“Basic Baptist Doctrine, Lesson 10”
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Bethel MBC “The Church: Its Origin” In earlier discussions, we determined who the church of Jesus Christ was (as identified by doctrines) throughout history. We solidified the fact that all true churches have derived from the church Christ left in Jerusalem: · Jesus established one church, His Church, in Jerusalem · This first church soon became missionary in nature and other churches were established which were of like faith and practice · By the time John received the revelation on Patmos, there were at least seven additional churches as Jesus addressed letters to the pastors of seven churches found in Asia Minor. · The Universal Church idea or that we all are members of one, giant, world-wide, unseen, church is false. Each church as descended from Jerusalem is independent and autonomous. · Christ did not commission His church to be a multi-faced beast, but rather a group of baptized believers which would carry the gospel to the entire world. Much of the world, as we know it, was undiscovered at that time in history! However, the spiritual descendants of those Biblical Christians continue to carry the gospel via the Church of Jesus Christ. I. The Church What exactly is “the church?” “Baptist Confessions of Faith” offers the following definition: “A church of Jesus Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, assembled in faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws and privileges, invested in them by His Word.” ü Localized: one in locality (not universal) ü Visible: not invisible, literally the people we see ü Baptized: as required by the Scriptures, our Lord’s example and commandment ü Believers: saved individuals only We believe, teach and practice that the Lord’s church consists of saved individuals who have been baptized. They are also a visible group, meeting together locally as an independent and autonomous body who answer only to the Lord Jesus Christ as the originator of this faith and church. II. The Institution of the Church The church of Jesus Christ was instituted by Christ during his personal ministry on earth. There is considerable debate as to where exactly Christ started the church. Most agree upon His beginning His church while He was yet among us. A church is a congregation of baptized believers. The first members of the church started by Christ had been previously converted and baptized under the ministry and leadership of John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Acts 1:5,22) They were called out, separated from the world by Jesus Christ and compacted into the first church. The first to be chosen were Peter, Andrew, James and John (Matthew 4:18-22). These were the first four which Jesus called out. He called another 8 to serves as Apostles and later was seen to have a large number of disciples following His words and teaching. Luke 6:12-17 12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. 17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; a. Christ went up into the mountain (12) b. He called His disciples unto Him (13); He called those who were already his disciples c. He called twelve of the already called disciples (13) d. The twelve were ordained as apostles Mark 3:14 14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, (The twelve did not constitute the church, but were the first official members set in the church) I Corinthians 12:28 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. He could not have set them in the church if there had been no church. Because He had a church already established, He could set officials in it. e. He came down from the mountain with them (the disciples, including the twelve) (17) f. There were present a company of His disciples and a great number of people (17) III. Membership in the Lord’s Church Jesus also instituted the means by which individuals would gain access to church membership. The avenue chosen to signify membership to the world was baptism. John the Baptist refused to baptize any except believers in Christ, or those who professed to be believers. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came demanding baptism at his hands, he refused and demanded that they bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. See Matthew 3:7-9. Baptism is for believers only and until one has repented of their sins, they are unfit for baptism and admission into the church that Christ instituted. Membership in the Lord’s church also obligated the person to observe the Lord’s Supper as commanded by the Lord. John 4:1-2 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) Matthew 26:26-27 26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the two ordinances left by Jesus for the church, were both observed by Jesus and His disciples while they were associated during the personal ministry of Jesus. IV. Government of the Lord’s Church There is no hierarchy within the Lord’s church. There is no government as relate to as Americans. The Lord’s church operates as a theocracy vs. a democracy. The Lord Jesus is THE Head and THE Authority. Ephesians 1:22 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church Ephesians 5:23 23For 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 Colossians 1:18 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. How does Christ govern His church today? When Jesus left the earth, He gave authority to His church to carry on His work according to the instructions given to her in the New Testament. Matthew 28:19-20 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Luke 9:35 35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Matthew 17:5 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. While there was one church, it was referred to as “the church”. Once other churches began to be established, they were referred to as “churches”. Acts 9:31 31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied Acts 11:22 22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch Acts 16:5 5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Romans 16:4 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles Romans 16:6 16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. I Corinthians 1:2 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth… V. The Church Instituted Prior to Pentecost Many people in other denominations (and even some Missionary Baptists) believe that the church was established on the day of Pentecost when the church was baptized in the Holy Spirit and given authority and power to preach the gospel to the world. Here are some reasons why we hold that the church was NOT established on the day of Pentecost: 1. No prophecy points to Pentecost as the place for the church to begin 2. There was no organization divinely arranged on Pentecost. 3. There was no Head, Shepherd, of Bishop present on Pentecost 4. There was no authority of any kind whatsoever given to any person on the day of Pentecost 5. There is no mention of a body of persons called out on Pentecost 6. There were no names given on Pentecost that they did not already have 7. No commission to preach or baptize or do anything that they did not already possess 8. There was no law given to be executed 9. No special or general orders were assigned 10. No ordination service on Pentecost 11. No special field appointed our for work 12. No form of church government provided Before Pentecost: 1. A body had been called out 2. Apostles had been set in the body 3. The church had been commissioned to administer the ordinances 4. The church had witnessed both ordinances 5. Officers had been set in the church 6. They had a rule of discipline (Matthew 18:15-17) 7. They had a church roll (Acts 1:15) 8. They had an ordained ministry 9. They had the promise of Jesus to be with them unto the end (Matthew 28:20) 10. They had His promise that He was coming back again (John 14:1-4) Summary: Jesus established the Church while here in the flesh. Since that time, that church has proliferated into many churches called by many names through the ages of history. The original church’s doctrines and practices remain intact and Christ continues to act as the head of all the churches. He purchased the churches for eternity to Christ as His bride in heaven. The finished, sanctified, and purified church will return to the One from which it originated. Most certainly, we should value and treat the Lord’s churches better than we do! Their value is far above what we realize!
Basic Baptist Doctrine
April 9, 2008
Lesson 10
