What Is The Church What Is The Church of Christ?of Christ?

A Good Question That Deserves A A Good Question That Deserves A Biblical Answer.Biblical Answer.

This Lesson Will Be About How To This Lesson Will Be About How To Determine Our Standard Of Determine Our Standard Of AuthorityAuthority

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Following Jesus without denominationalism begins Following Jesus without denominationalism begins by heeding the call of the gospel... by heeding the call of the gospel...

For the Lord "calls" us through His gospel - For the Lord "calls" us through His gospel - 2 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Thessalonians 2:14

As we respond to the call, the Lord Himself adds As we respond to the call, the Lord Himself adds us to His church (His "called-out" group of us to His church (His "called-out" group of people), not a man-made denomination - people), not a man-made denomination - Acts Acts 2:41,47 2:41,47

But if we are to be simply Christians, members of But if we are to be simply Christians, members of the Lord's church as we read about in the New the Lord's church as we read about in the New Testament, then we must follow the example of Testament, then we must follow the example of the early church who "continued steadfastly in the the early church who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." - cf. apostles' doctrine..." - cf. Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42

AUTHORITY IN AUTHORITY IN RELIGION...RELIGION... The importance of this relates very closely to the The importance of this relates very closely to the

subject of AUTHORITY IN RELIGION... subject of AUTHORITY IN RELIGION... It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can

agree upon a "standard" of authority agree upon a "standard" of authority This is true in all areas of life This is true in all areas of life Imagine the confusion if we did not have a Imagine the confusion if we did not have a

standard of authority relating to weights and standard of authority relating to weights and measures measures

We could not even agree on the length of a line, We could not even agree on the length of a line, the volume of a tank of gasoline, etc. the volume of a tank of gasoline, etc.

Confusion would reign supreme in the market Confusion would reign supreme in the market place if we did not all agree on one standard of place if we did not all agree on one standard of authority in regards to weights and measures authority in regards to weights and measures

Authority In ReligionAuthority In Religion An essential key to having unity on any subject is An essential key to having unity on any subject is

this: WE MUST ACCEPT AND SUBMIT TO THE this: WE MUST ACCEPT AND SUBMIT TO THE SAME STANDARD OF AUTHORITY! SAME STANDARD OF AUTHORITY!

This is especially true in matters of religion... This is especially true in matters of religion... If people can agree on the standard of authority If people can agree on the standard of authority

in religious matters, unity is possible when we in religious matters, unity is possible when we submit to that same standard submit to that same standard

There are other elements necessary to have There are other elements necessary to have unity, but without a standard of authority upon unity, but without a standard of authority upon which we all agree, unity is impossible! which we all agree, unity is impossible!

[What should be the standard of authority for [What should be the standard of authority for Christ's church? Christ's church?

Let's begin with a point with which I am sure all Let's begin with a point with which I am sure all those professing to be Christians can agree...]those professing to be Christians can agree...]

JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITYGIVEN ALL AUTHORITY SO HE CLAIMED... SO HE CLAIMED... He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth

has been given to Him - has been given to Him - Matthew 28:18 Matthew 28:18 He therefore expects us to observe all things He He therefore expects us to observe all things He

has commanded - has commanded - Matthew 28:19-20 Matthew 28:19-20 SO HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT... SO HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT... He is HEAD of the BODY (the church) - He is HEAD of the BODY (the church) - Ephesians Ephesians

1:22-23 1:22-23 2. As such, we are to submit to Him in everything 2. As such, we are to submit to Him in everything

- - Ephesians 5:23-24 Ephesians 5:23-24 [If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all [If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all

religious questions by simply asking Him. But religious questions by simply asking Him. But since He is not on earth, what then? This leads to since He is not on earth, what then? This leads to our next point...]our next point...]

JESUS HAS DELEGATED JESUS HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS APOSTLESAPOSTLES TO RECEIVE CHRIST, WE MUST RECEIVE TO RECEIVE CHRIST, WE MUST RECEIVE

HIS APOSTLES... HIS APOSTLES... As Jesus taught in As Jesus taught in John 13:20 John 13:20 Please note that the word "apostle" means Please note that the word "apostle" means

"one sent" "one sent" So as Jesus speaks of "whomever I send", So as Jesus speaks of "whomever I send",

He has particular reference to His apostles He has particular reference to His apostles The apostles were sent as "ambassadors" The apostles were sent as "ambassadors"

for Christ - cf. for Christ - cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore the early church "continued Therefore the early church "continued

steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - Acts Acts 2:422:42

TO ENSURE RELIABILITY, JESUS TO ENSURE RELIABILITY, JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRITPROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Spirit would teach the apostles The Spirit would teach the apostles all things, reminding them of what all things, reminding them of what Jesus spoke to them - Jesus spoke to them - John 14:26 John 14:26

The Spirit would guide the apostles The Spirit would guide the apostles into ALL truth - into ALL truth - John 16: 12-13John 16: 12-13

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED THEM INTO "ALL" THE THEM INTO "ALL" THE TRUTHTRUTH Paul said he taught "the WHOLE counsel of Paul said he taught "the WHOLE counsel of

God" - cf. God" - cf. Acts 20:27 Acts 20:27 Peter wrote that God "has given to us ALL Peter wrote that God "has given to us ALL

THINGS that pertain to life and godliness" - THINGS that pertain to life and godliness" - 2 Peter 1:3 2 Peter 1:3

[So the apostles were given ALL the truth [So the apostles were given ALL the truth God (and Christ) wanted us to know. God (and Christ) wanted us to know.

If the apostles were on earth today, we If the apostles were on earth today, we could simply ask them to settle religious could simply ask them to settle religious differences. But again, they are not on differences. But again, they are not on earth. earth.

