The Church that Christ Built

1
(No Transcript)
2
The Church that Christ Built
3
Matthew 1613-19

• You are Peter
• Peter Petros
• Greek detached stone a boulder (Vines
  Expository of New Testament Words)
• Upon this Rock
• Rock Petra
• Greek Mass of Rock Singular sure foundation
  (Vines Expository of New Testament Words)
• (1 Cor 311) For other foundation can no man lay
  than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

4
Gates of Hades

• Hell Hades realm of the unseen
• Rock will prevail over Hades
• Speaking of Christ
• (Acts 227) Because thou wilt not leave my soul
  in hades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One
  to see corruption.
• (Acts 231-32) He seeing this before spake of
  the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
  left in hades, neither his flesh did see
  corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up,
  whereof we all are witnesses.

5
The promise of the Church

• Christ said, I will build my church.
• Christs purpose was to build a church
• (Eph 310-11) To the intent that now unto the
  principalities and powers in heavenly places
  might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
  of God, According to the eternal purpose which he
  purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
• Was not an after thought
• Built his Church
• Not churches of men

6
Definition of Church

• Ekklesia (Ekklesia) a calling out
• More meaning than a mere assembly
• Assembly is not a good translation of ekklesia.
• This calling out has a greater importance than an
  assembly
• Used in reference to the State officials
• Used in reference to a gathering in honor of a
  god.
• Perfect rendering of ekklesia is the English word
  Church.

7
Definition of Church

• Not speaking of the Building
• Speaking of the people
• Two applications when speaking of Christians
• The Universal Church
• I will build my Church (Matt 1618)
• the churches of Christ salute you. (Rom 1616)
• The Local congregation
• (Acts 2028) to feed the church of God, which
  he hath purchased with his own blood.
• (1 Cor 12) Unto the church of God which is at
  Corinth.

8
Importance of the Church

• (Eph 311) According to the eternal purpose
  which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
• Church was in the mind of God from eternity
• (Acts 2028) to feed the church of God, which
  he hath purchased with his own blood.
• A thing is worth the amount that you pay for it.
• Church was paid for by the Blood of the Son of
  God
• HIS Church is Important

9
How do we know which is his Church?

• By its Characteristics
• Origination
• Organization
• Doctrine
• Worship
• Name
• Creed

10
Origination

• Seed
• Word of God
• Plant seed anywhere and it will produce after its
  kind
• The Church is in the Seed that it Produces

11
Organization

• Congregation
• Not a denomination
• Denomination Division
• Division condemned by Paul (1 Cor 110-13)
• Simplicity of its organization
• Elders Oversee
• Deacons assist in the work
• Members assemble together to work out their
  salvation
• Preachers proclaim the gospel
• Christ is the one and only head
• (Eph 523) For the husband is the head of the
  wife, even as Christ is the head of the church
  and he is the saviour of the body.
• No conventions, presidents, dioceses, Popes,
  regions, earthly headquarters

12
Doctrine

• Gospel of Christ
• Same principle apply now as it did then.
• (Mark 1615-16)
• Gospel good news
• Death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
• We can have our sins forgiven
• Repent and be Baptized!!! (Acts 238)

13
Worship

• Pattern
• (1 Cor 112) keep the ordinances as I delivered
  them unto you
• (1 Tim 314-15) These things write I unto thee
  that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to
  behave thyself in the house of God, which is the
  church of the living God, the pillar and ground
  of the truth.
• Oughtest Greek dei Necessary as in binding
• Can be NO additions

14
When is a thing an Addition

• One may say, Show me the scripture for
  songbooks, seats, or lights in the meetinghouse,
  and I will show you one for organs in the
  church.
• Seats
• (James 23) sit thou here
• Lights
• (Acts 208) And there were many lights in the
  upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

15
When is a thing an Addition

• Lords Supper
• Elements specified
• Bread
• Fruit of the vine
• Plates not addition to the Lords supper
• Adding Elements
• Sauce
• Cheese
• Pepperoni

16
When is a thing an Addition

• Songbooks
• Does not introduce an additional element of music
• Using the songbook perform only the act of
  singing
• Instrumental music
• Another element of music

17
Name or Terminology

• Christian
• (Acts 1126) The disciples were called
  Christians first in Antioch.
• Only name we can use with unity!
• Human Names
• Cause Divisions

18
Creed

• Bible
• (1 Peter 411) If any man speak, let him speak
  as the oracles of God.
• Human Creed is a formulated interpretation of
  what the Bible says.
• The Bible is what it DOES say.
• Human Creeds create Denominations
• Divine Creed creates the Church

19
How do we know which is his Church?

• By its Characteristics
• Origination
• Seed
• Organization
• Congregational
• Doctrine
• Gospel of Christ
• Worship
• Pattern
• Name
• Christian
• Creed
• Bible

The True Church
20
Only One way to Become a Member of that Church

• Birthday of the Church Pentecost
• (Acts 236-47) Therefore let all the house of
  Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that
  same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and
  Christ. Now when they heard this, they were
  pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and
  to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
  what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them,
  Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
  name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins,
  and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  For the promise is unto you, and to your
  children, and to all that are afar off, even as
  many as the Lord our God shall call. And with
  many other words did he testify and exhort,
  saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
  generation. Then they that gladly received his
  word were baptized and the same day there were
  added unto them about three thousand souls. And
  they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
  doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
  bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every
  soul and many wonders and signs were done by the
  apostles. And all that believed were together,
  and had all things common And sold their
  possessions and goods, and parted them to all
  men, as every man had need. And they, continuing
  daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
  bread from house to house, did eat their meat
  with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising
  God, and having favour with all the people. And
  the Lord ADDED to the church daily such as should
  be SAVED.

21
(No Transcript)