The Lord’s Church “…the churches of Christ salute you…” Romans 16:16.
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Transcript of The Lord’s Church “…the churches of Christ salute you…” Romans 16:16.
![Page 1: The Lord’s Church “…the churches of Christ salute you…” Romans 16:16.](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082821/5697c00b1a28abf838cc88f0/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Lord’s Church“…the churches of Christ salute you…”
Romans 16:16
![Page 2: The Lord’s Church “…the churches of Christ salute you…” Romans 16:16.](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022082821/5697c00b1a28abf838cc88f0/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The Lord’s Church“…the churches of Christ salute you…”
Romans 16:16
No
Denomi
nation
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Church / “ekklesia”
×The Lord’s church has another unique characteristic among modern religions.
×It is a “group of people called out of one relationship / location into another relationship/location.”
×But this could indicate MANY THINGS.×The Lord’s church, though, is “called out” of the
world and into Christ, the Lord and Messiah.
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God’s People
×All religions claim to be God’s people, but only Christians (“in Christ”) are God’s people.
×Furthermore, they are God’s people in spite of any physical state. The living AND dead, past, present, or future who are IN CHRIST are God’s people, THE CHURCH.
×This is a key foundation in understanding that the Lord’s church is not a denomination.
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Matthew 16:18
×Notice, EXACTLY, what Jesus says: “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
×How many churches did Jesus build? One. Here is the difficulty with most modern religious bodies.
×Here is what we must focus on, as God’s people, so we do not fail in what God intended through the Lord, and for what Jesus died!
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Denominations Are…
×Units. Just as one dollar, is a unit of five dollars and 5 dollars is a unit of 10 dollars, 20 dollars, etc.
×Denominations are a COLLECTION of churches IN ASSOCIATION with one another. This is NOT what we find anywhere in the Bible.
×What we do find in the Bible is that PEOPLE, individually and saved, as a whole, make up the unit of the Lord’s church, God’s people.
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False Concepts
דThe church” = Catholic, Baptist, Adventist, Methodist, etc.
× Baptists, Methodists, etc. = alliances and cooperation between physically located churches.
×The church of Christ = all the individual congregations of Christians working together.
×John 15:1-6…who are the “branches?” Jesus is clear! It is not congregations!
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Apostolic Illustration
×1 Corinthians 12:12-27. The church is not about a location, it is not about an alliance or association between physical congregations, it is about individuals in a saved condition, conformed to the similitude of Jesus, the Christ and Lord.
×It is “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-24). It is a spiritual organization saved by the grace of God, the Lord, Christ.
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The Assembly
×The Scriptures teach us that this church has a tendency upon the earth and a mission.
×The tendency? To band together locally (1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Revelation 1:11).
×The mission? To proclaim the gospel to the lost and to support one another’s needs (1 Peter 3:15 / Romans 12:13).
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The Assembly
×The Scriptures also teach us that these associations in a local, physical church are important to us for the strengthening of our individual faith (Hebrews 10:22-25 / 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Such is a command of God.
×The power, mission, and hope of the local assembly is so great, that we find NOTHING working beyond it by God’s authority!
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Beyond The Assembly…
×There is no authority in the Scriptures for the church to work as a COLLECTIVE or for congregations to do so either.
×Congregations are to practice full autonomy (exemplified in 1 Peter 5:1-2).
×Therefore, congregations acting in fellowship together in evangelism, edification, or benevolence is not a Scriptural method, it is a human method.
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Christians Beware
×Please consider some final thoughts on the matter.
×Too often, we excuse our own actions, using our independence as license.
×We claim “no foul” when support for works beyond or replacing the work of the local church are organized and supported individually, as a separate, collective action.
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Christians Beware
×In the history of the Lord’s church, there have been times of our own departures from these principles.
×Congregations have banded together in the name of “great / greater works” and organized missionary societies, sponsoring churches, orphan / elderly homes, schools, colleges, day cares, and the like…departures from God’s will.
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Christians Beware
×We also need to remind ourselves that colleges, and other institutions can become our gods and pull us to mindsets closer and closer to denominationalism.
×Do the “best” elders / preachers come from Florida College or other so called “Christian schools?” Do brethren become “better” Christians based on their affiliation and participation in these? Christians Beware.
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Join and Thrive In Faith
• Listen to the Invitation of the Lord: Isaiah 55; Matthew 11:28-30.
• Believe the gospel of Christ: John 8:24; 20:30-31; Rom 1:16; 10:10
• Repent or turn from your sins: Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31
• Confess your faith in Christ: Matt 10:32-33; Rom 10:9-10
• Be immersed in water: Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet 3:21
• Live in obedient faith: 1 Peter 1:14; Rev 2:10
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The Lord’s Church“…the churches of Christ salute you…”
Romans 16:16