What then?]What then?]

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN WHAT APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN WHAT CHRIST WANTS US TO KNOWCHRIST WANTS US TO KNOW!!

IN THE N.T., WE HAVE WHAT THE IN THE N.T., WE HAVE WHAT THE APOSTLES WERE GIVEN BY THE APOSTLES WERE GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT... SPIRIT...

As Paul explained in As Paul explained in Ephesians 3:1-5 Ephesians 3:1-5 He wrote, so that when we read his He wrote, so that when we read his

writings we can have his same writings we can have his same understanding understanding

Peter wrote his epistles that we might Peter wrote his epistles that we might always be reminded - always be reminded - 2 Peter 1:12-15; 2 Peter 1:12-15; 3:1-2 3:1-2

IN THE N.T., WE HAVE THE IN THE N.T., WE HAVE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD HIMSELFHIMSELF

As Paul made clear in As Paul made clear in 1 Corinthians 14:37 1 Corinthians 14:37 As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's

were considered Scripture - were considered Scripture - 2 Peter 3:15-16 2 Peter 3:15-16 Therefore, when we have questions about Therefore, when we have questions about

what the Lord would have us to do... what the Lord would have us to do... We don't have to ascend to heaven for an We don't have to ascend to heaven for an

answer answer We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor

His apostles His apostles we simply need to turn to the apostles' we simply need to turn to the apostles'

writing (i.e., the New Testament)! writing (i.e., the New Testament)!

N.T. IS THE WORD OF N.T. IS THE WORD OF CHRIST CHRIST [In the New Testament, the repository [In the New Testament, the repository

of the "apostles' doctrine", is where we of the "apostles' doctrine", is where we can turn to learn the will of Jesus, can turn to learn the will of Jesus, given through His selected and given through His selected and inspired ambassadors, the apostles. inspired ambassadors, the apostles.

But this raises other questions: But this raises other questions: Is the New Testament a complete Is the New Testament a complete

guide for us today? guide for us today? Is it sufficient?]Is it sufficient?]

THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A COMPLETE, ALL-SUFFICIENT COMPLETE, ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDEGUIDE

IT MUST BE COMPLETE, FOR "THE IT MUST BE COMPLETE, FOR "THE FAITH" HAS BEEN REVEALED "ONCE FAITH" HAS BEEN REVEALED "ONCE FOR ALL" - Jude 3 FOR ALL" - Jude 3

"Once for all" literally means "one time for "Once for all" literally means "one time for all time" all time"

We cannot expect further revelation in the We cannot expect further revelation in the future (as of the writing it came from)future (as of the writing it came from)

The writings of the apostles as collected in The writings of the apostles as collected in the New Testament are all we have the New Testament are all we have

Our task, is not to look for further Our task, is not to look for further revelation, but to "contend earnestly for revelation, but to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"! to the saints"!

ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES THEMSELVES, THESE WRITINGS THEMSELVES, THESE WRITINGS (SCRIPTURES) ARE INDEED (SCRIPTURES) ARE INDEED SUFFICIENT!SUFFICIENT!

Sufficient to make one complete, furnished Sufficient to make one complete, furnished unto every good work - unto every good work - 2 Timothy 3:16-2 Timothy 3:16-17 17

They provide all we need to enjoy life and They provide all we need to enjoy life and godliness - godliness - 2 Peter 1:3 2 Peter 1:3

By heeding the writings of the apostles... By heeding the writings of the apostles... We will have the true knowledge of our We will have the true knowledge of our

Lord Jesus Christ - cf. Lord Jesus Christ - cf. 2 Peter 1:8-9 2 Peter 1:8-9 An abundant entrance will be supplied into An abundant entrance will be supplied into

the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - cf. Savior Jesus Christ - cf. 2 Peter 1: 10-112 Peter 1: 10-11

WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S PROVIDENCE AND HIS PROVIDENCE AND HIS WORDWORD As Paul prepared the elders of the As Paul prepared the elders of the

church at Ephesus for his departure, church at Ephesus for his departure, he commended them to God and the he commended them to God and the word of His grace - word of His grace - Acts 20:32 Acts 20:32

He did not instruct them to appoint He did not instruct them to appoint apostles to take his place apostles to take his place

He did not instruct them to seek He did not instruct them to seek further revelation (for Paul had already further revelation (for Paul had already proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" to them - to them - Acts 20:27Acts 20:27) )

WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S PROVIDENCE AND HIS PROVIDENCE AND HIS WORDWORD He simply directed them to two things: He simply directed them to two things:

To God Himself (i.e., His Divine To God Himself (i.e., His Divine Providence) Providence)

The word of His grace (that word The word of His grace (that word which had been revealed by Paul which had been revealed by Paul himself) himself)

These two blessings, Paul was These two blessings, Paul was confident, were able to do two things: confident, were able to do two things:

Build them up Build them up Give them an inheritance among all Give them an inheritance among all

those who are sanctifiedthose who are sanctified

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The "New Testament", then, is how... The "New Testament", then, is how... Christ speaks to us today Christ speaks to us today He leads us to life everlasting! He leads us to life everlasting! It is through the writing of the apostles, the It is through the writing of the apostles, the

"apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks and "apostles' doctrine", that the Lord speaks and directs His Church! directs His Church!

It is the "apostles' doctrine" that is the It is the "apostles' doctrine" that is the standard of authority in matters of religion standard of authority in matters of religion

It is the "apostles' doctrine" in which we must It is the "apostles' doctrine" in which we must "continue steadfastly"! - cf. "continue steadfastly"! - cf. Ac 2:42 Ac 2:42

There is more to be said about "authority in There is more to be said about "authority in religion", which we will cover in future lessons.religion", which we will cover in future lessons.