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Introduction
A. Matt. 16:16-19
B. The local church in the eternal purpose of
God.
Let men say what they please, the church with
its affairs, its origins, fortunes, and consummation, is the most simple and
elevated theme to which the mind of man, to which the towering hierarchies of
heaven can aspire…Let haughty mortals, aspiring to be gods on earth, frown and
fret. The eternal glory of the church stands engraven on her gates and towers
as the final consummation of God's eternal purpose in creation, providence,
and redemption.
C. The essential unity of Christ, the Word of
Christ, and the Church of Christ.
The rejection of Christ means the rejection of
His Word and His Church. The rejection of the Word of Christ -- the sacred
Scriptures, means the rejection of Christ and His Church. The rejection of the
church of Christ means the rejection of Christ and His Word.
I. The Local Church IS the Church
A. The Reformation concept of ecclesia
invisibilis--the Invisible Church
1. Sources: Augustine, Wyclif, and Hus; the
attempt to reconcile the corrupted earthly institution with the biblical
idea.
2. Character: Plantonic dualism
B. The church exists universally, and local
church membership is neither coextensive nor coterminus with the Book of Life,
but this is not the doctrine of ecclesia invisibilis. In its essence, the
church is one; the church in the New Testament is local, i.e., people meeting
in congregations. In Scripture, to be a Christian is to be a member of a local
body of believers; church membership is not a mystical connection to a
transcendental idea. The glory of the church is the glory of the Local church.
(Phm. 2; Rev. 1:4; II Cor. 1:1; Col. 4:15 et al.)
II. The Local Church AND the New Testament
(the connection between Scripture and Church)
A. Wrong concepts
1. Neo-orthodoxy
a. The church as primary revelatory event,
created and shaped DIRECTLY by the Holy Spirit.
b. Scripture as secondary testimony of
limited authority, a fallible human witness to "Jesus event" as expressed
in the faith of the apostolic church; Scripture as "a norm, a guideline
and a boundary" of the church; Scripture subject to validation by the
historical-critical method.
2. Roman Catholic
a. The church created and shaped DIRECTLY
by the Holy Spirit moving in progressive revelation.
b. Scripture as a product of the church and
subject to the interpretative authority of the church (tradition emerging
from church fathers, councils, and popes).
3. John Calvin
a. Church as dominant institution in the
theocratic society of the elect.
b. Scripture as the handbook of the
theocratic society; the "level Bible"; the language of the Bible
homogeneous and prescriptive.
B. The Biblical concept
1. The church created by the Holy Spirit BY
MEANS OF THE APOSTOLIC WORD (spoken and written). I Thess. 2:13; Eph. 2:20.
2. Scripture, the words of God and the Word
of God; the absolute authority in, for, and over the church; the positive,
apostolic design for the local church.
III. The Church and the Old Testament
A. The parenthesis/dispensational view: Church
as parenthetical mystery, not in the prophets; not the Messianic Kingdom in
any primary sense; church as preliminary.
B. The Biblical view: Church as the
eschatological people of God.
1. The spotlight of prophecy upon the church:
Luke 24:25-27; 44-47; Acts 3:24; 26:22,23; Heb. 12:22-29; I Peter 1:10-12.
2. The "church age" as the Last Days: Acts
2:15-17; Hebrews 1:1,2; II Tim. 3:1ff; II Peter 3:3; I John 2:18.
3. Christ claimed the promises for Himself
when He came: Luke 1:31-33; Matt. 11:2-6.
4. During the public ministry of Jesus, the
Kingdom "at hand": Matt. 3:1,2; 4:17; Mark 1:14,15.
5. Kingdom preaching characterized the
ministry of Jesus and the apostles: Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:4; Acts 8:12;
15:13-18; 28:23.
6. Jesus promised that some of His generation
would witness the coming of the Kingdom: Mark 9:1; Matt. 16:28.
7. The church and the Kingdom synonymous:
Matt. 16:15ff.
8. A figurative understanding of prophecy is
normal: Numbers 12:6-8; Hosea 12:10; Luke 22:29,30; Luke 3:3-6; Matt.
17:1-13.
9. The parallel use of "Kingdom of God,"
"Kingdom of Christ," and "Kingdom of Heaven": Eph. 5:5; Matt. 11:12; Luke
16:16; Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:14,15; Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20; Matt. 10:7; Luke 9:2;
et al.
10. Christians are said to have inherited and
to be in the Kingdom of God: Col. 1:13,14; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 1:9.
C. The local church is the world's last chance;
the redemptive work of Christ is committed to the local church; the local
church must understand its own significance, glory, and responsibility.
IV. The Local Church as Ekklesia (the "called
out")
A. Christians as those who have answered a
divine call: I Thess. 2:12; II Thess. 2:14.
B. Christians as those who stand distinct from
the world: Eph. 4:17.
C. Christians as those who congregate in
affirmation of their identity: Acts 20:7.
V. New Testament Images of the Local Church
A. The Body of Christ: Eph. 1:22,23; Romans
12:4-8; I Cor. 12:12-31.
1. Significance of the analogy
a. Christ the Head of the Body; authority
administered through the apostolic word: John 20:21-23.
b. Christians as members of the body
(1) Submission to the Head in all things:
Eph. 5:24.
(2) Unity in diversity: Eph. 4:11-13.
