a co-elder, among many other elders.

1 PETER 5:1-3.1 PETER 5:1-3. ““So I exhort the elders among you, as a So I exhort the elders among you, as a

fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. that is to be revealed. 22 Tend the flock of Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly.”eagerly.”


The “papacy” was invented by men, The “papacy” was invented by men, and began in AD 607, with Boniface and began in AD 607, with Boniface III as the first “universal bishop” or III as the first “universal bishop” or head of the Western (Catholic) head of the Western (Catholic) Church. Church.


The word “pope” is a religious title The word “pope” is a religious title and means “Father.”and means “Father.”

But Christ enjoins His disciples not to But Christ enjoins His disciples not to call anyone on earth his religious call anyone on earth his religious father.father.

MATTHEW 23:9.MATTHEW 23:9.““Call no man your father on earth, for Call no man your father on earth, for

you have one Father, who is in you have one Father, who is in heaven.”heaven.”


WHO IS THE FOUNDATION OF WHO IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH?THE CHURCH?

CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF IT.CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF IT. ““For no other foundation can any one For no other foundation can any one

lay than that which is laid, which is lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” Jesus Christ” (1 CORINTHIANS 3:11).(1 CORINTHIANS 3:11).

Houses are built on foundations. The Houses are built on foundations. The house of God was not built on Peter but house of God was not built on Peter but on the truth that Peter had confessed on the truth that Peter had confessed (MATTHEW 16:16).(MATTHEW 16:16).


HOW MANY CHURCHES?HOW MANY CHURCHES?

THE BIBLE SAYS THERE IS ONE THE BIBLE SAYS THERE IS ONE BODY BODY (EPHESIANS 4:4).(EPHESIANS 4:4).

And that one body is the church And that one body is the church (EPHESIANS 1:22-23; (EPHESIANS 1:22-23; COLOSSIANS 1:18).COLOSSIANS 1:18).

Christ built only one churchChrist built only one church (MATTHEW 16:18).(MATTHEW 16:18).


THE DESIGNATIONS OF THE THE DESIGNATIONS OF THE CHURCHCHURCH

CHURCH OF CHRIST. CHURCH OF CHRIST. Jesus calls it “my church” Jesus calls it “my church” (MATTHEW (MATTHEW

16:18),16:18), hence, to designate it the “church hence, to designate it the “church of Christ” would be correct. Christ owns it: of Christ” would be correct. Christ owns it: It is His body It is His body (COLOSSIANS 1:18);(COLOSSIANS 1:18); and it and it was the ONLY institution He died for was the ONLY institution He died for (ACTS 20:28).(ACTS 20:28).

In Paul’s epistle to the Roman Christians, In Paul’s epistle to the Roman Christians, this designation is used in the plural this designation is used in the plural sense: “The sense: “The churches of Christchurches of Christ salute you” salute you” (ROMANS 16:16).(ROMANS 16:16).


KINGDOM OF GOD’S DEAR SON. KINGDOM OF GOD’S DEAR SON. ““Who has delivered us from the Who has delivered us from the

power of darkness, and has power of darkness, and has translated us into the translated us into the kingdom of his kingdom of his dear Sondear Son”” (COLOSSIANS 1:13; cf. (COLOSSIANS 1:13; cf. MATTHEW 16:19). MATTHEW 16:19).

Christ says his kingdom is not of this Christ says his kingdom is not of this worldworld (JOHN 18:36).(JOHN 18:36).


CHURCH OF GOD.CHURCH OF GOD. ““Take heed therefore to yourselves, Take heed therefore to yourselves,

and to all the flock, over which the and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the to feed the church of Godchurch of God, which he , which he has purchased with his own blood”has purchased with his own blood” (ACTS 20:28; cf. 1 COR. 1:2).(ACTS 20:28; cf. 1 COR. 1:2).


HOUSE OF GOD.HOUSE OF GOD. ““But if I tarry long, that you may But if I tarry long, that you may

know how you ought to behave know how you ought to behave yourself in the yourself in the house of Godhouse of God, which is , which is the church of the living Godthe church of the living God, the , the pillar and ground of the truth”pillar and ground of the truth” (1 (1 TIMOTHY 3:15; cf. 1 PETER 4:17; TIMOTHY 3:15; cf. 1 PETER 4:17; 2:5).2:5).


CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. “…“…The house of God, which The house of God, which is the is the

church of the living Godchurch of the living God”” (1 (1 TIMOTHY 3:15).TIMOTHY 3:15).


BODY OF CHRIST.BODY OF CHRIST. ““And he is the head of theAnd he is the head of the body body, the , the

church”church” (COLOSSIANS 1:18).(COLOSSIANS 1:18). “[God] gave him to be the head over “[God] gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is all things to the church, which is his his bodybody” ” (EPH. 1:22-23).(EPH. 1:22-23).


WHEN WAS THE CHURCH WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED?ESTABLISHED?

The church was founded on the Day The church was founded on the Day of Pentecost—the fiftieth from the of Pentecost—the fiftieth from the day Christ rose from the dead. day Christ rose from the dead. “Pente-” from the word Pentecost “Pente-” from the word Pentecost means “fifty.” The founding of the means “fifty.” The founding of the church is told in Acts 2. What year? church is told in Acts 2. What year? It was the year AD 30, if we base it It was the year AD 30, if we base it on our corrected chronology.on our corrected chronology.


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