(3) Mutual and common responsibility
within the local body: I Cor. 12:25-30.
(4) The mission and expression of Christ
in the world: Eph. 4:14-16.
2. Limitations of the analogy: The attachment
of faith vs. mystical union.
B. The Temple of God: I Cor. 3:9-17; Eph.
2:21,22; I Peter 2:5.
1. Significance of the analogy
a. We must build according to the divine
pattern: I Cor. 3:10
b. The sanctity of the temple of God must
be observed and preserved: I Cor. 3:17; Eph. 2:22.
2. Limitations of the analogy: God does not
build His temple/building in such a way as to limit human activity and
responsibility. The agency and dynamic of God in the building process is His
Word.
C. God's Cultivated Field/Vineyard: I Cor.
3:1-9; 9:7; Matt. 21:33-41; Matt. 13:1-9 cf. 18-23; 24-30; 36-43.
Significance of the analogy
1. The dynamic identification of God with His
church and the work of His church: I Cor. 3:9
2. The requirement of fruitfulness: Matt.
13:23; 21:43.
3. The seed is the Word of God: Matt. 13:19;
I Peter 1:23.
4. Human responsibility in sowing: I Cor.
3:16
5. Human responsibility in receiving the
seed: Matt. 13:18-22.
6. The danger of Satanic interference: Matt.
13:19; 38.
7. The vineyard taken from national Israel
and given to the world at large: Matt. 21:41-43.
D. Christ's Flock: John 10:1-16; Acts 20:28-30;
I Peter 5:1-4.
Significance of the analogy
1. Christ as "Chief Shepherd": I Peter 5:4.
2. Elders as shepherds: I Peter 5:2; John
10:1ff.
3. The unity of the flock: John 10:16.
E. The Bride of Christ (elect): Eph. 5:25-32;
John 3:29; Rev. 19:7; 21:2-4; 22:16; II Cor. 11:2; Matt. 22:1-10.
Significance of the analogy
1. Based on the O.T. image of Israel
betrothed to the LORD: Isa. 62:1-5.
2. The requirement of virginal purity: II Cor.
11:2.
3. The church as the beloved of Christ: Eph.
5:25.
4. The future and glory of the wedding feast:
Rev. 19:9; Mark 2:19,20.
5. Constant readiness for the arrival of the
groom: Luke 12:35,36; Matt. 25:1-13.
6. National Israel rejected because she
rejected the wedding invitation: Matt. 22:8ff.
7. The bride is the possession of the groom:
Romans 16:16.
8. The bride wears the name of the groom:
Acts 11:26.
F. The Household of God: Eph. 2:19; 3:15; Gal.
6:10; I Tim. 3:15.
Significance of the analogy
1. God as patria postestas.
2. The Church as family--benefits and
responsibilities.
G. The Israel of God: Gal. 6:16; I Peter
2:9,10; Romans 9:25,26; Matt. 19:28; Jas. 1:1; (Heb. 12:22 & Rev. 21:2).
Significance of the analogy
1. The church as "the hope of Israel": Acts
26:6,7; 28:20.
2. Christians as the sons of Abraham: Gal.
3:29; Ro. 4:16.
3. Christ, the Ruler on David's Throne: Acts
2:29-31; 13:34.
4. The church as the true circumcision: Phil.
3:3; Ro. 2:28,29.
5. The church as the remnant: Ro. 9:27;
11:5-7.
6. The church as the elect: Ro. 9; 11:5.
7. The church as the exodus pilgrims: I Cor.
10:1-12.
8. The church as the olive tree: Ro. 11:24.
H. Minor Images
1. A letter from Christ: II Cor. 3:2,3.
2. A Fishnet: Matt. 4:19; 13:47-50.
3. The ark: I Peter 3:18-22.
VI. The Local Church as the Fellowship of the
Forgiven
A. The objective character of union with
Christ--Justification: Ro. 3:26; II Cor. 5:20,21.
B. Salvation by faith vs. the theory of
mystical union.
C. Sanctification not a test of justification.
VII. Leadership in the New Testament Church
A. The collegiate eldership--leadership by
principle vs. personality: Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:17ff; I Tim. 3:1-7
B. Deacons: I Tim. 3:8-13
C. Evangelist: Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8.
VIII. Significant Characteristics Required of
the Church in the New Testament
A. Fidelity to the Apostles' Doctrine: I John
2:24-28.
B. No respecter of persons: James 2:1-9; Acts
11:1-18.
C. Expecting the Return of Jesus: James 5:8;
Phil. 3:20.
D. Obedient to the Word of Christ: Phil.
2:12-16.
E. Jealous of its freedom in Christ: Col.
2:8-23.
F. Earnest and faithful in prayer: Acts 2:42.
G. United: Eph. 4:3-6.
H. Missionary minded: Acts 13:1-3.
I. Generous to sister congregations: II Cor. 8,
9.
J. Faithful in the Lord's Supper: I Cor.
11:23-34.
K. Given to agape: I John 4:7-21.
IX. The Glorious Destiny of the Church in the
New Testament
A. The defeat of death: Matt. 16:18; I Cor.
15:54,55; Rev. 1:18; 21:1-4.
B. The Return of Jesus and the resurrection of
the saints: I Thess. 4:13-5:11; I Cor. 15:50-58.
C. Eternal fellowship with God: Rev. 21:3.
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